Thread: Windscreen replacement time.

The windscreen sits in a polyurethane bead, with the header trim inserted before the new windscreen is applied to the opening. This trim needs to be NEW with the new windscreen. All the other trims are cosmetic. Make sure the fitters don't break the plenum, and replace the corner trims at the bottom bonnet corners correctly.

I use O'Briens for D2 replacements, and supply my own header trim. The ones they supply are very $$$$ and are non-genuine. Expect to pay about $150 ish for the trim and $400 for a good screen.

I wouldn't think there would be many places where rust would be found in this sort of installation, unless it had been duffed before.

HTH

Pete

Thanks pierre. It is going to be covered by insurance so the coast is not going to bother me I just want to make sure it is done properly the first time. I have heard of people having to take it back time and time again to get it right. Any chance that you have the part number for the header trim?

Make sure you take photos of the plenum and the fit of the a-pillar trims before you let a windscreen repair company touch the windscreen. I'd also suggest inspecting both with the fitter before and after.

A free windscreen doesn't look so cheap when the repairer does $4-500 damage to trim, and you'll have no recourse if you don't have evidence it was undamaged prior to the change over.

O'Briens will fit an aftermarket, untinted windscreen with the only option being a tint band at the top. You are likely to need to argue with your insurance company if you want an original pilkington screen fitted. After the original install leaked I had to get them back to reinstall. The fitter managed to break the plenum in 5 places and one of the a-pillar trims was so badly fitted it almost fell off on several occassions. I ended up spending about $500 replacing trim because I didn't have photographic evidence the trims were intact before the fitter "fixed" them. To top it off I discovered a hairline crack in the bottom of the passenger side of the windscreen a week after the screen was changed. After that experience with one of O'Briens so called "expert fitters" I'd never, ever use them again.

There is a guy by the name of Paul who advertises in the LROCV magazine under the business name "Quality Fit Auto Glass". The advert says he does insurance work, and is a LR specialist so would be worthwhile talking to him: 0439 037 417. I'll be using him next time even if I have to pay over the odds for my "free" windscreen.

Add: Paul has been recommended on the forum before: VIC - recommended windscreen replacement - Quality Fit Auto Glass

cheers
Paul

I insisted that my insurer replace mine with a UV filtered screen because the original was UV filtered. The claims person didn't know about UV filtered screens. At the time there was a non-genuine UV filtered screen available so the insurer didn't have to pay for a genuine one. I made the mistake many years ago of replacing my RRC screen with a non UV filtered one which allowed a lot more heat through. I didn't know the original was UV filtered but it did have a slight tint.

Thanks guys. Thats the kind of handy information I would have been lost without. I will contact paul as suggested. Cheers

Paul, sorry to hear of your horror effort from OB. I took the vehicles in question to Notting Hill and watched the fitters do the job. There are not too many people who have adequate experience with LR and I had to make this clear with OB when I called them for the service.

I reckon it's a matter of insisting on suitably qualified fitters to do the job, and insisting that they are the ones to do the job.

Unlike you, I was very happy with the outcomes, even with a clear screen - no leaks, no damage but no idiots touched the thing, either!

Pete

Pierre,

The guy was van based and from the Brooklyn branch. When I rang to complain about the leak they told me they'd send out their two best operators. The same guy that did the original install showed up.

Maybe I just have bad luck with windscreen companies - the previous windscreen change I had done (on a Peugeot 405) was carried out by RACV and they managed to block the sunroof drains resulting in a flooded car a fews days after the windscreen was changed.

Anyway I'll be using Quality Fit Auto Glass when I get the cracked windscreen replaced when the insurance clocks over.

cheers
Paul