Hi,

driving along behind a porsche last night and it throws a stone up - the common "right between the eyes" type that made me actually duck and blink.

Anyway, it chipped, but also put a small crack in the screen. It looks like the crack is internal in the glass. I can't feel it from either side of the screen, with findgers or finger nails.

Images are here: what I'd like to know is whether I should leave it, or just get Autoglass out and get them to replace the screen. (

Might be worth taking it to a glass place and get their opinion and if it can be repaired.....

Chris

Chip scan be repaired but cracks sometimes have a nasty habbit of spreading. If I were you I'd get Autoglass out to change it - their fitter will be able to advise on wether it is repairable or not.

Sorry, cant help on the colour.

What kind of place do you mean? I thought that chips were repairable but cracks meant a new screen. I don't have a problem with getting the screen done as long as it's a tidy job and I get the correct screen.

I think colour should be same as yours Phil - see here:

This is an early 2004 elegance

Just call out Autoglass and let them decide - thats what I did.

Looks reparable from your pictures, although I had one just like that, which cracked anyway after being repaired (just the way it goes, sometimes!). There'll be air between the layers of glass, which is why it appears as though there's a crack 'inside' the screen. If you're with Direct Line, a repair from Autoglass should be completely free, so it's definitely worth a try. As for the tint, I thought mine was grey (Fabia), but it's actually GREEN. Definitely worth making sure if you do end up needing a new screen

How did you find out it was green? Did they get it wrong and you had to have a 2nd replacement?

yep, its the same as mine although my screen has a blue sunstrip along the top.

Blue? Haven't heard of blue before, only grey or green. I guess it's worth holding a piece of white paper behind the glass and trying to see what colour it appears to be. If the guy brings the wrong colour then I can just send him away again.

Do screens normally have the VIN or registration engraved in them? If so, do fitters do that or not bother?

Thanks for your comments guys.

How did you find out it was green? Did they get it wrong and you had to have a 2nd replacement?

Fortunately someone had posted about screen tints on here before, and although I wasn't sure it applied to my car, the only tinted Fabia screen with a sunstrip that Autoglass will fit is green. So by a process of elimination...

In terms of second replacements, the whoel saga was posted here. But my luck's not been brilliant lately as far as my cars go, so don't let my experiences put you off!

The VIN isnt displayed on my screen because there is a gap where it can be read from the tag on the dash. Number plate is etched on the side windows and AutoGlass fitters can do this if required.

Have a look in the yellow pages under windscreen repairs and call one out, they'll advise you best.

I have had chips and cracks (ooh err) repaired with no ill effect.

Lance

Have a look in the yellow pages under windscreen repairs and call one out' date=' they'll advise you best.

I have had chips and cracks (ooh err) repaired with no ill effect.

Lance[/quote']

I'd usually go with the 'local independent' advice, but if you're going for a free repair / excess only replacement on your insurance, you'll have to arrange it via your insurance company, rather than booking it in somewhere and claiming afterwards. There's usually a number amongst your policy docs that you should ring for glass repairs.

Yeah, just spoke to DirectLine and they have a number to deal with glass enquiries. I asked if I can request whether I use Autoglass or AutoWindscreens and she said they only use Autoglass. The policy in my hand says they use both..

Anyway, will take another good look at screen for colours, call that line and go from there.

Cheers,

B

just had the same happen, unfortunately it turned into an 8 inch crack immediately and is growing! autoglass are coming out to me tomorrow via my insurance company... they ask you all sorts of interesting windscreen questions to get the right glass for your car. lets hope they turn up with the right one!

Good to hear they ask instead of assuming. I'll push to get a replacement - baby #2 is due in 5 weeks and I don't want to be rushing home with a windscreen in my lap.

What questions did they ask? Just so I can get that info ready before I speak to them.

What questions did they ask? Just so I can get that info ready before I speak to them.

Don't worry, they'll only ask make, model and year, and then a serious of yes/no-type questions - nothing you'll need to revise for or anything!

Ok. I was expecting them to ask about shaded areas, sunstrip colour, do I dress to the left or to the right, etc :P

car make and model, is the glass green, does it have a top sunstrip that is a dark grey colour, does it have a dark grey border all around it, and what is your address. don't tell them someone else gave you the exam paper though otherwise we will all be in trouble!

Ok, booked for Friday. Woman said they only have these screen options:

1. green with no strip

2. green with green strip

3. green with grey strip

I went for option 3. I guess the green colour is very subtle. Either that or they will be bringing a screen that's not the right colour...

I gave the screen a very gentle thump from the inside this morning and crack immediately became over a foot long. Just shows how weak windscreen becomes once there's even a tiny crack in it.

I went for option 3. I guess the green colour is very subtle. Either that or they will be bringing a screen that's not the right colour...

A lot of the glasses used in cars seems to be green and the only way you can really notice it is when it's broken, or out of the car....

Chris

just had mine done now, it was the right glass, finish is ok, they never seem as neat as the original, but its ok. only took about 45 mins. the old one was in a real mess before it came out, chips everywhere and the crack was now almost the height of the windscreen!

Checked mine last night and it is, indeed, green with a green strip.

You may notice some Mercs have a light blue tint that makes the light leather look blueish.

Screen just fitted, and it was green with grey strip.

Made the most of the chance to clean leaves out from under scuttle panel when he removed it.

Mildly annoyed by a few scratches put through paint near corners of the window, but I'm pretty sure they got covered by the sealant he put in before the new screen went in.

Overall a good job, less pain than I thought it would be.

This was Autoglass from Kingston.