Possible Windscreen replacement..

[Nosh]

I have two chips on the windscreen, one of which has small cracks coming out from it.

Contacted the insewerance company and the 'repair guy' is coming round on Monday.

Question is, if I need a new windscreen, are there companies I should ask my insurance to use in a new installation - al I right in thinking it is a specialist type of installation?

Your views (and past experiences of this) would be welcome - and I live in the Milton Keynes area...

Ta

Nosh.

[The Aardvark]

I had Autoglass try and repair a chip a couple of years ago but they ended up splitting the screen. They said they could fit me a new one, but had to order one in. The first one wasnt 100% perfect apparently so they ordered another one, but prior to fitting it asked me to call over to their Guildford depot so they could check the condition of the rubbers.
One of their senior fitters came out to have a look, and immediately said that he didnt want to do the job as he couldnt guarantee that when removing the old screen he wouldnt cut the leather on the top of the dash, and it should be done by a specialist - I appreciated his honesty.

I came home and spoke to my insurance company (Privilege at the time) and basically explained that their approved repairer didnt want to do the job (I had something in writing from Autoglass). They said that they also used AutoWindscreens so had to go back to Guildford.
The chap at AutoWindscreens didnt fill me with any confidence - he once again couldnt guarantee that they wouldnt split or cut the dash but I think that he thought I was questioning his ability to do the job - 'My chap in the workshop has been fitting screens for over 30 years, of course he knows what he's doing', but wouldnt confirm whether he'd done any TVR screens.

I called back home via Fernhurst, and got a quote from them. They use a small independent local chap for all their screens and need the car for 2 days - the best part of a whole day to fit it, and then another day to make sure that it settles ok.

Anyway, I managed to convince the insurance company that this was the best way forward, as I didnt want to make a further claim a for damaged dashboard.

Perfect job done by Fernhurst.
I think if you search you'll find mixed opinion - some appear to have a decent job done by Autoglass, but the key point appears to be make sure the fitter is aware that its an unusual job and ask whether they've done TVR before, and others where further damage to car has resulted by a botched job.

I can highly recommend Fernhurst to do the job, but appreciate that its a trek to come down from MK - I'm sure someone else will come up with a more local recommendation!

[Twistygit]

Just wondering the screens they fit are they proper TVR ones with TVR etched in and sun tint at top

[Pursyluv]

My insurance company charge me £60 excess to go with Autoglass or £100 for a company of my choice, for £40 it's a no-brainer, also if you check my recent thread Autoglass wanted £1,122 to replace my screen.

[Glassman]

Nosh said:

I have two chips on the windscreen, one of which has small cracks coming out from it.

Contacted the insewerance company and the 'repair guy' is coming round on Monday.

Question is, if I need a new windscreen, are there companies I should ask my insurance to use in a new installation - al I right in thinking it is a specialist type of installation?

Your views (and past experiences of this) would be welcome - and I live in the Milton Keynes area...

Ta

Nosh.

First and foremost, you shouldn't need a replacement windscreen if the damage is repairable. This, if he's a competent and experienced repairer, will be pointed out before the repair is attempted.

I do not buy this 'sign this disclaimer' before any work is done scenario (certainly where one large company is concerned). Yes, there is a small risk of the damage getting worse, but when I say small: during my time working for one of the better known companies, the repair success rate was fairly good overall - I'd say around 65-70%. But raise the temperature in the summer months and add a bit of sunshine to the equation and that same repair kit became a windscreen destroyer. It was (and still is) an interestingly designed and questionable bit of machinery. "Sign this disclaimer..." and spin the wheel... red or black?

But a properly trained repair technician using a decent repair kit will be able to - in most cases - tell you how well the repair will look before he attempts it. The success rate, regardless of the weather is up in the high nineties. There are far more techniques which will allow some human intervention when needed; it will respond better to manipulation when needed; it is, by far, a much better way of repairing.

This is not just my opinion, but shared by more than many who know the difference. I work very closely with two guys who have been around a long time as repair (only) specialists. Between the pair of them they share around 50 years experience and are noted not only for the quality of their repairs, but for their knowledge of what really is a science.

I could illustrate a lot more with some very interesting comparisons between certain repairers, their kits and above all, their results, but slating/shaming others; bun fights, legal writs etc is not my idea of helping people with damaged windscreens.

[Nosh]

Glassman said:

First and foremost, you shouldn't need a replacement windscreen if the damage is repairable. This, if he's a competent and experienced repairer, will be pointed out before the repair is attempted.

Paul,

The AA guy stated that they were all previous repairs and 'nothing could be done with them'.

He said they will not get worse, so just leave them as they were...

....I just hope the little crack doesn't get any worse or it fails the MOT...

Nosh