Cracked windscreen: running repairs

"bruce snipped-for-privacy@my-deja.com" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

It's WAAAAY past repair.

I'd doubt it.

The glass is laminated - two sheets of glass with a thin layer of plastic in the middle - and it's only going to be the outer sheet which is cracked. It's going nowhere. A newish car like yours, the glass is bonded in - basically, glued all the way round. It's not going to fall out, even if it cracks clear across.

If it's obstructing your view, you need to replace it ASAP. Otherwise, you'll need to do it for the MOT, but it's not the most desperately urgent thing in the world.

Ring around the smaller companies from Yellow Pages. They'll be MUCH cheaper.

You certainly will for the MOT, yes.

No. You're thinking of the older toughened screens - just one sheet of glass. They shattered into lots of small fragments as soon as damaged, not a while later.

you have plenty of time. go to a few different screen places or ask a fitter at the side of the road. it should be sub 80 quid if you pay cash. I got a vectra one glued in the other week for 80 squids and that has a tint strip on it hich would make it dearer than normal. my sister got a renault one a while back, the first quote was 225, the one she took was 85 !!! so it pays to not be in a hurry and shop around.

Thanks for that. I was half expecting the windscreen to shatter at any moment. Sounds like I've got a bit of time to shop around. No need for emergency call out charges and the like! Any ideas on what the cost is likely to be for a replacement?

Thanks Mike

bruce snipped-for-privacy@my-deja.com brought next idea :

Impossible to answer - I had two just explode on the same bit of motorway within two weeks on the same car. No warning, no cracks they just suddenly shattered. Other than that risk, the cracked lens could last for many months.

Not yet at least... but the 'screen will be far more vulnerable to extremes of temperature. If there is water in the crack and it freezes, expect a much bigger crack shortly afterwards. If the car sits in the sun (even at this time of year) and heats the interior, expect a much bigger crack too.

Other than perhaps locking out (or in) water, it's not worth it.

It's worth checking though.

Yes absolutely.

Probably not, but there is the possibility that an unlucky stone thrown up could cause the crack to grow *very* quickly.

If it were me, I'd get it replaced as quickly as I could.

Where abouts in the country are you, i know a lad who does foreigners, my combo van cost £80 last year, Autoglass wanted over £250.

Tom

Yup, I can confirm the factor 3 between Autooglass and independents

Must have been years ago, then. Front screens have all been laminated for at least 20 years, IME

Check around with Autoglass and some independents to see what they would charge for a replacement (it sounds too late for a repair).

Then check with your insurer what they would charge for fully comp insurance - if they offer a reduced premium for a high excess amount on claims, you may find it's worth changing to fully comp cover for very little extra premium.

Then, if the crack should happen to extend into the main part of the screen you can get it replaced for just the cost of the windscreen excess amount.

Which considering the quoted prices from independent repairers, it would seem the excess is the actual cost of the screen! Not sure what the excesses are these days, I know a friend recently paid £60 excess for a Sprinter windscreen.