When to replace a dinged windscreen?

My V70 windscreen caught a flying stone over the weekend. Was a hard hit at 70 mph. It's left a mark which is about a 2mm circle with a smaller 1mm one just above it. It's smack bang in the middle of the screen.

So does this mean the screen needs replacing ? Has it weakened it ? Will it worsen ?

Thanks for any tips

-- JohnB

Reply to
JohnB
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Probably. Someone else is likely to tell you what the situation regarding the MOT is.

Has it weakened it ?

Probably

Most probably.

Huw

Reply to
Huw

without actually seeing it in the flesh, *could* be an mot failure.

[1] in zone " A " : a. damage not contained within a 10mm diameter circle, or c. a combination of minor damage areas which seriously restrict the drivers view. [1] Zone "A" is : in the swept area of the windscreen. 290mm wide centred on the centre of the steering wheel.
Reply to
reg

The message from JohnB contains these words:

Get it repaired. Your insurance will probably cover it - give 'em a ring.

Reply to
Guy King

But it's small. Your local windscreen agent will repair it and the cost will almost certainly be covered by your comp insurance (haven't you listened to the Autoglass ads on local radio?)

My Rover had a 15mm bullseye just left of the centre of the drivers field of vision. It passed the MOT.

Reply to
Chris Bolus

If you have fully comp cover then if it's repairable without screen replacement it'll almost certainly be free without excess payable, and have no effect of premium or NCD - check with your insurers. I've had a couple done and you would be very hard pressed to see even if you were shown the impact point.

Reply to
Chris Street

The message from Chris Street contains these words:

Mostly 'cos insurers would /love/ to repair your screen instead of fork out for a replacement. I've had repairs and they're only visible if you know where to look and catch the light just right and even then they're not what you'd call obtrusive.

Reply to
Guy King

Eventually but I'd wait until after winter.

It may have weakened the outer layer.

Possibly. If it's just a small stonechip, it shouldn't get any worse. Also if it's less than 10mm in diameter, it's not an MOT fail.

My advice is to leave it. You'll possibly get more chips over winter so it's pointless to put a new screen in at this time.

IT IS A MULTI LAYERED LAMINATED WINDOW -IT IS NOT GOING TO SUDDENLY SHATTER. At worse, the outside layer will crack. I've driven cars and lorries with screens completely cracked from one side to the other and they're OK for ages.

Reply to
Conor

What the hell for? It's winter.

Reply to
Conor

Because if you do it *quickly* the repair works well and you will never know it was there. And it'll be free.

If you leave it the repair won't be so good, you might end up needing a new screen anyway, and that will cost you your glass excess - i.e. £50 or so.

Reply to
PC Paul

The message from Conor contains these words:

Because, particularly in winter, water gets in and starts to delaminate the screen. It's happend to me before, particularly when the heater's blasting away alternating with frost. Repairs are free and remove the visual annoyance of a hole in front of you.

Reply to
Guy King

I was guessing that they would probably get billed a few tens of pounds for a repair rather than hundreds for a screen, and also if it's a big chip then it is unlikely to spread into a crack come winter time.

When I got my current car I noticed the screen was a bit loose but put it off for ages, got it removed and refitted for just £40+VAT. Bit of a bargain considering it took two people well over an hour - I did warn them on the phone it was a Chevy Caprice and is probably like nothing they have ever done before or will ever do again!

Gareth

Reply to
Gareth A.

What is the point in changing a perfectly usable windscreen?

Reply to
Conor

But cracked, it's a definite MOT fail and costs you a new screen (or your excess). Repair won't cost you that.

Reply to
Chris Bolus

Which is precisely the time when water freezes in the (repairable) chip and turns it into an unrepairable crack.

Reply to
Chris Bolus

If it's an MOT fail (which you keep telling us lorries are more strictly regulated, so it *MUST* be) then that makes it an unroadworthy vehicle. Surely you don't mean to say you're happy to drive an unroadworthy, illegal vehicle?

My bald tyres worked very well in summer thank you. Why replace them with nasty treaded ones?

Reply to
PC Paul

If it's not in the swept area it's not an MOT fail & it's not unroadworthy.

Reply to
Duncanwood

windscreens provide up to approx 30% of a vehicles structural strength.

Reply to
reg

Rubbish. There's plenty a vehicle can fail an MOT on which doesn't make it unroadworthy. Are you telling me a blown numberplate bulb makes a vehicle unroadworthy or a warning lamp on the foglight switch?

It's not unroadworthy.

Reply to
Conor

But whats the point in changing the screen in the time of year when the risk of stonechips is highest?

Reply to
Conor

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