Windscreen damage - what to do

[dukemasterpro]

Hi all,
Just had the pleasure of a stone chip / crack to my front window. It's in the middle and not huge - 10mm.
I've been told by my insurer (CGU ) that it is up to the repairer ( 0'briens ) whether to replace or repair - I have zero excess ie nil cost and my policy ends October ie not long till I can claim again if necessary
My question is - does anyone think this is an automatic replacement?
Can it be repaired well? I had a chip repaired in Broom by Novus on the last car and it looked bad inside, really caught your eye. I do have a Diy u fixit kit but I consider that for emergency only AND the chip may have got wet / dirty before I could put a circle patch on it ie may not repair well. 9791497915
Any thoughts on the level of damage / possible success with repair appreciated - I don't have to pay so cost isn't the issue more getting it sorted properly. I'm not sure either yet if Obriens fit a genuine windscreen as again in Broome the only option Novus had for a rear screen was non genuine.

[Tombie]

Leave it a few days...

Temperature changes and movement when driving will soon turn it into a new windscreen required...

[jonesy63]

Hi,
The following link shows the requirements before they will attempt a repair:
Windscreens | O'Brien? Glass (http://www.obrienglass.com.au/vehicle/windscreens/)
Given this - yours is able to be repaired.

I've had a repair done by O'B on my D4 by them and while it isn't invisible, it is hard to see.

I also had a replacement on my previous D3 done by them. They do try and use a (Chinese) windscreen - unless you demand an original. (Hint: original has Optikool and replacement doesn't - so is not fit for purpose). Also note that it is a 2 person job to replace it - they will botch up the rain sensor install if not prepared.

Good luck!

[BobD]

You need to make sure you get Opticool but mine was an aftermarket Opticool windscreen, replaced a couple of years ago. I got a stone chip en route to Brisbane this year and had it repaired (rather than replaced) at the Gold Coast, mainly for speed and convenience since we had no time for ordering windscreens and waiting around.

[Tombie]

I drove mine to Maralinga and home (5000km round trip) with a crack that became 3 cracks covering almost 2/3rds of the windscreen width - across the bottom, up through the middle and the passengers side..

I did this because I wasn't willing to let the local guys touch the vehicle, and was likely to take another hit on the trip (I did)...

Finished the trip and went to Adelaide and had the Dealer replace it with Genuine...

Had a friendly chat with my local LEO who gave me a written notice to repair asap - but was most understanding that I didnt want locals to work on the vehicle - so no Yellow sticker, just a request to repair asap.

[LGM]

Replaced the genuine windscreen for an El'cheapo Chinese jobby after my last break.


No Optikool in there now.


I cant tell the difference other than for the fact that this windscreen doesn't break at the drop of a hat like the four previous genuine ones did!

[Oztourer]

I had O'Brian replace my D3 windscreen a few moths ago. So glad I had windscreen cover as the cost was close to $900 (included the rain sensor)! The windscreen was not genuine but I cannot tell.

It might be your photo but it looks like the crack has also caused some de-lamination too. There are regulations covering the extent allowable windscreen damage (see http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/roads/safety-rules/standards/vsi-03-rev3.pdf).

As was in my case, a small chip can propagate to a long crack very quickly!
Cheers

[Tombie]

No Optikool will have an impact on heat through the glass and damage to dashboard surfaces over time...

[LGM]

Thanks Tombie. I'll take my chances!

[dukemasterpro]

Hi,
The following link shows the requirements before they will attempt a repair:
Windscreens | O'Brien? Glass (http://www.obrienglass.com.au/vehicle/windscreens/)
Given this - yours is able to be repaired.

I've had a repair done by O'B on my D4 by them and while it isn't invisible, it is hard to see.

I also had a replacement on my previous D3 done by them. They do try and use a (Chinese) windscreen - unless you demand an original. (Hint: original has Optikool and replacement doesn't - so is not fit for purpose). Also note that it is a 2 person job to replace it - they will botch up the rain sensor install if not prepared.

Good luck!


Thanks - yes o'brien agrees it is repairable. Fingers crossed it's a lot less visible than the damage Novus repaired. I think that was a bigger stone, more outback sized. Good advice about the glass I am going to look closer at choice of insurer upon renewal, much rather have genuine than a generic screen.

[tiddy]

I only had mine 2 weeks & had to replace the screen, O'Briens replaced it with an OE screen with optikool, once they got one in stock as the dealer didn't have one either, all covered by insurance no excess.

Just make sure they replace the the windscreen trim panels with new clips as both panels on my car came off after the screen was replaced.

tiddy

[Stuart02]

We need a new windscreen after getting stoned on our way to the Blue Mountains yesterday (Dec 23) but everyone between Lithgow and Sydney including Obriens is saying they can't even look at it and order a windscreen before the first week of January... when we're meant to be back in Melbourne...

Any suggestions please???

[Tombie]

We need a new windscreen after getting stoned on our way to the Blue Mountains yesterday (Dec 23) but everyone between Lithgow and Sydney including Obriens is saying they can't even look at it and order a windscreen before the first week of January... when we're meant to be back in Melbourne...

Any suggestions please???

Short of it being a complete mess / cracked right through your field of vision... Just drive it home!

Mine was cracked 2/3 of the glass across and up to the middle (multiple cracks) - went on a 3,000km offroad trip with it like that because I figured it would likely get cracked again on that run (and it did)...

I just had it fixed upon returning from the trip.

[Stuart02]

Short of it being a complete mess / cracked right through your field of vision... Just drive it home!

Mine was cracked 2/3 of the glass across and up to the middle (multiple cracks) - went on a 3,000km offroad trip with it like that because I figured it would likely get cracked again on that run (and it did)...

I just had it fixed upon returning from the trip.

Thanks mate, that's a comforting statistic for my wife who was about to embargo our Blue Mountains off road explorations in case the screen popped out! Just have to sweet talk any unhappy traffic cops...

[letherm]

Depends how bad it is but you could try superglue or araldite squeezed into any holes or cracks and then scrape off any excess. An old fleet manager I worked for used to do that for any stone chips etc if they weren't too bad. Might hold you until you get back home.

Martin

[Dagilmo]

I've driven mine for ages with a crack. Same rationale as Tombie......figure as soon as I get it fixed it'll get another crack. Though worth while to have the 'story' of when and where it happened straight with the whole family prior to talking to policeperson :D We headed to Kalgoorlie today and would you know it, it happened just after the Lakes Roadhouse......didn't it family....

[Disco-tastic]

We need a new windscreen after getting stoned on our way to the Blue Mountains yesterday (Dec 23) but everyone between Lithgow and Sydney including Obriens is saying they can't even look at it and order a windscreen before the first week of January... when we're meant to be back in Melbourne...

Any suggestions please???

How big is the crack? You could try one (or many) of those DIY kits. Use it either end of the crack (at least) and once it sets it will hopefully stop it getting any worse. Don't know if it will stuff up any future repair tho. Maybe someone else knows...

Cheers

Dan

[Stuart02]

Replaced the genuine windscreen for an El'cheapo Chinese jobby after my last break.

No Optikool in there now.

I cant tell the difference other than for the fact that this windscreen doesn't break at the drop of a hat like the four previous genuine ones did!

I'm surprised, LGM, that you say you can't tell the difference, because Obrien's just unwittingly put an aftermarket windscreen in our RRS and it's atrocious compared to the Pilkington Optikool original. It has no tinting whatsoever, let alone the Optikool, and it's got the air con running flat out. Simply by how much I have to adjust the dial to get the cabin temp to where it would normally be, the Optikool is worth a good three degrees. You can feel the radiant heat, and I'm needing my sunglasses even when the sun is above the roofline.

The good news for me following my long discussion with a very helpful lady at Obriens, is that an OE windscreen is on it's way at no cost to me. The good news for all of us is that Sydney head office has flagged in the system that Optikool is not a separate LR part number and only OE windscreens have it (she called LR themselves on my behalf and they only confirmed she had the right part number for the aftermarket windscreen). So hopefully no-one else should have to go through this rigmarole.

Can't tell you how relieved I am they're going to sort it out, for the sake of our driving experience and the sake of the already parched dash!

[LGM]

Stuart02 I am still wandering along with my Chinese El Cheepo windscreen albeit with a few 'pock marks' in it now. Living where I live in the Mid West of WA it does tend to get a bit warm from time to time......the vehicle A/C is still set the same as it has always been over the last 4 and a bit years and I drive to and from 'the factory' in blissful ignorance of any variation of A/C performance..........

[chuck]

I had O'Briens install a new Pilkington Optikool windscreen late last year.

Got it fitted at their Brooklyn Branch.

They seem to have done a good job.

Even replaced the etag holder.

Thankfully I ticked the box for windscreen replacement in my insurance policy.

Over $1200 fitted

[Stuart02]

Stuart02 I am still wandering along with my Chinese El Cheepo windscreen albeit with a few 'pock marks' in it now. Living where I live in the Mid West of WA it does tend to get a bit warm from time to time......the vehicle A/C is still set the same as it has always been over the last 4 and a bit years and I drive to and from 'the factory' in blissful ignorance of any variation of A/C performance..........

I suppose there's a few after market brands, and perhaps even the difference in screen angle between the RRS and Disco is significant?

[LGM]

Oh yes.....I have checked today and the 'Chink' windscreen does seem to have some sort of tint albeit very faint........oooops I guess that was not politically correct....oh well you get that don't you........:wasntme:

[Stuart02]

Oh yes.....I have checked today and the 'Chink' windscreen does seem to have some sort of tint albeit very faint........oooops I guess that was not politically correct....oh well you get that don't you........:wasntme:

Haha if anyone's going to blatantly disregard an automotive patent in the pursuit of a good rip off...