Windscreen replacement -mobile fitters or in branch?
Discussion
I've heard more than a few reports about poor fitting of replacement windscreens. Typically scratching of paint (sometimes leading to rust developing in areas you can't see), damaging the interior parts/clips that are refitted and poor sealing of the glass resulting in extra wind noise or even water leaking down the back into electrical areas etc.
Anyway my less than 2 year old and otherwise immaculate MX-5 needs a new windscreen. I want to maximise the chances they do a good job. Would I be better off taking the car to a branch or using a mobile fitter that comes out? I have the choice of Autoglass or Nationalwindscreens. Either of these likely to do a better job?
Anyway my less than 2 year old and otherwise immaculate MX-5 needs a new windscreen. I want to maximise the chances they do a good job. Would I be better off taking the car to a branch or using a mobile fitter that comes out? I have the choice of Autoglass or Nationalwindscreens. Either of these likely to do a better job?
Either company will be as good/bad as the other - both will have positive and negative reviews.
Advantage of a mobile fitter is that he comes to you, leaves your car where it is, he leaves, you leave the car alone for a few hours, then drive it.
If you go to a centre, it can be a lengthy process, as you have to wait for everything to cure before you can drive away.
The point regarding cold/rushing made above is valid too.
Advantage of a mobile fitter is that he comes to you, leaves your car where it is, he leaves, you leave the car alone for a few hours, then drive it.
If you go to a centre, it can be a lengthy process, as you have to wait for everything to cure before you can drive away.
The point regarding cold/rushing made above is valid too.
If what the jungle telegraph is reporting is true, Autoglass will no longer have any workshops as all branches are being shut down.
I'm also hearing that windscreen cover will not be a standard feature on FC policies.
There's no real issue in doing the job mobile, but if the weather is damp/wet, or too cold it makes it less than ideal.
I'm also hearing that windscreen cover will not be a standard feature on FC policies.
There's no real issue in doing the job mobile, but if the weather is damp/wet, or too cold it makes it less than ideal.
I had my Landcruiser screen replaced with the car on my drive last Saturday, dry weather but quite cold. The fitter was pretty good and was painstakingly slow but he did put up with me hanging around, watching and talking to him. He did manage to break a couple of clips that hold the lower screen trim in place although it did all go back together solidly. He did a good job, not as good as the previous guy six years ago but it all seems to have gone back OK although I haven't driven it yet so don't know about wind noise of leaks until I go out in it tonight.
That was Autoglass.
That was Autoglass.
Edited by jagracer on Thursday 4th December 16:28
Having had several screens and many repairs, a couple of points. Taking it to them doesn't mean it will be done inside. It may be done outside infront of their shutter. Secondly, their units are not heated so it'll still be done in the cold. For repairs, the best I have ever had done was in a place in Strood that, unfortunately is no longer there. I had a massive chip which kind of looked like a crab. When finished, you couldn't see where it was at all. All other repairs I've had done since are still visible afterwards.
I've had 4 screens in my daily. On one occasion the inside plastic trim was slightly damaged. On the last occasion the fitter slagged off whoever fitted the previous one as it wasn't done well apparently.
When one of my Corvettes needed a screen, they sent one of their best, more experienced fitters (apparently). He worked in the warm and dry in my garage and did a good job. However, I had already removed the interior trim and external screen surround so as to insure they didn't get damaged - are you able to do this? It made sense as I knew how they came apart and it was unlikely he did. He did a good job from where I was standing and I helped lift the new screen in place with him due to its size.
I would say have it done at home, keep the fitter in tea and biscuits and you'll get a better job;)
I've had 4 screens in my daily. On one occasion the inside plastic trim was slightly damaged. On the last occasion the fitter slagged off whoever fitted the previous one as it wasn't done well apparently.
When one of my Corvettes needed a screen, they sent one of their best, more experienced fitters (apparently). He worked in the warm and dry in my garage and did a good job. However, I had already removed the interior trim and external screen surround so as to insure they didn't get damaged - are you able to do this? It made sense as I knew how they came apart and it was unlikely he did. He did a good job from where I was standing and I helped lift the new screen in place with him due to its size.
I would say have it done at home, keep the fitter in tea and biscuits and you'll get a better job;)
ZOLLAR said:
Fairly sure that the temperature is too cold for the glue to bond at the moment (don't know the exact process it was something I was told by a fitter previous) so you may have to take it to the branch.
Between the industry leaders, such as Dinitrol, Dow and Sika the selling points are usually Safe Drive Away Times (SDAT) and workable temperature range. There is much more to a polyurethane to make it good, such as cut-off string, decking properties, high modulus + low conductivity; sagging etc. I've never been a fan of what sub zero temps you can use an adhesive in, or how quickly the car can be put back on the road. Even if you're working in -5 conditions, you can't just rely on a product's specifications. There is a cold weather procedure whereby the contact surfaces must be dry, or even brought up to a warmer temperature. For the periods where the new windscreen is laid flat on a trestle, the cold damp air will make the surface unfit for use. But, unfortunately, not many fitters follow the rules. Most don't even know them.
Well I decided to book the car into the branch instead of having a mobile unit come out. I've also paid extra to get an actual Mazda manufacturers windscreen (rather than a 'compatible' windscreen). Hopefully they will do a good job. It's my weekend car and completely immaculate inside and out (sometimes I wish I had an old banger I didn't care about!). It's booked in Tuesday morning. I'll report back afterwards.
I absolutely hate having a windscreen done. It never seems to go well. Last time it was fitted pretty much ok but with some sort of crap after market screen which although they insisted was equivalent to OEM absolutely wasn't - it had a distracting block tint in place of the OEM graduated one.
The time before that the guy doing it did so much damage to the car it eventually cost the windscreen firm almost a grand at the dealer to get it fixed.
My car has the original factory screen installed and I'm absolutely dreading the first time it needs replacing.
It'll never be the same again.
The time before that the guy doing it did so much damage to the car it eventually cost the windscreen firm almost a grand at the dealer to get it fixed.
My car has the original factory screen installed and I'm absolutely dreading the first time it needs replacing.
It'll never be the same again.
Yes that's exactly what I'm dreading and doing my best to avoid. I know it will never be as good as the original factory seal, but if they use an original Mazda windscreen (which they have agreed and I will check on the day) and do the job properly the result should be good enough.
Ironically my 10 year old Audi TDi that see's the bulk of the mileage and I wouldn't care if they put the screen on back to front has been immune to screen cracks.
Ironically my 10 year old Audi TDi that see's the bulk of the mileage and I wouldn't care if they put the screen on back to front has been immune to screen cracks.
I had a polish chap from reading autoglass come to my work at the beginning of the year really friendly left him to work away and a great job at the end.
He was also saying that because my car had the sensors for lights and wipers installed in/on the glass that you could only get OEM glass where as if I had the lower spec I would have got a cheaper non-OEM windscreen.
He was also saying that because my car had the sensors for lights and wipers installed in/on the glass that you could only get OEM glass where as if I had the lower spec I would have got a cheaper non-OEM windscreen.
A mobile fitter from Autoglass cut a slice out of the scuttle trim on my A4. The replacement trim turned out to be for a LHD car (so they said) as was never sent to me. I waited over a year for the correct trim but they never supplied it. On top of that, he fitted the screen 'out of square' so there was a gap at the top left where rain could get in. The first replacement screen supplied was the wrong one, the second was fitted OK.
Not a good experience.
Not a good experience.
Had one fitted by a mobile fitted this year. Seems to of done a good job, turns out the last time the screen was done (before I owned the car) it wasn't done as well. The fitter this time showed me a section that had no sealant and trim under the bonnet not fitted correctly. Think it was auto glass I used.
Well windscreen has been fitted! All seems to have gone well. Trim seems to be properly put back in place and the new windscreen is branded Mazda and looks identical to the old one. As a bonus they contacted my insurance company who they said agreed to cover the extra for using an original manufactures windscreen so I just paid the normal excess. The car was taken inside and done in the warm and dry which I think was a good call as it was 2C icy, wet and windy here this morning. Of course I don't know about hidden parts but I'm hoping it's a good seal. If I have any problems in the future I'll report back here.
bus_ter said:
The car was taken inside and done in the warm and dry which I think was a good call as it was 2C icy
You were lucky...http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/business/100-branches...
I had a Saab 900 'screen (huge wrap-around, sharp bottom corners, and gasket-mount rather than bonded) done by one of the as-seen-on-tv big names - did an abysmal job, and took forever to do it. Fortunately, it went again shortly after, because it was peeing water in. Turned out they'd ripped the rubber badly.
The next one was done by a small local indie. They did a superb job, quickly. OK, I had to pay them directly, but the insurers repaid the invoice less the excess.
The next one was done by a small local indie. They did a superb job, quickly. OK, I had to pay them directly, but the insurers repaid the invoice less the excess.
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