Windscreen replacement - don't go near gritting lorries

[champakpopat]

Was in a hurry, made mistake of getting in the next lane to a gritting lorry ... heard a big 'tukk' noise as one of the grit hit the top of the windscreen... got to work and inspected, couldnt see any damage...

couple of days later there's a hairline crack longer than my finger in the windscreen and now i can see a chip at the root of the crack - it is in the black border of the windscreen..

unfortunately my fully com insurance doesnt include windscreen repair/replacement so will have to cough up.. should i just call autoglass or are there any other alternatives?

looking back it makes sense why there werent many other cars in the lane next to the gritter lorry... just didnt occur to me at the time the risk i was putting the windscreen to

[JonathanK]

Was in a hurry, made mistake of getting in the next lane to a gritting lorry ... heard a big 'tukk' noise as one of the grit hit the top of the windscreen... got to work and inspected, couldnt see any damage...

couple of days later there's a hairline crack longer than my finger in the windscreen and now i can see a chip at the root of the crack - it is in the black border of the windscreen..

unfortunately my fully com insurance doesnt include windscreen repair/replacement so will have to cough up.. should i just call autoglass or are there any other alternatives?

looking back it makes sense why there werent many other cars in the lane next to the gritter lorry... just didnt occur to me at the time the risk i was putting the windscreen to

Do you have any of the options linked to the windscreen camera? Those are adaptive cruise, lane departure, high beam assist, collision assist in the main. If so, You’ll need a system calibration done after the new screen is fitted. Autoglass do it at specialist centres but you need to be sure it’s done correctly or things won’t work. You have to take the car to them and they use Pilkington glass.

I had mine done before Christmas and had a few problems. Their aftersales was excellent and it got resolved but tbh if I was having it done again I’d have Audi do it using Audi glass.


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[champakpopat]

I have all of them as well ... Insurer says my cover includes windscreen replacement/repair altho i cant the relevant paperwork and I'll have to pay £75 excess but it won't hurt my ncb... I'll call tomorrow and see if I can get it authorised to get this repaired at Audi... Something tells me its not going to be that easy!!

Thanks for the reply

[A6S]

Most insurers use auto glass otherwise there’s a limit on how much they will pay for the replacement if you take it to Audi.

[Elansear]

Hi. If your insurers insist on it being done by a third party I would advise them of your consern regarding the operation of some systems after replacement. I would do this via Email so they can reply in writing to confirm they understand the possible issues. Then if something fails to work and it can be proven by Audi to be the screen replacement, the insurer will then need to get it resolved at there cost, or there repairs cost. Chances are they may well let Audi do it. Another idea are you still covered by Audi Ensurance you get it for the first 3 years I believe they may be in a position to assist.

[JonathanK]

Hi. If your insurers insist on it being done by a third party I would advise them of your consern regarding the operation of some systems after replacement. I would do this via Email so they can reply in writing to confirm they understand the possible issues. Then if something fails to work and it can be proven by Audi to be the screen replacement, the insurer will then need to get it resolved at there cost, or there repairs cost. Chances are they may well let Audi do it. Another idea are you still covered by Audi Ensurance you get it for the first 3 years I believe they may be in a position to assist.

A friend who works for Merc told me that they supply the glass and do the calibration but autoglass go into them to take the old glass out and fit the new one so they don’t have the kind of problems I had. It’s agreed with insurers that this is standard practice so maybe Audi have a similar agreement. If I’d known all this beforehand I’d have asked but Autoglass didn’t mention it and I didn’t think about it because I’d never had these systems on a car before.


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[johnsimcox]

A friend who works for Merc told me that they supply the glass and do the calibration but autoglass go into them to take the old glass out and fit the new one so they don’t have the kind of problems I had. It’s agreed with insurers that this is standard practice so maybe Audi have a similar agreement. If I’d known all this beforehand I’d have asked but Autoglass didn’t mention it and I didn’t think about it because I’d never had these systems on a car before.


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A friend of mine also has a Merc and had her windscreen replaced (by Autoglass) recently told that only the screen was covered by insurance and the car would have to be taken to Egham or Watford (she lives in Slough) to have the cameras recalibrated at a cost of over £200. Phone Mercedes in Slough and they did it for £99. Moral, check whether your insuirance includes the calibration process and if not then check how much Audi will charge for doing it rather than haviong to go to one of Autoglasses recalibration centres.

[champakpopat]

Hi

Contacted Audi Ensurance today, they only do bodywork apparently.. for windscreen i was given the number of audiglass which turned out to be national windscreen... they have taken my details and the hoddesdon depot will call me to discuss if an audi windscreen may be fitted - in the meantime they are going to check if they have a relationship/contract with my insurer... lets see what happens.. in the meantime i will call my insurer and discuss possibility of getting this done at audi and if not write that email you suggested. Many Thanks for the suggestions

[champakpopat]

Thanks for sharing this.. i will check this with my insurer as well The lady from my insurer said they will pay 'only' for windscreen so may be its a no for calibration...

[JonathanK]

Thanks for sharing this.. i will check this with my insurer as well The lady from my insurer said they will pay 'only' for windscreen so may be its a no for calibration...

If you crashed your car would you accept it back fixed but unpainted? The whole point of insurance is that when you get the car back it’s as it was before. It’s not as if you’ve done something to affect the calibration. It’s an accepted part of the windscreen replacement work. That’s why Autoglass have invested in calibration kit. If they say to you they want you to pay for calibration tell ‘em to get stuffed - you want it back like it was and not with systems that don’t work as a result of their repair


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