Windscreen Replacement

mick4545 · 16 Jul 2014 at 19:52

Having mine replaced on Fri. Insurance job, and they don't use OEM screens, they use Pilkington who I suppose are reputable. The car is a Lexus LS 600 and it looks a difficult job to replace and I don't think he will have done many of this model.

Any horror stories or am I worrying unnecessarily?

Frozennova · 16 Jul 2014 at 22:22

Autoglass doing the job I assume?

unnecessary worry tbh, it honestly doesn't matter if the guy has done 100s or none, the process to fit a windscreen is the same no matter what the vehicle. Doesn't matter if it's a Corsa or a Porsche.

Pilkington, Saint Gobain etc make the OEM glass anyway the only difference is the price and the lack of Lexus badge.

mick4545 · 17 Jul 2014 at 20:09

Thanks. Thats reassuring.

DJ_Bucho · 18 Jul 2014 at 09:41

Have to agree, replacing a windscreen is replacing a windscreen no matter what the car (generally anyway) I certainly don't think there's anything to worry about. After all these guys do windscreen replacements on a daily basis, they know what their doing

mick4545 · 18 Jul 2014 at 19:58

Replaced with a screen from Lexus main dealer. Lexus logo bottom right corner. Well pleased.

Autowindscreens Cardiff did the job.

snapdragon69 · 18 Jul 2014 at 21:55

The possible trouble with these screen places is they use lower grade screens, especially on older cars.
When the screens are manufactured, they are somewhat hand-made and have a relatively high rate of rejects.
The best ones go to the manufacturer such as BMW, Ford etc...and are branded so.
The ones with some distortions will be branded Pilkington or Saint Gobain or whoever made them and the ones with the most distortions will be unbranded or own-branded.
If the car manufacture (Toyota or whoever) get a delivery of screens, they will check them and if there is one that is not to their standard they will reject the batch and tell the maker to take them away.

Flibster · 19 Jul 2014 at 13:43

I had to pay to get a screen replaced as the seal was leaking and it was easier to get a whole screen rather than just the seal, and there was a good chance the screen would have cracked during removal.

Official Mazda screen - £180
3rd party screen - £260

Fitting was £50 on top.

Frozennova · 19 Jul 2014 at 17:13

Flibster said:
I had to pay to get a screen replaced as the seal was leaking and it was easier to get a whole screen rather than just the seal, and there was a good chance the screen would have cracked during removal.

Official Mazda screen - £180
3rd party screen - £260

Fitting was £50 on top.

There is no seal on a bonded windscreen, its the glue that stops it leaking. Rubber trims etc around the edge of the glass are purely cosmetic.

Those prices seem a bit strange, a non-oem screen for something like an Astra is about £30