Glass window top replacement

[porscheguy05]

I got my GAHH top yesterday through cabrio world, and after receiving it and also instructions from the factory porsche manual on its installation, I decided to take the plunge and install it myself. This is my second top I have put on, so I was not going in totally blind, but the other one was on a 61 vette and was a two piece setup that required more adjustment and was a totally different setup. To make a long story short, the shop wanted 9-10 hours of labor, and in six hours of work I was done. It turned out great, and looks like it came from the factory with the glass window. GAHH did a really nice job. They use the same German material as the factory tops, and from the inside the pattern on the fabric even has the same tecture and design. If anyone is considering installing one, it was not too hard, but I would only attempt it if you have some mechanical know how. On my scale of 1 to 10 I would rate it a 5 as far as difficulty, just a little time consuming though. Cabrio World provides a copy of the installation instructions from a porsche factory repair manual, and I only paid 695.00 instead of the GAHH suggested retail of about 950.00 USD. Overall, I am very pleased and would recommend the product to anyone. Please let me know if anyone has any questions.

[98Boxster98]

I got my GAHH top yesterday through cabrio world, and after receiving it and also instructions from the factory porsche manual on its installation, I decided to take the plunge and install it myself. This is my second top I have put on, so I was not going in totally blind, but the other one was on a 61 vette and was a two piece setup that required more adjustment and was a totally different setup. To make a long story short, the shop wanted 9-10 hours of labor, and in six hours of work I was done. It turned out great, and looks like it came from the factory with the glass window. GAHH did a really nice job. They use the same German material as the factory tops, and from the inside the pattern on the fabric even has the same tecture and design. If anyone is considering installing one, it was not too hard, but I would only attempt it if you have some mechanical know how. On my scale of 1 to 10 I would rate it a 5 as far as difficulty, just a little time consuming though. Cabrio World provides a copy of the installation instructions from a porsche factory repair manual, and I only paid 695.00 instead of the GAHH suggested retail of about 950.00 USD. Overall, I am very pleased and would recommend the product to anyone. Please let me know if anyone has any questions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Congrats PorscheGuy! Any pictures to post? If not a detailed description of how to install the Boxster top, could maybe you point out any unclear or difficult portions of the self install per the CabrioWorld installation instructions?

[Tool Pants]

Update. BAS said they are going to have their glass supplier make the defogger elements in a darker color.

I was at the local Carlsen Porsche event today. The 986/997 glass windows are identical. I measured them. The oem horizontal heating elements are orange - I thought the were a dark color. The vertical elements are black. I thought all the oem glass heating elements were all black - wrong.

The 987/997 glass is 34 1/2" wide and 11" high. Will someone with the GAHH version post the dimensions of the window, and a picture of the top in the service position. My 1997 plastic window is 38" x 16".

If a local guy wants to do this then let me know. The mechanic guy I know who does an oem top in about 3 1/2 hours said he will show us how to do it at our local work on cars days, but I needed to clear it with 2 other people. 1 of the 2 I spoke to said it is ok. I did not have time to speak to the 2nd guy as I had to leave for work and he was on the phone.

Someone correct me if I have a bad memory, but on the GAHH site wasn't the price for 1997-2002 about $950. Today I see $699. If I did not dream it then maybe because Cabrio World is selling their top on ebay for $695.

Tried to take pics of the horizontal orange elements on the oem window.

Edited: The top pic is a 987 and the bottom is a 2003 986.

Edited May 10, 2005 by Tool Pants

[sleepy]

Someone correct me if I have a bad memory, but on the GAHH site wasn't the price for 1997-2002 about $950.  Today I see $699.  If I did not dream it then maybe because Cabrio World is selling their top on ebay for $695.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great post guys. My window just cracked yesterday, and I think I'll replace it with this top instead of replacing the plastic...especially if I can manage the install myself (PorscheGuy - is there a lot of adjustment and alignment involved?)

Just got word from GAHH - $695 is a sale price for this month only (I was asking why the glass was cheaper than plastic).

Also, (since it was mentioned concerning the BAS top) in addition to the service position question, can someone confirm the GAHH top works with the storage/speaker box in place?

-f

Edited May 9, 2005 by sleepy

[Krsco]

Is it my imagination or are the defogger strips in that window big and ugly?  The 2003 glass rear window and the hard top (all years) have nice thin unobtrusive defogger strips.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[MLegere]

Does anyone know if the Liners came in diff colors? (ie) Black top Black liner, or Gray top with Gray liner?

Mike

[hpjay]

I have a gray top but the liner is black, 2000S

Henry Jay

Does anyone know if the Liners came in diff colors? (ie) Black top Black liner, or Gray top with Gray liner?

Mike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[clubhead]

...Tried to take pics of the horizontal orange elements on the oem window.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I assume the photos you took were off the 987? The rear glass looks a lot larger than the ones pictured on cabrioworld.com....

Is the top by cabrioworld double layered? I'm told that on the original tops, the S gets the double layered top while the non-S gets the single layered one.

[clubhead]

....Please let me know if anyone has any questions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any chance that you could pdf the factory convertible removal/installation instructions? I've been wanting to remove my softtop as I almost always have my hardtop on. It's the lacking in instructions that keeps me from doing it. The plastic window will form a permanent crease and eventually crack if I were to store it in the down position for months on end.... :(

[Gundo]

....Please let me know if anyone has any questions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any chance that you could pdf the factory convertible removal/installation instructions? I've been wanting to remove my softtop as I almost always have my hardtop on. It's the lacking in instructions that keeps me from doing it. The plastic window will form a permanent crease and eventually crack if I were to store it in the down position for months on end.... :(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If all you want to do is remove the convertible top mechanism, its really, really easy.

1) Put top in service mode

2) Disconnect 3 bolts on each side (where top arms connect to rollbar)

3) Get a friend, pull entire top off of car.

Only 2 probs I see is that

1) you have to store top and it will still be partially folded as it is in service mode

2) you'll have to put clamshell down without top on, possible mis-aligning transmission and top when you try to put back on.

[Gundo]

....Please let me know if anyone has any questions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any chance that you could pdf the factory convertible removal/installation instructions? I've been wanting to remove my softtop as I almost always have my hardtop on. It's the lacking in instructions that keeps me from doing it. The plastic window will form a permanent crease and eventually crack if I were to store it in the down position for months on end.... :(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If all you want to do is remove the convertible top mechanism, its really, really easy.

1) Put top in service mode

2) Disconnect 3 bolts on each side (where top arms connect to rollbar)

3) Get a friend, pull entire top off of car.

Only 2 probs I see is that

1) you have to store top and it will still be partially folded as it is in service mode

2) you'll have to put clamshell down without top on, possible mis-aligning transmission and top when you try to put back on.

[jonathan]

I just received the CabrioWorld top as well. To confirm for the second time, it is the GAHH top. I ordered the German A5 canvas version in black. It looks very sharp in the box and the quality appears first-rate. I look forward to putting it onto the car. For those that order through CabrioWorld: they included a printout of the Porsche install .PDF with the order as well as a 'notes' page from a Boxster owner who did a DIY install. Very helpful.

PorscheGuy, I don't have any specific questions yet but if you have any advice or can point out any trouble spots to look out for that would be great.

Also, open question: does anyone know if, after installing a new top, if there is a liner that can be retrofit at a later date? The Porsche manual for glass top vs. plastic top is virtually identical and they only point out one mechanical difference. That mechanical difference looks like a modified piece for the top bow. Might be retrofittable.

[porscheguy05]

Congrats PorscheGuy! Any pictures to post? If not a detailed description of how to install the Boxster top, could maybe you point out any unclear or difficult portions of the self install per the CabrioWorld installation instructions?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Here are some pics. The lighting was not the greatest, and these are actually pictures of the originalpitures I took. Evidentely I had the resolution set too high when I took them because when I went to upload them to this message it said the file size was too big. So I pulled them up on my computer screen and took lower quality shots. I will try to get some better shots that I can actually post sometime soon.

Here are some general comments I made to questions on another forum that a member asked me regarding the install:

"Did you need any special tools to install the top?"

I needed, a T25 and a T15 screwdriver, a utility knife, heat shrink tubing and a hairdryer, a small blunt punch/hammer, 3m super trim adhesive, and about 8 small spring clamps. You probably have half of these items already, and can purchase the others for a few dollars.

"What did you feel was the trickiest/hardest part of the install?"

I would have to say that nothing was really extra hard, it was just tedious and time consuming. I would guess that maybe reinstalling the rear bow weatherstripping was the most frustrating, but just took perseverence.

"Any other tips or tricks?"

Yes, you will have to re-use the aluminum molded plates off of your old top if you don't want to buy new one. As long as you are careful there is no reason you cannot reuse your old ones by removing them and using the 3M adhesive to reapply to the new top. Also, I did not remove the side slide clamping rail that you will see in the install instructions if you buy the top from Cabrio world. I performed the tasks on this piece without removing it, but others may not. I just did not have new plastic plugs to re-install them if I would have broke on while removing the rail. Maybe someone else would go ahead and order these plastic pieces and just replace them. They cannot cost too much.

"There was a guy on this board that installed his own top a little while back, and he recommended against doing it yourself mainly because he couldn't get it tight enough, so it was always flapping."

I do not know what kind of top he put on. That may be the case. With the one that I installed the only way that I see I could have messed it up was to not get the rear section centered and it to be lop-sided. The entire setup is precut with specific places the top conects with holes drilled in the fabric so you know where to put the aluminum plates for alignment. If these holes were not pre-drilled then it would have been very hard to know how tight it needs to be. I used the holes they provided and it was a perfect fit. However, I do not want to encourage someone to do it themselves and then be upset with me because they screwed it up. I am just saying that given my limited experience with tops I was able to succesfully install the top with absolutely no flapping. It is as tight as the factory top.

[porscheguy05]

Someone correct me if I have a bad memory, but on the GAHH site wasn't the price for 1997-2002 about $950.  Today I see $699.  If I did not dream it then maybe because Cabrio World is selling their top on ebay for $695.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great post guys. My window just cracked yesterday, and I think I'll replace it with this top instead of replacing the plastic...especially if I can manage the install myself (PorscheGuy - is there a lot of adjustment and alignment involved?)

Just got word from GAHH - $695 is a sale price for this month only (I was asking why the glass was cheaper than plastic).

Also, (since it was mentioned concerning the BAS top) in addition to the service position question, can someone confirm the GAHH top works with the storage/speaker box in place?

-f

No, there was not really any adjustments to be made if you follow the directions. What I am trying to say is that the front portion already has the cardboard inserts installed at the proper length, the sides already have the holes drilled for the side aluminum plates, and the rear already has the fabric pre sewn and rubber insert installed in the correct position. So essentially for myself it was plug-and-play for lack of a better term.

Also, the GAHH top can be used with the rear storage/speaker box in place. I have the Bose setup, and it does not interfere at all. By the way, I noticed that toolpants pic of the 986 with the factory glass looks identical in appearance to the GAHH glass.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[porscheguy05]

...Tried to take pics of the horizontal orange elements on the oem window.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I assume the photos you took were off the 987? The rear glass looks a lot larger than the ones pictured on cabrioworld.com....

Is the top by cabrioworld double layered? I'm told that on the original tops, the S gets the double layered top while the non-S gets the single layered one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From the factory there is no difference in the number of layers between the S and the non-S version. They are the same top. Maybe someone was referring to the later models having the headliner.

[porscheguy05]

....Please let me know if anyone has any questions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any chance that you could pdf the factory convertible removal/installation instructions? I've been wanting to remove my softtop as I almost always have my hardtop on. It's the lacking in instructions that keeps me from doing it. The plastic window will form a permanent crease and eventually crack if I were to store it in the down position for months on end.... :(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What I did was replace the soft-top fabric and window, not the entire frame and all. It sounds like you are wanting to remove the entire assembly, is this correct? What I did does not require a person remove the assembly from the car. However, if you are wnating to remove the entire assembly, I can probably look it up for you.

[clubhead]

If all you want to do is remove the convertible top mechanism, its really, really easy.

1) Put top in service mode

2) Disconnect 3 bolts on each side (where top arms connect to rollbar)

3) Get a friend, pull entire top off of car.

Only 2 probs I see is that

1) you have to store top and it will still be partially folded as it is in service mode

2) you'll have to put clamshell down without top on, possible mis-aligning transmission and top when you try to put back on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That really sounds simple :) I'll give it a try. But what you pointed out are very valid concerns, esp the part on storing top elsewhere where it might be folded as well....

Are you sure about the mis-alignment that may happen if I lower the assembly without the top in place? I don't want to end up screwing up the entire mechanism when I put the top back on....

[sleepy]

porscheguy - thanks for answering everyone's questions. I just placed my order through cabrioworld last night, so hopefully my experience turns out as well as yours.

for those asking questions about top installation/removal, just wanted to chip in that a $25 subscription to alldatadiy.com gets you fairly comprehensive instructions (on that and a lot of other things). I'm not affiliated with them or promoting them, but I just thought I'd throw that out there, since those are the instructions I plan on using

[98Boxster98]

Porscheguy - thanks for the answers. Sleepy and other installing the top themselves - pictures before, during and after an install are always nice.

[porscheguy05]

porscheguy - thanks for answering everyone's questions.  I just placed my order through cabrioworld last night, so hopefully my experience turns out as well as yours.

for those asking questions about top installation/removal, just wanted to chip in that a $25 subscription to alldatadiy.com gets you fairly comprehensive instructions (on that and a lot of other things).  I'm not affiliated with them or promoting them, but I just thought I'd throw that out there, since those are the instructions I plan on using

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I also subscribe to the AllData Service, and think it is great. It gives me access to all 18 volumes and all TSB that the dealers have. I am getting ready to renew, and as long as I renew without letting the subscriptoin run out it only costs $15.00 to renew.

[jonathan]

I DIY installed the CabrioWorld (GAHH) top last weekend (14-15 May). I can second Porscheguy05's notes. Other than being time-consuming it was not difficult to do. The rear bow where the top and weather stripping come together was a little confusing. I had to stare at the directions and the bow for a while before it all clicked.

Unlike Porscheguy05 I did remove the plastic side pieces on the top bow. These are the ones with the plastic plugs mentioned by the instructions. On mine the plastic plug holders snapped during disassembly, so proceed with caution. The plastic was just too old and inflexible. I reused the side pieces anyway. You may use #12 machine screws to replace the plastic plugs, just cut off any remaining plastic fingers that did not snap on disassembly, and thread the screws in. :)

The top is tight and noise free. Actually quieter than the original plastic window top.

My top was extremely tight and very difficult to close initially. To get it closed and tight I set the tension cables to their loosest setting. The setscrews for these are left and right of the engine top cover. They are large (17mm IIRC) hex head bolts. Clockwise tightens them and counter-clockwise loosens them; you can watch the ball head end of the tension cable move up and down to double check. Anyway...loosen them up completely and then close the top. Once the top is closed and locked you can retighten the top cables from inside the car, just flip the seat forward on the side you are adjusting, sit on the door sill and reach backward through the roll hoop. You'll be able to reach the tighteners easily. I would recommend a ratcheting tool though or you will go crazy; the tighteners take a lot of turning.

The new top is a huge improvement.

Thanks also to Porscheguy05 for posting his notes and experience, it was a big help.

[porscheguy05]

I DIY installed the CabrioWorld (GAHH) top last weekend (14-15 May).  I can second Porscheguy05's notes.  Other than being time-consuming it was not difficult to do.  The rear bow where the top and weather stripping come together was a little confusing.  I had to stare at the directions and the bow for a while before it all clicked.

Unlike Porscheguy05 I did remove the plastic side pieces on the top bow.  These are the ones with the plastic plugs mentioned by the instructions.  On mine the plastic plug holders snapped during disassembly, so proceed with caution.  The plastic was just too old and inflexible.  I reused the side pieces anyway.  You may use #12 machine screws to replace the plastic plugs, just cut off any remaining plastic fingers that did not snap on disassembly, and thread the screws in.  :)

The top is tight and noise free.  Actually quieter than the original plastic window top.

My top was extremely tight and very difficult to close initially.  To get it closed and tight I set the tension cables to their loosest setting.  The setscrews for these are left and right of the engine top cover.  They are large (17mm IIRC) hex head bolts.  Clockwise tightens them and counter-clockwise loosens them; you can watch the ball head end of the tension cable move up and down to double check.  Anyway...loosen them up completely and then close the top.  Once the top is closed and locked you can retighten the top cables from inside the car, just flip the seat forward on the side you are adjusting, sit on the door sill and reach backward through the roll hoop.  You'll be able to reach the tighteners easily.  I would recommend a ratcheting tool though or you will go crazy; the tighteners take a lot of turning.

The new top is a huge improvement.

Thanks also to Porscheguy05 for posting his notes and experience, it was a big help.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

No problem. I am glad that your install went as smoothly as mine. My top was also tight, but after letting it sit for a day or two with the top closed it is now at the same taughtness as the original. What I mean is that it does not require any undue pulling to get it to latch. I only need to use the center latch now. I like the idea of loosening the adjusters, but I did not think of that. Now I need to get the wire that goes from the rear defroster hookup point to the defrosters themselves. I may do some testing on the harness connection and find out which wire is triggered by the front switch and hook it up myself rather than order a wire from the factory. A wire is a wire, after all. I will let you know what I find out.

Troy

[Tool Pants]

You should have the plug already wired for the defroster since it comes with heated mirrors and that is standard in the US.

Steve at BAS asked me how GAHH did their electrical connector for the window but I could not tell him since I have never seen the GAHH top in person.

Still would like to see the GAHH top in the service position.

[wimster]

I just had the GAHH top installed and it did not come with the defroster wiring, I

ordered the 2003 defroster cable assembly from the porsche dealer as that's the

one to be used with the GAHH top.

- Wimster

[Tool Pants]

So, I think you are the guy.

I was at Stevens Creek today to get a re-bend on my clamshell and figure out why my timing is beyond me.

Peter said a guy with a glass top replacement had just come in because the GAHH top did not come with the connector from the glass window to the plug. You need to order it from the hardtop parts list. Apparently, a similar connector is included with the BAS top.