08-30-2008, 07:18 PM
My 968 coupe is now 15 years old and has almost 168k. Like many of the coupes that have been out there on the roads and parking lots a lot, my rear hatch glass had delaminated at the top and the glass was separating from the frame. I'm not referring to a little delamination that is an irritation because I know it isn't perfect. I'm referring to some MAJOR delamination that caused severe wind noise and leaking. I was afraid the glass would pull out of the frame completely.
I'd tried to have it fixed once before and it held for a little while. Like most things that suffer relapses, the second time was worse than the first. I checked around and found a couple of hatches from dismantlers but I was afraid I'd only be buying more of the same problem. After all, those hatches, like mine, aren't new and they certainly haven't been sitting in a garage.
What my hatch needed was someone who really knew what they were doing to completely disassemble the hatch, clean off all the old glue and paint, and reassemble it correctly. I had spoken to several auto glass shops looking for someone to make the needed repairs and always received the same message. "If you have a broken window, we replace it. If not, go away." By the way, I received this message from all the glass shops to which Porsche shops referred me.
Finally, a friend that's never owned a Porsche recommended a garage that then recommended a glass shop here in Charlotte: Glass Doctor. It's a franchise, so I don't know if all of there locations are as accommodating or as talented but the guys at the Charlotte shop were great.
I had to take the hatch off the car and carry it to them and it took several days but the results are simply terrific. I picked it up Friday and installed it this morning. Thanks to the do-it-yourself advice, by the way. My hatch looks and even feels as new. When I close the hatch now, it thumps with a sound similar to the door closing on a new Rolls.
Only time will tell if it lasts but, at least for now, I'm a happy camper.
I'd tried to have it fixed once before and it held for a little while. Like most things that suffer relapses, the second time was worse than the first. I checked around and found a couple of hatches from dismantlers but I was afraid I'd only be buying more of the same problem. After all, those hatches, like mine, aren't new and they certainly haven't been sitting in a garage.
What my hatch needed was someone who really knew what they were doing to completely disassemble the hatch, clean off all the old glue and paint, and reassemble it correctly. I had spoken to several auto glass shops looking for someone to make the needed repairs and always received the same message. "If you have a broken window, we replace it. If not, go away." By the way, I received this message from all the glass shops to which Porsche shops referred me.
Finally, a friend that's never owned a Porsche recommended a garage that then recommended a glass shop here in Charlotte: Glass Doctor. It's a franchise, so I don't know if all of there locations are as accommodating or as talented but the guys at the Charlotte shop were great.
I had to take the hatch off the car and carry it to them and it took several days but the results are simply terrific. I picked it up Friday and installed it this morning. Thanks to the do-it-yourself advice, by the way. My hatch looks and even feels as new. When I close the hatch now, it thumps with a sound similar to the door closing on a new Rolls.
Only time will tell if it lasts but, at least for now, I'm a happy camper.
