TVR T350 Windscreen Replacement
Discussion
Hi,
Right, I was hoping for some guidance in terms of recent experiences having a new windscreen fitted. Mines looking worse for wear with some chips (one of which might not be fixable) and strange star shapes on either corner. I wondered what the general route is for getting it replaced?
I'm based in Cambridgeshire, have pondered the usual mainstream autoglass etc, but am thinking a tvr specialist is probably a better route.
Thanks in anticipation of your advice
Steve
Right, I was hoping for some guidance in terms of recent experiences having a new windscreen fitted. Mines looking worse for wear with some chips (one of which might not be fixable) and strange star shapes on either corner. I wondered what the general route is for getting it replaced?
I'm based in Cambridgeshire, have pondered the usual mainstream autoglass etc, but am thinking a tvr specialist is probably a better route.
Thanks in anticipation of your advice
Steve
If you are doing it on insurance (which I am) just get it done by a specialist and then claim it back. In that case it does not matter the cost of the specialist, you know the job is done by someone who knows what they are doing. You just pay the excess which you need to do anyway.
Experiences with companies like Autoglass and friends have been mixed from past stories. Some times it gets done well, sometimes it a total mess.
Get it done by a specialist is my advice.
Experiences with companies like Autoglass and friends have been mixed from past stories. Some times it gets done well, sometimes it a total mess.
Get it done by a specialist is my advice.
Indeed, I've got another option. Get Autowindscreens etc to do it, at a TVR Specialist who can oversee it. Spoke briefly to Prestige Performance in Melton Mowbray and they suggested this as alternative. Maybe best of both worlds. It seems that most TVR Specialists, don't want to do it themselves, or the limited numbers that do, are a long drive away :/
QBee said:
Keith (Pyney) used a guy called Paul (Glassman), an independent based in North London, IIRC. Cannot find my contact details for him, but someone will know. He was apparently very good.
http://www.glasstecauto.co.uk/index.htmlPaul.
alex_gray255 said:
Bespoke are doing mine as they have someone that they call in to use.
I suspect most specialists won't physically do it themselves, but they will know and use someone who can.
Interesting Alex. I bought my car through Bespoke (not a million miles away) and know you rate them highly, so that might be something I look at I suspect most specialists won't physically do it themselves, but they will know and use someone who can.
My mate Tuxman also has experience of them through his Noble exploits.
Steve - IIRC your with Mannings? If so they offer (albeit with a slightly higher excess) the ability to choose your own fitter unlike some insurers who insist on whoever they've negotiated best rates with - usually Autoglass. If so then make use of it and get someone such as Glassman who have experience of TVR screens and the pains that they can cause
Glassman said:
Did Pyney's Chim recently and before that, tidied up the mess on his S3 which was left by the insurance nominated after they tried three times to finish it (and failed).
Do you travel? Or better to meet at somewhere like Bespoke? Do through them. I think a combination of Tony, Anthony and Alex recommending, there's only one way to go
The chip may be repairable, Why not post a pic of it?
The bits around the edge are probably delamination which TVRs are quite prone to. It is possible to paint around the edge of the screen on the outside to cover this. I saw this on a job last week and was surprised how effective it was at masking the problem.
As you will see from many posts on Piston Heads and other sites that if you go with an insurers nominated supplier it is a lottery as to whether you get a decent job or not. Take a step back and think about why an insurer would have a blanket deal with a national supplier and you will come up with one answer PRICE. By agreeing to use the nominated supplier you are agreeing to use the CHEAPEST supplier. How do they become the cheapest supplier? By employing low paid workers and using cheap glass, simple.
The bits around the edge are probably delamination which TVRs are quite prone to. It is possible to paint around the edge of the screen on the outside to cover this. I saw this on a job last week and was surprised how effective it was at masking the problem.
As you will see from many posts on Piston Heads and other sites that if you go with an insurers nominated supplier it is a lottery as to whether you get a decent job or not. Take a step back and think about why an insurer would have a blanket deal with a national supplier and you will come up with one answer PRICE. By agreeing to use the nominated supplier you are agreeing to use the CHEAPEST supplier. How do they become the cheapest supplier? By employing low paid workers and using cheap glass, simple.
ShiDevil said:
strange star shapes on either corner
This might be a lamination defect known as Ice Flower or Snow Flake which I think occurs more in acoustically insulated windscreens, or laminated glass with a thicker PVP interlayer, but this usually happens during the manufacturing process. Covering it with a vinyl is a good suggestion and many Tiv owners have done this; they are surprisingly good and can be deceptive so do have a closer look if you're buying a TVR!
Just an opaque black is best, and not like what the chap who Elvis Wedgely had done to his 400SE... carbon fibre is one thing, but a cheap and poorly finished carbon fibre is what the car had, hiding a badly delamming Heywood Williams piece of poo.
Glassman said:
ShiDevil said:
Do you travel? Or better to meet at somewhere like Bespoke? Do through them.
Yes. Whatever suits you. If they have stock, it might work out better all round. I'm picking a T350 screen up from RG tomorrow. Could always check for another while I'm there.
? Ideally with the tinted strip at the top and if possible a proper OEM part? I'll try and give you a call Monday to discuss once I've spoken with Mannings. Do you need it bringing to you? Out today and picked this up;
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