Windscreen replacement issues
Discussion
Firstly, apologies for another windscreen replacement thread.
The G22 420i we bought last year got a crack across the windscreen and Autoglass replaced it with a non-OE screen. I've had non-OE replacement glass on other cars in the past with no issue at all but this time it's pretty bad. There are all kinds of problems - really bad distortion at both sides, fuzzy HUD, reflections from the dash that weren't a problem before, and creaking noises where the car was pretty much silent before.
Autoglass have agreed to fix it, by ordering in and fitting the OE BMW glass, and just waiting now on the glass arriving.
In the meantime I noticed another issue - at the bottom edge of the screen there's the usual blacked-out border, and on this car almost none of that used to be visible from inside the car. With the replacement screen, quite a bit is visible above the top of the dash. Also, I noticed when we first had the car that - viewed from outside - there are two transparent circular "holes" in the blacked out bit at the base of the windscreen, with dusty felt visible behind. With this replacement screen, there's nothing behind those holes - and sitting inside the car you can see the holes and indeed look right through them.
I couldn't help wondering if a) the non-OE glass is such a poor fit that is doesn't line up where at should at the bottom, and/or b) that the absence of that felt might be contributing to the creaking noises. Perhaps the felt was bonded to, or came away with, the original screen and wasn't replaced - in which case does the felt come with the OE screen or need to be ordered in as a separate part before fitting??
The G22 420i we bought last year got a crack across the windscreen and Autoglass replaced it with a non-OE screen. I've had non-OE replacement glass on other cars in the past with no issue at all but this time it's pretty bad. There are all kinds of problems - really bad distortion at both sides, fuzzy HUD, reflections from the dash that weren't a problem before, and creaking noises where the car was pretty much silent before.
Autoglass have agreed to fix it, by ordering in and fitting the OE BMW glass, and just waiting now on the glass arriving.
In the meantime I noticed another issue - at the bottom edge of the screen there's the usual blacked-out border, and on this car almost none of that used to be visible from inside the car. With the replacement screen, quite a bit is visible above the top of the dash. Also, I noticed when we first had the car that - viewed from outside - there are two transparent circular "holes" in the blacked out bit at the base of the windscreen, with dusty felt visible behind. With this replacement screen, there's nothing behind those holes - and sitting inside the car you can see the holes and indeed look right through them.
I couldn't help wondering if a) the non-OE glass is such a poor fit that is doesn't line up where at should at the bottom, and/or b) that the absence of that felt might be contributing to the creaking noises. Perhaps the felt was bonded to, or came away with, the original screen and wasn't replaced - in which case does the felt come with the OE screen or need to be ordered in as a separate part before fitting??
A quick update, in case anyone's interested (I guess not!) or wants to know this in the future...
Turns out replacing the felt when the windscreen's replaced is *essential* on the 4 series, it helps insulate, support and cushion the windscreen glass from movement, and those clear 'holes' in the blacked-out section of the bottom of the screen are so that you can see it's correctly installed (or not).
Autoglass have now ordered it, along with the correct screen glass, so hopefully will all be fitted and back to normal soon.
Turns out replacing the felt when the windscreen's replaced is *essential* on the 4 series, it helps insulate, support and cushion the windscreen glass from movement, and those clear 'holes' in the blacked-out section of the bottom of the screen are so that you can see it's correctly installed (or not).
Autoglass have now ordered it, along with the correct screen glass, so hopefully will all be fitted and back to normal soon.
Best of luck with it. My Rangerover had 7 visits and 2 screens. Still they left the water drains disconnected and broke most of the clips off of the A post trims. It needed a trip to the body shop too for the paint they managed to remove from the roof.
They will keep on sending people out until you are happy. Probably an iso 9000 requirement. Who they send and their ability to do the job is a bit of a lottery.
Check it carefully.
They will keep on sending people out until you are happy. Probably an iso 9000 requirement. Who they send and their ability to do the job is a bit of a lottery.
Check it carefully.
Thanks - in fact I think it's all sorted now. Autoglass agreed in the end that an OEM BWM-branded screen was required in this case, and ordered in the correct glass and the foam strips (turns out there are two) and all the relevant new trims, etc.
They then dispatched an experienced fitter to my home and the chap was excellent - really fastidious; wasn't happy with the fit the first time (looked OK to me) and removed and did the whole thing again. Then calibrated and so on and now the HUD is sharp and fully functional, the camera-assisted stuff all works as it should, and the glass itself is quieter and entirely free of distortions - it seems exactly as new.
So in the end a very good result and seems only fair to give due appreciation to Autoglass who really went above and beyond to make it right. Although Direct Line did take a lot of persuading, and were initially very unhelpful, they did come around in the end.
They then dispatched an experienced fitter to my home and the chap was excellent - really fastidious; wasn't happy with the fit the first time (looked OK to me) and removed and did the whole thing again. Then calibrated and so on and now the HUD is sharp and fully functional, the camera-assisted stuff all works as it should, and the glass itself is quieter and entirely free of distortions - it seems exactly as new.
So in the end a very good result and seems only fair to give due appreciation to Autoglass who really went above and beyond to make it right. Although Direct Line did take a lot of persuading, and were initially very unhelpful, they did come around in the end.
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