Windscreen replacement

Just to add my 2c worth, similar story, damaged oem screen beyond repair and legal roadworthy condition, so replaced under my insurance (AAMI) by O’Brien at CBD branch. I asked for genuine however they had “none in stock”. The AM they fitted did not leak, however the techs left too large a gap between the top edge of the screen and the body work, plus the lower cowl was not fitted properly. The rain sensor was also AM and had lots of bubbles where they’d stuck it on the glass.

Top marks to OB when I called them up about it, they said they would replace with OEM if I really wasn’t happy with it, plus I could choose my location to have it done. I went to my local OB after ringing around, they were the only ones that confirmed they’d knew how to fit LR windscreens. They also suddenly “found” an OEM screen in WA. I took it back about a week after having the AM one fitted in the CBD, they fitted a genuine LR Pilkinton made windscreen, including a new genuine rain sensor. No leaks, rattles or loose trim. I also have the Safari RAI. All fitted correctly. I even rang OB back afterwards to give them back some positive feedback. This was 2 years ago now, can definitely recommend O’Brien glass, as long as you check with their installers first.

Also, I understand that the AM glass can be up to 0.5mm thinner than the genuine screens, this is enough to also enough to cause fitment issues.

Cheers,

Eric

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Originally Posted by Turtle60

These are Moulded in bits ...... The broken bit will probably be found in the body work. The other replaceable clips slide in so the top and bottom pins are critical for locating and up and down tight fit.

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The moulded ones that break, are they attached to the a-pillar itself rather than the black cover trim? Could they be replaced if you have some on hand?

Scott

Scott, they are locating pins that have a sponge washer around them and they are permanently attached to the A pillar black plastic cover. I guess when they pull off the cover these break. The only thing you can do (as I did) was prise out the bit still embedded in the A pillar itself and glues it onto the plastic (as mentioned above) and then put new clips in and bang all into place. One of my locating pins was nowhere to be seen, probably fell inside the body, so I just got some gaffer tape and covered up the hole. I would conclude that the pins are there to make sure the plastic does not slip down the pillar and then detach from the slide in clips, but I also think that is really overkill. As mentioned the best bet would be to replace the whole A pillar covers and the clips. I now sort of wonder what has happened with the plastic strip above the screen and the lower part where the wipers are.

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Originally Posted by dirvine

Scott, they are locating pins that have a sponge washer around them and they are permanently attached to the A pillar black plastic cover. I guess when they pull off the cover these break. The only thing you can do (as I did) was prise out the bit still embedded in the A pillar itself and glues it onto the plastic (as mentioned above) and then put new clips in and bang all into place.

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I assumed that clip DZM000070 was all that would be required (see photo)
Pointy bit into a-pillar and round back slotted into black trim piece, five per side.
Is there an additional mounting pin?
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/04/411.jpg

Yes but for some treason the OEM are grey and fit better. In addition to those (5 per side) is the two locating pins. Hence if they break off the A pillar cover then you have two holes exposed (top and bottom)

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Originally Posted by dirvine

Yes but for some treason the OEM are grey and fit better. In addition to those (5 per side) is the two locating pins. Hence if they break off the A pillar cover then you have two holes exposed (top and bottom)

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Got it now. You can just see the extra locating pins within the foam bits at top and bottom in this image.
These pins are part of the trim piece rather than separate clips like the other five you can see.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/04/412.jpg

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Originally Posted by Eric SDV6SE

Also, I understand that the AM glass can be up to 0.5mm thinner than the genuine screens, this is enough to also enough to cause fitment issues.

Cheers,

Eric

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Hi Eric,
I think you’ll find the aftermarket glass is the same thickness as OEM, as that would be the compliance-specification. Glued in windscreens form part of the overall structure for roof strength integrity, etc, so to have a glass of lesser strength would call into question this requirement. :)

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Originally Posted by garrycol

Over the past 5 years I have had two windscreens replaced - the last 2 weeks ago

Garry

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An today scored a new rock on my brand new windscreen in heavy rain on a newly laid piece of road and has usual they did sweep the excess gravel off the load leaving it to cars to move with their tyres- I was about 60m behind the car in front so the rock had been in the air for a while.

A chip but has a couple of 1mm radiating cracks. I might be lucky and when the chip has dried out a resin repair kit might work. If not and as I have already used my one free windscreen repair I will have to wait until next year it replaced again.

Are the RRS screens overly weak? - I have been driving for over 47 years and it is only in my RRS that I have had broken screens in all that time. Prior to this car, I have had some chips but never cracks.

Garry

Hi Garry,
Any number of factors can contribute to windscreens cracking or chipping. eg. The more upright the screen, the less chance of a glancing stone hit not causing damage.
Body flex with urethane glued-in windscreens can cause cracking, but it’s usually quite catastrophic for the glass. I’ve never heard of this in Disco’s.
Lastly, shape, size and velocity of the rock (and your car) are the biggest factors.
I reckon you’re just unlucky.
Rover had a hybrid laminated/toughened windscreen in some of their sedans a couple of decades ago. While toughened glass was several times more resistant to breakage, once it broke you were faced with the same problem of a regular toughened screen - a fully shattered layer, albeit held together by the interlayer and remaining glass layer (if it wasn’t broken, too). So you had to get it replaced ASAP.
That’s the tradeoff with conventional laminated glass - usually, you can get it fixed at your convenience.

Had my windscreen crack in front of my eyes at the weekend, while cleaning the car. Perth spring day with fairly low air temperature, the hose hit the screen and side trim, I heard it crack. Propagated from deep stone chip picked up on Sunday. I'm engaging Austral to replace, side trim clips bought from Barbagallo Perth at $15 per side. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cf794f9f1d.jpg