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Author Topic: Windscreen replacement advise please  (Read 2955 times)

Offline gazbutS3

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Windscreen replacement advise please
« on: August 24, 2011, 06:15:46 pm »
That'll teach me, was following a tidy Tuscan S this morning and got a little closer than I should, turned the stereo off and even cracked the window open a touch so I could hear it. The traffic cleared in front of him and he floored it and a stone flicked up off his rear tyre and cracked the screen   :scared:

he didn't get away though :laugh:

So advice please, do I remember reading somewhere on here that you can demand an OE manufacturers screen rather than some cheap pattern replacement from the installer?????

thanks in advance fellas :happy2:

Offline Tfsi_Mike

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #1 on: August 24, 2011, 06:27:18 pm »
That'll teach me, was following a tidy Tuscan S this morning and got a little closer than I should, turned the stereo off and even cracked the window open a touch so I could hear it. The traffic cleared in front of him and he floored it and a stone flicked up off his rear tyre and cracked the screen   :scared:

he didn't get away though :laugh: - Hehe, class.  They do sound good though

So advice please, do I remember reading somewhere on here that you can demand an OE manufacturers screen rather than some cheap pattern replacement from the installer?????

thanks in advance fellas :happy2:

I had auto windscreens come out before, I was happy with the screen they put in and assumed it was OEM spec, infact gave it little thought.
It has however since chipped again.  Im going to get a new screen under this policy before I move to Uk as there are some scratches cause in winter.

Ring the screen companies and see what they say, I dont see why you should have anything lass than a VAG part.

Offline LouCyffer

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #2 on: August 24, 2011, 07:43:27 pm »
Yes mate, you can. You are insured 'like for like'. In other words, when you need a new front bumper, you get a VW one, not a pattern part. I had a replacement windscreen on a six month old Impreza STI. When I rang the company & arranged the fitter to come round, I simply told them that a pattern windscreen wasn't acceptable. The original was Subaru, and so shall the replacement. They had no issues at all with that.

Didn't need to ring my insurers; just gave the glass company my details & policy number over the phone & they did the rest.

Don't accept a pattern part. I get a sneaky suspicion that the insurer pays out the same value whether you get a pattern or OEM screen. :evilgrin: cynical but likely.
« Last Edit: August 24, 2011, 07:47:31 pm by LouCyffer »
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Offline Tfsi_Mike

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #3 on: August 24, 2011, 07:47:21 pm »

Would it be worth going to the dealership for the screen in the 1st place?

Offline LouCyffer

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2011, 07:49:38 pm »
No, I'd rather use a specialist company with all the right gear to fit the screen. They source the OEM one anyway; you can tell its genuine by the markings. Plus I doubt it would be as easyan insurance claim if you start getting the part from the dealer then getting another party to fit.

The windscreen company ordered my scooby windscreen direct from the local subaru dealer anyway; they told me :grin:
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Offline JoeDarKa

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2011, 08:15:15 pm »
Iv used Bolton Auto Glass (???) which is on the corner opposite the china gardens MCDs, who were quite good! Depends where your insurance ask you to go to


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Offline Top Cat

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2011, 08:28:20 pm »
TT went mental about non VW ones, but thousands of people have non oem ones and dont notice any difference, my advice would be if you can get oem without to much hassle then go down that road, but if not i wouldn'y worry about it Gaz. We all know TT and his ways. I dont think his beef was with the non oem window to be fair, it was more directed at the right to get a oem replacement.  :wink:

Offline john_o

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2011, 09:55:10 pm »
they may not be OEM marked but they tend to all be made by the same company anyway.
Ive had several non OEM marked screens (to GTI and M3) and had no issues  :happy2:
They (Auto Windscreens) were happy to have supplied an OEM screen but i would have had to wait x days.
So if you want one youll be fine

I think the bigger problem is getting a competent fitter  :happy2:
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Offline DJM

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2011, 01:35:02 pm »
Read your insurance, most will say if over certain age (usually 2-3years) then pattern parts can be used at their discretion.
As said above most pattern parts like windscreens are made by same people anyway.

I wouldnt go VW for it as your insurance will only advise there people to do it (usually recognised window people anyway) but if done elsewhere they do cap the amount they will pay. Sometimes can be like they will only cover first £125.

I have two chips in mine but screen is quite scratched so im just going to get mine replaced. Aslong as pattern part fits same with no issues im not too fussed as autowindscreens wouldnt use sh*t parts as would just reflect badly on them. They get paid regardless.

Offline gazbutS3

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2011, 09:18:41 pm »
the fitters another story, have had issues in the past when they have scratched the car and denied it but it could only have been them, this bloke is going to get a very friendy and interested customer :laugh:

O yeh had the car 3 years today  :happy2:
« Last Edit: August 25, 2011, 09:20:23 pm by gazbutS3 »

Offline john_o

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2011, 09:22:11 pm »
may as well sell it then, move on and forget about the windscreen ....... :grin:
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Offline gazbutS3

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #11 on: August 25, 2011, 09:25:32 pm »
may as well sell it then, move on and forget about the windscreen ....... :grin:

and get what????

gotta be a hatchback, nippy, fairly economical when needed???

I'm doin 100miles a day for work at the minute so going to get a cheap oil burner and the S3 is going to get spoilt :smiley:

Offline john_o

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #12 on: August 25, 2011, 09:32:22 pm »
 :pomppomp:
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Offline Lazye

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #13 on: August 25, 2011, 10:17:44 pm »
Insurers are very unlikely to pay for oem. I work for a BMW dealership and we get lots of people asking to have their screen done in our workshop. We advise them to speak with their insurer and that is usually the last we hear of them. The most an insurer has ever offered to pay for complete job including vat is £200. A 1 series screen costs between £600 & £700, the bigger models go up from there.
We had an old fella come in with a very high spec 530GT a few months ago, he had cracked his screen and wanted only an oem repalcement because of all the sensors his screen had in it. We advised him to speak with his insurers, he did this and then came back to us to book in explaining they had authorised all the work. We fitted his new screen at a retail rate of £1350 inc vat, he came to pick up and expected just to pay an £85 excess. We contacted his insurers and they agreed to only pay £200 towards his invoice! We informed him of this and as you would imagine he kicked off just a bit. He paid for the screen on the day but was blaming us for having to pay £1150 for a new screen??

Offline gazbutS3

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Re: Windscreen replacement advise please
« Reply #14 on: August 25, 2011, 10:41:10 pm »
I rang the insurers, they would pay for OEM, but with ordering etc would mean 10 days before it was sorted so autoglass it is, wish me luck  :laugh: