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    997 windshield chips-cracks

    Have you found that the 997's windshiled chips or cracks too easyly?

    I would like some feedback on this, the reason is because back in February I stone hit my windshiled and made a huge chip. I though "wow! must of hit just right".

    Getting hit by stones is a normal thing, but I have never had to replace a windshiled before, the marks have been too small or insignificant, I have been lucky, but this one called for a new windshiled IMO. So I get a new windshield.

    1 week later I get hit, the impact is nothing spectacular, but and another big chip results from it!... I say, how is that for luck. But it was in a corner and far right so it didn't bother me.

    Two weeks ago, I'm parking my car in an underground garage and all of a sudden a 5cm crack appears all of a sudden in another place on the other side of the windshield. I look closely and there was a minuscule chip that seemed to be the originator. So small, I didn't even noticed when it happened and may have confused it with a faint insect impact. So yet again another windshield!!

    On the way back home that day BTW, when at speeds over 250km/h you could see the crack getting bigger and bigger, by the time I got home its was 3 x times the size

    Anyway, I had the Porsche guys put a new windshield again yesterday, and today coming back from work at normal speeds I get hit with a little stone, a small impact like many times it happens, but it left another nice chip in the middled of the one day old windshiled!

    Its a nighmare, the windshiled seems to chip and crack with any "normal" impact. I have driven many cars, get hit many times and unless the impact is a big one, there is ussually little if no damage.

    But my experience in this car is that unless its been the most unlucky experience in the whole world with incredible conicidences for some reason or I'm going to go through a new windshield every couple of months!!

    Has it been just a coincidence? I can't find another explanation have you found the windshield of the 997 to crack easily?

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Not sure if it's the same component, but the windscreen (in my 987s) got hit by what seemed to be an insignificant stone last autumn. I thought nothing of it then a few days later when I went out to the car, a crack 500mm long from the stone hit spot to the side of the screen. RAC windscreens did a first class replacement job though.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Unfortunately, I have experienced years of problems with Porsche windows. (Been with Porsche since 1974). They have historically soft glass and as such, they tend to chip and crack easily. Once you go through the original windshields here in America you can get an American made one to replace it and they are generally tougher. But now with the complexity of internal antennae, etc. maybe we can't even GET a non-Porsche windshield anylonger.

    Unfortunately, your experience is normal.

    Dan

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    changing my wind shield this week.. one small stone chip made an almost 5 cm crack in my line of sight... troublesome

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Carlos - I would say that unfortunately you've been very unlucky.

    One thing you could try as a first fix is to get a repair job, especially if the chip isn't in your sight-line. There are repair specialists who drill through the chip and inject it with a resin. It's not invisible but is a big improvement and, most importantly, it stabilises the chip so there is no chance of it cracking or spreading. it also works better if you stop dirt getting in as soon as possible by placing some cellotape over the chip until the repair is done.

    I would think twice about replacing with a non-OEM screen, I've heard of problems with antennas and sensors.

    By the law of averages your unlucky streak should now be over.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I don't get hit with stones that often. But I did get hit not too long ago by a small pebble and recall being suprised at the size of the divit out of my windhield.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Have a lot of small (minute) chips which have accumulated over the 18months Ive had the 997. Much more than any other car Ive owned. Annoying. Does seem to be worse than most other cars Ive owned.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    The quality of the glass is like those in Japanese cars. Replaced one windshield so far. Guessing another in a year or two. Check the gallery for photos of the work in progress.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I agree that my windshield seems very delicate. I just replaced mine (under 4000 miles) 2 weeks ago from a small stone hit at about 65 mph and developed into a 14 inch crack under the sun. From all the posts here, it seems normal.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I'm gonna chime in on this one.

    My 997 is my first Porsche, and I too have found my windshield very susceptible to damage from small rocks and such. I've already had one 5mm divot repaired, but have since collected several other 1mm or less chips.

    I've never had a windscreen issue with any of my other cars; I thought perhaps it's been a combination of bad luck/low-ride hieght vehicle, but I tend to agree with the above poster that that the glass is soft.

    I've owned several other lowered cars and didn't have a problem with chips. I've since adjusted my driving habits and try to hang back farther than I used to from cars ahead of me on the road. Semi-trucks, 4x4's and the like automatically activate my "push to pass" button (accelerator). I pride myself in keeping my prized possesion in pristine condition, so this issue has made me a bit paranoid when driving especially on the freeways.

    Could it be that the glass is the way it is for weight savings?

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    troubling since my old BMWs never had chips even after bone cracking hits to windshield.....hmmmmm

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I have a chip too from something that I thought was too small to damage!


    Quote:
    Carlos from Spain said:
    ...a faint insect impact.


    lol...sorry.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Quote:
    MHakkinen said:
    I'm gonna chime in on this one.

    My 997 is my first Porsche, and I too have found my windshield very susceptible to damage from small rocks and such. I've already had one 5mm divot repaired, but have since collected several other 1mm or less chips.

    I've never had a windscreen issue with any of my other cars; I thought perhaps it's been a combination of bad luck/low-ride hieght vehicle, but I tend to agree with the above poster that that the glass is soft.

    I've owned several other lowered cars and didn't have a problem with chips. I've since adjusted my driving habits and try to hang back farther than I used to from cars ahead of me on the road. Semi-trucks, 4x4's and the like automatically activate my "push to pass" button (accelerator). I pride myself in keeping my prized possesion in pristine condition, so this issue has made me a bit paranoid when driving especially on the freeways.

    Could it be that the glass is the way it is for weight savings?



    I hadn't heard about this problem with Porsche windshields. But given that this is my first Porsche, I tend to hang back like you do or get past trucks and other similar vehicles quickly. I guess I'm kind of surprised in that the windshields on cars sold in the U.S. have to meet some Department of Transportation standard so that a rock is not going to penetrate the windshield and kill the driver or any passengers. I would have thought that the Europeans and the Japanese would have similar standards.

    Jim

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I'm getting some windshield protection from Premier next week. Several friends have had it done already and loves it. http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/showthread.php?t=271397

    Their website is www.premiermobilegroup.com

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I don't understand this - soft glass wouldn't chip - brittle glass would. Soft glass would absorb the impact without damage - brittle glass would not.

    The windshield in my 997 is made by the same company (Sekurit) that made the glass in my BMW and my wife's Saab... why would the 911 be any different?

    I'm assuming that the folks at Sekurit know something about manufacturing autoglass. What's changed here?

    Anybody know?

    -don

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I have a chip in mine and I saw the stone coming at me up from the car in front. My first ever chip on a windshield having owned 8 different cars in the last 18 years...

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Agree. Both my BMW and 997 windshields come from Saint-Gobain Sekurit in Belgium.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I've had my 987S for 6 months now and already have a few divets from my windshield but they are small. As someone mentioned, maybe they are lighter (thus more delicate) in order to save weight?

    Well Carlos, at speeds over 250 km/hr I'd expect a few stonechips myself!!

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Quote:
    Carlos from Spain said:
    Have you found that the 997's windshiled chips or cracks too easyly?
    ...


    Got something on the glass about one year ago in the center maybe four inches from the bottom. Has not changed since then but I tend not to let the car sit out in the hot sun. Seems like time to start a class action lawsuit to have Porsche replace the glass as a defect. Unfortunately, sometimes a lawsuite is the only way to get the attention of a company.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    First of all, thank you guys for your input

    I guess I'm not the only one that has found the windshield to crack and chip too easily compared to other cars. If its not a freak coincidence then it worries me since I can't go through this rate of new windshields if it continues like this

    @ GTknight, that Premier Protective Film is something I would have fitted, too bad they don'tv resale due to the difficulty in applying it
    Anybody else know similar product that my Porsche mechanics can install? like a 3M clear bra but for the windshield?

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Carlos, did you experience this kind of problem with your 996? Or have you only started to experience it with the 997?

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    It started with the 997. In all the tons miles with the 996, same roads and everything, I only had very minor scratches, and with having some very hard impacts, and nothing. But with the 997, the smallest of impacts causes a significant crack or chip

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Might it have to do something with the shape/angle of the windscreen? I mean, if 996's do not have this problem, and porsche did not blabla about weight savings on windscreen, I think that the chemical substance of these windows is the same. And I can think of something like the angle or the geometry of the window makes a window more ore less fragile to impacts.
    -Joost-

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Quote:
    Joost said:
    Might it have to do something with the shape/angle of the windscreen? I mean, if 996's do not have this problem, and porsche did not blabla about weight savings on windscreen, I think that the chemical substance of these windows is the same. And I can think of something like the angle or the geometry of the window makes a window more ore less fragile to impacts.
    -Joost-



    I thought of that too but its practically identical from the 996 to the 997. So if that would be a factor, the 996 should have suffered this too just the same

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I suspect that it's really bad luck. It's hard to believe that Porsche would somehow have a windshield that is inferior to others made by an independent third party.

    To get a more representative response form forum members, it would be worthwhile for everyone with a 997 who HASN'T had a problem with stone chips to also respond but in the negative.

    A couple of days ago, I heard rock hit the windshield of my new 997S. There is a tiny divet on the windshield close to the edge - as you said, could easily be mistaken for a small insect. My wife had the same thing with her Toyota 4Runner. Now she has a 5cm crack.

    There was a product that I was offered but declined when I picked up my car a few weeks ago called Diamon Fusion, or something like that. It's some kind of a "nanotechnology" substance that is applied in liquid to the windshield. It is supposed to bond to the windshield and strengthen it against chips etc, as well as cause water to bead off improving visibility. I didn't get many positive responses about it here, so I didn't get it. Maybe I should have . . . it also comes with a warranty to replace or repair the windshield for 3 years . . .

    I think the best way to avoid these is to follow far behind others and stay completely away from trucks or other vehicles with large tread on the tires that can toss up rocks.

    By the way, how is the car after the new windshield installation - any creaks or squeaks/rattles?

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    No creaks or squeaks from the two windshields.

    Its hard to stay far away enough (more than 50m) in traffic here, its would be too much distance for European driving, you would have to stick to the right lane for that otherwise you would be blocking the left lane, and you would not be able to overtake anyone and have the pace of a turtle... I'd rather commit suicicide before that or change to a different car... which ever comes first!

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Of course it's also possible to pick up stones etc. from vehicles, especially trucks, coming in the OPPOSITE direction! That's what happened to me - with no traffic ahead.

    As I said before, it's probably bad luck and by now Carlos has had his fair share.

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    I have had the same experience - now have a thoroughly pock-marked screen after 8000 miles. No actual cracks yet, though.

    Wonder why their screens are so soft - maybe they use a Porsche specific laminated glass that is tougher for actual holes but softer for chips?

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    Just looked at this ...how ironic.Yesterday i was driving home and giving the car in front plenty of space when something hit the screen and has caused a stone chip behind the rear view mirror.......it is about the size of your little fingernail......

    This is our 5th porsche and not had any problems like this before....

    I'm not a happy bunny........

    Re: 997 windshield chips-cracks

    imho it as nothing to do with the quality of the windshield:
    Audi S2 : 1 windshield
    BMW M3 : 1 windshield
    BMW M5 : 2 windshields
    BMW X5 : 1 windshield (and it's much higher than a P)
    VW POLO: 1 windshield
    Honda HRV: 2 windshields

    all reimbursed by insurance company (3 different, luckily !)
    Some hits on my 997S, but let's cross finger...
    it has more to do with the bad quality of the roads, especialy in south of belgium were I drive the most

     
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