Cracked windscreen - what next.

antiskeptic

Windscreen took a hit this morning resulting in an L shaped crack starting at the perimeter of the windscreen above the rearview mirror, running south two inches then horizontally passenger door-wise for about 7 inches. It's more or less hidden behind the mirror. Car's an '03 Audi A4.

1) Don't know if the insurance will cover it 'til the morn

2) Irrespective of whether insurance does or doesn't cover it, what should one look out for when getting the job done to make sure it's done right? (Mr. Windscreen seems to be Liberty's contractor of choice - any comments on them?)

3) Would this be an automatic fail during NCT? NCT due to be carried out and if paying for screen myself I'd need to take account of that to give time before booking the NCT.

4) If not limited to Mr. Windscreen, who is recommended for this work?

5) The existing windscreen has a tinted band running across the top. Woudl this be replicated in the new windscreen? Woudl the windscreen be from Audi as a matter of course?


Thanks for any insights..

coylemj

antiskeptic wrote: »

3) Would this be an automatic fail during NCT? NCT due to be carried out and if paying for screen myself I'd need to take account of that to give time before booking the NCT.

The limits for what is considered 'acceptable' damage to the windscreen are a bit complicated, there is less tolerance of cracks directly in the driver's line of sight than cracks over on the passenger's side. By that I mean that a crack in front of the driver that could fail you the test might be acceptable if it was in front of the passenger.

However the biggest crack that is acceptable must fall within a circle with a diameter of no more than 40mm (and only on the passenger side) so I think you're screwed.

Download the document and read the details on P.26

http://www.nct.ie/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20May%202012.pdf

R.O.R

With the sort of crack you've described, you need to replace the windscreen whether it's covered or not.

Cracks don't tend to settle and not get worse. Decent pot hole (and there are plenty of them around) and that's the rest of the screen gone.

Hopefully you have coverage, but if not, call around for pricing in the morning.

Whenever we organize them in work I usually have to confirm whether there are any sensors on the screen (light or rain sensors) so they can confirm it's the right screen. If I don't have the info it's a call to the dealer. Yours should be replaced with the same as you have (tinted) if it's going through insurance. If you end up paying yourself it might be cheaper for a non tinted screen.

antiskeptic

coylemj wrote: »

The limits for what is considered 'acceptable' damage to the windscreen are a bit complicated, there is less tolerance of cracks directly in the driver's line of sight than cracks over on the passenger's side. By that I mean that a crack in front of the driver that could fail you the test might be acceptable if it was in front of the passenger.

However the biggest crack that is acceptable must fall within a circle with a diameter of no more than 40mm (and only on the passenger side) so I think you're screwed.

Download the document and read the details on P.26

http://www.nct.ie/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20May%202012.pdf

Thanks. Interesting document in that it seems unclear as to what to do with the bit of the screen unswept by the wipers. Which is logical when you think about it - it being pretty pointless to worry about a bit of the screen which may be covered in grime.

The crack is located above the mirror but is swept by the wiper. Spirit of the law and there wouldn't be a problem: the crack is out of view and if propagating is heading passenger side wise. Letter of the law and it's a fail, it would seem.

Thanks.

antiskeptic

R.O.R wrote: »

With the sort of crack you've described, you need to replace the windscreen whether it's covered or not.

Cracks don't tend to settle and not get worse. Decent pot hole (and there are plenty of them around) and that's the rest of the screen gone.

I remember my dad getting a crack in his screen and marking the end of it and watching it slowly make it's way along. Slow enough to exceed the life of this car in my hands - a long career in motorcycles and 95% motorway driving making is nigh on unlikely that I'd ever hit a pothole

Hopefully you have coverage, but if not, call around for pricing in the morning.

Ball park if not insured??

Whenever we organize them in work I usually have to confirm whether there are any sensors on the screen (light or rain sensors) so they can confirm it's the right screen. If I don't have the info it's a call to the dealer.

Think the aerials in the back window. '03 was before all that other gimmickary afaik.

Yours should be replaced with the same as you have (tinted) if it's going through insurance. If you end up paying yourself it might be cheaper for a non tinted screen.

Thanks. Is there much to watch out for or is it pretty much foolproof getting your windscreen replaced.

holdmybeer

1. Insurance should replace F.O.C as long you have comprehensive without affecting no claims. Make sure no claims isnot affected.
2. Shop around if its not covered should normaly be about e200-250
3. Yes it would not pass NCT with a crack.
4. I used Mr.Windscreen and they were very fast. I haven tried anyone else.
5. No, it will be standard windscreen. It wont be OEM. To have that would be extra with the tinting would be more expensive.

Ecoco85

So long as the crack is not in the drivers direct line of vision then it will pass the NCT. Have a crack on my passenger side of windscreen and passed NCT on Friday.

Mr windscreen do the job fine. When ordering the windscreen they will take all details of any tinting, etc so the windscreen wil be the exact same as one being replaced. Overall takes 3 days to get everything sorted.

aristotle25

holdmybeer wrote: »

5. No, it will be standard windscreen. It wont be OEM. To have that would be extra with the tinting would be more expensive.

It can be an OEM if you ask\insist for it. I had by windscreen replaced via Liberty Insurance and Mr Windscreen and the windscreen was sourced from a BMW dealer.

It cost a lot more and I had to pay a €95 euro excess but in my case I had no choice as there are rain senors etc involved.

I found Mr Windscreen on Crumlin Road good.

Bawnmore

I'm sure it won't be the exact same, but I've just got a quote for a 01 Ford Focus windscreen for €153, fitted at an address of my choosing in Dublin/Kildare. No heated windscreen or anything extra, so I'm sure it's the lowest price but it might give you an indication of cost at least. I was expecting €200 - €250 so I'm pretty pleased with that. This was with AutoGlass. Waiting on a call from both Mr. Windscreen and AllGlass and will post prices here too to compare.