Brian Kirby Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 About two years ago, when our van was only one year old, somewhere in France while on our way home, something hard and black hit the centre of the windscreen causing what I now know to have been a "bullseye" chip. In effect, it punched a cone shaped piece of glass back onto the interlayer of the laminated screen, leaving a circular crack around the centre of impact, but only an impact crater on the other face of the screen. The damage did not spread so, once back home, I contacted Autoglass for inspection and repair or replacement under our insurance. They duly arrived, pronounced the damage repairable, and proceeded to make the repair. It wasn't perfect, but the chip was much reduced in appearance and the crater in the screen filled flush. Two year on I noticed that the chip was becoming more noticeable, and on examination found that the filling in the crater had detached, presumably allowing water into the crack. So, I contacted Autoglass again, explained what had happened, and asked them if they could re-do the repair. Another inspection and the verdict was that further repair was not possible, and a new screen would be required. This, I was advised, would be covered under Autoglass' warranty, as their repair had failed. I was surprised that so onerous a task would be undertaken as a consequence of a failed chip repair, but two very likeable Autoglass technicians arrived yesterday, exactly as arranged, and proceeded to remove the old screen and install £2,000 worth of new windscreen. This took them about 2.5 hours, and a very neat and clean job they did as well. Folk often moan about "rip offs" on here, so I thought a tale of a company that exceeded what I would have thought reasonable deserved to be published. After all, had the first verdict been that the screen could not be repaired I should have had to pay a £75 excess on my insurance to get the new screen. But, because they made the repair which two years later failed, they accepted full liability without the slightest reluctance, and it didn't coast me a brass buck. So, all you Doubting Thomas's, there is hope for us all! My thanks and admiration for their honesty and customer service go to Autoglass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Good news, Brian. Last year Autoglass replaced my windscreen - they say they cannot repair damage less than 2" from the edge. Within a couple of days, it leaked through a pin hole at the top. They removed the windscreen and replaced with a new one without quibble. I am slightly concerned with the reports of A-class windscreen window replacement. Whether its just a topic being reported more or whether more windscreens are being cracked I do not know. I do know my 2013 has a flatter front and the windscreen includes the wiper arms so the edge of the screen is less protected whereas my previous Hymer have a curved front, protected wiper arms, an seem to deflect bugs and stones better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hagrid Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Call me a doubting Thomas! My current dealings with Autoglass would suggest that you have been most fortunate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 27, 2016 Author Share Posted July 27, 2016 Brock - 2016-07-27 3:16 PM......................I am slightly concerned with the reports of A-class windscreen window replacement. Whether its just a topic being reported more or whether more windscreens are being cracked I do not know. I do know my 2013 has a flatter front and the windscreen includes the wiper arms so the edge of the screen is less protected whereas my previous Hymer have a curved front, protected wiper arms, an seem to deflect bugs and stones better. To be honest, John, I was a bit flabbergasted when they said they'd replace it FOC. I quite thought it would then become an insurance job because, although the repair had failed, it had only failed insofar as the resin fill on the surface of the screen had fallen out: the actual damage hadn't become any worse - i.e. the actual cracking hadn't extended at all. Yes, it seems the more upright screens on the fronts of the current crop of Hymers do catch the stones and bugs rather more than the earlier, more heavily raked screens. The claimed advantages, that the drop down bed gains in width and the sitting area gains more space, because the bed is stowed further forward, is a bit lost on us. I opted to omit the drop down bed in favour of cupboards! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Good to hear that Autoglass are performing well and hopefully it's an indication that their bad patch is ending. I needed a windscreen replacement on a hymer A Class last year and Autoglass were nominated by my insurer - but they were so bad I gave up and got the insurer's permission to make my own arrangements. Autoglass were becoming a "roadside only" repairer, had lost a lot of staff and were shutting down their workshops/depots, which is not ideal for A Class windscreen repairs Sad to see any company fail so good to hear they are bouncing back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 Did they fit a genuine Hymer screen? Think it was on the Hymer forum someone recently had Autoglass replace a screen it wasn't a genuine one and they have problems with reflections as the Hymer one has an anti-glare coating that pattern ones don't have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 28, 2016 Author Share Posted July 28, 2016 Stuart and Lenny, Autoglass have indeed shut their depots and seem to have become a roadside repairer. The van was on our drive, and the screen was changed there. Two technicians from Feltham, on their third job of the day, who specialise in fitting the larger, non-car screens. They said that the depots, that mainly did car screens, didn't in any case have the staff or equipment for handling the larger (coach, truck, A Class motorhome - even combine harvester!) windscreens. So they now focus on roadside repairs, sending whoever has the appropriate skills/experience for the job in hand. I watched the lot (actually, I became engrossed!), and was impressed with their equipment, their skill and knowledge, and with their tidy, methodical and careful approach to the job. The screen is indeed a genuine Hymer/Bertone autographed screen, and appears identical in all respects with the original. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted July 28, 2016 Share Posted July 28, 2016 A good result. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali786786 Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 The exact same happend to me, chip in middle of the windscreen 6 inch up from bottom. Called autoglass last year and they said it was 14mm and was repairable. Guy arrived as stated and fixed chip. This was last november. 3 weeks ago i rang them back because it looked like the filler had come out and chip was very noticeable. Was advised that it was covered under warranty for as long as i owned the van and it would need a 2 man team to replace the windscreen. Now....i have been let down twice with the tech ringing in sick both times! (what are the chances?) Not sure if they get the following days jobs the night before, so thought it was a big long job that he didn't fancy doing. Firstly, is it quite common for the bonding agent to get washed out after being jetwashed a few times. Secondly, shouldn't they have just replaced the windscreen the first time round as the chip was just barely under their 15mm limit and in the middle of the windscreen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 A while ago we had a chip repaired in a large A class windscreen. All OK. Then in a spell of severe frost it developed a large crack extending from the repaired chip. Changed with no problems or cost to us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 29, 2016 Author Share Posted July 29, 2016 Ali786786 - 2016-07-29 3:11 PM......................... Firstly, is it quite common for the bonding agent to get washed out after being jetwashed a few times. Secondly, shouldn't they have just replaced the windscreen the first time round as the chip was just barely under their 15mm limit and in the middle of the windscreen? Since jet washers are commonplace these days, I would have thought they would warn against using them if liable to damage the repair. You don't say what vehicle, but are you aware it is not a good idea to jet wash coachbuilt motorhomes? The power of jet washers is sufficient to penetrate the sealant joints on the bodywork, and also the fridge vents. Assuming your windscreen repair was covered by your insurance, I suspect they are contractually bound to repair wherever technically possible, only replacing when the damage would result in an MoT failure. As they become liable for the replacement if their repair fails, the liability is theirs if they choose to undertake risky repairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali786786 Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 Hi Brian, It's a Citroen Relay 2.2hdi 2008 van that i've converted. I rang Autoglass direct rather than through my insurance and they charged me £15 as that was the excess on my insurance. I know i shouldn't grumble at a free windscreen replacement but it's the annoyance of 2 cancelled appointments (both on a Wednesday 9am to 2pm slot) and now i'm having to wait for the next appointment on Thursday 10-3 slot. I'll be spitting feathers if i get a call saying the guy has rang in sick again on the day! I live in hope. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 My struggle with Autoglass last year started with an appointment, then an abortive start because the technician had a problem (it sounded like he didn't really want to come out all the way to us, about 30 miles) then the windscreen (which Autoglass had ordered) was said to be broken when the technician checked it at the depot (or wherever he checked it) and then another, longer delay while another one was ordered - and at that point I rang my insurer because I had an alternative company in whom I had some faith. Their guy had previously warned me that there were some Chinese windscreens for Hymers on the market to beware of (poor fit, difficult to install, risk of leaks) and that getting a genuine Hymer windscreen could sometimes be problematic because of a batch system of ordering by Hymer from the manufacturer, so that if you were unlucky there might be several weeks delay because of no stock. That could be a big problem if you bought a Hymer Liner 839, as I once contemplated because only a few were made. That turned out not to be a problem when he ordered mine and it was fitted by appointment inside his big workshop. He reckoned that A Class windscreens should only ever be fitted in a workshop and never at the roadside or on your drive because of the need for dry conditions for proper installation. This could have been all bulls**t but I don't think so; he was a straight guy. I was lucky that my windscreen was only damaged rather than in need of immediate replacement because of a big hole or the like. Would I use Autoglass if I was in the same position again? Not if they were planning to do an outdoor replacement. The firm I used was in Lancashire (Red Rose Windscreens as I recall) and I would happily use them again. Indeed on the last occasion we had already moved to Suffolk but we were visiting Lancashire frequently anyway and I knew Red Rose of old and trusted them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david lloyd Posted July 29, 2016 Share Posted July 29, 2016 I have a theory that travelling the roads of France is more likely to produce chipped windscreens than here in the Uk. We have suffered such windscreen damage four times now in France and had each one repaired by Autoglass as the damage was within their repair parameters. Always made a good job, although this last one (done back in April this year) does seem more visible than the others - especially from the inside. But they reassured me at the time that if it failed they would replace the screen FOC. As many of you know, many paths/driveways in France are topped with grit or gravel. My theory is that car drivers leave home after parking overnight on the gravel which gets into the tyre treads. They travel at reasonably slow speeds until reaching the main roads, pull out in front of me and accelerate flinging the chippings toward my windscreen! I'm thinking of having solid rubber outer screens made - much like silver screens - but was a bit worried about visibility. May just have to keep on risking it. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali786786 Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 Update!!! Well, today is the windscreen replacement day and guess what?......... Had a phonecall this morning around 8am saying the guys were on their way, but only to do an inspection!!!! Then proceeded to tell me that the glass was not in stock and they were gonna arrange replacement once they've inspected the damage. I've been on the phone to their office to tell them that this was the 3rd appointment and the first 2 were cancelled as the guy phoned in sick. Apparently, the woman who booked the job had messed up and it has now been done properly for next Friday. In this case, definately not " 3rd time lucky " Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali786786 Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Finally had my windscreen replaced under warranty from Autoglass. Only took 4 attempts though lol. Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Would some kindly explain what the phrase lol refers to or means ? Can't even get that right Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Lol = lots of laughs!!! I must admit I originally thought it was " lots of love". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 So did David Cameron, Robbo, when he used to text Rebekah Brooks. Gave the Leveson Enquiry a laugh so perhaps they LOL'ed - if there is such a word! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starvin marvin Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Robbo - 2016-08-13 9:33 PM Lol = lots of laughs!!! I must admit I originally thought it was " lots of love". Surely its Laugh Out Loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbo Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 starvin marvin - 2016-08-15 11:13 PM Robbo - 2016-08-13 9:33 PM Lol = lots of laughs!!! I must admit I originally thought it was " lots of love". Surely its Laugh Out Loud. Yes, you are correct "laugh out loud" - apologies for the misinformation LOL :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletguy Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 I've had three screen replacements, two on a car and one on my previous camper, all done by Autoglass and have to admit they were excellent. The car replacements were uncanny.....two in just one week! I'd had a new screen fitted only to get that whacked by stone from a passing HGV on the same road and in the same place where the first one had been damaged. The one i had replaced on a camper, that turned out a real bargain deal!! The screen was plain clear glass and the fitter said, "why not have a tinted?" I told him i'd like one but thought i couldn't. Not a problem. He fitted a full tint with top tint....absolutely brilliant. Unfortunately those days have gone now and it's "like for like" unless you pay the difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.