Windscreen replacement

GhostWKD · 20 Jun 2017 at 10:50

Why oh why can they never do a proper job with good quality parts.

I appreciate at this point some may call me pendantic but I've just had my fourth or fifth windscreen replaced in an S2000 (across 3 cars and about 6 years, >100k miles to be fair).

My last S2000 which had the windscreen replaced I had first badly fitting glass put in which was then taken out/replaced and then a badly fitting seal which I then had to really argue to get a genuine honda replacement for the third attempt at fixing it.

I tried telling various people along the way this piece of information and they just kept telling me if I wanted genuine honda parts I would have to buy them myself out of my own pocket as the parts they provide are the same quality and fit perfectly etc.

Going to phone autowindscreens shortly but imagine I'll have an equally tough time as last time they created this exact scenario!

The following pictures are at the edges of the windscreen, one goes down below the scuttle and the second stops short of it.

Not really after advice per-se but just wanted to rant about having the exact same issue I experienced 2-3 years ago, and even warned the company about giving them my previous job ref numbers etc

Rilot · 20 Jun 2017 at 11:40

I've never had a windscreen replacement that was as good as new. I've got a massive chip on my XJ screen and I'm really hoping it will go through the MoT without needing a new one.
When I had the 750i done it took them 3 goes to get it right. First guy destroyed my wiper arms by forcing them away from the screen and then argued that it was like that when he got to them (yeah, because I wouldn't notice that my wipers were 20cm away from the screen and not actually touching it). Seals fitted incorrectly causing a whistling sound at 50mph. Second guy didn't fit the seals properly again and fitted the wrong windscreen that didn't have the rain sensor. 3rd guy did it right but the car suffered with wind noise at motorway speeds ever afterwards. I sold the car shortly after so never got to the 4th go.

Howard · 20 Jun 2017 at 11:54

I absolutely dread the possibility of ever having to have my windscreen replaced

@Frozennova can hopefully just get his company to let him accept OCUK jobs tbh (Y)

mjt · 20 Jun 2017 at 12:15

I've only ever replaced two, both times at CarGlass. First one was perfect, but with the second one (and on my current A6), the plastic cover behind the mirror, housing the cables, is a little loose and crooked

That, and I'm pretty sure the wiper sensor isn't as accurate as it used to be...

Frozennova · 20 Jun 2017 at 13:10

Howard said:
I absolutely dread the possibility of ever having to have my windscreen replaced

@Frozennova can hopefully just get his company to let him accept OCUK jobs tbh (Y)

Lol. I cry when I get an S2000, they're awful to replace. You need the fires of Mordor to get the rubber molding supple enough to get it on the edge of the glass which is exactly why they've been lazy and left one side short. I bet he's spent 15 minutes wresting with it, looked thought **** it's short and decided **** it I can go in like that

Dav4 · 20 Jun 2017 at 13:21

It's just hit and miss with windscreen replacement. I had my Mondeo windscreen replaced a few years ago by a reputable local company and it was awful. The 2 people that came to view it when I was selling both noticed it straight away.
But my Focus ST got replaced by Autoglass and the guy was a perfectionist who loved his job and took hours doing it and to be honest it was perfect. And the heated screen worked better with it being new!
The only downside is it's always Pilkington for some reason and not original.

Nasher · 20 Jun 2017 at 13:32

They will rarely use manufacturer branded glass. But the stuff they do use is the same spec. Manufacturers don't make their own glass, they only use the same suppliers we do and have it re-labelled.

Dup · 20 Jun 2017 at 13:33

Slight derail:

@Frozennova - Can you repair or do you replace screens that are scratched? My windscreen has scratched across the drivers view.

I don't fancy having to declare a windscreen replacement on my policy going forward. Seems lately any excuse to charge me more and they will.

Nasher · 20 Jun 2017 at 13:34

Dup said:
Slight derail:

@Frozennova - Can you repair or do you replace screens that are scratched? My windscreen has scratched across the drivers view.

I don't fancy having to declare a windscreen replacement on my policy going forward. Seems lately any excuse to charge me more and they will.

I had mine replaced recently through my insurer (Skyinsurance) due to it being peppered with small stone chips and it was only £50 excess. Glass repair/replacement alone doesn't go on your record as a claim and doesn't effect the premium.

Frozennova · 20 Jun 2017 at 13:38

Nasher said:
They will rarely use manufacturer branded glass. But the stuff they do use is the same spec. Manufacturers don't make their own glass, they only use the same suppliers we do and have it re-labelled.

Not quite true, OEM branded glass while still made in the same factories by the same manufacturers undergoes a higher standard of QC

Dup said:
Slight derail:

@Frozennova - Can you repair or do you replace screens that are scratched? My windscreen has scratched across the drivers view.

I don't fancy having to declare a windscreen replacement on my policy going forward. Seems lately any excuse to charge me more and they will.

We would just replace, however a pot of jewelers Rouge mixed with a little water into a paste then polish with a small buffing wheel on something like a Dremel will remove scratches depending in how bad they are

Nasher · 20 Jun 2017 at 13:39

Frozennova said:
Not quite true, OEM branded glass while still made in the same factories by the same manufacturers undergoes a higher standard of QC

We would just replace, however a pot of jewelers Rouge mixed with a little water into a paste then polish with a small buffing wheel on something like a Dremel will remove scratches depending in how bad they are

The QC is only inspecting it for scratches etc before shipping afaik. Yea, you do sometimes get "OEM spec" glass with damage on it but it should be checked before fitting.

Frozennova · 20 Jun 2017 at 13:55

Nasher said:
The QC is only inspecting it for scratches etc before shipping afaik. Yea, you do sometimes get "OEM spec" glass with damage on it but it should be checked before fitting.

Demensional accuracy is part of the QC too, along with visual/optical inclusions. Believe me Fuyao glass supplied to the likes of Audi is far better than the supply the after market

Edit : I've had glass I've refused to fit as it's got enough of a bulge in it the bond line would be compromised

GhostWKD · 20 Jun 2017 at 14:05

Nasher said:
They will rarely use manufacturer branded glass. But the stuff they do use is the same spec. Manufacturers don't make their own glass, they only use the same suppliers we do and have it re-labelled.

Wasn't too fussed about the glass being genuine honda, more worried about the seal giving a good finish etc.

Interesting to hear it from the fitters side though @Frozennova - never knew if the bunching in the top corner was a byproduct of bad fitting or poor quality seal etc, annoyingly this chap did really well on the corners where it meets the surround (and normally bunches up when they get done) but just let down by the side being shorter

Although sounds like its a fitting issue rather than a seal quality issue which I always assumed was the case

Frozennova · 20 Jun 2017 at 14:31

I'm not making excuses for the guy because he shouldn't have left it like they but they are possibly the worst moldings around. They're so thick, and it's more plastic than it is rubber. The bunching in the corners is probably down to heat too (As an aside they don't so any sealing its just cosmetic

)

Dav4 · 20 Jun 2017 at 14:36

Nasher said:
I had mine replaced recently through my insurer (Skyinsurance) due to it being peppered with small stone chips and it was only £50 excess. Glass repair/replacement alone doesn't go on your record as a claim and doesn't effect the premium.

It does more so than you think nowadays as insurers look for any excuse to raise your premium. You are supposed to declare a windscreen claim even on comparison sites and it does give some companies an excuse to raise your quote.
Take Admiral for example. I was with them 4 trouble free years every year they gave me a competitive quote and after ringing would knock even more off and always be the cheapest.
Fast forward to this year and despite earning another years no claims and having a cheaper car with them they now wanted 1.4k instead of £900 last year! Then when I rang they knocked £80 off and that was it. You don't think the fact my let's say £400-500 ST windscreen replacement I claimed for from them last year would have anything to do with that as the price hike seems to be exactly what there loss would have been

Frozennova · 20 Jun 2017 at 14:40

AXA and it's subsidiaries are the only companies I'm aware of that panalise for glass claims (They freeze your no claims for the year)

GhostWKD · 21 Jun 2017 at 11:45

So I've just had contact with them and they're placing the blame entirely at Honda's door. According to the chap I spoke to there's a design flaw with them and whilst they'll try again their supplier uses the same seals as Honda and will most likely get the same problem with a genuine Honda seal (which they've now ordered). Is there any advice I can give them at all @Frozennova to try and help them get a decent finish on the car this time round?

He also admitted that the other S2000 they did recently had this exact same issue, despite me being assured it'd be fine by the person I spoke to beforehand who said they'd done another S2000 recently without issue.

Nasher · 21 Jun 2017 at 13:20

Dav4 said:
It does more so than you think nowadays as insurers look for any excuse to raise your premium. You are supposed to declare a windscreen claim even on comparison sites and it does give some companies an excuse to raise your quote.
Take Admiral for example. I was with them 4 trouble free years every year they gave me a competitive quote and after ringing would knock even more off and always be the cheapest.
Fast forward to this year and despite earning another years no claims and having a cheaper car with them they now wanted 1.4k instead of £900 last year! Then when I rang they knocked £80 off and that was it. You don't think the fact my let's say £400-500 ST windscreen replacement I claimed for from them last year would have anything to do with that as the price hike seems to be exactly what there loss would have been

I've renewed since with the same insurer, nothing on record and no price rise since last year.

Frozennova · 21 Jun 2017 at 13:22

Nothing in particular I can think of. If the trim was genuinely too short then a genuine item should solve the problem (I can't remember if you're stuck on the positioning of it as it's moulded to the correct shape due to the rounded top corners or not) perfect time of year with the warm weather to have it sorted though

Nasher · 21 Jun 2017 at 13:26

Would the heat have anything to do with it? Rubber will be soft and stretched in this heat when putting it on. Maybe it looked right when he did it, but as the temperature dropped it shrunk and then set in place.