Riccardo

Hello All,

I need to get the windshield on my car replaced as what was a small crack is quickly getting larger - as its now in the driver's vision it will probably be an MOT (due next month) failure.

Judging by the stories I've read here and heard around, its not a good idea to have an Autoglass type fitter anywhere near my car. I've contacted a couple of specialists (JZ and Peter Jones off PCGB), but they both say that changing the seal is an extra £80. They claim that there shouldn't be a need for doing this, although reading through the workshop manual clearly states otherwise; this worries me a bit...

Any suggestions of places to go? I'm also considering taking it to an OPC - is this any good? I know they occasionally subcontract the work to Autoglass, so it might be a move in a false direction!

Please help as this is turning out to be a right pain of a mission!

Thanks in advance.

Christer

If you are claiming for this on your insurance then you will usually be told who to use. If you are not claiming for this on your insurance, then you are crazy! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Riccardo

Christer,

I am claiming on my insurance (£100 excess for a fitter not approved by them) but thats exactly where the problem lies. I don't want to use their own cowboys as wrong fitting of the screen results in rust.

Its amazing that, what should be a simple job, is actually darned hard to get done properly...

John Boggiano

My usual contribution to this subject -

Make sure the seal is fitted with the joint at bottom dead centre, for a factory finish.

Christer

What about some of the 911 bodywork specialists? Perhaps they would take the job on?

Riccardo

John,

have you had your replaced? If so, by whom? Did they replace the seal as well?

Christer,

thats a good idea, will contact Autocraft in Kings Langley and that official place in Slough, which is supposed to be the best in the country.

GaryN

Hi Riccardo,

I highly recommend Autoglass in Norwich, Richard and myself have both had 2 screen each put in there and they've done a brilliant job on each occasion. as John mentioned each time they have got the join dead-centre and before replacing the new screen have checked for rust and touched up any bear metal places were there has been wear. On all 4 occasions they have never replaced the seal.
My personal view is that leave this job to the pro's that do this everyday and not the OPC's that only do this once or twice a month and as you have mentioned the OPC probably sub-contract the screen replacement out.

Cheers
Gary '91 C2

PS. howz the aircon??

Riccardo

Gary,

Thanks for your input, seems like you found a good Autoglass. Have you got any contact phone and name perchance? Norwich is a long way from home, but if its worth it I'm happy to go for the trip.

I did try sending you an email earlier on, but I got no response, so maybe I have the wrong address?

The aircon is still uncharged, although now that I have more time I will get it sorted finally. Lets hope those seals haven't all dried out...

GaryN

Hi Riccardo,

It's Kim Hunt at Autoglass Norwich phone no. 01603 760331

Cheers
Gary

John Boggiano

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">Originally posted by Riccardo:
<strong>John,

have you had your replaced? If so, by whom? Did they replace the seal as well?

</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,Geneva">I've had it replaced twice. Once when I got the car (the screen had a fine spraying of stone chips), but i can't remember the company. They did a pretty good job.

Recently, it was replaced as part of a scuttle paint job, by LLoyds Autobody in Liverpool. Not quite a perfect job, but perfectly acceptable.

69COU

You can get a new seal from Type911.com cheaper than £80. Depending on how flat your old one is I would consider a new one.

My car was getting a small spot of rust under screen where rain channel reaches bottom of a pillar repaired and needed to have screen removed. Langley Autocraft did quote on doing work but said screen broke whilst removing i would need to pay cost hence me going elsewhere.

Unfortunatly body shop chap broke screen. To be fair he paid the cost of the replacement but the reused of old seal this left small bumbs where old car wax etc had gathered and if i could do it again i would go for a new one.

My advice is get new seal ask Langley to remove old screen and check for any rust developing and repair (You will be surprised how common its found) Then ask autoglass mobile service ( On the insurers to go to their premises and fit new screen.

John Boggiano

Apologies if this has been said already - I don't have time to read the thread -

I would not suggest trying to re-use the old seal. It gets full of all sorts of sealing gunk and gets hard as it ages. It would be much easier to get a successful job done using a new one.

campoj2

Whoops

Black930

Deff buy a new seal and avoid any issues there.

ScottR

What a timely thread as I also need to get a replacement screen. A nice friendly stone decided to jump up and say hello and has put a lovely crack in the screen.

But I'm feeling scared about getting it done because of the stories I've heard so I've put off arranging so far. Though I know it will fail the MOT next year.

I've got visible rust in places around my screen already - not sure if the screen has been replaced before to cause this or just our lovely weather. But I was hoping the insurance company would allow me to get that fixed before they put a new one in.

I'm sure I remember reading somewhere before that there have beenalso problems in the past with the aerial not working properly with replacement screens?