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      06-13-2013, 06:27 PM   #1
Ronnyjoz
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Unhappy Cracked windscreen after just sixteen days

Can't believe it. Been driving nearly thirty years and never had to have a windscreen replaced. Less than three weeks after picking up my nice shiny new F20 I get a seven-inch crack in the bottom left corner.

Anyway, my reason for posting is: are there any pitfalls to be aware of if I just get the insurance company to send round a man-in-a-van or should I insist on taking it back to BMW (which they'll probably make me pay for and have to claim back)? I'm aware that there's a sunlight sensor in addition to the rain sensor; will the man from Autoglass know this and are there any other considerations that might not be the norm?

I know that it's an impossible question to answer but I was just wondering what other peoples' experiences have been...
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      06-13-2013, 08:44 PM   #2
Bob UK
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Really depends if there is any component that is integral to the screen, if not then you should be ok but the Autoglass tech or whatever firm it is should know as it's likely yours isn't the first one they have done.
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      06-14-2013, 02:30 AM   #3
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BMW might just get Autoglass around to do it anyway. Depends on whether or not the have fitters trained in windscreen replacement.
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      06-14-2013, 09:36 AM   #4
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Thanks guys. Turns out it's National Windscreens who my insurance company deals with. They answered the phone at five in the morning but can't send anyone round till Monday afternoon . And there's a £75 excess

Still that's better than having to pay for a new windscreen. Just a shame it had to happen to such a new car. Kind of takes the shine off...
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      06-14-2013, 09:48 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronnyjoz View Post
Thanks guys. Turns out it's National Windscreens who my insurance company deals with. They answered the phone at five in the morning but can't send anyone round till Monday afternoon . And there's a £75 excess

Still that's better than having to pay for a new windscreen. Just a shame it had to happen to such a new car. Kind of takes the shine off...
A least it was the screen and not the paintwork. Could have been worse.
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      06-14-2013, 09:49 AM   #6
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my paintwork is chipped to f* mainly because of idiots banging their doors into it, so as CC says, be thankful it's only glass!!
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      06-14-2013, 09:56 AM   #7
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I'm at my 3rd windshield since Decembre.. First one during the winter 2 impacts, a little one and one on the very left side/edge. Cracked about 10cm.
Replaced it and 2 days later another impact, day after another one same story as the first one impact on the edge but now the other side of the window.. Another crack 5cm and going upwards. Replaced again, and have yet had another impact recently..
I'm starting to wonder any defaults in these glasses or just a lot of bad luck.
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      06-14-2013, 10:04 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by creepy coupe View Post
A least it was the screen and not the paintwork. Could have been worse.
Tell me about it. My last car got a scratch after just two weeks. Instantly regretted not taking out the SMART cover. I have done this time though it remains to be seen whether it's worth the money.
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      06-14-2013, 09:52 PM   #9
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Local council has just started the cheap and nasty resurfacing of the roads round here where they spread a layer of bitumen and just cover it in chippings.

I run diversions to avoid the affected roads for a couple of weeks to protect my paintwork.
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      06-19-2013, 06:16 AM   #10
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My sister's car (120i) had a 4 inches crack after the carwash guy dropped the windshield wiper from the up position to its rest position.

On my X1 I heard a small knock on the windshield in the debut ride, and there was a small pinch to the windshield with less then 10 km of use...

I noticed the windshield transfers the outside noises easily, just like it was thinner than other brands... the acoustic insulation is (in my BMWs in general) good, but the BMWs windshields give me the impression that they are very thin, compared to other car brands...

Well I confess I had a transparent insull-film applied to the windshields on my other cars, and now the law doesn't allow those films anymore. Maybe that's the difference I noticed.
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Last edited by rboos; 06-19-2013 at 06:16 AM.. Reason: typos
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      06-19-2013, 08:47 AM   #11
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The replacement is Pilkington so it should be good quality. Unfortunately the installer left it with a faint scratch about four inches long. Felt a bit of an idiot phoning up to complain, but it is a brand new windscreen on a brand new car, so ought to be flawless at the time of install. They were very good about it on the phone but the local branch has so far failed to call me back, some twenty hours later. I don't have the time or inclination to keep chasing this sort of thing so I'm going to order some glass polish and see if I can sort it myself.
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      06-19-2013, 08:51 AM   #12
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You can insist for OEM (genuine) parts. Pilkington and Saint Gobain Sekurit are great brands, but via an aftermarket supplier will not bear the BMW logo.

The scratch is a bummer and I wouldn't be taking it so calmly TBH.
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      06-19-2013, 04:15 PM   #13
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...and now there's a rattle. Coming from the front camera housing/rear view mirror assembly. I can tap the plastic cover with a finger and hear it knock against the glass. Is this thing supposed to be glued to the windscreen or has he failed to refit it properly? Good thing it's going back in for another new windscreen tomorrow (they tried to buff the scratch out and made it worse). Hopefully they'll get it right this time.

Last edited by Ronnyjoz; 06-26-2013 at 07:54 AM..
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      06-27-2013, 12:07 AM   #14
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OK, I need to get my facts straight before I go marching in there and demanding that they put stuff right. Can some of you go out to your cars, reach up to the plastic cover behind the rear-view mirror and tell me if there is any play whatsoever? Next, look to the rear of this cover where it meets the headlining and tell me if there's a gap. I can get my little finger in there. Finally, if your car's fitted with a front camera, stand dead centre in front of the car and tell me if the camera looks even slightly lopsided. If you can confirm that any or all of these things should not be as above you'd be doing me a huge favour. I can then go in this afternoon with my angry face on.

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      06-27-2013, 12:57 AM   #15
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Pictures always help, but:

a) The plastic cowl around the mirror will have a little movement in in, but not a lot - it's in two halves which clip together over and around the rear view mirror stem.

b) At the top of this cowl, you should see a bit of rubber tubing which takes the loom up and behind the headlining. There will be a gap between cowl and headliner, but an image would have helped TBH. (Although if you have active lane assist/night vision camera, this will be a different assembly).

c) Lop sided? No. Either the silk print on the screen is wonky or the screen has been set in a squinty position.

Good luck and INSIST on OEM parts. Trust me, you are in a very strong position. If they start humming and hawing, tell your insurer (you know, the ones who said you must use them in the first place) and politely tell them you will take it to BMW for a fuller assessment - at their expense).

If you could do with a chat, you can find all my contact details via my profile.

Good luck.
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      06-27-2013, 07:13 AM   #16
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Sorry about the lack of pictures. It was six in the morning after a 75-mile drive home from a night shift and all I could really think about was bed. I did try to get some snaps with my phone but they were rubbish and didn't really show anything worthwhile. I've had another go with my camera but they don't really help much either. It's hard to see with the reflections and shadows but to me the camera definitely looks a tiny bit wonky. In pic 2, If you look closely at the gap you can just about see daylight creeping round the edges where it sits (or in my case rattles) against the glass (top corner). Should there not be a rubber gasket to cushion it or something? I'm sorry I couldn't get you anything clearer. It's hard to get in there and get a good focus at the same time.

Sorry about the filthy glass too - my car's an insect serial killer.

Anyway, I'm off to get my second replacement now. I'll let you know how it goes in a few hours. I regret to say I DIDN'T insist on an EOM one when they ordered it, so if they do get it right I've just noticed I'll have to live without the words "Connected Drive" printed on the screen.
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      06-27-2013, 10:37 AM   #17
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Well the camera's straight now and there are no scratches. The gap at the top is smaller now too - I can no longer wedge my little finger between the cover and headlining. Cover still feels a little bit loose to me but a nice 150 mile round trip to London and back tonight will confirm if the ratlle's gone.
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      07-04-2013, 11:04 AM   #18
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A week later and no rattles. All good, except...

I've just noticed a sizeable black gob of windscreen adhesive stuck to the paintwork on the bonnnet trialing edge. I might have notioced it earlier but you can't see it from the driver's seat as the wipers block it fom view. It seems to be coming off OK with some careful rubbing but is that any way to treat a customer's brand new car? There's also a tiny bit oozed through on the inside at the top of the passenger side A pillar but I'm not going to touch that.

Moral of this story: if you live in Portsmouth and are insured by Admiral, do not use National Windscreens, their preferred agent. Even if you have to pay for it yourself and claim it back, it'll be worth it for a proper job done first time. Avoid these cowboys.
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      07-04-2013, 11:18 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronnyjoz View Post
A week later and no rattles. All good, except...

I've just noticed a sizeable black gob of windscreen adhesive stuck to the paintwork on the bonnnet trialing edge. I might have notioced it earlier but you can't see it from the driver's seat as the wipers block it fom view. It seems to be coming off OK with some careful rubbing but is that any way to treat a customer's brand new car? There's also a tiny bit oozed through on the inside at the top of the passenger side A pillar but I'm not going to touch that.

Moral of this story: if you live in Portsmouth and are insured by Admiral, do not use National Windscreens, their preferred agent. Even if you have to pay for it yourself and claim it back, it'll be worth it for a proper job done first time. Avoid these cowboys.
I think you are perfectly entitled to that opinion on the basis that you have been very reasonable and have given them enough opportunity to get this right; they haven't.

Perhaps it might be worth firing a stiff complaint at Admiral? After all, they 'nominate' them and restrict you from going elsewhere. It's only fair that they get to see why low Average Invoice Values are not good for the end user.
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      07-04-2013, 09:18 PM   #20
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Perhaps it might be worth firing a stiff complaint at Admiral? After all, they 'nominate' them and restrict you from going elsewhere. It's only fair that they get to see why low Average Invoice Values are not good for the end user.
Thinking about it. Perhaps I should have photographed the blob before removing it.

I truth I've been waiting for them to send me one of those customer feedback surveys you always get...

...until you want one, and then you don't.
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      07-05-2013, 01:48 AM   #21
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I've been waiting for them to send me one of those customer feedback surveys you always get.
Don't hold your breath.

Not trying to scare you, but I would have the car inspected. You'll see a new windscreen, an experienced eye might find hidden sins (which are best picked out now TBH).
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