Windscreen Needs Replacing Pros & Cons

[Jackie Treehorn]

Hi

Windscreen has a 5cm impact today and needs replacing. 

Called VW Ensurance tonight and National windscreens should be calling tomorrow.  Anything I need to know or do?


Experience: The VW windscreen is a f'kin nightmare as it has ripples in it from the factory  (only noticed after about 10 months)  and only after pain staking hours with Bar Keepers Friend cleaner have I managed to strip it completely. IPA, vinegar, AG glass polish didn't touch it.

So do I really need a genuine screen? is it Better?

Any thoughts appreciated

[AntGTD]

Personally I prefer genuine as in the past I've experienced issues with the rain sensor position.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Gotcha, so the sensor comes with the screen, ie VW?

Prob best to get a VW screen then I guess

[phazer]

The sensor does not come with the screen. It's attached using a gel sticker.

After market screens are no problem for auto wipers/lights as long as the gel packs are replaced. Some fitters don't bother hence you hear people complaining about after market screens when in reality, it's the fault of the fitter.

[Mk7-GTD]

Gotcha, so the sensor comes with the screen, ie VW?

Prob best to get a VW screen then I guess

The sensors are not in the screen, they are in box that is attached to the screen, the one that is between the mirror and screen.

[corgi]

Of course, VW does not make the windscreens, I don't know who the OE supplier is though...

As stated above aftermarket should not cause any issues if correctly fitted and may even be better quality.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Ok thanks

After being transferred to various dept, including glass company, underwriters etc, they won't give me a VW screen so not a problem. As long as its fitted correctly, which is another story I guess 

[Vedubber]

Had a screen repleaced in my 6R Polo GTI and it was terrible, with the polo all the 3 edges of the glass are uncovered and the new screen they fitted had been cut terribly up the sides and across the top it didn't sit right along side the A pilliars and roof.

Luckily with the Golf it has rubber covers going up the sides of the screen so this shouldn't be seen at all, it will be down to how it sits across the roof line.

Since then I have always said if it was going to be a new screen I would fight to have an OEM or better quality one than just an Autoglass aftermarket.

[monkeyhanger]

Had a screen repleaced in my 6R Polo GTI and it was terrible, with the polo all the 3 edges of the glass are uncovered and the new screen they fitted had been cut terribly up the sides and across the top it didn't sit right along side the A pilliars and roof.

Luckily with the Golf it has rubber covers going up the sides of the screen so this shouldn't be seen at all, it will be down to how it sits across the roof line.

Since then I have always said if it was going to be a new screen I would fight to have an OEM or better quality one than just an Autoglass aftermarket.

Autoglass did a great job when they fitted mine (Saint Gobain Quartz). They pop the side trims off, the bottom trim off. wrap a wire around the perimeter of the windscreen, crank the wire to constrict around the rubber sealant to cut it in a cheese-wire fashion. They then pull the covers off the rearview mirror surround, disconnect the light/rain sensor. pull the old windscreen out, put a new bead of sealant around the frame. The new windscreen was then thoroughly solvent cleaned (Acetone, I think), dropped the new windscreen in (with spacers to ensure a uniform gap all round), put the trims back on, put a new gel pack in the light/rain sensor (cut from a roll of the stuff), clip the surrounds back in after reconnecting,  and tell you not to drive the car for 4 hours.

I don't believe the OEM windscreen is any better or worse than a third party replacement by either Pilkington or Saint Gobain Quartz, nor do I think the VW garage (if they don't subby it out) will do a better job of fitting it than someone who replaces windscreens every day for a living.

[Jackie Treehorn]

Spoke to the windscreen company and they can't fit me in for 3 weeks, then when I say I can't do that week, they tell me I can't have any date further away as they don't book that far ahead, so i will need to call back another time... WTF

Rang VW dealer who use SilverShield for fitting, so I contacted Silvershield who have the contracts for Vindis, Mariot etc, and they will charge me £180 fitted tomorrow with new gel pack.  I will pay this myself and just get it done, at least they work on VW all day long, and I was paying £75 excess anyway.  To me it means i pay 100 quid more to get it done by who I want and when i want and won't bother with the insurance side...


Just as an update to the many calls today to sort this.
VW Ensurance were useless, and got me an installation with a company my insurer weren't happy about or didn't approve, my insurance company wouldn't use anyone other than Auto windscreens which were sold/purchased by Markerstudy Group of Companies a couple of years ago. Who, according to themselves, are a marketing and distribution of insurance products company.  The insurers are basically using their own monkeys.

Just to show how bad Auto Windscreen are: reviews http://www.reviews.co.uk/company-reviews/store/auto-windscreens

Needless to say with the amount of hassle it takes to sort a windscreen out, I wouldn't want to make a proper claim for car repairs in the future and will change insurers again later this year...