I previously thought that the side windows on my MkIII are thinner than my old MkII. I now think the front heated screen is not as durable. I need a second replacement screen in 15 months having been struck by a tiny stone. The only good bit is that Autoglass will do the recal of the windscreen camera. The first time I had to fork out £125 for the pleasure of having it done at a dealers. So I only have to pay the glass excess this time. The bad bit is that I have to drive 60 miles to the nearest equipped centre. 

Tell me more about what autoglass will do re: the recal.

 

They were not much use when I enquired. As it happens, no screen was required, but if their repair fails they will pay for a new (OEM) screen and, I hope, recalibration.

Can't see your location but if it's central England you will probably have to drive to the Autoglass depot in Coalville Leicestershire which has the kit. The technician was surprised when I said I had it re-calibrated locally, as he'd replaced a screen an recalibrated a Skoda from the Skegness area, who said it couldn't be done near him. He'd have had to drive past my dealers. I didn't see the recal as you are directed to a large building anout 100 metres away where you sit in reception and drink free coffee for an hour or so. I picked it up and drove away very pleased. Initially Lane Assist didn't activate, I did an immediate U-turn and went back to the bay and was decidely sceptical when the tech said that other makes with more sophisticated systems, such as BMW, also didn't activate on the Coalville trading estate. He said something about non-standard road markings, they were very close together so perhaps true. He showed me the code reader settings from my recal which were all 100% ok. Being a decent chap, he accepted my polite invite to jump in and we drove to the nearest dual carriageway, where the system kicked in and it's been fine since. Total cost was my excess, so a saving of £125 minus 3 gallons of fuel. On the plus side it was a nice quick fun drive each way. 

Good to know @Redboy I'm booked in with Autoglass to have my heated windscreen replaced and the recalibration performed in a couple of weeks. Definitely agree the glass doesn't seem very durable and possibly thinner. I've thought the side windows seem like thin glass for some time, and it didn't take much to chip and crack my windscreen from a stone flicked up by a lorry.

1 hour ago, ahenners said:

Good to know @Redboy I'm booked in with Autoglass to have my heated windscreen replaced and the recalibration performed in a couple of weeks. Definitely agree the glass doesn't seem very durable and possibly thinner. I've thought the side windows seem like thin glass for some time, and it didn't take much to chip and crack my windscreen from a stone flicked up by a lorry.

 

Although I am convinced by the noise level that the side glass and sills are thinner, the Autoglass tech pointed out that the front screens must be a minimal strength/ thickness so I am probably wrong. My MkII suffered several dings on the screen but never so much as a large chunk or split. The second screen was hit by such a tiny stone, I was staggered when it cracked.

 

If you haven't had it replaced before, ask the tech to endure that the plastic parking ticket holder on the drivers A pillar is hard against the glass. My 1st replacement wasn't but the 2nd screen has it almost as good as new. 

Edited 7 April, 20179 yr by Redboy

Quick question, did you mention the recalibration of the lane assist camera to your insurance when speaking to them about the windscreen claim, or just with Autoglass when arranging the replacement? 

 

7 minutes ago, dale1uk said:

Quick question, did you mention the recalibration of the lane assist camera to your insurance when speaking to them about the windscreen claim, or just with Autoglass when arranging the replacement? 

 

 

When i phoned my insurance glass claim line, it automatically went through to Autoglass and they mentioned it would include the recalibration after giving my reg and them pulling up the car details.

Ah, perfect mine will be the same then. Did you request genuine Skoda glass? Seen a few reports of the camera working better with genuine glass, however the vast majority of the time the only difference in the glass is the makers stamp/mark on it. 

 

Think I'll get the wheel alignment checked first and adjusted if needed then new screen and camera calibration to prevent having to pay for the camera calibration after the alignment. 

Edited 7 April, 20179 yr by dale1uk

4 minutes ago, dale1uk said:

Ah, perfect mine will be the same then. Did you request genuine Skoda glass? Seen a few reports of the camera working better with genuine glass, however the vast majority of the time the only difference in the glass is the makers stamp/mark on it. 

 

Think I'll get the wheel alignment checked first and adjusted if needed then new screen and camera calibration to prevent having to pay for the camera calibration after the alignment. 

 

Asked whether it would be genuine, was told the only difference is the OEM stamp will be missing.

I had two screens replaced and two repairs done on my Mk2 FL in 85000 miles over 7 years. Several chips so far in my Mk3 over 6 months- one probably needs a repair. No idea if the screen going to end up worse for breakages or not. At least we do not have the sudden failures of toughened glass to contend with.

Aren't windscreens subject to a minimum British Standards (BSI kitemark) level?

16 minutes ago, SkodaVRS1963 said:

Aren't windscreens subject to a minimum British Standards (BSI kitemark) level?

 

I believe so, which redboy mentioned in his post, however that doesn't mean manufacturers can't use thicker glass on certain models etc.