cracked windscreen

[welshy]

Hi
I have updated to new d4 which is now nearly 12 months old and have just cracked the windscreen. Nothing hit the windscreen at the time of the crack and this is the second time it has happened to me. The other occasion was in my first d4, this happened exactly the same way. Anyone one else had this happen to their d4?

[nat_89]

After 9 months had no windscreen cracks as of yet just one big chip where a rock hit it and thats all it hasn't spread yet either.

[Canaussie]

Yep happened to me whilst washing the car, did not notice any chip but might have been one below the lower plastic moulding. On chamois of the windscreen crack was here! Just make sure you get an original equipment replacement screen

[LandyAndy]

Was the screen the original???
I had one in my D2 crack all by itself too.It wasnt glued in correctly.Expansion/contraction at the lower right corner,very little sikaflex where the crack started.It was fitted by a local bussiness.Will never use them again.
Andrew

[letherm]

My D4 is 11 months old with no cracks - touch wood.

Martin

[Plane Fixer]

I have had the screen crack from the lower passenger side under the wiper. there was a small mark when a pebble must have bounced off and it cracked from there. It is the weakest and most sensitive area of the screen, so I have been told.
I asked for and got a genuine screen as the car was only 18 months old and so it does not happen again I have put an inch wide thick poly clear tape, same as we use on prop and helicopter blade leading edges. So far it has been successful.
I have been told any future screen replacements will be the generic Chinese made; possibly with dodgy optics as well. A new genuine screen is about $1400 according to O'Briens.

[Epic pooh]

I've had a dodgy chinese one in mine, it did not last long, small stone hit down low at high speed and gone. Complete rubbish compared to OEM - particularly from a NVH / insulation point of view. I changed mine out to a genuine screen which I sourced from LR under $1100 (IIRC) and then had O'Briens fit (they had a fitter that had done quite a few previously) and they did a good job. Quieter and cooler now. I would never have anything other than a genuine screen (or if you can get it a non-LR badged Pilkington screen which is the same thing but I couldn't find one).

[welshy]

Cheers guys
I must just be an unlucky bastard as both of the windscreens were genuine as I purchased the cars new.
On both cars I was the only vehicle on the road when they cracked and I had a good look at the screen to check for stone chips, But both show no signs of a chip.
Looks like I will ensure my insurance has windscreen replacement cover as I don't want to be replacing the windscreen every couple of years with my luck.

[trebor]

Yes, I've experienced the same problem. Had stone chip in the line of driver's vision which warranted a replacement screen. This was undertaken by O'Brien's (Adelaide) who were able to source a genuine screen for the job. A month later while driving in the metropolitan area a small "star" appeared in the centre of the screen about 6 cm from the bottom which was not the result of a stone strike. Was leaving for Alice Springs the next day so no chance to have the matter dealt with before departure. Strangely, the star only grew substantially with a cracking sound while the vehicle was parked as we having a bite to eat for lunch in the Alice. We continued to our journey across the Simpson to Birdsville and home via Innamincka with no further noteworthy extension of the glass "artwork" which is now heading for the outer extremities. Have yet to have a second replacement due to foot surgery and an inability to drive for three months! ;)

Nick

MY12 D4 TDV6

[TerryO]

The D4 since I picked it up just under three months ago has had to stone strikes on the screen.
I will get some of the screen chip filler and see how that goes as I have heard good things from people who swear by it especially when travelling out back on long journeys.

I would hazard a guess that the NRMA won't be happy if and when they have to replace mine as it is a heated screen, so chances are it will have to be OEM. Don't imagine that the Chinese knock offs offer a heated screen.

[letherm]

I will get some of the screen chip filler and see how that goes as I have heard good things from people who swear by it especially when travelling out back on long journeys.

The fleet manager of a company I worked for used araldite as a stone chip filler/fixer. Tried it on my old Pajero and it worked fine with no spread from the chip site. You need to scrape it level with the surface of the screen. It wasn't invisible to the eye but it wasn't in my direct line of sight so not an issue. Handy alternative in case of trouble.

Martin

[BMKal]

When I had a replacement windscreen fitted to mine in Kalgoorlie a while back, the windscreen place told me DO NOT fit anything other than OEM replacement glass.

He could get a cheaper replacement if I insisted on it, but recommended strongly against it and would not offer any warranty on the replacement unless it was with OEM glass.

He told me that it was well known in their business that the replacement windscreens available (non OEM) were not of the same quality and were known to fail prematurely.

I took his advice, he sourced my windscreen from Barbagallo in Perth, and I have had no issues with this windscreen.

[Epic pooh]

The bummer thing is most insurance companies won't pay for an oem screen if a Chinese one is available. Found this out the annoying way ...

[Tombie]

My insurer (Alliance) pay for Genuine without question.

It is something to be wary of when choosing cover.

[Epic pooh]

AAMI in my case, and my epic fine print fail ... oh well.

[bpt]

I'm on to my 3rd oem windscreen for stones that I thought were not severe enough to crack it. This one has a chip in it which I covered with a clear plastic paint protector- no issues so far.
All of my cracks have originated in the lower 3rd of the windscreen. (D4)

[BMKal]

The bummer thing is most insurance companies won't pay for an oem screen if a Chinese one is available. Found this out the annoying way ...


My insurer (Alliance) pay for Genuine without question.

It is something to be wary of when choosing cover.

RAC in WA will pay for OEM replacement without question.