Heads Up Display - Windscreen Advice

[Pimpster]

Hi chaps,

Probably a silly question, but something I am unsure off. My car has a heads up display. Now yesterday, I got a big chip on the windscreen, and it looks like the screen will need to be replaced.

Do I have to order a "special" windscreen due to the heads up display? Or will a "standard" Autoglass windscreen do the trick?

Also, many people have told me to specify the manufactures branded windscreen, rather than a non original screen, is this something which is recommended?

Cheers,

[Petrolhead747]

I believe autoglass are also doing prescription windscreens at the moment, no need to wear glasses while you drive. Maybe you should enquire while asking about your heads up display windscreen. (if you wear glasses of course)

[Doniger]

April 1st was a long time ago.

Personally I'd want original equipment over a cheap Autoglass replacement anyway, especially in the sort of car that has a HUD.

[Ozzie Osmond]

Never mind the ignorant comedians, cars with HUD do have different windscreens. All windscreens are laminated glass (i.e. made up of different layers) and the trick is to get a decent reflection of the HUD projection in a single clear image. So with HUD there is a specially reflective layer in the lamination sandwich to achieve this,

"At the center of the HUD technology is a precisely engineered "interlayer"
of DuPont(TM) Butacite(R) PVB that acts as the screen onto which the HUD
information is projected. This interlayer is called the DuPont(TM) Wedge(TM)
because of its angular cross-section.

"Laminated between two layers of glass, the Wedge(TM) is transparent to
allow distortion-free forward vision, but also is able to reflect the HUD
projection for viewing by the driver. The virtual image appears to float in
the driver's line of sight near the front of the car, minimizing refocus time.
Virtual image location and brightness can be adjusted to the driver's
preference. Together, these features help to reduce driver distraction,
enhancing safety."


Having said that - I understand HUD will work with a standard windscreen, but not quite so well.