windscreen

[Steve Bramhall]

Hi,

took a stone or something hard on the windscreen today on the way back and the large crack now spreading across the screen means I need to replace. Should I call autoglass or some other mass market windscreen supplier or is that no no. Small mercies I guess, am just grateful the offending article didnt hit my new paint work!!

Thanks in advance for the advice

Steve

 

[John Maddox]

Difficult to advise. I would phone the local OPC and ask who they use - they would sub it out if you took it to them I think.

I used Autoglass for my wifes BMW and when I said I was very fussy they insisted I took it to their main depot where it was done under cover rather than a guy doing it from a van.

I'm sure you know how important it is to get the correct screen with the radio antenna in it and the use of teflon tape to minimise the dreaded screen creak.

 

[Steve Bramhall]

thanks John, I do and am a little apprehensive to say the least hence the question. My insurer uses autoglass which I just spoke with and expressed a little fussiness.. and Monday 10th May is the first appointment! No wonder there are so many unemployed people. Anyway, is undercover a better service than man in a van or do you just feel better about it?

thanks
Steve

 

[sailor]

ORIGINAL: John Maddox

Difficult to advise. I would phone the local OPC and ask who they use - they would sub it out if you took it to them I think.

I used Autoglass for my wifes BMW and when I said I was very fussy they insisted I took it to their main depot where it was done under cover rather than a guy doing it from a van.

I'm sure you know how important it is to get the correct screen with the radio antenna in it and the use of teflon tape to minimise the dreaded screen creak.

Wot he said! But also it is vital that the new screen be fitted precisely, in exactly the correct position . A little off-centre can cause a lot of future trouble.

JohnC
993turbo

 

[Steve Bramhall]

JohnC, when supervising how do I tell if it is fitted correctly? Will any misalignment be obvious to a layman like me?

 

[John Maddox]

I was happier because if it rains or is cold then the bonding of the screen can be affected with possible leaks and creaks if it doesn't cure properly. Also removing the screen I consider to be a two man job.

 

[polar964]

ORIGINAL: Steve Bramhall

thanks John, I do and am a little apprehensive to say the least hence the question. My insurer uses autoglass which I just spoke with and expressed a little fussiness.. and Monday 10th May is the first appointment! No wonder there are so many unemployed people. Anyway, is undercover a better service than man in a van or do you just feel better about it?

thanks
Steve

Steve,
Whether autoglass repair the screen at their centre or at your home, makes no difference as they are still the same guys carrying out the work. The advantage of your windscreen being replaced at the autoglass centre is, if there is a chance of rain your car will be undercover.

I would be more concerned regarding how they intend to remove the old windscreen!!

 

[matthewb]

Polar Paul has a good point. The removal process is brutal and will almost certainly result in paint damage. This can lead to the dreaded scuttle rust. I take mine to a body shop for any screen replacement. They get their 'specialist' to remove the screen and then they repair & paint any damaged areas. After the paint has dried, the 'specialist' returns and fits the new screen. If done properly, and you're lucky, you should be able to avoid screen creak and teflon tape.

M

 

[Steve Bramhall]

is the body shop specialist an autoglass or similar company i.e. will my insurance company be happy?

 

[matthewb]

Yes - I believe they may well use Autoglass. My bodyshop pays them and then issues me with an invoice for the whole job - the screen, painting and installation.

If the insurance will only pay for the screen and its installation (i.e. no repair or painting) then you're still up on the deal in as much as it's a job done properly.

M

 

[jboult]

Steve,

I'm sure that some must do a very good job, but talking to specialists they say the 993 is difficult to do and needs to be strapped into place to get it right.

I recently had my windscreen replaced by a national chain (under protest with the insurers, I should add). Two failed attempts to fit it later they paid me just over £1,000 to repair the damage caused and have the glass fitted properly by my body shop specialist. Buyer beware, I guess!

It is usually quite obvious if the screen isn't fitted correctly, but if you have a friendly body shop they should be a able to take a look for you. The first attempt on mine was misaligned, which was obvious as the trim collapsed on one side and when you peeled it up and looked the gaps between glass and pillar on each side were very different. There was also a huge amount of overspill of the bonding agent.

The second attempt was again misaligned, although this time they attempted to disguise it by packing the trim out with cord to stop it collapsing in. There was also significant damage to the paint on the scuttle - annoying as I'd had it done not long before.

If and when I have to do it again I'll certainly spend a lot more time trying to get the insurers to let me use my own people. Even if they just supply the glass and part pay the fitting, I would rather pick up the rest of the tab than go through the hassle again.

Cheers/John

 

[Steve Bramhall]

OMG sounds like a nightmare waiting to unfold.. will crack on and sort the indy out today and see where I get to. Thanks for the advice gents..

 

[matthewb]

I've just remembered - my body shop do use Autoglass but they insist on one particular chap (no idea of his name but he knows his Porsches, apparently) doing the work.

So, not really a case of the company, more a case of the person.

M

 

[Steve Bramhall]

OMG that makes it even worse haha.. I guess it will be a journey. The technician for auto windscreens is going to give me a call today to placate my fears!

 

[polar964]

ORIGINAL: matthewb

I've just remembered - my body shop do use Autoglass but they insist on one particular chap (no idea of his name but he knows his Porsches, apparently) doing the work. 

So, not really a case of the company, more a case of the person.

M

Totally agree.

Steve, presumably you use an reputable indepentant specialist to work on your car. I'm sure he would be able to point you in the right direction regarding windscreen replacement.

Not sure what screen is fitted in the 993, but make sure the new one is the genuine article. Some one on here will no doubt be able to update you! (Sigla for the 964)

 

[clyde]

I'm a bit late on this but I'll add my tuppence worth anyway as I've had my front screen in and out six times and the rear four. The removal and re-fit process was always carried out by windscreen "specialists"

The first time was to get the screen rust done under warranty - so done at an approved bodyshop. They made a right pigs ear of the front screen (which was a new one as they damaged the old one taking it out - quite common apparantly as the older glass gets the more brittle it becomes) and it had to be removed and re-fitted. The front screen then started to de-laminate after a year or so, so it's back to the bodyshop for a replacement under warranty.

The rust then came back because when they they take the old screen out they use a Stanley type knife which cuts into the paint in the recess. Yet again it's back to the approved bodyshop and both screens out again (this time they broke the rear screen). The front screen had to come out again as it wasn't fitted correctly. Then the rear screen exploded one day about six months after it was fitted when I was getting in the car. I think it was because they had fitted the screen for the 94 model which is different but only sussed this out later. So out again and in with another one, which wasn't fitted properly but by this time I was concerned about the damage they were doing to my car so decided to live with it.

The screen rust re-appeared two or three years later - well it would do when Jack the Ripper is hacking at it without a care in the world wouldn't it? So back into a different bodyshop and out with both screens. The bodyshop called me into to discuss the car once the screens were out and you could clearly see two knife runs in the paint all around the window recesses where the screens had been removed before. The rust wasn't too bad but if left untreated would have quickly developed, so bodyshop bill promptly doubled to cover the additional work. The screens were re-fitted but not properly positioned, however, although the bodyshop offered to take it back in and get them re-fitted I decided that I would rather have a rust free car with incorrectly positioned screens than a car with correctly positioned screens and hidden rust waiting to burst out at some future date.

I don't really know what makes the fitting of these screens so difficult. I know that they are bonded to the inner rubber seal as opposed to the screen surround in modern cars but surely that's not the reason?

Anyway, I now consider myself something of an expert on how fitters can in-correctly fit both front and rear screens, so here's a list of the things that they can get wrong:

• Glass fitted too high or low within the aperture, i.e. too close to the roof or scuttle panel
• Glass not centred, i.e. too far to the left or right
• Glass fitted squint, i.e. right side higher than left or vice versa
• Glass fitted too far into the aperture, resulting in outer rubber not sitting in the edge channel properly and coming loose
• Glass not sitting far enough into the aperture, resulting in the rubber not sitting against the bodywork properly
• Any two or more of the above (this in my experience is the most likely)

What I would advise, Steve, is to take lots of photos of the present screen (assuming that it's fitted correctly) and take the car to your favourite bodyshop (tell your insurer that this is what you intend to do - as with body repairs you can take the car where you want, you don't have to use their approved repairers). Tell the bodyshop that you want the new screen to be seated exactly as the current one and advise that you have photos. Strip off the outer rubber with the bodyshop man so you can see the relationship between the bodywork and the screen, for example, the gap between the body and the screen edge should be uniform and (I think) the plane of the glass is the same level as the plane of the abutting bodywork.

Sorry for such a long post but as you can gather I have been frustrated many a time on this issue.

Finally - good luck

 

[matthewb]

Wow Clyde. You poor ol' soul. I've only needed the rear screen out once (to repair rust damage) and I've had nowhere near as much bad luck. Hang on in there

M

 

[dozzer]

Clyde, really sorry to hear this and what a list I would certainly be a little more than frustrated []

Any vehicle windscreen replacement needs to be positioned and seated correctly with associated trims seated flush to the glass/body. This at least is a basic requirement along with the use of correct primers to ensure issues like rust are non existent in the future.

When the rust re appeared you say your bill doubled and through frustration and concern you paid the bill, easy for me to say but whoever they are they should not have got away with such shoddy workmanship. I presume initially this was done via your insurance company and you paid an excess, did you report it to them and what did they say"¦

 

[blaine54]

Had my replacement screen fitted by OPC after agreeing with my Insurer Aviva, payment settled after 14 days as well. OPC kept the car overnight for the bonding to cure, auto glass quoted a 2 hour turn around time. So on that premise alone, I'd be pushing for it to be done through an OPC if your insurer agrees to it.

 

[Steve Bramhall]

gulp.. not looking forward to any of this!