Chipped Windscreen - Replace?

linktoinsanity · 14 Oct 2009 at 10:45

Hey all. I was driving through town yesterday, when I came across some signs warning about chips on the road and saying max speed: 20mph. So I slowed right down and drove at the slower speed.

All was fine until I turned a corner and a 4x4 came hurtling past, possibly even breaking the normal 30mph speed limit, overtaking a bike. I saw a load of chips fly up from under the 4x4 and heard a load of them hit my car. Now there are four or five chips all over the windscreen. Should I take it to the garage? Or should it be ok to leave it as it is?

Dam annoying, that's the second thing in the last 4 weeks that's happened to my car, because of other drivers.

BringTheRain · 14 Oct 2009 at 10:46

need more info about the damage, i work for autoglass

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2009 at 10:53

Replace it. The repairs they do are completely rubbish - I had mine 'repaired'. I could see the chip still after it was done and a year later all the resin has come out and the chip is as bad as ever.

BringTheRain · 14 Oct 2009 at 10:54

[TW]Fox;15090518 said:
Replace it. The repairs they do are completely rubbish - I had mine 'repaired'. I could see the chip still after it was done and a year later all the resin has come out and the chip is as bad as ever.

What company done that?

linktoinsanity · 14 Oct 2009 at 10:57

@ Damo: A mate just suggested autoglass. The damage is around 4 or 5 (could be more) small chips in the windscreen. Mostly grouped together.

@ Fox:

Windscreens aren't cheap though...

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2009 at 10:58

DAMO RAM80 said:
What company done that?

The RAC owned one.

Deleted User 234324 · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:00

Check your insurance policy, for mine its £10 to get chips repaired or £75 for a new windscreen.

If there are loads of stone chips might just be worth getting a new windscreen. If you go down that route though insist on getting an OEM screen and not some crappy knock off.

BringTheRain · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:01

Ok for a start we cant repair 4 or 5 chips in the windscreen its not safe todo 4 or 5. Maximum is THREE.

BUT!!

I know its a pain, if you can measure the chips i can tell you if there are big enough to repair or not.

In the business you get what is called "pitfills" A pitfill is damage that is 3mm round or less with NO cracks coming from it.

If the damage is 1mm,2mm,3mm WITH cracks then that is a repair.

At the moment, just want to see if the damage is to small to be repaired

As when "customer" quote 4 or say 9 chips they are all pitfills

Trifid · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:02

[TW]Fox;15090518 said:
Replace it. The repairs they do are completely rubbish - I had mine 'repaired'. I could see the chip still after it was done and a year later all the resin has come out and the chip is as bad as ever.

I agree with this. I was dissapointed with my repaired windscreen. Barely looked any different...

linktoinsanity · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:03

Ok, thanks Dambo, I shall take a look when I get the chance.

BringTheRain · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:03

[TW]Fox;15090553 said:
The RAC owned one.

Hmm thats Auto windscreens. Autoglass sold them our own OLD chip repair system. We now use the 123 RAS system which is used only by us.

When you say the resin had fallen out, if that was Autoglass then that would be a warranty job. As we offer a LIFE time warranty for as long as you own it

BringTheRain · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:04

LinktoInsanity said:
Ok, thanks Dambo, I shall take a look when I get the chance.

Also who are you insured with ?

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:04

I didn't pay for it anyway as it was covered by my insurance company but I'll just get round to getting them to replace the screen instead this time although I'll probably go with someone else to get the OEM glass fitted again.

linktoinsanity · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:08

DAMO RAM80 said:
Also who are you insured with ?

More Than. Hopefully it's covered. As long as it doesn't affect my no claims?

BringTheRain · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:09

[TW]Fox;15090592 said:
I didn't pay for it anyway as it was covered by my insurance company but I'll just get round to getting them to replace the screen instead this time although I'll probably go with someone else to get the OEM glass fitted again.

Well no glass company with fit a BMW stamped windscreen for just your excess. Have to pay a bit extra or ASK really nicely

I know Autoglass doesn't make glass. We go to whoever makes the glass for said car company.

If you want a BMW stamped bit of glass. We would go to bmw, but bmw hasn't made it. They just stamp the glass that we would have fitted in the first place

[TW]Fox · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:14

DAMO RAM80 said:
Well no glass company with fit a BMW stamped windscreen for just your excess. Have to pay a bit extra or ASK really nicely

Yes they will, I have an offer through one of the BMW forums from somebody who works for one of my insurance companies approved windscreen fitters who claims he can do it.

BringTheRain · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:14

LinktoInsanity said:
More Than. Hopefully it's covered. As long as it doesn't affect my no claims?

Coolio. More Than = Royal sun and alliance.

AUTOGLASS is the FIRST recommend repairer for them.

If we can repair it, its free.

If its a new screen then you will have to pay £65. It was £60 but there W/S excess went up.

As for NCB. Repair will not effect your NCB.

You would have to ring More Than if you was gonna get a new windscreen to check about NCB. As it depends on insurance history. BUT in all the years i have never heard anyone say they LOSE NCB when having a new windscreen fitted. Also do not ring "Glass hotline" as that will take you through to autoglass lol, and we cant give you an answer on the NCB

BTW - You need to be FULLY COMPREHENSIVE to get glass cover

BringTheRain · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:16

[TW]Fox;15090674 said:
Yes they will, I have an offer through one of the BMW forums from somebody who works for one of my insurance companies approved windscreen fitters who claims he can do it.

Well yeah, he is obviously doing you a huge favour.

I know of at least 80% of insurance companies who will not pay out for OEM glass

linktoinsanity · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:31

I shall give more than a call then. Thanks. I have just been out in the car and while I was there I counted all the chips and "pitfalls." Turns out there's around 11 on there now I've actually counted them. I'd say maybe one or two are actual chips, but I didn't take a ruler out with me.

My dad works for R&S Alliance so I shall give him a bell later today and get his advice aswell.

I'm guessing from some of the replies that leaving it as it is is not an option then right?

BringTheRain · 14 Oct 2009 at 11:39

Well your in seven oaks yeah? Im not at work until tomorrow. But i think we are at seven oaks this week or blue water shopping center :S cant remember which one.

You can ask one of our chaps to look at it for free.

Well 11 chips sounds like pit fills mate

But like i said, you need to measure them.

Worst case scenario is you have two chips that COULD have been repaired for free. You leave them and then the windscreen cracks costing you your excess.

The glass is safety laminated and bonded. So the glass is never ever gonna shatter or fall out.

As long as you are fully comprehensive nothing to worry about except maybe £60ish for a new windscreen

EDIT

Also we have a few branches, one in maidstone, tonbridge, dartford. Nothing stopping you to pop in