Night view camera glass replacement

[whitex]

Today I found the glass of the night vision lens on my Taycan GTS scattered. Obviously I asked the Porsche centre for an estimate for repair, and go a €8,583.55 as repair cost…

I know Porsche service is good but expensive, but an €8500 bill to repair an €2500 option after some stone chip scattered a 5cm2 low placed glass panel is still a surprise…

You must appear reach rich to them. This looks to be a "how much can he afford" price. Perhaps get your insurance company involved, they can push back on the quote if it's overly inflated.

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[jmi91]

Same problem for me. Is there any site for a germanium-replacement window? Shalom didn’t respond to my email…

 

[BjörnfromHamburg]

Had the same problem earlier this year.
No glass replacement possible, only full set.
6k € for camera/ parts plus labour. Ridiculous pricing.

 

[ferdiaz]

I haven't had (yet) this issue, but I do have the night vision camera, and reading this thread has spooked me. Makes me wonder what I can do to prevent the glass from breaking.

In any case, have any of you checked these guys from Singapore?

https://sot.com.sg/product/germanium-window-customization/

 

[prj]

I think you could put a second germanium window in front of the first without any coating.
Then when it breaks you only have to replace that.

Though, I am not sure how to fit it there apart from gluing it in.

 

[ferdiaz]

I think you could put a second germanium window in front of the first without any coating.
Then when it breaks you only have to replace that.

Though, I am not sure how to fit it there apart from gluing it in.

Considering that the trim part in the bumper where the camera is placed is of conical shape, perhaps a good approach would be to source a germanium window of a larger diameter, and place it further out than the original camera.

That, of course, would require bumper modifications to keep it in place: cutting one slit on each wall of this cavity, with the slit being as thick as the new glass, would allow the new glass to "clip" into place.

That would result on having the camera sitting 2-3 cm behind the larger additional screen. This buffer would also offer additional protection in case of stone impact, compared to having a second screen sitting right on top of the original one.

The consequence of this type of mod is that this bumper plastic trim would be permanently modified. That said, this trim part is likely to be much cheaper to replace than the night vision camera.

 

[BjörnfromHamburg]

Interesting approach. Probably worth the effort.
what about probable condensation between the two germaniums?

 

[ferdiaz]

Interesting approach. Probably worth the effort.
what about probable condensation between the two germaniums?

That's indeed the risk of spacing the two screens further apart.

On a second look, though, it might be possible to "sandwich" a bezel with the new protective screen between the camera and the bumper plastic trim. It looks like the bumper trim simply "meets" the camera without clipping to it, which means, between these two surfaces, the space is an open space.

By inserting a bezel in between, the space will remain open with good ventilation, thus preventing condensation and water accumulation. On the flipside, the inner surface of the glass can accumulate dirt, so we're trading fogging for cleanliness here: it should be possible to close up the space with a rubber gasket, and prevent condensation with two drain holes taped up with something like gore-tex to prevent water ingress while allowing ventilation.

That said, with this approach, NO bumper modifications would be required, as the bezel would simply be sandwiched in between. The implication of this approach is that the space between bezel and the OEM glass would be reduced, and with it, the risk of damaging the OEM glass if the protective screen breaks will be increased. But still, I believe that would be a good preventive measure.

 

[wilho]

Hi,

i have had the same idea, but have been wondering if anyone has tried this already?

maybe I’ll order one from Singapore and try it out in my upcoming GTS?

I think you could put a second germanium window in front of the first without any coating.
Then when it breaks you only have to replace that.

Though, I am not sure how to fit it there apart from gluing it in.

I haven't had (yet) this issue, but I do have the night vision camera, and reading this thread has spooked me. Makes me wonder what I can do to prevent the glass from breaking.

In any case, have any of you checked these guys from Singapore?

https://sot.com.sg/product/germanium-window-customization/

 

[wilho]

Also I'm considering that this could be relatively easily glued on the place using some automotive assembly or construction glue

Hi,

i have had the same idea, but have been wondering if anyone has tried this already?

maybe I’ll order one from Singapore and try it out in my upcoming GTS?

 

[tigerbalm]

Is the camera still working despite the damaged front "glass" ? Or is it required to make the infra-red sensor work?

 

[BjörnfromHamburg]

My camera failed with the broken glass.
If it works, than for a limited time until moisture enters the electronics.

 

[tigerbalm]

Would something as simple as a "screen protector" like what some folks with mobile phone use – cut to the shape of the glass help with smaller stone chips hitting it?

I'm interested in this topic in general because I have the same camera on my 911 and presume it suffers from the same risks.

 

[prj]

Would something as simple as a "screen protector" like what some folks with mobile phone use – cut to the shape of the glass help with smaller stone chips hitting it?

I'm interested in this topic in general because I have the same camera on my 911 and presume it suffers from the same risks.

No because it's opaque to IR.

 

[Pinballplanet]

I can attest that clear packing tape does work in place of a broken germanium window. That said, I am still hoping to get a replacement germanium window proper.

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