Cracked Windscreen

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:37 pm

BUGGER, driving round to the missus today and got the loud bang you dread.....

Stone whacked the screen and its shafted.

Autowindscreens £221

Some dodgy local firm £100

Am going on holiday on tuesday and the local firm cant do it till then

Looks like i'm going to have to bite the bullet and go away in the GTi. Ouch.... ££££

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:39 pm

Is it Fully-comp insured? if so, £50-£60 excess, and it doesn't affect your no claims bonus (in 99% of cases)

Mine was done by RAC windscreens the SAME day.

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:55 pm

Unfortunately its one of the downsides to a trader policy.... No windscreen cover...

DavidRutherford · Post by **DavidRutherford** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 4:03 pm

DIY?

Using the hot-cheesewire technique it's surprisingly easy to remove a bonded windscreen, and if you buy a new screen, fitting is a doddle. The sikaflex and chemical cleaner needed to clean the flange and glass are inexpensive.

Done one before (not a BX I hasten to add, it was a Talbot Horizon) in no more than a couple of hours.

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:20 pm

I use a local guy, one man band who advertises in yellow pages, he will phone round find cheapest trade price screen then come sort it.

You got anyone like that near you?

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:23 pm

I've rang a couple of people but who wants to change a screen on new years eve or new years day for a hundred quid? I wouldnt....

The crack is getting bigger the further i drive.

The last screen i had fitted at Autowindscreens wasnt a good job. I dont want a cheapo rush job doing, would rather wait.

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:35 pm

Yes but nice and smooth automatic though Ian!

Ian_Fearn · Post by **Ian_Fearn** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:36 pm

Do you know anybody that does windscreens Tim?

tim leech · Post by **tim leech** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 5:43 pm

We do our own mate or use rac in burton just round the corner.

Post by **docchevron** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:54 pm

Blimey thats expensive! The guy round here will fit a tint screen for £85...

Cheers
Chris G

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:20 pm

Cant u drive it with a cracked windscreen (its supposed to be unsafe, but is it really?) until u can find a good deal on a replacement?

Stinkwheel · Post by **Stinkwheel** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:11 pm

Id say its unsafe Im afraid...........

1. Its supposed to stop anything thrown up coming through the screen, will it if badly cracked??

2. I had a screen with a large ish star in it, next day whilst driving it cracked top to bottom and all but collapsed on itself.

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 9:13 pm

Scarey price for a windscreen. I had a tinted one fitted for I think it was A$185.
Easy enough fit but you need to get a new rubber or you'll drive yourself insane if you DIY. It always seems to stretch about a half an inch in the last foot you fit and won't go in. They also fitted mine with heaps of Sikaflex type stuff. I think worst part was getting rid of the old stuff which seems to be commonly used on these screens apparently.
As we have particularly crappy roads here, we get used to cracked and broken screens; I think it has soomething to do with the habit they have of covering fresh tar with rocks varyting is size from marbles to plum size

and so we have to learn tricks to get by at times.
To stop a crack "travelling" if you don't have screen repairers (as we have over here) you need a magnifying glass and a drill no bigger than 1mm.
Set the magnifier on the end of the crack and drill a small hole halfway through the glass (all the way if necessary - think whoops!!) at the actual end of or just past in the direction of the travel. You will find that in 99% of cases, if done correctly, the crack will stop travelling once that hole has been drilled as it relieves the area of stress at the narrowest point. Fill the hole with a drop of Araldite when finished.
I suppose if it don't work, you ain't lost much.

Here's a bit of info that may help.

http://www.windscreenrepairs.com.au/

Alan S

BX Bandit · Post by **BX Bandit** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 6:33 am

Blimey thats expensive! The guy round here will fit a tint screen for £85...

Seconded..mine was exactly that 2 years ago...good job too

Post by **docchevron** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 7:52 am

Clearly my windscreen guys been cheating on me!!

Cheers
Chris G