Can you refit a bonded windscreen from a donor vehicle?

[sgtBerbatov]

This isn't my car, it's my best mate's car. Long and the short of it is, his neighbour was beating his wife up in the street. My mate calls the Police, dhead husband turns his attention to my mate, stops hitting his wife and smashes up my mates car. He drove his van in to it as well as taking a sledgehammer to it. His insurance won't pay out on it he has to claim against the neanderthal which is unlikely to come out of anything.

The car is a 2000 Toyota Corolla 5 door (not the bug eyed one but the version after that). The rear screen is smashed, drivers side is smashed, rear wing is smashed, front drivers side light is smashed, bumper is smashed., front windscreen is smashed. My mate hasn't got a lot of money, and he's already out of pocket because has to pay to get his front windows and porch window repaired on his house - yeah he had them smashed in too. He's getting married next year, so he's up against it really.

I've said to him that provided the damage to the wing and light is just to them (so no damage to the frame or steering), we could just get a donor car for £250, swap out the windows from that and the rear tailgate but he'd have to pay for the windscreen to be changed.

However, I then thought would it be possible to - somehow without smashing it - swap out the windscreen from the donor vehicle as well and fit it to my mate's smashed car?

The car itself is - well was - perfect and is a nice strong car for him, and through no fault of his own other than doing the right thing he's got to deal with this. So I'd like to help him as much as I can, so I'd appreciate any help afforded here

Thanks!

[DuraAce]

Yes you can. Cutting the old windows out can be a bit tricky, it's possible to break the screen if you aren't careful.
Some of the surrounding trims and clips may also not survive removal.

[Mignon]

A windscreen fitter can cut a bonded screen out, clean it up and refit it to another car fairly easily. Many windscreen place guys will do a homer for cash.

[Tony1963]

Surely he goes through his own insurance who then pursue the idiot?

[sgtBerbatov]

Tony1963 said:

Surely he goes through his own insurance who then pursue the idiot?

That's the first thing I asked, but his insurance have washed their hands of it. Not entirely sure of the reasons why though. Plus he's worried that they'll straight off write the car off and he doesn't want that either.

That's for the suggestions though, it's something to consider!

[HustleRussell]

Insurance would 100% write that off

[CanAm]

Surely he should claim under his home insurance for the damage to the house.