Windscreen Cracked
 

Just my luck coming up from Watford on the M1 a stone caught the lower drivers side corner of the screen on the black section and within minutes it was cracking down then up the drivers side :mad:
So just rang the insurance firm (Swiftcover) and they are coming out tomorrow, not sure who they use, as it was one of those dedicated lines. Is there anything I should be watching out for when having the screen changed on the 8 ? I now it can sometimes bugger the rains sensor up etc. on some cars?

I always hate having the car messed about with tbh, things never seem to go smoothly for me. Last time I had a screen the t*t fitting it managed to slightly depress the parking indicator which was on the dash of my E55. Whilst I managed to wiggle it back into place it was never quite the same and trying to prove they did it if you don't notice it straight away isn't easy!

Any pointers grqatefully received
Glyn
:)

i was with swiftcover whn i claim on windscreen.
it was autoglass (as always)!
u can argue and try to get swiftcover to giv u an audi windscreen....
some had success...most failed.
i got a free sunband on mine.

watch thm do the work by one man....fascinating!

Thks+++

Funnily enough she mentioned does it have a sun band? and I said i didn't think so !! Couldn't for the life of me recall, but I don't think it does? Can't see my car from here and it's facing the wrong way but I cant recall noticing it before :rolleyes:
Anyway she said they come with that ...
Also asked if it was acoustic glass but I don't think it has that either ?
What is that and how would I know?

Did you have any issues with the b*ggering up the rain sensors or anything??
Cheers

mine was bmw 120d

wotever they offer just take it!
insurer already authorised so no xtra cost :-)

not sure what acoustic glass is (better soundproofing?)

my rain sensor worked fine (plug and go)!

When mine cracked I thought about getting a free one from the insurer, but in the end reading all the Autoglass horror stories, I though forget it, so based on loads of good reviews (on Pistonheads) I phoned Paul from Glasstec, and he did a professional job, didnt damage or scratch anything.
I got it for around £200, but I didnt want to replace the heated and UV deflecting screen, I just got a ordinary one.
If yours is a heated windscreen they will tear out the flat conducting strip that runs all the way round the edge of the windscreen.

http://www.glasstecauto.co.uk/

*general rant, when will the auto industry start making polycarbonate windscreens legal for the road, no more cracking and safe from bricks

Hi Glyn - just make sure they use the proper "audi foam sponge thingy" when they put it in, its thicker than a normal one and stops the screen rattling and squeaking when its gone in - see this thread HERE for details +++

Yes, I actually backup Goran!
There is a concensus autoglass is c*#p and will do a rubbish job.
There is some hope, some autoglass fitters are brilliant, and some drivers managed to convince their insurer to cough up the more expensive manufacturer windscreen.

But, for most will not be so lucky and the alternative of finding your own fitter will cost much more - but nice one Goran for your recommendation+++

PS: Is there a list of APPROVED retailers/fitters/etc on this forum?
PPS: Can we then negotiate a group discount with this list?

Try audi I got a genuine audi screen fully fitted for my RS 6 for £359 :p plus it was correctly fitted and warranted for 2 yrs :)

polycarbonate would be of absolutely no use for windscreens, whilst it'll take a pebble bouncing off it all day long and not crack, it is suprisingly easy to scratch, 1 bit of grit trapped under the wipers and the screen would be ruined.

sorry for scare-mongering. Its true you may get a experienced autoglass fitter who will do a fine job. I hope it goes well.
Yes Paul fitted a thick sponge-thingy under my screen, no squeaks at all after 2 years.

(mostly true about polycarbonate, although these days you can get it with a tough coating, question is how long that lasts. Proper way to do it is laminated with acrylic layers on the outside and inside to stop scratches, I beleive this is how they make it for planes, ie, cessna.)

Glyn, I'd make Audi my first port of call. If Tamworth Audi don't return your calls (which is my depressing experience with them), try Stafford Audi. Hopefully you will then have an Audi screen fitted and all the screen related electrics working when they finish.

Was it perhaps an 'athermic' screen she was asking you about. If so I'm betting yours is one of these. I believe all the 8's had them as standard from 06 on

Athermic, or solar glass, is a metallic coating laminated inside your screen. It reduces heating to you and your car interior on sunny days, I believe the coating is also co-opted for the windscreen heating.

Autoglass did our Mini a couple of years ago, an hour or so after he left I noticed a deep scratch on the bonnet that wasn't there before he started (our Mini is truly mint condition).

Tbf, Autoglass did sort it out and send it for repair, but we now have a car with non-factory paint on the bonnet which may or may not be as good a quality/thickness as when it left the factory.

Oh Hell
I was kept awake last night :-(
now not looking forward to this afternoon at all
Swift cover wont let you "do it yourself" and will only pay £100 or something similar if you do it elsewhere!
This sponge section concerns me as how to I ensure they use the right one? Is it worth a call to them now before anything proceeds?
Think I may have left ot to crack a bit more now :rolleyes:

Hi Nick I know Tamwoth Audi are sh1te been they and got the same results as you, I used Stafford for my last service and they were A1 oddly enough they supplied my car when it was new !

Cheers all, I'll go back to biting my finger nails now!
Glyn

Just go with it and tell them they need to make sure it's the right foam (it's the thickness that varies). If it squeaks and rattles, they need to come back and fix it.

my last experience with auto glass resulted in me having no windscreen in the car for 2 hours and the poor chap doing it split his fingers wide open to the bone right across all 4 fingers as the massive cheese wire thing had gone taught and as he put his fingers round it to move it, it snapped had to take him up the hospital for stitches, then he had to idiot guide me to re-fit the new wind screen was a D2 at the time mind so was not that bad and it was a genuine Audi windscreen that was heated and he had to cut the tabs off as i had no heated windscreen,

only thing i would say to watch out for is make sure they use all the correct equipment, they are suposed to use a large plastic sheet to cover the inside and also a plastic jimmi down the inside of the wind screen and that stops any scratches on the interior trim and they did not use this on my car and resulted in the above cheese wire cutting into the pillars that goe from the roof to the front dash good job it was not an Alcantara headlining i had

oh and he politely cleaned the blood off my car later on as well ! +++

Quick update
I couldn't rest so rang them :rolleyes:
they use Auto Windscreens not Autoglass...don't know if that changes anything :Confused:
I got through to their technical team and he told me all their fittings are approved by Audi for the A8 and he also suggested I speak to the fitter about the concerns on the sponge issue and see what they use!

I suppose there's not much else I can do untill they arrive, although I may contact the dealer and see if they have the fitting in stock in case as I cannot handle rattles and squeaks in my car
Thanks for the pointers

Poor u!
I am not sure what your windscreen excess is, but mine was £75 and I paid that rather than £700 quoted by BMW - (windscreen cost abt £300) - and yes it is the norm for insurer to pay only a little more than the excess if u go somewhereelse.

It all boiled down to costs for me:
1. A almost better job at BMW (but remember this is not 100% quaranteed)
2. Go to and independent for 1/2 price
3. Or just risk it with autoglass.

At the end, autoglass is probably the largest windscreen company and their work is lifetime(?) guarantee - but don't quote me.

If money is no issue, go to Audi direct.
Or go 50-50 with Goran's recommendation, but try to negotiate for an Audi windscreen.
If money is tight, then argue with swiftcover for an Audi windscreen (I know this would be an uphill battle).
Else, as I said, just make sure u can watch autoglass do the work (maybe even supply your own sponge foam)

Good luck with it and keep us posted!

im the same i hate any squeaks and now i have one on the D3 i think its the passenger top mount or something im not to sure but its annoying and only seems to be there when i turn right, left hand turns are fine ?

Audi dealer s don't fit screens in-house, they farm the work out to fitting companies. The only difference going through a dealer is you will have a ''genuine'' Audi screen fitted.

But there again Audi don't make windscreens, so then apart from the Audi logo how ''genuine'' is ''genuine''

I will post an update later
Weather looks ok too as he'll be fitting it outside. My garage is occupied by a couple of restoration projects at the mo which can't be moved :)

The bloke on the phone seemed fairly confident they use the right gear but then I suppose he would.
I have the Alcantara head lining in mine so will be checking to ensure no damage (or blood ;)) it's spotless at the mo.
To be honest I don't even like the Audi dealers messing with my car as it rarely comes back the same they always manage to mess something up.

due anytime from 2pm so watch this space, or a mushroom cloud on the horizon over Ashby De La Zouch :ROFL:

eeek - blood!

guy, any more pics of your new car and what you'v done to it so far?

Right quick update!
After all this I have been out and checked out the car today as you do for any marks etc. before they arrive.
I have now seen on the lower offside corner of the screen in very small print the word Acoustic! You have to look hard to see it as it's often the spot of the screen which is dirty anyway or in my case cracked :D.
Rang them and they will have to get the replacement screen so now booked for Monday Morning. Wonder if this has to be a genuine one then??
Not sure what this "Acoustic" screen is but perhaps it's because the car is a diesel and it's to reduce noise? I check the model brochure and there's no mention of this.
Anyway this gives me a bit of time to check with the dealer on the sponge situation and if they stock it etc.
+++

Acoustic windscreen....Thinner glass and less noise click

+++

Blimey I feel better now
The AA windscreen bloke is here
He turned up with an OEM part and isn't 17 so he knows his stuff (sorry I know it's not pc), we have just been discussing out to fit screens in old classics, so I will be taking his number as I need my Stag sorting soon too +++

Glad its worked out in the end - nothing to worry about after all +++

Plus u got a great contact - be sure to let us have his number too if he also does a top job on your stag too+++

Glad it went well!

Still, you're lucky you don't have the heat-insulated, heated windshield for the armoured D2. It retails at 11,000 Euros. That would really hurt, if you had to pay for it yourself! :eek:

Thanks, glad its not one like that.
The fitter was a true gent went through the process with me protected the paintwork and everything is back as it should be. Went out in her last night and no noise squeaks and as a bonus it's lovely and clean ;)
Got his number as I have a number of project that will need glass fitting and it's a job I hate with the old rubber seals.
He actually said he prefers working on the Audi as they are put together well and don't break in your hands when your taking the trim off!
The screen was in an Audi blue delivery bag and has the Audi logo's with the acoustic markings so job done. He also said it wasn't the first time the car had had a screen done, although that was before my time with her.
Now my job is searching for a wheel and tyre solution next.... It never ends

Think I'll go and get some welding done on the mini now on my day off :)
Cheers Glyn

I just had my Subaru windscreen replaced by a GlassTecAuto partner.

Since I remembered the recommendation from here, I thought at least I give credit where credits due to Goran and this forum - thks guys! +++

I rang Paul, but he was out of office - but text back saying a local partner would get in touch.
And on time, the local partner rang and though quoted me about £50 more than Auto Windscreen and National Windscreen (but less than Subaru of £407) I decided to go ahead (and they do offer a lifetime warranty on the craftmanship).

Duncan from Leeds turned-up at my work place this morning, at a time agreed, and started work. After approx. 90mins it was all done.
He commented the existing windscreen wasn't fitted properly (there were gaps) and spots of rust around the window frame.

Duncan perfect fitted the new windscreen without gaps and removed and primed the rust spots all inclusive in the price PLUS a FREE Tax Disc holder (which mine was shredded to pieces whilst I was trying to remove it) +++

Cheers!
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