Windscreen stone chip

[Red Cooper]

I found a small but deep stonechip in the windscreen. There is also a small crack in the top layer of the glass - about 3-4mm wide.

Is there a way of localising this - something like a glue or resin?

I'd rather do this than re-place the whole windscreen - the chip is in front of the driver 1/2inch above the windscreen wiper so it doesn't affect the visibility.

This evening I will take a look in Halfords to check what they have...

Thanks!

[Dom]

Take it to a windscreen place. They'll fill it in with proper resin, shouldn't cost you a penny. Insurance companies pay for this, doesn't affect no claims either. You may wanna check with your insurers first though as to which company to use.

Don't think you'll find anything at halfords, you need some specialist equipment.

Dom - who's had plenty of chips filled in at auto windscreens!

[Red Cooper]

Cheers Dom - will try a windscreen supplier - shame I cannot take any pics - before and after pics would be interesting...

[dreamslikethese]

joining the ranks!

Two weeks after getting my mini I got hit by a three inch rock bouncing down the interstate towards me. I have a 2 inch gunshot looking spider crack with multiple ripples of rings around the impact point. I'm lucky it didn't go through. It would have messed my face up something good. I need a new windshield they can't fix it.

yeah for insurance. but this looks bad cause i've had the car for only 2 weeks. Maybe I'll just take it out of my pocket.

oh well....

[cosworth]

You're probably better off paying out of pocket. Don't know what a windshield swap runs on our cars, but by the time you're done with the deductible, how much are they really paying? And the way the insurance companies act over here, you gotta wonder if they won't crucify you on your premium, just for filing a piddly little claim, which wasn't even your fault.

[dreamslikethese]

well my deductable is 100 bucks. i have insurance under my grandfather's name. he said to go ahead and have it replaced and then if they cancel the policy then i can get it through my name which i was just planning on doing. thanks for your input. if it was my insurnce policy i'd pay for it.

[BillK]

I have never had a windshield replacement cause a problem with my insurance (I think I have had about 4 windshields done over the years), and I had a repair done followed by a full replacement after additional damage within a year on the same car. Windshields are covered under comprehensive in the US.

As for repairs, yes, they can be done, and rather well. If there is a crack, they open it slightly with suction cups on a beam and pump in a UV curing resin. Same resin for a chip-out, no crack to pull open. My insurance waived the deductible on the repair. I understand the waived deductible is common, at least in the US. The repair is not perfect, and I don't know if I would do a large crack again, but I would certainly do a chip-out unless it was directly in front of the driver's position.

[Red Cooper]

Just to update on my previous post.

The dealers said they fixed it while the car was in for something else - they wanted £35 for it... As I didn't ask for it to be fixed and my insurance company employs Autoglass to do this sort of thing, I didn't pay. However, the dealers only polished off some of the stonechip damage, but not entirely... The dealer is Rydale Newport!... again!....

I called Autoglass and a guy came around and filled it in with resin - the chip is still visible but only just - this costs about £60, which the insurance company paid for.

[R1]

I ended up with a small stone chip on the windscreen the day I picked my first MINI up!! Some stones flew off a builders lorry!

My latest MINI has also now got a stone chip on the windscreen!! A clump of stone filled mud fell of a lorry on the motorway on the way back from having the spots and stripes fitted!!!

Autoglass told me it couldn't be fixed as it's not deep enough. At least it hasn't cracked and the chip is in the lower middle of the windscreen so I don't really notice it.

Still anoying though!

Kill all lorry drivers I say!! If they aren't trying to kill me whilst riding my motorbike by dumping diesel on corners and roundabouts by over-filling their tanks, they are trying to smash my windscreen when I'm driving my MINI!!!

By the way, the guy at Autoglas told me they have replaced/repaired quite a few MINI windscreens now. Thats the penalty of having an upright windscreen design I suppose!!

[dreamslikethese]

I haven't had my fixed yet, the guy at the autoglass said I'd be better off taking it to the mini dealership cause they aren't many generic windshields for the mini yet in the states and they'd just have to order one from the dealership and then add on to that price. I'm tired of staring at the smashed spot though. it's roughly 3.5 cm across and has loss pieces of glass in it, more of a smashed spot than a crack or chip.

[R1]

Quote:

Originally posted by R1
My latest MINI has also now got a stone chip on the windscreen!! A clump of stone filled mud fell of a lorry on the motorway on the way back from having the spots and stripes fitted!!!

Autoglass told me it couldn't be fixed as it's not deep enough. At least it hasn't cracked and the chip is in the lower middle of the windscreen so I don't really notice it.

The stone damage was worse than I thought!!

I was cleaning MINI today and found a 50mm crack in the top L/H side of the glass in the blacked out part! I'm pretty sure it isn't a stress crack because there are signs of a stone chip in the middle of the crack.

I'm not sure it can't be repaired becase it runs to the outside edge of the glass

Looks like a new screen then!

My question is, Autoglass (my insurance companies approved company) or my dealer?

If Autoglass do it, will they re-fit the trim correctly?

Anyone used them yet?

[Andu]

You can get a kit from Halfords for small chips (about £10), but it is not easy to use.

[R1]

Quote:

Originally posted by Andu
You can get a kit from Halfords for small chips (about £10), but it is not easy to use.

The trouble is the crack has grown this morning!! It's about 90 mm long now!

I think it's going to be a new screen!

[Coopergeezer]

I was really worrying when I had to have my screen replaced. I was cringing at the thought of them damaging the trim. However, it is relatively simple. All they do is remove the plastic bits of the A-Pillars which are clipped on. Then they take the rubber strip off the top and the silver trims at the bottom (which are also clipped on). Then they need to cut the screen out.

They replaced mine, I was really happy. All I would say is to check that the trim at the top is properly bonded as you don't want it to move.

So don't worry about it, I was really worried but they do a really good job.

[Dom]

Might as well take it to autoglass mate - all the dealer will do is get them in. However, you could just give it to the dealership for peace of mind (i.e, if something else goes wrong, they can't blame the screen).. depends if insurance would be happy about it.

Dom