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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: charlie_cc on 19 February 2018, 13:11

Title: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: charlie_cc on 19 February 2018, 13:11
My windscreen has cracked (https://imgur.com/cusobh0) while the car has been sat on my drive, it's clearly not any sort of impact.

For obvious reasons I don't want to go to my insurance company. Surely this is a defect that will be covered under my 3 year warranty?
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: SRGTD on 19 February 2018, 13:32
See the ‘exclusions’ section of the warranty terms and conditions; link below.

Windscreen and glass covered for the first month/600 miles only from date of first registration. If you’re beyond this, then it’s not covered under warranty.

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/warranty/new-car/terms-and-conditions

Why not claim on your insurance?; with pretty all car insurers in the UK, a glass claim won’t affect your no claims discount; you just have to pay the glass excess. 
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: charlie_cc on 19 February 2018, 13:53
Thanks. Have spoken to Autoglas, they said it sounds like a stress fracture and should be covered under manufacturer's warranty. Waiting to hear back from the dealer.

"Why not claim on your insurance?; with pretty all car insurers in the UK, a glass claim won’t affect your no claims discount; you just have to pay the glass excess."

Because it's a manufacturing defect, why should I have to pay anything?
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: Gaz W on 19 February 2018, 16:05
Seems very unusual!

Have your car inspected by your local dealer, it may be that they find something which means it can be attributed to a manufacturing defect a you say e.g. they find the glass has been incorrectly fitted from factory, or an associated component has caused the stress.

In my experience, likelihood is that it would not be covered and has been caused by an external influence of some description whether it be weather/temperature/stone chip etc it could be replaced through your insurance company (generally you are covered regardless of cause).
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: dubber36 on 19 February 2018, 17:19
Because it's a manufacturing defect, why should I have to pay anything?

It depends how much you value your time. It could take many trips to the dealer and subsequent time spent emailing and telephoning to get anywhere. What's your glass excess? £70?
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: mcmaddy on 19 February 2018, 18:52
If it's a manufacturing defect then VW will be getting lots of irate customers contacting them! If it's just yours then it's not a manufacturing defect. I had a windscreen cracked years ago from a pip dropped by a bird in a car park.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: wantmygti on 19 February 2018, 19:22
Can you post a photo from outside? It looks like 2 cracks, if they come from the same point it would start to look like an impact.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: barrym381 on 19 February 2018, 20:12
Thanks. Have spoken to Autoglas, they said it sounds like a stress fracture and should be covered under manufacturer's warranty. Waiting to hear back from the dealer.

"Why not claim on your insurance?; with pretty all car insurers in the UK, a glass claim won’t affect your no claims discount; you just have to pay the glass excess."

Because it's a manufacturing defect, why should I have to pay anything?
Did auto glass inspect the car or was that just on the phone they said that
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: 2007GTI on 20 February 2018, 00:11
Manufacturing defect, pull the other one. That windscreen goes through a lot of stress and strain, it matters not how old the car is, it is what you do with it. I’m not saying you have done anything wrong, but you might of hit a pothole or a stone hit it at 70+mph, who knows, or when it was parked something hit it. As the other reply says, for the sake of £50 or £100 just claim on your insurance.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: SRGTD on 20 February 2018, 09:39
For obvious reasons I don't want to go to my insurance company. Surely this is a defect that will be covered under my 3 year warranty?

As a matter of interest, what are the obvious reasons for not wanting to go to your insurance company? As has been said in this thread, replacing your windscreen doesn’t affect your no claims discount. You’ll just pay your glass excess (depending on your insurer, likely to be between £50-£100).

IMO, I’d value my time more than going through hassle of booking your car in at the dealers, having to get to and from the dealers to go about your business, or hanging around waiting while they inspect your screen and then being told it’s not covered under warranty. To not have to do that is worth more than £50-£100 to me.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: charlie_cc on 20 February 2018, 10:14
It's a matter of principal, not the money, it will only cost me £75 if I go through insurance.

I have dashcam footage of me parking the car on my drive with no crack, then starting the car up with the crack.

The crack starts where the windscreen joins the car below the wipers and below the line of the bonnet, and then branches out into the 2 cracks, so it's almost impossible anything could impact there. I do have a photo of the front, but due to reflections it's extremely hard to see.

I have an appointment with the dealer on Thursday, so let's see what they've got to say.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: O2Doc on 20 February 2018, 13:06
I’m not sure about VW but a similar thing happened to a F80 M3 recently...parked up outside suddenly a crack appeared in the windscreen. BMW replaced it under warranty no questions asked! Keep us informed on how it goes!

Also auto glass is very hit and miss when it comes to replacing windscreens. Some of their techs are enthusiasts and do a perfect job others complete waste of time. Hence why it is better to get VW to do it (although they will probably get auto glass to do it anyway!) but at least you can go back to them if it’s not perfect. Insist on a genuine VW screen in either case...none of this 3rd party rubbish - especially if you go through insurance!
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: mcmaddy on 20 February 2018, 15:06
VW don't fit windscreens at dealers and usually get 3rd party fitters in or send your car out.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: charlie_cc on 22 February 2018, 10:38
As expected, they claimed it was a stone chip.

I guess it may well be, all I know is it's below the line of the windscreen wipers and the crack developed while sat on my drive.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: fredgroves on 22 February 2018, 12:23
The crack expanding over night is common - you have an impact damage which turns into a crack as it gets cold during the night.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: hog_hedge on 22 February 2018, 12:37
As expected, they claimed it was a stone chip.

I guess it may well be, all I know is it's below the line of the windscreen wipers and the crack developed while sat on my drive.

It was worth a go, I hope you get it replaced ASAP.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: SRGTD on 22 February 2018, 14:17
As expected, they claimed it was a stone chip.

I guess it may well be, all I know is it's below the line of the windscreen wipers and the crack developed while sat on my drive.

On warranty claims in general, I’ve read on one VW forum (sorry, can’t remember which one) that VW seem to be taking a much firmer line. Warranty claims for white worm corrosion on diamond cut alloys used to just involve the dealer taking photos of the defect and (presumably) sending them to VW to authorise a new replacement. Apparently, the dealer now also takes paint/powder coat/ lacquer thickness readings on the wheels as well as taking photos - assume this is so VW can initially deny the warranty claim if they feel a wheel has been refurbished, even if it hasn’t.
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: O2Doc on 23 February 2018, 20:47
As expected, they claimed it was a stone chip.

I guess it may well be, all I know is it's below the line of the windscreen wipers and the crack developed while sat on my drive.

On warranty claims in general, I’ve read on one VW forum (sorry, can’t remember which one) that VW seem to be taking a much firmer line. Warranty claims for white worm corrosion on diamond cut alloys used to just involve the dealer taking photos of the defect and (presumably) sending them to VW to authorise a new replacement. Apparently, the dealer now also takes paint/powder coat/ lacquer thickness readings on the wheels as well as taking photos - assume this is so VW can initially deny the warranty claim if they feel a wheel has been refurbished, even if it hasn’t.

I guess with Dieselgate they have had to spend their money elsewhere covering up the cheating they have been up to  :grin:
Title: Re: 6 month old GTI 7.5 Cracked Windscreen
Post by: mcmaddy on 24 February 2018, 09:01
^^ 😴😴