Cracked screen
Discussion
I had a very bad experience with Autoglass that resulted in circa 5k worth of damage to my car through their attempt to fit replacement glass. Damage was to the top of the dash and to the paintwork around the screen itself. Credit to them they paid up without a fight, and the repairs have made good.
So my counsel is if you have to use Autoglass (my insurer stipulates) i) supervise them very closely, ii) pay attention to the report they do on the condition of your car before they start work, and what you already know iii) get a chip / crack repaired before you need glass replacement as a chip is not as easy to screw-up, although I have seen bad jobs...
So my counsel is if you have to use Autoglass (my insurer stipulates) i) supervise them very closely, ii) pay attention to the report they do on the condition of your car before they start work, and what you already know iii) get a chip / crack repaired before you need glass replacement as a chip is not as easy to screw-up, although I have seen bad jobs...
Edited by tracer.smart on Tuesday 23 January 23:26
tracer.smart said:
So my counsel is if you have to use Autoglass (my insurer stipulates) i) supervise them very closely, ii) pay attention to the report they do on the condition of your car before they start work, and what you already know iii) get a chip / crack repaired before you need glass replacement as a chip is not as easy to screw-up, although I have seen bad jobs...
I had Autoglass replace the screen on my BMW and laughed out loud when I saw that he described the car as dirty on his work order . The drive was clearly still wet after having just washed and dried the car. He sheepishly admitted they always write that in case they scratch the car when leaning over it. So watch out for that little trick!
As a guide:
As for repairing it, your insurers will be in bed with an 'approved' or 'nominated' repairer; when you call your insurance company you're, in fact, dialing straight into a call centre where the repairers live. In any case, the repair will be FOC (to you) but you may have to pay and reclaim should you use a company outside their nominated, or approved, list.
In my experience, most MOT testers fail anything in the direct driver vision (marked as 'A' zone on diagram).
Here endeth the lesson.
As for repairing it, your insurers will be in bed with an 'approved' or 'nominated' repairer; when you call your insurance company you're, in fact, dialing straight into a call centre where the repairers live. In any case, the repair will be FOC (to you) but you may have to pay and reclaim should you use a company outside their nominated, or approved, list.
In my experience, most MOT testers fail anything in the direct driver vision (marked as 'A' zone on diagram).
Here endeth the lesson.
911wise said:
I'll have to get the ruler out its gonna be close. You can get them repaired though. Right?
1p coin is a good rule of thumb. Even if you don't need it repairing for the MOT there is a danger of it delaminating and going cloudy and if you leave it too long and then it won't be repairable.
That diagram above refers to repairs.
For the sake of the MOT any damage in Zone A has to be smaller than 10mm to pass
In Zone B (anywhere inside the swept area but outside Zone A) you are allowed up to 40mm (pic is misleading as Zone C is in fact Zone B)
Any damage outside the swept area of the wiper blades (Zone D in the pic) is NOT SUBJECT TO TESTING and can be as damaged and cracked as you like
Oh, and there is no law on how big your wiper blades are provided you have a 'reasonable' view of the road
hope thats cleared it up
For the sake of the MOT any damage in Zone A has to be smaller than 10mm to pass
In Zone B (anywhere inside the swept area but outside Zone A) you are allowed up to 40mm (pic is misleading as Zone C is in fact Zone B)
Any damage outside the swept area of the wiper blades (Zone D in the pic) is NOT SUBJECT TO TESTING and can be as damaged and cracked as you like
Oh, and there is no law on how big your wiper blades are provided you have a 'reasonable' view of the road
hope thats cleared it up
"Repaired windscreens
Repaired windscreens must be inspected to the same test criteria as original unrepaired windscreens. Repairs must be judged solely on the basis of whether they interfere with vision. An 'invisible' or barely detectable repair, finished flush with the surrounding glass, does not count as damage even if it exceeds the limit on damage allowed in the test If these criteria are met, the position and size of repairs is not relevant for the purposes of the test."
www.motuk.co.uk/manual_830.htm
Fidgits said:
how do I go about getting a new windscreen under my insurance (elephant?)
call them, find out who they have a contract with to replace the screen, call the windscreen company, organise a day for them to come out and swap the glass, pay them the excess fee and show them the insurance certificate.
be carefull though, ask them to use the porsche rubber thingy round the window or you will have hours of fun trying to get them out again to replace the cheap crap rubber thing they put in.
best way is to ask if the fitter who is coming out to you has done a 911 thats the same age as your before.
I work in the business for my sins and the only advise I can give is ignore what the call centres and adverts say and take the car into the local branch for a repair or replacement. Speak to the manager and you should get a good feel of how he operates his branch. Do you want your pride and joy worked on outside your house / workplace in this weather????? Would you have your car serviced in the street????
Got a 964 having his screen replaced friday and he's coming to the branch. Told the guy why and he know's we'll look after him and his car and not just treat him like other windscreen companies do. He's heard some horror stories as well and was suprised when I said he could stand and watch my guys do the job. Used to work for Autoglass back in the day and left because I had issues with who they employed and how they operated.
There are still some good guys out there!!!!
Got a 964 having his screen replaced friday and he's coming to the branch. Told the guy why and he know's we'll look after him and his car and not just treat him like other windscreen companies do. He's heard some horror stories as well and was suprised when I said he could stand and watch my guys do the job. Used to work for Autoglass back in the day and left because I had issues with who they employed and how they operated.
There are still some good guys out there!!!!
Gassing Station | Porsche General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff