Thread: D4 windscreen need advice on original or aftermarket

Check if your original is solar attenuating. There is glass and glass if you know what I mean. Not all the same. There were some threads on here earlier about this from memory (which is of course flawed)

Be aware that the genuine is a Pilkington Opticool, whereas the aftermarket is a Chinese and they vary in quality.
Some are good and there have been some which have questionable optics.
Insurers will not pay out for the genuine unless the car is new; if they do it will be one only.
Be aware they are very weak at and below the wipers and will readily crack from there, yet I have had a bulls-eye in front of the driver and no cracks from there.

I had my screen replaced by "Instant Windscreens" in Kalgoorlie. They sourced the glass from Barbagallo (Landrover distributor) in Perth - I was never offered an after market option.

Only issue that I had was that they did not replace the clips in the two side dress strips with genuine Landrover clips - they used the cheap white ones from Supercrap Auto or similar. Both dress strips popped off shortly after the windscreen was replaced. I have since obtained the genuine clips from Barbagallo and replaced them all myself - no more problems.

(It gets bloody noisy in the cab driving at highway speed when one of these dress strips lifts off - but at least they do not come right off and disappear into the wild blue yonder - the bonnet holds the bottom of them so that they stay with the vehicle).

I had mine replaced a year ago - I was never asked about an after market screen and genuine was provided with clips.

Garry

I had to replace the screen in my MY10 D4 last year, hadn't realised the whole issue about non-original screens. The big national windscreen company did it and used aftermarket screen. Optics were different, solar shielding not as good, but most importantly overall thickness reduced causing wind noise around all the trim pieces. No-one interested in my complaints.

Fortunately have updated vehicle to MY13 since.

Talking to windscreen supplier, the pressure comes from insurers who will only pay for the non-Pilkington glass due to price. I have a real issue with this around safety, as I cannot believe this does not impact on the structural integrity of the vehicle.

One solution is to pay the difference in price between OE and aftermarket yourself, at least that way your insurance is contributing to the cost.

I had mine replaced recently.

Told my insurer I wanted factory glass, and explained the reasons. Was put on hold for about 15 secs. They approved it.

Glass is perfect.

Brett.....

So who can supply factory glass, is it only a stealer? Or will the big replacement companies source them for you?

Originally Posted by AnD3rew

So who can supply factory glass, is it only a stealer? Or will the big replacement companies source them for you?

Instant windscreens purchased mine from Southerns land rover.

Southerns can organise it and do it, but it comes down to the insurer. My insurer wanted instants to install it.

Brett...