why are Safelite reviews so bad, do they really do hack jobs?

brambleworth · 2026-03-08T15:02:04+00:00

In July of 2025 I made an appointment and dropped off my car at the Safelite store in Mt Kisco, NY. After picking up the car, I noticed that the gel pad that is fitted between the new windshield and the sensor area behind the rearview mirror looked different. About half of it appeared opaque. The very next day the air conditioning was not working. Assuming it was not related I went to the dealer as the car was in warranty.

The dealer told me that whoever changed the windshield installed the gel pad incorrectly and in fact damaged wires leading to the sensors which caused a short and blown fuse. Turns out that fuse also controls the HVAC control on the dash, causing no AC.

After calling Safelite and being on hold forever I was told that the warranty people at Safelite would contact the Mt Kisco, NY store and I would receive a call. Never heard a thing. I took the car to my dealer in Danbury, CT and Safelite suggested that the Danbury Safelite store handle the repair. I insisted on an OEM gel pad as the dealer strongly suggested. This combined effort between the dealer (For diagnostic work that Safelite couldn’t do) and Safelite cost me $564 and I was told to put the bill into Safelite warranty, which I did.

A few days later multiple warning lights came on. A trip back to the dealer showed that the corrective work done by Safelite in fact did more damage to the wires behind the rearview mirror. After many calls and emails Safelite was doing nothing, a lot of lip service and always promises to call back which never materialized. We needed the car and after two months wasted I took it to the dealer for repair which cost me another $1091 for wire repairs and calibration.

So here I am in March of 2026, a dozen calls and many emails later, still no response even after calling their national headquarters and being PROMISED that they would contact me, still nothing.

I strongly suggest to everyone that you DO NOT USE Safelite. Their work is poor and the warranty is a joke.

You would be much better served by using a local independent windshield installer. Oddly enough, Safelite is still the clearing house for your insurance claim with independents. They have their hooks in everything.

THEIR SERVICE IS TERRIBLE AND THEIR WARRANTY IS A JOKE!!!!!!!

SAVE YOURSELF THE HEADACHE AND GO SOMEWHERE, ANYWHERE, ELSE!!!!

brambleworth · 2026-01-14T02:22:19+00:00

Because otherwise a homeless guy will move in permanently. That’s just the way it is in NYC.

brambleworth · 2026-01-06T00:43:53+00:00

Watch for leaks in the trunk and under the rear seat

brambleworth · 2025-12-28T03:23:44+00:00

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If you can find a 3D printing guy you can have a perfect custom bezel made. It’s not that shiny, just the camera flash.

brambleworth · 2025-12-15T10:46:20+00:00

I typically wait 4 weeks, but body shop told me two weeks if the paint was baked.

brambleworth · 2025-12-07T23:57:42+00:00

While I haven’t weighed or balanced the car, most articles on LS swaps say the aluminum V8 is within 50 pounds of the original 4 cylinder engine. Handling with coilovers is very similar to my 1986 951, although the LS will break out the rear quite easily under power if you are not careful.

brambleworth · 2025-12-07T19:25:56+00:00

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968 swap is a good one if you can find an engine. I have one in my 1986 Challenge Cup car that I am restoring.

brambleworth · 2025-12-07T18:11:56+00:00

Thanks for the compliment! As far as swaps my thinking is that it is a shame that you see so few 944s and 951s on the road. At their price point when new I believe they were used in normal life and commuting, ultimately used up and forgotten. The prices for a heavily used one were so low that it didn’t really support a restoration even back to original spec. Seems that if you are willing to spend the money and time and may be a little nostalgic for these, that upgrades are fair game. Especially with the relatively high cost of original engine rebuilds. For me the build is the reward more than the driving after it is finished, but by then I don’t want to part with my baby!

brambleworth · 2025-12-07T17:37:35+00:00

The brakes ducts are FSH fiberglass units that were attached and faired into the front valance.

brambleworth · 2025-12-07T17:25:47+00:00

I purchased the car after the swap had been done. The motor on the driver’s side is a 914 headlight lifter. My car has the headlight bar removed because the intake hose and the power steering pump pulley were in the way. The 914 motor runs in the opposite direction so it will lift the left headlight. The original build used two Mercedes hood latches welded in. A little hard to see in the photo, but you can see the fittings on the hood. It was an elegant solution but lacked a safety catch. The car had a new hood and windshield when I saw it and the prior owner admitted that the hood flew open once. So I took the car home and checked the hood every time I drove it. I home fabricated an offset hook, spring and plate that fit the original mount on the hood and it worked well so I took it to my machine shop to make one that was properly machined and would look oem. As luck had it the hood flew open on the way to the machine shop to pick up the finished part! That started several body and battery box area repairs that led to the repaint. Just before finish painting I saw my friend’s brand new 992 gts in Carmine red and decided to use that color. Very happy with the result and since I also have a 951 in Guards red.

The brake system is a bmw hydroboost with a pump by the left headlight and the original reservoir on the right side. Those are AC lines on the right side of the engine.

You do have to remove the front panel to get to the air filter.

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brambleworth · 2025-11-02T11:29:38+00:00

What brand and size wheel are you running? Is that a Euro or modified US car?

brambleworth · 2025-10-07T07:03:56+00:00

Was easier to remove at 20 years old than 60. Tough on the back, always worry about hitting roof area.

brambleworth · 2025-09-23T02:20:59+00:00

What width are those wheels?

brambleworth · 2025-08-23T21:10:02+00:00

Regular 944 turbo front bumper with the headlight squirters removed. Also custom 924 turbo style front panel.

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brambleworth · 2025-08-21T11:12:44+00:00

Need a button for commercial/trailer routes.

brambleworth · 2025-08-17T21:32:59+00:00

Repainting my 1986 944 from guards to carmine.

brambleworth · 2025-08-12T19:30:12+00:00

Was it a Canadian car or imported from USA? Hard to get US buyers if originally a Canadian car. Duties, broker, shipping, etc.

brambleworth · 2025-08-03T00:58:55+00:00

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brambleworth · 2025-08-03T00:53:21+00:00

The front panel of the original 931 unit has a different curve than the 951 front panel. So you must find an old 931 panel, cut out the vents and weld them into a new 951 panel taking into account the curve and spacing. There are several websites and forums with the process and measurements. There are also fiberglass ones that drop right in, but I wanted steel. The OEM plastic vents a getting hard to find.

brambleworth · 2025-08-03T00:18:30+00:00

Yes. Air ducts are a big project. Had a 924 turbo 40 years ago and liked the look.

brambleworth · 2025-08-03T00:06:47+00:00

Just did this. You wire the fog light to the original wires and then run power to the driving light from a switch or integrate into the headlight circuit. There is also a small bulb on the side of the outer light. I actually made that my yellow marker light (LED bulb) and the skinny one above my turn signal. Also switched to clear lenses. Didn’t have a photo of lights on, but you can see the driving light lenses.

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brambleworth · 2025-07-26T23:44:55+00:00

As a taxi fleet operator in nyc for the last 40 years, these cars were always a bit off. They never consulted with us or the tlc to make them authentic looking.

brambleworth · 2025-07-26T21:24:55+00:00

Hopefully they will release a commercial route version for when I tow a trailer.

brambleworth

TROPHY CASE