French stone

[Thirteencharacters]

Hi All

Coming back through France, a passing car picked up a stone that struck our Ocean front screen between the wiper blade and the top of bonnet-about a 15mm space.

Because it was so close to the edge, it didn’t chip-but cracked.
That crack then “grew” across the screen-writing it off.

Unlucky, but not unique of course.

This post is to gather experience of screen replacement.
Our screen is covered with insurance-but with standard excess charge.

I want a genuine VW screen replacement, but am aware that some screen companies fit an aftermarket compromise.
Our policy mentions using Swinton for the service, and I have a price for a new screen from the dealer-and fitting for just under £1000.00.

What has worked for you?
Dealer fit, or someone coming to the house to glue a new one in?

I did it once before with an Audi A5, but two screens later (and a week delay) because the first screen had the mirror stuck in the wrong place…. I ended up with a poor quality screen on a nearly new vehicle.

Modern screens have the logo embedded, shading around the edges and mirror, light sensors and auto wiper start with moisture detected.
Mine also has the crit sticker on it-which is not removable.

Any good or bad stories to recount-before I decide which way to go?

 

[Roger Boeken]

insist on having orignal vw screen. Mine had to be replaced twice because with aftermarket screen the camera for traffic sign recognition could not be calibrated. I seems some have not the same curving as the original. You will find some threads about it on the forum. In Belgium Carglass is marketleader for replacing windscreens on cars, they handle all the paperwork with insurance company.

 

[Wish]

I had a similar experience with an Audi TT. Insurance stipulated I had to use Autoglass. Couldn’t have it done at home because they had to set up lane assist. They assured me the windscreen was factory spec despite it not having the Audi logo on it. I couldn’t argue, so I accepted there choice and all was fine….

 

[The Tall Luthier]

I don’t understand this after market compromise windscreen line.

How many companies do you think would compete for the making of this specific windscreen? How many of those companies would spend absolutely tens of millions of pounds on industrial heat treating factories moulding glass into shape only to do a sub par job?

Isn’t it more likely that it’s one factory that makes the screens, that also brand some of their screens with a VW mark?

 

[Thirteencharacters]

I don’t understand this after market compromise windscreen line.

How many companies do you think would compete for the making of this specific windscreen? How many of those companies would spend absolutely tens of millions of pounds on industrial heat treating factories moulding glass into shape only to do a sub par job?

Isn’t it more likely that it’s one factory that makes the screens, that also brand some of their screens with a VW mark?

Thanks for the reply

Not sure it’s a “line”, when 50% of those on this thread have had faulty replacement screens that needed replacing again,
And one that wouldn’t function properly due to incorrect

insist on having orignal vw screen. Mine had to be replaced twice because with aftermarket screen the camera for traffic sign recognition could not be calibrated. I seems some have not the same curving as the original. You will find some threads about it on the forum. In Belgium Carglass is marketleader for replacing windscreens on cars, they handle all the paperwork with insurance company.

Thanks for that Roger, and mirrors my experience of an aftermarket unit (no pun intended..).

Not only was it not right for the car, it being a Black Edition model with a particular look.
It was also thinner, and had no certification marks of any kind-rendering it untraceable with respect to quality control.

Ultimately it also affected the after market value of the vehicle, as the dealer spotted it straight
away,.

Thanks for the time and confirmation

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Thanks for the reply

Not sure it’s a “line”, when 50% of those on this thread have had faulty replacement screens that needed replacing again,
And one that wouldn’t function properly due to incorrect

Thanks for that Roger, and mirrors my experience of an aftermarket unit (no pun intended..).

Not only was it not right for the car, it being a Black Edition model with a particular look.
It was also thinner, and had no certification marks of any kind-rendering it untraceable with respect to quality control.

Ultimately it also affected the after market value of the vehicle, as the dealer spotted it straight
away,.

Thanks for the time and confirmation

To be fair one had no problems, the other had problems because the fitters fitted the entirely wrong screen.

 

[Thirteencharacters]

I had a similar experience with an Audi TT. Insurance stipulated I had to use Autoglass. Couldn’t have it done at home because they had to set up lane assist. They assured me the windscreen was factory spec despite it not having the Audi logo on it. I couldn’t argue, so I accepted there choice and all was fine….

Thanks Wish

I will have the conversation with the insurance, but will probably sort it myself.
By factory spec, they probably meant it fitted in the hole… ;o)

Good to know that was their stance though, but I wonder why that might be.?
Could be cheaper for them I guess…

It’s not the money, it’s getting the right result that is safe and durable.

On a nearly new vehicle, I wont risk having it downgraded with something non OEM-particularly as some of the feedback has already confirmed my expectation with respect to functionality.

My Audi screen replacement resulted in the mirror being offset from centre and at an angle of about 30 degrees….

Thanks again

 

[Thirteencharacters]

To be fair one had no problems, the other had problems because the fitters fitted the entirely wrong screen.

Apologies for my reply being sent before I had finished it…
I was into another reply and it sent both together.

Sorry, but I didn’t read that one screen was entirely the wrong one, but that it had the incorrect curvature.
It had to be changed because it was defective.
Insist on VW, the man said, after they failed to calibrate the first one.

It’s also not one good and one bad, but two bad-as I am writing from personal experience.

At just under £700 for a replacement screen, there is plenty of profit for third party suppliers to get into this, and my Audi screen was finally identified as from China…

The heat treatment investment.part is not likely, as you pointed out-but that’s the thing.
What is the quality control on an unbadged item, has it been manufactured to any spec at all, and where is the traceability?
It is obvious that it is non OEM, and therefore has potential to affect value, and obviously functionality

Bottom line is that it is cheaper for the companies providing the service, and it is no effort for them to fabricate a former, and lay a piece of hot glass over it (even one with the wrong curvature.)
They showed them making one on Car SOS recently, in an industrial unit.
It even had a heat treatment cubicle.

If these screens were all manufactured by one entity, and only those being sent to VW had a logo-their failure rate (at VW) based on just these threads would be over 60%
Not a good business model for the supplier-or the manufacturer-and that’s why they don’t use them.

Anyway, I enjoyed your take on it.

Have you actually been involved in the process yourself, or are you making assumptions based on the “one supplier feeds all” logic?

I’ve just ordered a VW one, from the factory and it will be here in two weeks ;o)

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Apologies for my reply being sent before I had finished it…
I was into another reply and it sent both together.

Sorry, but I didn’t read that one screen was entirely the wrong one, but that it had the incorrect curvature.
It had to be changed because it was defective.
Insist on VW, the man said, after they failed to calibrate the first one.

It’s also not one good and one bad, but two bad-as I am writing from personal experience.

At just under £700 for a replacement screen, there is plenty of profit for third party suppliers to get into this, and my Audi screen was finally identified as from China…

The heat treatment investment.part is not likely, as you pointed out-but that’s the thing.
What is the quality control on an unbadged item, has it been manufactured to any spec at all, and where is the traceability?
It is obvious that it is non OEM, and therefore has potential to affect value, and obviously functionality

Bottom line is that it is cheaper for the companies providing the service, and it is no effort for them to fabricate a former, and lay a piece of hot glass over it (even one with the wrong curvature.)
They showed them making one on Car SOS recently, in an industrial unit.
It even had a heat treatment cubicle.

If these screens were all manufactured by one entity, and only those being sent to VW had a logo-their failure rate (at VW) based on just these threads would be over 60%
Not a good business model for the supplier-or the manufacturer-and that’s why they don’t use them.

Anyway, I enjoyed your take on it.

Have you actually been involved in the process yourself, or are you making assumptions based on the “one supplier feeds all” logic?

I’ve just ordered a VW one, from the factory and it will be here in two weeks ;o)

Good info

I had my windscreen replaced at Christmas and apart from a few etchings it’s indistinguishable. Autoglass were really good, taking their time to calibrate all of the cameras and lasers and gawd knows what.

It genuinely looks like quality hence my scepticism, though to be fair that’s more genetics than anything.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Apologies for my reply being sent before I had finished it…
I was into another reply and it sent both together.

Sorry, but I didn’t read that one screen was entirely the wrong one, but that it had the incorrect curvature.
It had to be changed because it was defective.
Insist on VW, the man said, after they failed to calibrate the first one.

It’s also not one good and one bad, but two bad-as I am writing from personal experience.

At just under £700 for a replacement screen, there is plenty of profit for third party suppliers to get into this, and my Audi screen was finally identified as from China…

The heat treatment investment.part is not likely, as you pointed out-but that’s the thing.
What is the quality control on an unbadged item, has it been manufactured to any spec at all, and where is the traceability?
It is obvious that it is non OEM, and therefore has potential to affect value, and obviously functionality

Bottom line is that it is cheaper for the companies providing the service, and it is no effort for them to fabricate a former, and lay a piece of hot glass over it (even one with the wrong curvature.)
They showed them making one on Car SOS recently, in an industrial unit.
It even had a heat treatment cubicle.

If these screens were all manufactured by one entity, and only those being sent to VW had a logo-their failure rate (at VW) based on just these threads would be over 60%
Not a good business model for the supplier-or the manufacturer-and that’s why they don’t use them.

Anyway, I enjoyed your take on it.

Have you actually been involved in the process yourself, or are you making assumptions based on the “one supplier feeds all” logic?

I’ve just ordered a VW one, from the factory and it will be here in two weeks ;o)

I remember taking photo of references on original screen before replacement to compare with reference on replacement screen. Color, heating, thickness, heat reflection.. I wanted to be sure I got the right replacement screen. All looked ok at first sight but it was Carglass itself who contacted me to say they couldn’t calibrate the camera and needed to order an original VW screen and replace it again. Probably the aftermarket parts do not undergo the same quality control , what makes them cheaper.

 

[Thirteencharacters]

Good info

I had my windscreen replaced at Christmas and apart from a few etchings it’s indistinguishable. Autoglass were really good, taking their time to calibrate all of the cameras and lasers and gawd knows what.

It genuinely looks like quality hence my scepticism, though to be fair that’s more genetics than anything.

Ha, that’s great news.

So it sounds like they can get it right.
Maybe my take on it is too negative, but I know my comfort level would be low based on my own experience.

Thanks again for the feedback

 

[Thirteencharacters]

I remember taking photo of references on original screen before replacement to compare with reference on replacement screen. Color, heating, thickness, heat reflection.. I wanted to be sure I got the right replacement screen. All looked ok at first sight but it was Carglass itself who contacted me to say they couldn’t calibrate the camera and needed to order an original VW screen and replace it again. Probably the aftermarket parts do not undergo the same quality control , what makes them cheaper.

Yes,!interesting.

Sounds like you took all the precautions you could to get the best outcome.

Also interesting that the glass company themselves requested the OEM glass.

Thanks for that feedback, and it helped my decision!

Best regards

 

[edocali]

Happened the same to me last summer when I was travelling to Italy, just after I left the Eurotunnel terminal.
I Drove to destination in Italy, at that point the crack was huge. Phoned insurer, Autoglass, excess paid, replacement done . No drama!

 

[Thirteencharacters]

Thanks for the info.

That’s two good reports on Autoglass!

Did they do it at your place, or a specialist venue?

 

[The Tall Luthier]

Thanks for the info.

That’s two good reports on Autoglass!

Did they do it at your place, or a specialist venue?

The calibration meant that it had to be done at a local centre not at home.

 

[edocali]

Autoglass centre for me too

 

[Thirteencharacters]

Thanks guys and much appreciated!