Cracked Windscreen - what next?

**MR LR** · 20th June 2016, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by BobD

I think the important thing is to get an Opticool windscreen, not that it is genuine. Even aftermarket they cost about double a plane glass windscreen. I have an alternative Opticool replacement and I find it is better than the original in that the cracks don't propagate in the same way. I now have three stone chips from my last three remote area trips and none have propagated. I have only repaired one because I was scared it would crack further but the other two are bigger and have not caused any problem.

I got one stone hit on my OEM screen near the bottom centre, and the crack went for most of the width of the screen horizontally and also vertically from the crack within a week.

Do your rain sensing wipers still work?

Originally Posted by Lukeis

Thanks Gents!

I just took this from my Insurer's policy document, good luck getting a genuine repair let alone Opticool if that is more expensive!!

AAMI - Glass repairs
"For windscreen or window glass repairs, we might use glass that is different from the original but the glass and repairs will meet Australian Design Rules."

Given I work in the Insurance industry suddenly I feel like the plumber with a leaking tap.. Looks like a trip to Auto Bahn to start!

Our D4 has had a stupid number of windscreens (country car), but almost every time it's had two windscreens, as they'd only replace it with aftermarket, until we convinced them the rain sensing wipers wouldn't work, so then they'd have to replace it again with a genuine screen. These days (and thanks to it being on record) it just gets a genuine screen first go.

Don't let them use aftermarket unless they can guarantee your rain sensing wipers will work, they have to correct the damage to "as good as original" in a repair, so hold them to it.

**l00kin4** · 20th June 2016, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Tombie

And make sure they get NEW clips for the trim panels.

There is a good thread about this (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/l319-disco...r-panel-3.html) - important to get the genuine clips or the trim could pop off. Part # LR026343 x 2 (1 set per trim)

David

**BobD** · 20th June 2016, 04:29 PM

No issues with the rain sensing wipers or auto headlight. If anything they work better with the after market screen.

Insurance paid the extra to go to Optikool, once I pointed out that it is standard on the D4. My windscreen supplier had the option of two screen types for the D4. One was equivalent to Optikool, although I don' think they call it that.

**MR LR** · 20th June 2016, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by BobD

No issues with the rain sensing wipers or auto headlight. If anything they work better with the after market screen.

Insurance paid the extra to go to Optikool, once I pointed out that it is standard on the D4. My windscreen supplier had the option of two screen types for the D4. One was equivalent to Optikool, although I don' think they call it that.

I forgot optikool was the OEM supplier these days

**BobD** · 20th June 2016, 05:19 PM

Will, I should have made it clearer that mine is the after market version of the Optikool, not the genuine. I think it is a Chinese version or something! My last post made it seem like I had the proper Optikool brand name.

**MR LR** · 20th June 2016, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by BobD

Will, I should have made it clearer that mine is the after market version of the Optikool, not the genuine. I think it is a Chinese version or something! My last post made it seem like I had the proper Optikool brand name.

So the Chinese copy is better? Interesting!

**vee8auto** · 20th June 2016, 06:01 PM

I used to do a lot of driving up north in WA for my job on the gas pipeline. Had a troopie all kitted out. On several occasions I got stone chips right in my field of vision, but the vehicle fleet manager wouldnt replace the windscreen. Next time it happened I waited till I was 10 ks from town on my way back, pulled into a parking bay and thumped the windscreen from the inside. Look, the windscreens badly cracked...

Just sayin.

**Lukeis** · 20th June 2016, 06:16 PM

Thanks Vee8auto, sadly this is my car not a company car.. Though I'm sure some might do this before their insurer tries a repair instead!

**MR LR** · 20th June 2016, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Lukeis

Thanks Vee8auto, sadly this is my car not a company car.. Though I'm sure some might do this before their insurer tries a repair instead!

It's bad karma!

I got a stone chip a week after having the new screen put in when I did that! Haha!

But being body on chassis (the D2), it, nor any of the other chips have ever propagated.

**Hugh Jars** · 20th June 2016, 07:46 PM

The only way to prevent cracks propagating is to stop-drill the ends of the cracks, then pump a special resin (not silicone) in under pressure. It will usually prevent further damage, but if there's glass missing from where the object hit, your wiper blade will be destroyed in a short time unless you place one of those clear patch stickers over the damaged area.

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