Thread: Windscreen $ Difference ?

Just went through the same thing. Got prices from $480 (standard) to $980 (heated) for a screen for the L322 from most places. Ended up paying $260 fitted at where the car is parked at SWMBO work - easy.

Seems that $260 is the going rate at the moment...

This has been discussed quite few times in the D2 forum.

You might want to double check on what each mob is quoting on.

Some fitters will quote on a genuine Pilkington screen which has a light overall tint to reduce solar load in the cabin. The low ball quotes will be either a completely untinted screen or only have a sun visor band of tinting and be sourced from a generic manufacturer.

The other thing to factor is the experience of the fitters with D2's. There are countless stories of damage inflicted by the mainstream companies - which they will deny unless you have documentary to prove otherwise. The usual litany is a broken plenum (the large plastic moulding that runs across the bottom of the windscreen) and broken and badly refitted windscreen side finishers.

I had well known from TV windscreen replacement firm break the plenum in 5 places and the side finishers threatened to blow off. Their response: "it wasn't us". They had to refit the screen after it leaked the first time it rained. When you are looking at a bill of $300-400 to replace damaged mouldings saving a couple of hundred on buying the windscreen doesn't look like good value.

TBH I'd pony up and pay someone who knows what they are doing.

cheers
Paul

Originally Posted by bacicat

Just went through the same thing. Got prices from $480 (standard) to $980 (heated) for a screen for the L322 from most places. Ended up paying $260 fitted at where the car is parked at SWMBO work - easy.

Seems that $260 is the going rate at the moment...

Is the cheap price you got because you supplied the Hair Drier Sorry could'nt resist Gav

Originally Posted by OffTrack

This has been discussed quite few times in the D2 forum.

You might want to double check on what each mob is quoting on.

Some fitters will quote on a genuine Pilkington screen which has a light overall tint to reduce solar load in the cabin. The low ball quotes will be either a completely untinted screen or only have a sun visor band of tinting and be sourced from a generic manufacturer.

The other thing to factor is the experience of the fitters with D2's. There are countless stories of damage inflicted by the mainstream companies - which they will deny unless you have documentary to prove otherwise. The usual litany is a broken plenum (the large plastic moulding that runs across the bottom of the windscreen) and broken and badly refitted windscreen side finishers.

I had well known from TV windscreen replacement firm break the plenum in 5 places and the side finishers threatened to blow off. Their response: "it wasn't us". They had to refit the screen after it leaked the first time it rained. When you are looking at a bill of $300-400 to replace damaged mouldings saving a couple of hundred on buying the windscreen doesn't look like good value.

TBH I'd pony up and pay someone who knows what they are doing.

cheers
Paul

Bad workmanship will be watched carefully , Ill be there to check before any money cross,s hands , Any broken or miss aligned fittings will be pointed out , I don't see a prob if im there to inspect the job before said fitter gets the $$$ and disappears , If it leaks that's the chance we all take when a screen is fitted these days even tho it shouldn't leak

Originally Posted by OffTrack

This has been discussed quite few times in the D2 forum.

You might want to double check on what each mob is quoting on.

Some fitters will quote on a genuine Pilkington screen which has a light overall tint to reduce solar load in the cabin. The low ball quotes will be either a completely untinted screen or only have a sun visor band of tinting and be sourced from a generic manufacturer.

The other thing to factor is the experience of the fitters with D2's. There are countless stories of damage inflicted by the mainstream companies - which they will deny unless you have documentary to prove otherwise. The usual litany is a broken plenum (the large plastic moulding that runs across the bottom of the windscreen) and broken and badly refitted windscreen side finishers.

I had well known from TV windscreen replacement firm break the plenum in 5 places and the side finishers threatened to blow off. Their response: "it wasn't us". They had to refit the screen after it leaked the first time it rained. When you are looking at a bill of $300-400 to replace damaged mouldings saving a couple of hundred on buying the windscreen doesn't look like good value.

TBH I'd pony up and pay someone who knows what they are doing.

cheers
Paul

I checked out the person that did the Rangie very carefully, and he had plenty of experience fitting screens to that vehicle. During the initial conversation you caould tell he had, as he bought up the problems that can arise, and knew of the 3 different type of screens available for that car. As he runs a soley on site business he has very low overheads compared to the bigger companies. The screen is very good - no manufacturing defects, and he fitted it well. It doesn't leak or whistle, and all for $260- and no hair dryer supplied

A mate of mine smashed his rear barn door window in his patrol wagon. He asked obrien glass, they said $700. So he rang gold coast wreckers and they gave him a conplete door for 250 delivered! Haha

Originally Posted by bacicat

I checked out the person that did the Rangie very carefully, and he had plenty of experience fitting screens to that vehicle. During the initial conversation you caould tell he had, as he bought up the problems that can arise, and knew of the 3 different type of screens available for that car. As he runs a soley on site business he has very low overheads compared to the bigger companies. The screen is very good - no manufacturing defects, and he fitted it well. It doesn't leak or whistle, and all for $260- and no hair dryer supplied

Is this the guy who advertises in the LROCV magazine?

Take pics of the mouldings and plenum before they start (but while they're there).
Also of the original markings on the screen.

This was the only way I got the stuff replaced. They tried to screw the pillar moulding back on with self tappers FFS. Claimed that the insurance only covered "pattern" parts, which I disproved in the policy.