Front windscreen repair review

[besiktas]

Guys,

Unfortunately i had a small chip on my front windscreen due to crappy roads in DC and i had to get that fixed. The size of the chip was about a small bug. I had seen Safelite ads on tv so decided to take a chance on them as they told me they would to it for free for many large insurance companies, and waive your deductible. so literally 0.00$.

here is some key things that caught my attention;
- they gave me an appointment in the same day
- the service technician was very friendly and polite (wasnt sick of what he was doing)
- cleaned all windscreens and vacuumed interior (i didnt expect that)
- they called geico and conferenced me in, set up the claim and everything, i just had to be on the line to verify the information. this took time since geico took forever to "pull up my information" and happened several times in the same call.
- the mark of the repair is slightly smaller the size of the crack, which was tiny in my case. i was scared that the repaired part would cause uneven surface or cause marks as i used the windscreen wiper but it doesnt.
- the whole thing took less than 15 minutes
- they also put a rubber mat on your hood while working to avoid scrathes

I suggest anyone with similar chips should stop driving the car before the chip evolves to a larger crack. get it fixed for free.

Besides the lifetime warranty on the fixed area, apparently if the glass is damaged while technician is working on it, they replace it with the new one for free (also hassle free). OEM glass may take time depends on the availability, they say they check with bmw dealers to supply them.

[Slpnbyu]

Good to hear everything went smoothly.

I feel your pain. Driving on the highways in the D.C. area usually sounds like it is raining gravel 80% of the time!

[Wah]

My wife's car was hit by a small rock and caused a nickel-sized circular crack in the windshield. I called GEICO, and they were able to set up my appointment with safelite directly. This is the 2nd windshield i've had repaired. Basically, it makes the crack look much smaller, but it is still visible. If the crack happens on the driver side, then I'd be staring at it everytime I get in the car. I don't know if I'd be able to deal with that.

[Bubbles]

If you saw the machine BMW uses to place the windshield on the car, you'd never get it replaced unless it was shattered.

[besiktas]

is there a video of that...

[SlamMan]

Originally Posted by besiktas

is there a video of that...

Probably not. No amateur video at least. No cameras in the factory.

[adc]

Originally Posted by Wah

My wife's car was hit by a small rock and caused a nickel-sized circular crack in the windshield. I called GEICO, and they were able to set up my appointment with safelite directly. This is the 2nd windshield i've had repaired. Basically, it makes the crack look much smaller, but it is still visible. If the crack happens on the driver side, then I'd be staring at it everytime I get in the car. I don't know if I'd be able to deal with that.

+1.

Mine is close to my line of sight - close enough to be annoying but not close enough to be dangerous. Eventually, I'll replace the windshield.

Originally Posted by Bubbles

If you saw the machine BMW uses to place the windshield on the car, you'd never get it replaced unless it was shattered.

If you saw the crack every time you looked ahead, you'd go for the replacement, believe me.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

If you saw the machine BMW uses to place the windshield on the car, you'd never get it replaced unless it was shattered.

Interesting... could you be more specific? What about original manufacturing makes it different from replacement?

[markjord]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

If you saw the machine BMW uses to place the windshield on the car, you'd never get it replaced unless it was shattered.

Well I had mine replaced at the local autoglass centre about 2 months ago. No issues whatsoever.
Now I have a beautifully clear screen with no rock chips.
Paid £75 - rest covered by the insurance.

[kpneverdies]

hi people, no roads can be worse than HAWAII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!
SERIOUSLY!!!!!! ridiculous how roads in hawaii are all messed up.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by kpneverdies

hi people, no roads can be worse than HAWAII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!
SERIOUSLY!!!!!! ridiculous how roads in hawaii are all messed up.

Which island are you on? I drove extensively on the big island 3 years ago, and for the most part, the roads were pretty darn good. (Exception being parts of the saddle road, but that's to be expected.....)

[kpneverdies]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Which island are you on? I drove extensively on the big island 3 years ago, and for the most part, the roads were pretty darn good. (Exception being parts of the saddle road, but that's to be expected.....)

oahu...
maui roads are ok, b/c they are kinda new.

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

Interesting... could you be more specific? What about original manufacturing makes it different from replacement?

I'm referring to the complex method and machine BMW uses to perfectly align the glass with lasers to set the windshield. Pretty amazing stuff.

Originally Posted by adc

+1.

Mine is close to my line of sight - close enough to be annoying but not close enough to be dangerous. Eventually, I'll replace the windshield.



If you saw the crack every time you looked ahead, you'd go for the replacement, believe me.

If it's in your direct line of sight, I understand.

Originally Posted by besiktas

is there a video of that...

I saw it on the factory tour, no cameras or vids allowed.

Originally Posted by markjord

Well I had mine replaced at the local autoglass centre about 2 months ago. No issues whatsoever.
Now I have a beautifully clear screen with no rock chips.
Paid £75 - rest covered by the insurance.

Good deal.