99 996 Cabriolet Top Replacement DIY?

[darrinsmith]

Hi

The rear window on my 99 cab finally let go last night separating almost all the way along the bottom seal. (I've only had the car back a week after a transmission rebuild :-( ).

I've put the hard top on (ugly) but the roof has got to come off to either be repaired or replaced.

I've searched the forum and seen lots of talk about it but has anyone done it themselves?

I have the factory workshop manual and have read the procedure several times.

It seems tricky, but not impossible, just a bit time consuming.

I also have the durametric software, the latest beta bersion claims to be able to do the top calibration.

So I was just after some feedback from anyone who has done it themselves and any tips they can offer.

I have been quoted around $600 for labour and about $400-$500 for a new window, but I am also considering the GAHH glass conversion depending on the cost of repair - although the top itself is in very good condition.

Also does anyone know if the roof mechanism can be folded down with the top removed, so I can still drive the car with the hard top on while it's getting repaired.

Looking forward to your responses....

Cheers

DS

[forbes500]

Hi how did you sort the problem in the end? I have the same issue and am looking at replacing the roof entirely with one from gahh.com or autotopsdirect.com

I'm based in Ireland and could make the trip to the UK to have the roof fixed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

[nbeihl]

http://www.emiata.com/996Window.htm

I replaced the window on my 1998 Boxster before I got my 996. The Boxster's window had to be sown in and was a huge pain. The entire top had to be taken off and it took >8 hours total.

The 996 plastic window is zipped in and should take less than 2 hours. The link above offers the window with instructions for $199 + $13 Shipping.

[Kim]

The 996 plastic window is zipped in and should take less than 2 hours. The link above offers the window with instructions for $199 + $13 Shipping.

Be cautious if you go this route. Although the soft 996 cab window did, indeed, have a zipper, said zipper was not the primary means of keeping it in place. As the web site you referenced makes clear, after being zipped in, the window must be glued around its entire perimeter.

When my window had only 5 -6 inches of separation along the bottom, I could not find an upholstery shop in metro Atlanta that would attempt a repair without removing the entire top first.

[frisbee91]

The 996 plastic window is zipped in and should take less than 2 hours. The link above offers the window with instructions for $199 + $13 Shipping.

Be cautious if you go this route. Although the soft 996 cab window did, indeed, have a zipper, said zipper was not the primary means of keeping it in place. As the web site you referenced makes clear, after being zipped in, the window must be glued around its entire perimeter.

I repaired my existing window in place. Here's a link to my DIY:

I imagine you could use a similar method to glue in the replacement window mentioned above, but I doubt you could do it in 2 hours. Just my 2 cents.