Would you replace this windscreen?

Feek

Feek

Feek

Commissario
Joined
16 Oct 2002
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In the radio shack
My windscreen hasn't changed since the last MoT a year ago, the 'damage' is one tiny spot and one small area of marks. The spot is in front of me but right at the bottom of my eyeline and the marks are off to the left a bit.

The former is less than 2mm in diameter and the latter is over a 10mm length. These pictures from the outside make them look really visible but they're not.

Takw8hH.jpeg


Y56MADU.jpeg


The MoT today says:

Repair as soon as possible (minor defects)
  • Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view [3.2 (a)(i)]
Bear in mind that I can hardly see these marks, if you were me, would you be getting the windscreen changed?

 
I would personally, as it would bug me even if it didn't get in my line of sight. Just knowing it was there. I guess it depends on your insurance and how much they'd charge
 
Is it not repairable? I always thought the consensus was to try and keep the original windscreen for as long as possible.

I've got one on mine i need to call out for a repair, but had no mention of that on the MOT.
 
I described them to the insurance and they said from my description that the small cluster are too close together and that there are too many to repair. I might pop into an Autoglass and see what they recommend.

/edit - I've checked the Autoglass website and it confirms that if there are more than four dinks then it can't be repaired, it has to be replaced.
 
no i wouldn't especially keeping mind how well the autoglass and the likes "repair" them.. my lexus had broken clips all over the place stuck together with double sided tape etc.

because of eager autoglass guy.
 
^ Also recommend the above. It's not a perfect fix, but does a pretty decent job when your insurance company won't authorise a new screen.
 
So long as I didn’t find myself being drawn to look at the marks whilst driving then I’d not replace it, repair via that Rainx stuff if I could be bothered though.
 
Feek said:
I described them to the insurance and they said from my description that the small cluster are too close together and that there are too many to repair. I might pop into an Autoglass and see what they recommend.

/edit - I've checked the Autoglass website and it confirms that if there are more than four dinks then it can't be repaired, it has to be replaced.
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Flat head screw driver, put at an angle... *tap*. New windscreen please.

I mean.... damn rocks.
 
I don't need to fiddle it to get a replacement on the insurance, they said it's covered if I want it but I do agree with the comments above that I'd like to keep the original as long as possible.
 
Based on the horror stories I've read, I would do everything I could to not have to replace my windscreen, short of it looking like this:

UUifhcT.png


So I think I would definitely learn to put up with those.
 
Howard said:
So I think I would definitely learn to put up with those.
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They've been there since I got the car, a year ago. Putting up with them isn't an issue. I suppose I should have worded the subject differently to "Should I replace this windscreen because of what's on the MoT?"

If it gets no worse, I'll look forward to the same note in a year!
 
Feek said:
I suppose I should have worded the subject differently to "Should I replace this windscreen because of what's on the MoT?"
Click to expand...

I wouldn't bother - give the above diy repair kit a go, and you may even be able to make the chips disappear enough to not get an advisory next time.

The alternative is to pay your excess (£75/£100 or whatever), potentially get a poor quality replacement/badly fitted, and if you're really unlucky end up with another chip in a few days/weeks time that you genuinely need a replacement for
 
My old MX5 had a big scuff across the driver's side of the windscreen. It didn't bother me enough to "risk" having it replaced, and it seemed to randomly appear on some MOTs as an advisory and not on some others. You may find it doesn't even get mentioned next year.
 
Howard said:
Based on the horror stories I've read, I would do everything I could to not have to replace my windscreen, short of it looking like this.
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Yep, got a glass roof, which covers basically the whole roof of the car, 2 days ago, chip then massive crack........ 2 day job and all the headlining etc has to come out, not looking forward to that one.....................
 
Firestar_3x said:
Yep, got a glass roof, which covers basically the whole roof of the car, 2 days ago, chip then massive crack........ 2 day job and all the headlining etc has to come out, not looking forward to that one.....................
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*Shudder* I feel for you on that one.
 
I’ve had a crack in the bottom right hand corner of mine for about nearly 4 years now. It started as a chip but quickly spread within a day or two to the edge of the glass and has got any bigger since.

It doesn’t affect my vision and just can’t be bothered to spend the money to replace it, if it was smashed then that’s a different story.
 
I am of the view that those pock marks should be fine to repair. Properly done, the repair will create a vacuum and draw any air out of the dent, replacing it with the UV hardening resin. This should restore the structural integrity to the glass. I used to repair windscreens with a proper kit and you would be amazed at what you can safely repair. The problem is when the windscreen flexes, as it is a structural part of the car, a chip can lead to more air being drawn in-between the glass and the underlying plastic layer. This then leads to a further loss of strength. Properly filled and sealed, I don't see why those dents would impact the structural integrity of the windshield...

In fact, the kit I used to use was the same one they use in Lemans and the instructions said it could repair cracks up to 30cm long or something... Though personally at that point I would replace the windshield.

Have those marks even gone through the glass?
 
They’ve gone through the top layer of the glass but because there are more than four of them, they won’t repair.
 
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