New windscreen. Chipped to bits after a fortnight

[Simond S]

Two weeks ago I had a new windscreen fitted to the Toaureg. The car is 4 years old (30,000 miles)and had 1 chip that turned to a crack the week before Christmas.

Autoglass fitted a new screen. Thing is the screen already has three chips and a small crack.

I havent changed my driving style, I dont drive close behind other cars or lorries. Just seems that the new screen is nowhere near as strong as the original VW one.

Is this normal, do I have a case to get a geniune VW screen instead, or have i just been a bit unlucky?

[TheEnd]

Gritters, I don't think you could have any significant differences in glass hardness.

[mybrainhurts]

Grit's not hard enough to chip a screen...

[mybrainhurts]

Does the screen have any markings, like Wang Po Scleen Compary..?

[FreeLitres]

Have your neighbour's kids been given a BB gun for Xmas?

[Tunku]

You haven't run into a flock of birds have you?

[LMC]

mybrainhurts said:

Does the screen have any markings, like Wang Po Scleen Compary..?

[Simond S]

No flog of birds, no bb guns.

We actually watched two chips happen. Driving at about 45-50 on an a road in the rain. Slightest sound and then the chip appeared.

Having had a few 4wd cars i appreciate that the screen is more upright that a sports car, but never known a screen chip this quickly or badly.

(will look at manufacturer logo tomorrow when it's light)

[jjones]

had this on a mk3 golf, original screen did 200k before a bullet hole meant i needed a new one for MOT. new screw gained a large crack a few days later, guessing pattern parts that they use are no where near the quality of OEM.

[BRISTOL86]

mybrainhurts said:

Does the screen have any markings, like Wang Po Scleen Compary..?

Bravo!

[HellDiver]

I'm convinced replacement screens chip/crack easier than the factory fit ones. Saw it time after time on screens on fleet cars. Factory screens take a beatin, replacements are smashed the first stone that hits them.

I'm assuming it's either a thinner screen, or the installation method is to blame. I'm thinking latter.

[hostyle]

HellDiver said:

I'm assuming it's either a thinner screen, or the installation method is to blame. I'm thinking latter.

Could it be that there is more tension on a factory fitted screen? Like when you have a hardened glass table. If it chips, it can then break easily. While without the chip you could stand on it. I've been told this is because the chip breaks the surface tension.

A non-factory fitted screen might not be fitted to the same tightness and tension, and could therefore chip and crack easier.

Just a thought though.

[Glassman]

OEM windscreens for the Toureg is Guardian. The glass is not branded VW - just the manufacturer.

(Sekurit)Saint Gobain and Pilkinton are also OEM certified.

I am yet to be shown the differences in branded OEM screens and non-branded AM (aftermarket) screens. There have been some suggestions of the glass being of a lesser quality but given that the OEM and AM screens all come of the same production runs...

But there are 'cheaper' brands (most coming from Asia). This is not to say that they will chip easier. There may well be some degree of quality issues, but put the chipped screen down to the roads being ripped up by cold weather or just bad luck (and fitting does not come into it unless the glass is moving!)

Aftermarket versus OEM Windscreens

[HellDiver]

That's all well and good Glassman, but doing 65k a year for several years, and being close to the fleet manager at work, I can tell you that replacement screens don't last as long as factory fit. I'm talking a fleet of over a hundred Fords, Vauxhalls, VAG, and some Jap cars.

[5678]

OP, I've had the same luck with my 650. Had a new screen fitted in November. Was driving along the M4 around 60mph in traffic and heard the dreaded bang. Sure enough, two small chips. Had Autoglass out and they are too small to repair, not anywhere near the line of sight either so not too bad. Still VERY annoying though.

[Simond S]

My windscreen is made by Solarshield with "shaterprufe" written underneath.

I spoke to Autoglass today and also Direct Line. DL said that they only use Autoglass or Auto Windscreens and if I have any issues with the quality I should speak to them.

Autoglass said that of the 5 chips only 2 are repairable, but it isnt the screen at fault it's the roads.

I mentioned that the previous windscreen lasted 4 years withour cracking and this has lasted less than two weeks. I was told the problem is that it's winter.

Thank god we didnt have a winter last year, or the year before. See, when we had global warming we had less windscreen issues

Glassman. Whose screens do you fit? I may invest in a VW one fitted privately.

[Glassman]

Simond S said:

Glassman. Whose screens do you fit? I may invest in a VW one fitted privately.

Dictated by customer preference. We always discuss the options available.

If there is none, I buy direct from Pilkington as well as OEM certified (aftermarket) suppliers for manufacturers such as Sekurit Saint Gobain, Guardian, Solarshield, Armourplate, Soliver amongst others

There are other options where the job is price critical (often where the customer couldn't care less - this usually is either the cheap as possible customer or the manager of a truck/van fleet). Glass comes in from all over the world (including the sought after 'dealer' branded stuff) and as much as the Chinese examples can be a bit iffy, some of their stuff is very good.

FY (Fu-Yao) Glass is the OEM supplier for Land Rover (on the Freelander) and one or two other known marques.

[Dunclane]

Don't Auto Windscreens manufacture their own screens?

[Glassman]

Dunclane said:

Don't Auto Windscreens manufacture their own screens?