Does anyone else feel that the glass windshield on the turbo might be on the soft side.My turbo has 15,000 miles with no rock chips but a huge amount of annoying nicks and tiny pits that are really noticeable in the right sunlight.Are there any products on the market that might polish out these nicks or we just deal with it.

 

I have a product, similar to 3m (sorry I forget the product name - your detailer can help you) on my windshield and it has saved me from lots of nick, dings, and cracks. It has to be replaced every few years as it picks up the marks but it's only about $300 (and it has UV protection too!). It's a clear product.

 

I dunno about long term durability but I have already cracked two windsheilds from regular highway driving, which has never happened to me in any of my other cars.

 

When I test drove the Turbo, I broke the windshield (ooops, but a tiny rock hit it that came out of nowhere). When i got my new turbo, I had the newest windshield film put on it too. HOWEVER, a tiny rock hit my windshield and broke it right through the film. Had the windshield replaced with an OEM. I agree - I think they are soft - maybe lighter glass for weight???

 

What was cost for the replacement?Did they do a nice job?You do not hear more wind noise then before the replacement?

 

It came out to around $1,000, dunno if thats a good or bad price, done through the dealership. Supposedly the glass alone costs like $650 because it has the antenna in there.

The first time there was no noise at all, just like stock, except the GPS needed to get reset.

Second time they did a bad job and there was wind noise after 85mph and the plastic cover inside the car around the A-pillar wasnt attached correctly, I went back and they redid it so its no noise again.

The second time the GPS also had to be reset.

 

I've had a 997GT3 and had to replace the windshield at 1,000 miles due to rock chips. I had a 997GT3RS that seemed to have a pretty soft windshield too. And I just got a 997TT whose windshield has more dings and imperfections than I would expect in a car with just 850 miles on it. Seems to be a common issue on the 997's and I suppose we could just consider periodic windshield replacement to be a maintenance item. Sam at Premier stopped putting film on windshields because he could not find a product that provided good results so I'm not trying that alternative as I trust the Premier guys.

 

It is true the plastic coating on the windshield is not perfect but does offer some protection. But you are also correct that regardless if the plastic protections extends replacement a year or two it does appear our windshields will require changing more often than one might expect or want. I am pleased to know that some have had this done with no problems as I've heard some bad news stories about wind noise and water leakage. In Canada, I was also quoted about $1000 (CDN) for OEM replacement and install costs.
Just keep driving!

 

I replaced the windshield on my 07GT3 in the fall of 2007 at a cost of $1,200 installed - that was pricing here in northern California. It had the rain sensor built into the windshield - perhaps the non-rain-sensor shields cost less.

 

I thought the rain sensor was inside the rear-view mirror housing, I believe that's where it is on the BMWs.

 

You are correct, however the windshield supplied by Porsche is different between sensor and non-sensor applications (apparently).

 

I agree....at 10300 miles (since March 1st) mine looks like a minefield. Moderately annoying.

 

so funny that you guys are discussing this as i started up a thread in the 997 section for the EXACT SAME THING, lol.

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/997/148629-anyone-have-problem-their-windshield.htm

I havent had any good input from anyone, so i guess i'll keep my eye on this thread as well. FYI, mine has 9800miles and the windshield looks like it got sandblastedl

 

I think it's the low hood angle with an abrupt (well, abrupt in relation to the hood) windscreen that acts as a wall and takes all the debris hits, leaving a lot of little nicks, pings, and marks. I think this is why the chips in the hood are all the same ... almond shaped, front to rear, as if they're skimming the hood before impacting the windscreen. That's my theory.
I'm only at 2800 miles and I'm seeing a few too many as well.

 

I'm at 20,000 miles and my windshield looks like a minefield too. My Range Rover has almost zero pitting probably because it's much higher in relation to the Turbo.