Cracked windscreen
Discussion
just wondering what the procedure is for a cracked screen?
It will be a replacement as its a long crack from a stone off a passing van.
I see Autoglass and the like have an automated booking where you can put your insurance details in their system.
I thought I would need to get in touch with my insurance first. Is that necessary now or can I just go straight to whoever is going to fix it?
If I have a choice and not dictated by the insurance company who is good?
Its a 10 year old run of the mill Japanese car.
It will be a replacement as its a long crack from a stone off a passing van.
I see Autoglass and the like have an automated booking where you can put your insurance details in their system.
I thought I would need to get in touch with my insurance first. Is that necessary now or can I just go straight to whoever is going to fix it?
If I have a choice and not dictated by the insurance company who is good?
Its a 10 year old run of the mill Japanese car.
You should read your insurance policy first. It will give guidance as the procedure to follow.
Coincidentally my car windscreen suffered a stone chip yesterday and have booked a repair on line with Autoglass.
It is not completely free. I have chosen a repair without replacement windscreen wipers as mine are fine and its and extra £50.
Coincidentally my car windscreen suffered a stone chip yesterday and have booked a repair on line with Autoglass.
It is not completely free. I have chosen a repair without replacement windscreen wipers as mine are fine and its and extra £50.
I had one recently - if you go to your insurers website there should be a link to take you to their preferred windscreen company to book a replacement.
For mine, if you use another company they only pay out a small fixed amount, not the full replacement cost.
As you have an older car it's unlikely to require calibrating, I've used the home services for windscreen replacement in the past and they're fine. My recent replacement required calibrating the safety systems so had to go to them to be done alongside the replacement.
For mine, if you use another company they only pay out a small fixed amount, not the full replacement cost.
As you have an older car it's unlikely to require calibrating, I've used the home services for windscreen replacement in the past and they're fine. My recent replacement required calibrating the safety systems so had to go to them to be done alongside the replacement.
Whataguy said:
As you have an older car it's unlikely to require calibrating...
All devices are self-calibrating; changes in payload, tyre pressure etc. It's amazing how everyone is fixated on the need for recalibration when all the tech will do is take the car for a spin.
ADAS has been around for well over a decade. It's strange how none of the cars c2010 were recalled after windscreen replacement. The main reason they are 'calibrated' is because non genuine windscreens are fitted. In some cases, the aftermarket budget brand glass will put the car into fault mode as the device(s) will not function properly. OE glass does not have this issue so all you have to do is fit it correctly, within tolerance.
For example, after replacing a Tesla windscreen, assuming it is a genuine product, the car will self calibrate within 20 miles. "That'll be 180 pounds, please..."
sixor8 said:
When one of the 'big boys' (unsure which one) went mobile only a few years ago (pre-covid I think) with no premises to carry out these procedures, they started refusing to do windscreen replacements on cars with certain equipment. Why would they do that if it is that simple?
Without more information, I can't answer that. The big companies rely on buying in bulk from budget brand wholesalers/manufacturers. Some of those products are awful in terms of their fit and overall quality. When it was announced that cars equipped with ADAS would become the norm, fitting companies continued to fit windscreens supplied by the same aftermarket manufacturers. They also invested in calibration equipment.
A lot of these windscreens fitted wouldn't allow calibration due to issues with the glass quality/transparency and/or issues with the brackets that hold the device(s).
Many of these problematic cars ended up at main dealers and calibration could not be completed. Where those windscreens were removed and replaced with OE glass, calibration was not only successful, they would usually function as normal, ie, no calibration/recalibration needed.
No real research has gone into the subject here (AFAIK, there's not much from the likes of Thatcham) but the muricans conducted various scenarios:
https://www.repairerdrivennews.com/2018/04/16/iihs...
Aside from the grammar and syntax, it's an interesting read.
Glassman said:
Whataguy said:
As you have an older car it's unlikely to require calibrating...
All devices are self-calibrating; changes in payload, tyre pressure etc. It's amazing how everyone is fixated on the need for recalibration when all the tech will do is take the car for a spin.
ADAS has been around for well over a decade. It's strange how none of the cars c2010 were recalled after windscreen replacement. The main reason they are 'calibrated' is because non genuine windscreens are fitted. In some cases, the aftermarket budget brand glass will put the car into fault mode as the device(s) will not function properly. OE glass does not have this issue so all you have to do is fit it correctly, within tolerance.
For example, after replacing a Tesla windscreen, assuming it is a genuine product, the car will self calibrate within 20 miles. "That'll be 180 pounds, please..."
I think in another thread you mentioned that there are slight differences between the two and even more so when it came to windscreens designed for HUDs.
I had manufacturer glass fitted on my 23 Toyota - apparently that's all that is available currently. The car was facelift in 23, maybe the design changed.
There was almost a one month delay to get the glass in stock though.
It's not a great design, being flatter than windscreens I've had on other cars.
Mine had the tiniest of stone nicks on the screen, which loudly cracked within a few minutes and then slowly made its way into a circular crack.
It also had to have the calibration done despite being manufacturer glass.
There was almost a one month delay to get the glass in stock though.
It's not a great design, being flatter than windscreens I've had on other cars.
Mine had the tiniest of stone nicks on the screen, which loudly cracked within a few minutes and then slowly made its way into a circular crack.
It also had to have the calibration done despite being manufacturer glass.
Edited by Whataguy on Wednesday 10th April 11:02
g3org3y said:
With Autoglass etc, how likely are you to get Manufacturer Branded glass i.e. BMW stamped rather than Pilkington for example?
I think in another thread you mentioned that there are slight differences between the two and even more so when it came to windscreens designed for HUDs.
As the approved/nominated/preferred repairer, Autoglass work to an average invoice value. It therefore stands to reason that they will opt for the cheapest glass they can get. Their employees will also state that the glass is 'just the same', it's 'made in the same factory' or that the only difference is the omission of the car manufacturer's emblem. More and more customers are asking for 'OE' or 'OEM' glass which, if the insurance company (or the terms and conditions of the policy) will allow it, represents a higher cost per unit. I think in another thread you mentioned that there are slight differences between the two and even more so when it came to windscreens designed for HUDs.
The other side to it is what you agreed to before policy inception. If the pre-disclosure states that non genuine parts will be used in the event of a claim, that's what you're getting. So many people advise, 'just tell them you won't accept anything else', well it isn't that straight forward.
Also, the people at Autoglass (in my personal opinion) have very cleverly reclassified the glass they supply and fit as Original Equipment Equivalent, or 'OEE' which is one work, or one initial away from Original Equipment Manufacturer, or 'OEM'. I'm might be cynical; it's probably just a coincidence.
NRG1976 said:
I asked for OEM glass and the insurer said fine if I contribute £300! So I relented and they apparently fitted OEM quality but without the bmw logo…at least that’s what the guy fitting it said…
Rule of thumb: with rare exception, if it does not bear the (car) manufacturer's logo, it's not the same quality. Glassman said:
NRG1976 said:
I asked for OEM glass and the insurer said fine if I contribute £300! So I relented and they apparently fitted OEM quality but without the bmw logo…at least that’s what the guy fitting it said…
Rule of thumb: with rare exception, if it does not bear the (car) manufacturer's logo, it's not the same quality. 
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