Windscreen

[soulstyledevon]

I’ve had two replacement windscreens (Volkswagen) in the last 18months...

Annoyingly I’ve had another stone chip hit the screen yesterday and cracked screen number 3 has emerged.

What is going on...???
Are the Volkswagen screens thinner than screens of old...?

So tomorrow I will be getting another screen sorted. Should I go aftermarket or try another Volkswagen screen?
Any ideas to help prevent this...?

 

[kurienp]

Oh! That's a shame. Dunno about the thickness/quality, but my theory - rains have wrecked havock with the roads. More loose gravel that can wreck havock with the screen.

It is such an inconvenience ...

... And on suggestions, try increasing the distance between the vehicle in front to avoid it I guess. #dunno

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[soulstyledevon]

I think the problem today are cars with silly size wheels and manufacturers not fitting any mud flaps...

 

[TripleBee]

I have 16" wheels, mudflaps and 1 stone chip on the second day of the first trip with it back in 2010. Had that stone chip repaired 3 weeks later when I returned to Belgium. Still the original front windscreen.
I think you must be very unlucky.
The only thing that cracked on me was the right fog light due to a stone.
Driving behind me with my (for some) ugly mudflaps will seriously lower the risk of having stone chips.

 

[WelshGas]

I’ve had two replacement windscreens (Volkswagen) in the last 18months...

Annoyingly I’ve had another stone chip hit the screen yesterday and cracked screen number 3 has emerged.

What is going on...???
Are the Volkswagen screens thinner than screens of old...?

So tomorrow I will be getting another screen sorted. Should I go aftermarket or try another Volkswagen screen?
Any ideas to help prevent this...?

Some long running threads on the T6 Forum about windscreens. Compared to some you are lucky you're only on the 3rd screen.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Some long running threads on the T6 Forum about windscreens. Compared to some you are lucky you're only on the 3rd screen.

What...?
This is madness...
I’ve only ever had to replace one screen in the past. My old Golf a few years ago.

 

[sapto]

Sorry to hear [mention]soulstyledevon [/mention]! Only had it once since we‘ve got it. My insurance coverd it 100%. What about yours?

 

[Calimili]

Not on my Cali which is on his winter time off, but on my Q7 I got a crack last October, screen replaced on 7th November. 7th December I got another chip another screen to be replaced exactly 1 month after!!

 

[Hamish S]

Tis the motorway's that have always been my problem, doing £30,000 mile a year I used to expect to get through at least one new screen per year!

 

[B J G]

Once told by a Windscreen Fitter that a new windscreen is more likely to crack during its few months from new. The glass hardens in time and is more resilient to stone strikes being his explanation.

Seems true to me as it does seem to be the case that one replacement is followed by another within a year.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Sorry to hear [mention]soulstyledevon [/mention]! Only had it once since we‘ve got it. My insurance coverd it 100%. What about yours?

Yes insurance will cover for £75...
Will probably need to argue the case for actual Volkswagen replacement glass. But wonder if I should try the non OEM screen...?

I wonder about the protective film you can have fitted to the side windows and wether this can be fitted to the driving screen to try and help prevent cracking...

 

[soulstyledevon]

Something like this.

Vehicle Glass Protection Film ⋆ Paintguard

 

[Digger]

I find that oncoming hgv's coming towards me are more likely to throw up stones. All my replacement screens have been the result of this. I now carry a screen repair kit from Halfords which has repaired a crack and a mot tester said it would pass the mot when due.

 

[sapto]

Something like this.

Vehicle Glass Protection Film ⋆ Paintguard

That looks great. I do not know how it is in your country however I got the impression it is not allowed to fit something like that aftermarket-wise. But I would check with your dealer?

 

[Moakesy]

When mine went, the fitter said he see's loads of Cali's / T6's because the windscreen is at a relatively steep angle.

All the forces from stones hitting the screen go straight into the windscreen, rather than being deflecting and the stone bouncing off like they would in a car.

That was his theory anyway!

 

[TripleBee]

I have captured enough stones on my windscreen. Only one managed to break the glass. All the others just chipped some fragments.
The most damage I have on my windscreen now are the marks from the windscreen wipers.
I'd almost put in a new windscreen just for those marks, but I don't like the idea of getting the original window out.
Had one replaced in my previous Golf 4 without issues, but there is always a chance they touch the paint, which could lead to rust that may reflect damage in a couple of years. And as I plan to keep the van for still a long time, I don't like that.
Have I already said I have some OCD on my stuff?

 

[bigmac77]

I’ve had 4 screens on my T5.1 in 4 years. I wondered if it was something to do with angle and height. The factory fitted one cracked due to stone chip. The next two were fitted by Auto glass and suffered the same fate (I have no idea if these were OEM or not). The latest one was fitted by Autowindscreens and is a non OEM one and has had a few stones hit it but so far only chips no cracks.

 

[soulstyledevon]

That looks great. I do not know how it is in your country however I got the impression it is not allowed to fit something like that aftermarket-wise. But I would check with your dealer?

I think it’s OK here, providing it’s not tinted...

 

[ArunAlec]

Something like this.

Vehicle Glass Protection Film ⋆ Paintguard

A couple of their claims are “Interesting“ ... I’d like to see how they derive them......

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
Lowers pollution from broken windscreens in landfill

SAFETY FOR VEHICLES
On average the windscreen is responsible for around 20% of the vehicles Structural integrity

 

[westfalia]

Ive just had the one replacement screen on the Cali.

Done through the insurance, had to pay the small excess fee.
Initially, they were gonna fit an aftermarket one but i insisted that it had
to be the original VW one.
No problem going for the original it just took a bit longer as they
had to order it in.

 

[Nick Stubbs]

Had 4 in a year a while back, 2 in a brand new mini, one in my sons focus and one in my Landrover

 

[Grumposaur68]

Stonechips are normally experienced when driving on motorways/dual carriageways too close to the driver in front.

 

[Resfeber]

Experience has been 1 repair & 1 full replacement in 18 months in my van and 1 screen and bodywork repair in a hired van 6 months before
All due to Road debris being thrown up by HGV's travelling in the opposite direction.
Fitters take (large National company specialising in on premises replacement) was that glass thickness (OEM) has reduced for weight saving for emissions reduction/manufacturing cost/profit plus the steeper "rake" of the van screen.
The only positive I can take is that even golf ball sized multiple hits at around 60 to 70 mph closing speed ( the rocks were projected sideways from the on coming vehicle dash cam footage stills attached) did not penetrate the laminate/inner screen
Around £800 for screen (heated) and bonnet repairs. Blessed are the providers of deposit guarantee insurance( paid out in full largely due to dash cam footage)

 

[Crell]

We had a new screen in ours yesterday. Stone flew up and put a nice 8 inch crack in the passenger side. Auto glass fitted it, it’s not a VAG stamped screen but seems fine. Heated screen, auto lights, washers, dimming rear view etc all seem to be working fine.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Stonechips are normally experienced when driving on motorways/dual carriageways too close to the driver in front.

If you’re not rubbing bumpers...
Your not racing...