my first windscreen crack - what to do?
Discussion
amazingly, despite owning and driving cars for nearly 20 years i've never had to deal with a cracked windscreen before....until now.
i found the windscreen cracked this morning - a 7-8 inch crack i think caused by frost/ice (this will make the people involved in my topic about the dangers of leaving my car outside laugh!!)
my question is really, can any windscreen replacement company replace it or do i need a porsche specialist? and do i ring the insurance company first?
cheers.
i found the windscreen cracked this morning - a 7-8 inch crack i think caused by frost/ice (this will make the people involved in my topic about the dangers of leaving my car outside laugh!!)
my question is really, can any windscreen replacement company replace it or do i need a porsche specialist? and do i ring the insurance company first?
cheers.
I had the same thing, never had a windscreen go in over 20 years, and not only does my wifes Subaru get a huge crack overnight around the rear view mirror but the 944 developed one 8 months later.
From the wifes experience I knew that mine was covered on the insurance (but best check to make sure), I just phoned the local RAC windscreen place on the policy, paid £60 charge and it was booked in the next day.
Job was perfect even down to the upper tint and radio aerial inside the glass, apart from the seal rubber round the outside being in a slightly different place you can't tell.
More importantly it does'nt affect the no claims.
Andy.
From the wifes experience I knew that mine was covered on the insurance (but best check to make sure), I just phoned the local RAC windscreen place on the policy, paid £60 charge and it was booked in the next day.
Job was perfect even down to the upper tint and radio aerial inside the glass, apart from the seal rubber round the outside being in a slightly different place you can't tell.
More importantly it does'nt affect the no claims.
Andy.
Auto windscreens will fit porsche genuine wind screen. All sorted by my insurance company at no cost (there may be a slight excess dependant upon your policy perhaps £50-60)Absolutely perfect job. I understand that if you take it to OPC they will just get Autowindscreens or alternative to do it any way. Do not get in a twizzle its a non event. Cheers
andy ha said:
Auto windscreens will fit porsche genuine wind screen. All sorted by my insurance company at no cost (there may be a slight excess dependant upon your policy perhaps £50-60)Absolutely perfect job. I understand that if you take it to OPC they will just get Autowindscreens or alternative to do it any way. Do not get in a twizzle its a non event. Cheers
I had a problem with my rare classic. RAC windows did not have the correct tint in stock and it took a week from the crack starting to them finding one and fitting it. By that time the crack was a metre long !!!
(NOT a porsche but a 1985 Cavalier CDi auto)
jacko lah said:
andy ha said:
Auto windscreens will fit porsche genuine wind screen. All sorted by my insurance company at no cost (there may be a slight excess dependant upon your policy perhaps £50-60)Absolutely perfect job. I understand that if you take it to OPC they will just get Autowindscreens or alternative to do it any way. Do not get in a twizzle its a non event. Cheers
I had a problem with my rare classic. RAC windows did not have the correct tint in stock and it took a week from the crack starting to them finding one and fitting it. By that time the crack was a metre long !!!
(NOT a porsche but a 1985 Cavalier CDi auto)
RAC told me 5-10 days to source the glass for the side window on my 996 (let's be honest in London they are not rare), National Windscreens took a day to find it.
edited:
Auto Windscreens -> National Windscreens
Edited by 2something on Tuesday 6th February 11:59
Just regarding the comment that RAC Autowindscreens fit OE Porsche glass. Thats a new one on me - working in the industry I know that they make their own glass from a pattern (as most windscreen companies do). I would just confirm that it is OE glass by checking the manufacturer of the glass which will be stamped on the glass - usually in one of the bottom corners.
It has been known for the local branches to say one thing and fit (and charge your insurance company) for another!!!!!!
Not having a go at RAC Autowindscreens by the way!!!!!
It has been known for the local branches to say one thing and fit (and charge your insurance company) for another!!!!!!
Not having a go at RAC Autowindscreens by the way!!!!!
Lex Luther said:
Just regarding the comment that RAC Autowindscreens fit OE Porsche glass. Thats a new one on me - working in the industry I know that they make their own glass from a pattern (as most windscreen companies do). I would just confirm that it is OE glass by checking the manufacturer of the glass which will be stamped on the glass - usually in one of the bottom corners.
It has been known for the local branches to say one thing and fit (and charge your insurance company) for another!!!!!!
Not having a go at RAC Autowindscreens by the way!!!!!
It has been known for the local branches to say one thing and fit (and charge your insurance company) for another!!!!!!
Not having a go at RAC Autowindscreens by the way!!!!!
Any info in National Windscreens and Porsche, they are going to do mine tomorrow morning ?
Lex Luther said:
Only good things as I work for National Windscreens!!!!!!!!
If your car is going into the Slough depot tomorrow I'll no doubt see you there!!!!!!
If your car is going into the Slough depot tomorrow I'll no doubt see you there!!!!!!
Paul your completely unbiased opinion has given me a warm fuzzy feeling that my P&J will be fine tomorrow
Unfortunately my local centre is Staples Corner. I have been told it needs to be done on site, as there is apparently a lot of fiddling to be done.
Lex Luther said:
Just regarding the comment that RAC Autowindscreens fit OE Porsche glass. Thats a new one on me - working in the industry I know that they make their own glass from a pattern (as most windscreen companies do). I would just confirm that it is OE glass by checking the manufacturer of the glass which will be stamped on the glass - usually in one of the bottom corners.
It has been known for the local branches to say one thing and fit (and charge your insurance company) for another!!!!!!
Not having a go at RAC Autowindscreens by the way!!!!!
It has been known for the local branches to say one thing and fit (and charge your insurance company) for another!!!!!!
Not having a go at RAC Autowindscreens by the way!!!!!
Lex I was initially offered a non original part and told it was just as good. I insisted on Porsche part and after very little delay, had as far as I am aware genuine glass fitted. It certainly is exactly the same as what was taken out.
Lex Luther said:
No Worries - I'll ring the manager and tell him to get a brew on for you!!!!! - let me know how you get on!!!!!
Milk, no sugar please
Yikes, now I am hoping I don't become a tricky customer!
It's a bit late, but as the glass had to come from derbyshire or somewhere is it going to be an original part ?
Nodz
I posted the following on another forum (tut tut) on getting my 993's windscreen replaced, along with some stuff I found out about the rust situation... hope it helps.
James
Here's my recent windscreen/rust experience in case it helps any fellow owners.
I had a stone chip my windscreen a week ago - v loud and scary - on the M6. I thought it was a repair job but the guy from my insurer (Admiral/RAC Autowindscreens) said it may be an MOT failure (eye level but just on the driver's side of the aerial). He said it was best to replace so I had to take it to the workshop.
There, the guys said fixing the chip may well be OK but I could choose (free repair vs £50 excess for new screen). They also pointed out the few, small bubbles of rust I have in the usual places around the windscreen and planned to sort out in a few months' time - "we can't see what it's like underneath until the screen is out," they said. Having come this far, I opted for a new screen (they cost £385, apparently).
Sure enough, once the screen was out the rust underneath was much worse than you'd expect from seeing the outside of the car. There was a small hole in the surround too and RAC Autowindscreens' chaps were sure a rust repair and/or windscreen replacement had been bodged by a previous owner. Nothing dangerous, but it would have been best for me to have everything fixed in one go. I was left to choose between:
- the windscreen guys adding some anti-oxidant and patching it up, then getting the rust fixed by a specialist later but with the risk that the screen may break when it is taken out;
- paying to truck the car to a body shop while the screen was out, sorting out the rust and getting it back to the windscreen workshop. Admiral wouldn't help with the cost of trucking, unsurprisingly.
I decided to patch it up as a trusted body shop couldn't fit me in quickly. I suppose the conclusions could be these.
- If there are rust bubbles then it's likely to be worse than you'd expect underneath as mine looked trivial... until the screen was out. The water collects out of sight and does a lot of hidden damage.
- If at all possible, be sure to see your car with the windscreen out if you are getting any work done that requires it. Only then can you see the extent of the rust or the quality of any repair because once it is fitted, the screen can hide bodge-jobs and all sorts.
James
_____________________________
1994 993 C2, Polar Silver
I posted the following on another forum (tut tut) on getting my 993's windscreen replaced, along with some stuff I found out about the rust situation... hope it helps.
James
Here's my recent windscreen/rust experience in case it helps any fellow owners.
I had a stone chip my windscreen a week ago - v loud and scary - on the M6. I thought it was a repair job but the guy from my insurer (Admiral/RAC Autowindscreens) said it may be an MOT failure (eye level but just on the driver's side of the aerial). He said it was best to replace so I had to take it to the workshop.
There, the guys said fixing the chip may well be OK but I could choose (free repair vs £50 excess for new screen). They also pointed out the few, small bubbles of rust I have in the usual places around the windscreen and planned to sort out in a few months' time - "we can't see what it's like underneath until the screen is out," they said. Having come this far, I opted for a new screen (they cost £385, apparently).
Sure enough, once the screen was out the rust underneath was much worse than you'd expect from seeing the outside of the car. There was a small hole in the surround too and RAC Autowindscreens' chaps were sure a rust repair and/or windscreen replacement had been bodged by a previous owner. Nothing dangerous, but it would have been best for me to have everything fixed in one go. I was left to choose between:
- the windscreen guys adding some anti-oxidant and patching it up, then getting the rust fixed by a specialist later but with the risk that the screen may break when it is taken out;
- paying to truck the car to a body shop while the screen was out, sorting out the rust and getting it back to the windscreen workshop. Admiral wouldn't help with the cost of trucking, unsurprisingly.
I decided to patch it up as a trusted body shop couldn't fit me in quickly. I suppose the conclusions could be these.
- If there are rust bubbles then it's likely to be worse than you'd expect underneath as mine looked trivial... until the screen was out. The water collects out of sight and does a lot of hidden damage.
- If at all possible, be sure to see your car with the windscreen out if you are getting any work done that requires it. Only then can you see the extent of the rust or the quality of any repair because once it is fitted, the screen can hide bodge-jobs and all sorts.
James
_____________________________
1994 993 C2, Polar Silver
2something said:
Lex Luther said:
Only good things as I work for National Windscreens!!!!!!!!
If your car is going into the Slough depot tomorrow I'll no doubt see you there!!!!!!
If your car is going into the Slough depot tomorrow I'll no doubt see you there!!!!!!
Paul your completely unbiased opinion has given me a warm fuzzy feeling that my P&J will be fine tomorrow
Unfortunately my local centre is Staples Corner. I have been told it needs to be done on site, as there is apparently a lot of fiddling to be done.
Top marks for the lads at National Windscreens, Staples corner on a very professional job - OE glass with the right tint, took as long as they predicted and they did a better job of removing glass from the interior than I did! Despite this I am hoping never to see them again damianc4s said:
If you have a 996 please be aware that your approved insurance company can (and often) do a very good job of replacing the windscreen but they fail to replace the additional gasket/seal that OPCs fit to stop the infamous 996 creak.
In this case it was the quarter window, but it's very good info on the the windscreen cheers.
Glad you were suitably impressed with the guys at Staples Corner - they are a good bunch really!!! - I notice you didn't comment on the tea/coffee facilities either - I shall have a word with the manager about that......
Regarding the inner seals on the windscreens - knowing that kind of thing only comes with experience - its always worth 'chatting on' to the fitter who's going to work on your pride and joy or speak to the local branch manager - if he knows what he's talking about then you can be pretty confident that he's got a good bunch of people working for him.
Regarding the inner seals on the windscreens - knowing that kind of thing only comes with experience - its always worth 'chatting on' to the fitter who's going to work on your pride and joy or speak to the local branch manager - if he knows what he's talking about then you can be pretty confident that he's got a good bunch of people working for him.
Lex Luther said:
Just regarding the comment that RAC Autowindscreens fit OE Porsche glass. Thats a new one on me - working in the industry I know that they make their own glass from a pattern (as most windscreen companies do)
That's a new one altogther. formerly: Heywood Williams; formerly: Autowindscreens and now RACAutowindscreens do manufacture glass and it (or the poor quality) is well known throughought the trade. There are a few screens they simply cannot re-produce; Porsche is one of them. (Pre-encapsulated, integral antennae etc).
You're in the trade, you should know that.
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