The best $20 I ever spent!

[Brap_Brap]

I was cruising down the freeway when my windscreen took a huge rock chip in it.

It was a huge chip.... not a glass "pit", but a chip. It was about .75 inches dia. and the typical cloudy-white
colour you can't see through. There were also the usual cracks leading away from it just waiting to leave a big huge side to side crack on my windshield.

I headed straight for the chip repair dude that injects an epoxy resin into the crack, sucks the existing air in the crack out blah blah blah.

At first I thought such a practice was a scam, I was astounded how clear and un-noticable this blemish became!

My free advice is, if you ever thought the "windscreen repairers" were scam artists... DON'T! Im my case they did a great job at a dirt cheap price and it saved me from a nasty cracked screen.

Just do it if it happens to you.

[L33]

Hi Mike.
In the UK, most insurance companies will repair a windscreen in this way completly free of charge to the policy holder. I guess if they do this, the chip does not spread and they do not have to fork out for a whole new windscreen that costs them a fortune and the policy holder a £50 excess charge.

[jmorgan]

Our festa was done this way. Told it will in all likleyhood get worse. We can still see it but its a lot better and as said, insurers do this first and charge nothing. When it does get worse then its out with the excess and a new screen.

[TVRleigh]

Not so much of a problem for us, as 95% of insurance companys have windscreen cover, you just pay a £50 excess. also some insurance win cover you for FREE repairs to chips.

[Brap_Brap]

Can we even get new screens for our wedges? I believe I read somewhere thay they are TVR specials and are not common to any other car. Is this true?

[Brap_Brap]

L33 said:

Hi Mike.
In the UK, most insurance companies will repair a windscreen in this way completly free of charge to the policy holder. I guess if they do this, the chip does not spread and they do not have to fork out for a whole new windscreen that costs them a fortune and the policy holder a £50 excess charge.

My insurer will not cover me for fire, theft or glass.
That is unless I pay a $5,000 deductable premium.
What's the point in that? A typical screen here is maybe $300 installed.

My insurance company's reason they claim, is because should it get into an accident etc,
parts will be a bitch here to find.

[gsx600]

Brap_Brap said:

Can we even get new screens for our wedges? I believe I read somewhere thay they are TVR specials and are not common to any other car. Is this true?

You can get them over here ok. Last year at BBWF we had a company there and they replaced about a dozen screens for us , at a very reasonable price. They have them made in batches of 20 or so, but not sure if they operate in the States / Canada region. I think the company was Autoglass. They are even able to do the side glass as well

[BadRedWedge]

As Paul said, not a problem to these guys

http://www.mobilewindscreens.co.uk/

Contact Phil Lomas 530dTPhil here on PHs

Edited by BadRedWedge on Thursday 23 August 17:07

[Grady]

I looked into having my windshield removed and re-set as it has come a bit loose in one top corner of the frame. The glass guy reckoned there was a better than 50% chance the glass would crack when removed. I check on availability and you can get the windshield but it's expensive ($500.00+ US IIRC). I have the sources - LoCan and someone else - at home if needed. Also Marshall might have better info. Grady

[Grady]

And I would add that sometimes it works well (and is invisible) and sometime not so much. I think it's in the skill and equipment of the fixer. You can now buy the filler and kit OTC.

The last guy I used didn't use a real vacuum pump, he just created a bit of suction and the repair is not nearly as invisible although he blamed it on my windshield and/or the rock.

Even better, the ins co asked if I got the tag number of the the person who kicked up the rock

But I agree it's $20 well spent!