windscreen cracked

[Gullible]

Hi all,
got home today after driving down a road being repaired (potholes) and i noticed that my windscreen has a large crack near the N/S top door pillar!
Its a biggy and i wondered if there was a way of claiming the replacement under insurance without effecting my NCD?
It kinda appeared about 3 inches down (almost in line with the sun shade strip) and has curved up into the top of the window seal.
Its about the size of a large orange and was not there this morning.
Is it hand in pocket time or is there a solution?
many thanks
Adam

 

[ENZ525]

Hi Adam,
Do have a word with your insurance company,
I believe that windscreen replacement will not affect your NCD...
all you should have to pay is the excess for glass (normally around £50 - £100).
Regards,
Enzo.

 

[lozcb]

Hi all,
got home today after driving down a road being repaired (potholes) and i noticed that my windscreen has a large crack near the N/S top door pillar!
Its a biggy and i wondered if there was a way of claiming the replacement under insurance without effecting my NCD?
It kinda appeared about 3 inches down (almost in line with the sun shade strip) and has curved up into the top of the window seal.
Its about the size of a large orange and was not there this morning.
Is it hand in pocket time or is there a solution?
many thanks
Adam

Had the same on my Gransport Adam , exactly the same place , think it was caused by the severe cold during the snow / thaw , Most insurance companies have windscreen cover as standard , and as Enzo says doesn't affect your No Claims , after a bad experience with Autoglass months earleir i insisted it was done by a Maserati specialist ie) H R Owen , who actually did a marvelous job and supplied a curtasy car for the 3 days they had it


regards loz

 

[Palmball]

If you've got a crack that big then get a replacement - it won't be repairable. The good news is that a windscreen replacement will not affect your NCB one jot!

 

[conaero]

Agree with all of the above, your probably just looking at the £50 excess.

Oh and where have you been hiding? Thought you had sold up and moved on?

 

[Gullible]

Agree with all of the above, your probably just looking at the £50 excess.

Oh and where have you been hiding? Thought you had sold up and moved on?

No, i said these are hard cars to sell and i was right.
Ever time an interested party contacts me i seem to just ignore there emails LOL!
I am not in a hurry to move her on and i dont know what (or if) there is out there to replace her.
so i am happy just to potter around in her from time to time and use on of my other cars between the fun bits.

I had a call from National windscreens who said that the screen will need to be a maserati part , asked if they had anyone who had ever replaced a windscreen on a maserati spyder and they said" No but that they were sure our fitters could do it".

They called again 15 minutes later and said that it will cost £2000 for the screen alone but that now there fitters (who before had probably never seen a maserati spydes except in a book) had in fact now both done "loads of spyders" LOL( some fast fitting there i guess LOL)

Admiral have OK the replacement no problem and also the genuine parts but should i let national fit it?
Instinct says NO.
adam

 

[conaero]

There have been many people on here, myself included, who have let the generic national windscreen firms fit their screens, and generally speaking, it has not bee a good experience.

As this is your car, you have the right to decide who works on your car. My advice is speak to your local Maserati main dealer and ask them who they use to fit their screens. You will find it will be a local small firm and never the major national ones.

This is a job that requires experience. If you are that worried about it, tell your insurance company you only want it done at the main dealer, they will have to do as you say. That way, the main dealer will be responsible for any problems. Also, a windscreen firm working for the main dealer, will have a vested interest, as they will fit many in a year, so you are almost guaranteed to get a perfect job.

 

[dem maser]

Very interesting post that matt, had no idea you are entitled to that

 

[Palmball]

The other way of looking at it is that a specialist windscreen company is the most experienced at replacing the screen - after all, they do windscreens all day, every day....whereas the dealer may never have done one at all.

I'd imagine replacing a screen needs the same basic skill and technique regardless of what car it's fitted to and I think the quality of work has more to do with the individual fitter (or company used) than anything else...much the same as with any dealer where the quality of work can vary between dealership or even individual technician within a dealership.

In my experience, the best of the windscreen company I've used has been Autoglass but this probably isn't saying much - all of them are likely to have as many positive and negative feedback as each other!

Rule of thumb....make sure the fitter doing the work is fully aware that you are very fussy and expect the job to be perfect - theres no reason why it shouldn't be (and if you're not happy with the job then you'll be asking them to do it again). I've never had a problem when setting out my stringent standards before work begins.

 

[lozcb]

No, i said these are hard cars to sell and i was right.
Ever time an interested party contacts me i seem to just ignore there emails LOL!
I am not in a hurry to move her on and i dont know what (or if) there is out there to replace her.
so i am happy just to potter around in her from time to time and use on of my other cars between the fun bits.

I had a call from National windscreens who said that the screen will need to be a maserati part , asked if they had anyone who had ever replaced a windscreen on a maserati spyder and they said" No but that they were sure our fitters could do it".

They called again 15 minutes later and said that it will cost £2000 for the screen alone but that now there fitters (who before had probably never seen a maserati spydes except in a book) had in fact now both done "loads of spyders" LOL( some fast fitting there i guess LOL)

Admiral have OK the replacement no problem and also the genuine parts but should i let national fit it?
Instinct says NO.
adam

Seems Adam they have already put on a good mark up , my screen was fitted last year cost of the screen to HR Owen was £950 plus VAT , yes they use an independant company to fit it , but as Matt said you have the confidence that is all under the Hr Owen umbrella , som if your unhappy in the slightest it gets atekn care of straight away no messing , seein as we have leather dashes last thing i wanted was the leather scratched or marked with broken glass , as i have seen done with other companies,

Autoglass wrecked my microswitch when cleaning out the glass when my passenger door glass broke , returned my car without the glass dropping on lifting the handle , said it was normal untill i showed them the drivers side , my advice go Maserati specialist


regards loz

 

[Parisien]

Lots of advice there G.....let us know how you get on.

P

 

[Gullible]

as an update.....
Well i had the "estimate" from national windscreams at £2500 approx and the quote from maserat at £1070+ Vat fitted.
I asked Admiral if i could get it done by Maserati as it was over £1000 cheaper and they said they would need to ask a manager......Reply was "sure,it your right to decide on who does your windscreen repair"...If you want maserati to do it thats fine,If you do not use national windscreens ,we will contribute £50 towards the replacement screen cost"

Yep thats exactly what they said.. £50 friggin quid!!!!!!.and this is why your insurance costs are going through the roof!!!!
Save a grand or throw away a grand!!! where is the sense in this???????????
Expect premiums to rise again next year guys

 

[BennyD]

Adam, why don't you fire off an e-mail to the higher management at Admiral and let them know what a bunch of prats they have working for them. If they agree with the junior management tell them that you no longer have faith in their ability to run a company and that, come renewal time, you will be taking you custom elsewhere. At least it will make you feel better!

 

[petronic]

Hi same car!!! crack appeared last saturday - I too am waiting on the outcome it appears I have to use National!!!!! so it appears we are in the same boat. It may be good to chat and see if we can both sort something out? Eurospares quoated £725 collect from them? genuine part from Italy so ad cost of fitting could save some money if the fitter did 2? I live in Hertfordshire?

 

[petronic]

Windcreen update

National Windscreen have been told they are not to do the repair but Autoglass Depot at Luton. It appears my insurance company uses they foe high value cars!! In addition I spoke last night to the Deport who have stated the glass has been sorced and on its way? I will be contacted to make an appointment to bring it in.


So far so good and I understand I have to pay £50 prior to the work starting? Now my intention is to stay with the car every step of the way ans oversee the fitting - asuming they will let me. If not our comes the old camera (already taken photos) and take photos in their presence of the condition of the car for any future claim!!!

I hope it does not come to this - so can anyone advise me on the procedure they should adopt to remove/replace the glass? how can you tell a genuine glass from and OEM if one is available? In addition I did noy know their is left and right handed glass again how do you tell?

Very last question - the small metal plate that the rear view mirror attaches too is this prefitted on the glass?

Any advice would be appreciated?

 

[BennyD]

I don't know the specifics of any Maserati foibles but it's normally a straight forward affair. They should carefully cut out the bonded screen using a blade pulled by a handle or lanyard. Once the broken screen is out the screen recess is cleared of old glue and then wiped with a solution that promotes adhesion. A triangular bead of adhesive is applied to the recess and then the new screen is lowered into place within 20 mins using suction cups with handles. An hour or so, or some other specified time later, the car is safe to drive. The screen should be marked with the legend 'Maserati' in one of the corners and the mirror fixing is usually already fitted. It might be an idea to ask before you go if it is a genuine screen and not some other make although I would think the only place they can get one is through Maserati. I wouldn't worry to much about the fitting unless the fitter appears to be a cack handed gorilla. It shouldn't be too traumatic. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[petronic]

cack handed gorilla I like that !!!!!! - they have just phoned me booked in for 8am Tuesday so we will see!!!! asked all the questions appeared as above asked the price!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!so can not revel that!!!!!!!!!!!!! so I will have to guess. Thanks for the update on the fitting to be honest I can not ever remember haveing a screen fitted before. A side window attempted them from another car years ago thats all.

thanks petronic

 

[Parisien]

Petronic, remember....in the Maserati factory, they use a robot to apply the glue to fit the screens as too many mistakes were made by humans !!!


The replacement system sounds like a complete scam to me........................how dare they ask for double the price..........................are bankers running this firm too??!!




P

 

[BennyD]

Accountants probably. Much the same mentality as bloody bankers, and that could be rhyming slang!

 

[Emtee]

1. Make sure they bring bodywork blankets.
2. Check bodywork blankets are clean before they drape them all over your lovely paintwork.
3. Don't let them out of your sight.

Em.