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Hey, I did a search but must have done the wrong keywords. 'Glass Window' just turned up people saying that it was only availabe in 2002+.
So I have a question, and I'm sure it's been asked, so I'm sorry...
Is there a way to retrofit a glass window into a 2000-2001 soft top? Say I bought the glass somewhere... Would it fit in? Is it possible to make it like a regular top? I'm thinking this might be cheaper than the $600+ for a whole top... And as for the defroster, not that it matters as much... But would one be able to do the wiring themself and adapt their own switch somewhere inside?
Just wondering if any of that has been done or is possible... TIA
I'm no expert, but I believe the glass window is significantly smaller than the plastic one. Also, IIRC from my test drive of an '01 a few years ago, the top on the plastic window is designed to fold roughly down the middle of the window. Obviously that won't work with glass. I'd say you're probably looking at a new top, and maybe a new frame as well.
To do it right it is a lot more than $600, you have to buy the top and the frame. It was nearly $2000 when it was posted 2 years ago.
About a year and a half ago a person bought the 2002+ top, with glass window, and installed it. You have to modify the way the top folds, since the 2000-2001 folds differently than the 2002+.
The $150 was the difference between the '01 and '02 softops that I had to pay out of pocket. I had the repair done at a very good Honda dealer near Redwood City (Bay Area, CA) that had developed a reputation for doing glass window conversions on S2000s. The work isn't plug and play, however. He had to attach an elastic "sleeve" around the 2nd and 3rd roof beams, and the defroster isn't hooked up. (Would have cost a good deal more to do that).
I firmly believe that this is the best mod that can be done to an '00 or '01, followed by '04/'05 wheels.
You can buy the '02+ soft-tops brand new for about $850 shipped and if you are patient and mechanically experienced install it for about another $20 in materials. Sometimes you can find members on this board selling their entire top combo [soft-top, frame, and motors] for around $1000.
I prefer the second choice because the frames and tops are completely compatible, it was much easier swapping in the frame then it was retro-fitting the glass window onto the old frame.
Here is my conversion. The glass window is so much clearer than my old plastic window and no maintenance is needed to make it look good