Argh! Cracked glass roof!

[Flying ace]

Damn it, I've had the car for 7 days and today, I picked up the dread crack on the glass roof. It's clearly an impact related crack, so it'll be an insurance claim. It's on the non visual part of the glass, so I can still enjoy my VLC roof while I wait for the part.

Questions:
1. For those who had this issue, how long was the wait for the part, and how long was the install?
1. Is there something I should do immediately to it to ensure it doesn't spread or leak? I'm thinking having safelite put the windshield filler in into the impact crater.

btw this is on a wagon WITH roof rails AND variable light control, so I'm guess it won't be the typical $8k glass part...

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[Tooney]

Do NOT crack your panoramic glass!

 

[SergeyIndy]

Really sorry to hear about the roof crack. I would be devastated, but life happens.

One of the owners in the area had a VLC roof that malfunctioned on delivery (some panels would not clear) on his GTS sedan and the roof had to be replaced. The roof took 3 months to get and then the installation was done by the dealer's collision shop certified to do this work and took a few days. I still had a chance to remove VLC from my build trying to avoid the same situation. The owner also did not like the milky look of the roof and ended up installing some film over it to change the look. I am pretty happy with just the standard roof and removable shade.

 

[bn8959]

Mine cracked (VLC) and was replaced under warranty (as the crack appears from under the roof bar mounting point).
It was about a 3 week delay for the part for me.
The crack did grow and separate off in to several paths - about 1cm/day I reckon. But it didn’t leak, so i wouldn’t worry about that. It didn’t affect the function of VLC either.

normally replacement involves also replacing the front windscreen. My OPC had a method to do it where they removed the front seats instead. Apparently the windscreen is only removed to get the headliner out - by taking the seats out, they could just drop the headliner down and leave it in the car.

 

[VOLT4GE]

Damn it, I've had the car for 7 days and today, I picked up the dread crack on the glass roof. It's clearly an impact related crack, so it'll be an insurance claim. It's on the non visual part of the glass, so I can still enjoy my VLC roof while I wait for the part.

Questions:
1. For those who had this issue, how long was the wait for the part, and how long was the install?
1. Is there something I should do immediately to it to ensure it doesn't spread or leak? I'm thinking having safelite put the windshield filler in into the impact crater.

btw this is on a wagon WITH roof rails AND variable light control, so I'm guess it won't be the typical $8k glass part...

Once it starts cracking, there’s nothing Safelite can do about it.

 

[BjörnfromHamburg]

It's double layer safety glass: just check if one layer is intact.
While one is cracked, the other layer will keep water out of the car.
If water should get between the layers, better not let it freeze.

 

[roger-on-taycan]

Damn it, I've had the car for 7 days and today, I picked up the dread crack on the glass roof. It's clearly an impact related crack, so it'll be an insurance claim.

Yow. Do you have any idea when (or how) it happened?

 

[cometguy]

European customers can get all-metal roofs in Taycans, including the Turismos ... I don't understand why that option isn't extended to American customers... I, for one, would build my Taycan CT (or Macan 4) without any glass in the roof.

 

[tigerbalm]

European customers can get all-metal roofs in Taycans, including the Turismos ... I don't understand why that option isn't extended to American customers... I, for one, would build my Taycan CT (or Macan 4) without any glass in the roof.

But only 5% of Taycan's in Europe have the metal roof. Which is surprising because: (a) metal roof is cheaper, (b) it makes the cabin quieter as it has additional sound deadening material in the headliner and (c) it looks way better and makes the Taycan look smaller and more cohesive with the lines running the entire length of the car.

 

[Ronglos]

The aluminum roof is standard on all sedans. I am quit pleased that I ordered my 2022 with an aluminum roof.

 

[Gino]

Damn it, I've had the car for 7 days and today, I picked up the dread crack on the glass roof. It's clearly an impact related crack, so it'll be an insurance claim. It's on the non visual part of the glass, so I can still enjoy my VLC roof while I wait for the part.

Questions:
1. For those who had this issue, how long was the wait for the part, and how long was the install?
1. Is there something I should do immediately to it to ensure it doesn't spread or leak? I'm thinking having safelite put the windshield filler in into the impact crater.

btw this is on a wagon WITH roof rails AND variable light control, so I'm guess it won't be the typical $8k glass part...

I would bet Porsche prefers the glass roof or VLC roof because it offers another revenue stream for when these glass roofs crack. The metal roof is one & done so Porsche like all EV makers need other sources of revenue compared to ICE vehicles. These expensive & fragile glass roofs that crack after 10-15 years could make these models value go down so far that the repair is not justified. Who is going to pay $14K to replace their VLC roof after 10-15 years if they are unlucky to get a crack. I could imagine it would be cheaper to simply use a vinyl wrap to cover the roof glass for a few hundred dollars rather than $7K to $14K to replace the glass.
I’ve seen people completely change the color of their vehicles with wraps so I would anticipate seeing owners with a crack that their insurance won’t pay for, just decide to cover it at a fraction of the cost.

 

[PNWTaycan4S]

Rock chip while on a trip and a week later the crack showed up. They had to replace the windshield as part of the panoramic glass replacement, as it broke, as is common in the roof replacement. About $11,000 in the U.S., covered by comprehensive less deductible. Part took just a few days, but it took over a month to get scheduled into the body shop. 3-day job once in.

 

[Uknown]

Sorry! That sucks. Hope they fix it quick.

 

[BjörnfromHamburg]

Who is going to pay $14K to replace their VLC roof after 10-15 years if they are unlucky to get a crack. I could imagine it would be cheaper to simply use a vinyl wrap to cover the roof glass for a few hundred dollars rather than $7K to $14K to replace the glass.
I’ve seen people completely change the color of their vehicles with wraps so I would anticipate seeing owners with a crack that their insurance won’t pay for, just decide to cover it at a fraction of the cost.

Are you serious??

 

[f1eng]

Are you serious??

I would imagine he is.

That sort of price is going to be a complete no-go for somebody running a 15 year old car, and those suggestions seem quite practical to me.

OTOH I have disliked glass roofs since having one one on a car in the 1980s and since the sculpted ally roof also looks much better it was a no brainer not to get the glass roof on my Taycan, so I am biased.

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