£725.05 quote to replace cracked windscreen?!?

[DsDetective]

From my favorite Surrey dealer. Is that right? Seems kind of crazy and since they charged me £550 for standard service last time I'm rather more weary. Insurance will only pay contribution if I don't use their cheapo service and I'm not keen on letting them loose on it.

Money is v tight at the moment and I may be made redundant soon so this could be the end of my 5 years of lotus ownership tbh if the costs are going to continue like this

[Gooby]

A new windscreen is £50 with fully comp insurance or insurance with window cover. (on my policy)

[jondude]

Gooby said:

A new windscreen is £50 with fully comp insurance or insurance with window cover. (on my policy)

But I think that is the problem. The dealer believes this will be an insurance claim so they charge ridiculous prices. Most people don't worry as they also believe they are only paying a £50 contribution.

Yet I read a report once that argued, very fully, that we are ALL paying about 60-70% more in insurance because of outrages as this. The whole spares prices business is run so that everybody who touches the part on its way to the customer seems to get another 100% price on top.....and the insurance does NOT pay - we pay.

They just settle the bill, then share it between us all at renewal.


I once rang for a quote on a Clio windscreen.

'£250 all in'
'Oh, that's above my budget, car is only worth that!'
'Sorry mate, thought you had insurance. £50 to you, cash'.

And that mentality is what costs us all.

[bogie]

DsDetective said:

From my favorite Surrey dealer. Is that right? Seems kind of crazy and since they charged me £550 for standard service last time I'm rather more weary. Insurance will only pay contribution if I don't use their cheapo service and I'm not keen on letting them loose on it.

Money is v tight at the moment and I may be made redundant soon so this could be the end of my 5 years of lotus ownership tbh if the costs are going to continue like this

let them loose on it - its then their responsibility if its not right, and you can claim some more then - for new paint too if they bugger that up

I had to let my Vantage windscreen be done by the "cheapo" insurance jobbies too - like an Elise, as its a specialist car, they are limited to windscreen sources from them, so its not like they can fit a sub-standard part ......mine was fine, they even managed to re-glue the tax disc holder correctly

[kambites]

Problem with the Elise, is that you have to take the clam off (or at least loosen it) don't you?

[ludo]

Gooby said:

A new windscreen is £50 with fully comp insurance or insurance with window cover. (on my policy)

which insurer are you with (had difficulty finding one with that sort of window cover, possibly as I needed a new windscreen last year)?

ETA: Had mine done at the factory service center, I'll see if I can find out how much it came to.

Edited by ludo on Thursday 2nd April 16:24

[DsDetective]

kambites said:

Problem with the Elise, is that you have to take the clam off (or at least loosen it) don't you?

I was also worried about the fact that it looks like you have to drill the sun visors into the screen.

[Scuffers]

that's just a joke...

last one I paid for was £300 fitted.

[ADM 135S]

Hi Guys,

Had my windscreen replaced nearly two weeks ago, paid £737.52 from a dealer in Bristol;

Windscreen £334.46
Windscreen finisher?? £7.86
Clam removal/refitting labour £234
Windscreen labour (Autoglass) £65
VAT £96.20

My insurance had no issues using a fitter of my choice, but saying that haven't
had my bill (less £60 excess) paid yet.

Also, they damaged my clam when removing it, they pointed this out before I paid and
will be fixing damage. Small 5mm dia chip.

So your saving £22 on my costs

Adrian

[StevenB]

I had a new screen fitted to an audi 200 quattro avant the other week, through insurance the cost was £570 if i paid myself and took a chance on getting money from the insureance £263 same screen etc

[kambites]

It's worth noting if you have to have it replaced anyway, that there are companies which do heated front screens for the Elise for less than the cost of the OEM one.

[dunxS1]

http://www.eliseparts.com/products.php?product=112

Dunx.

[DsDetective]

Thanks for all the help guys, it's good to know the price isn't out of step, at least as far as dealer prices go.

I'm going to have another go with the insurance company and see if I can get a better outcome.