Something bizarre happened to me last week

berb_uk · 03-14-2009, 09:34 AM

Something bizarre happened to me last week - was driving as normal when a stone hit my windscreen causing a chip the size of a 5p coin.

So today someone from National Windscreen (NW) came out through my insurance to repair it. The repair was adequate and will probably prevent any cracking but not perfect and defintely not as it was before.

So I'm thinking of getting the windscreen replaced. NW can do this through my insurance but I would have to pay an excess despite it not affecting my no claims bonus or claims history on my policy. I have two choices: go for the NW standard windscreen or ask for a BMW windscreen to be installed. Apparently both are made of the same material but if I don't go for BMW, I'll lose the small markings on the bottom right hand size when seen from outside and I'm also curious as to whether I'd lose the ability to see the VIN number from that area too.

What do you think I should do? Standard windscreen or BMW?

shchow · 03-14-2009, 09:53 AM

How do you know they are of the same material? Did NW tell you that? I would get confirmation that they are identical. What is the difference in price between the NW product and BMWs?
If indeed both are identical products and the price difference is significant, I would go with the less expensive item.

sard · 03-14-2009, 09:54 AM

I was in your same situation not too long ago and was told the same exact thing. That the quality is exactly the same, just you lose the markings. My friend had non factory glass put in and it was a piece of shit. You could tell it wasn't as good. Maybe he had really cheap glass put in and maybe the one we could of gotten is same as factory, but I didn't want to risk it. I went with the bmw factory glass. My deductible was $250. Non factory was like $230 installed, BMW glass was like a lot more, but to me it was just $20 dollars more to hit my deductible.

RandyB · 03-14-2009, 11:39 AM

Don't put anything in it other than the factory BMW piece, and hope you get a top notch installation. Actually I would probably live with it for as long as you can and then if another chip appears then replace it.

spyderco10 · 03-15-2009, 02:56 AM

BMW of course!!

BMWI6 · 03-15-2009, 10:00 AM

the BMW windscreen sucksss!!!! it gets chipped so easily, i would get one made from a better and different material.

SlammedR8 · 03-15-2009, 10:04 AM

I dont understand the question?
IF your insurance is paying for it, why would you even consider getting a non BMW (aftermarket) windshield?

NYSPEM3 · 03-15-2009, 11:34 AM

I would wait till you get a few more chips before considering windshield replacement. Given the lousy road maintenance we have these days we all know it's just a matter of time before a big pebble cracks the glass beyond repair.

SF-M3 · 03-15-2009, 12:56 PM

Hey,

Go with the original BMW.

I had a similar experience with insurance companies with my other vehicle (03 Land Rover Disco) I said I wanted the real deal because it it had a heated screen and special solar glass.

The glass guy showed up at work to do the swap. I was in a meeting so I had one of my engineers go out and unlock my LR asked him to check to see that it had the wires in the screen for heating. It did but it was still after market glass. Decided to live with it. Until I get in a few months later and need to clear ice to find that the wires in the glass do not cover the entire windscreen as the original LR part did.

I guess I should call and cause a stink with the insurance company. We will see, maybe once it has another chip in it.

Go original.

03-14-2009, 09:34 AM	#1
berb_uk Private First Class 19 Rep 134 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	Something bizarre happened to me last week - was driving as normal when a stone hit m Something bizarre happened to me last week - was driving as normal when a stone hit my windscreen causing a chip the size of a 5p coin. So today someone from National Windscreen (NW) came out through my insurance to repair it. The repair was adequate and will probably prevent any cracking but not perfect and defintely not as it was before. So I'm thinking of getting the windscreen replaced. NW can do this through my insurance but I would have to pay an excess despite it not affecting my no claims bonus or claims history on my policy. I have two choices: go for the NW standard windscreen or ask for a BMW windscreen to be installed. Apparently both are made of the same material but if I don't go for BMW, I'll lose the small markings on the bottom right hand size when seen from outside and I'm also curious as to whether I'd lose the ability to see the VIN number from that area too. What do you think I should do? Standard windscreen or BMW? __________________ _______________________________________ E93 M3 M-DCT JzB/Ext BB.
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03-14-2009, 09:53 AM	#2
shchow Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 294 Posts Drives: 2010 CTS-V sedan, black raven Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hainesport, New Jersey iTrader: (0)	How do you know they are of the same material? Did NW tell you that? I would get confirmation that they are identical. What is the difference in price between the NW product and BMWs? If indeed both are identical products and the price difference is significant, I would go with the less expensive item. __________________ Current rides: 2010 CTS-V sedan, black raven; 2010 Cadillac Escalade ESV, black raven Gone but not forgotten: 2008 M5, metallic sapphire black, SMG; 2004 645ci, metallic sapphire black, SMG
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03-14-2009, 09:54 AM	#3
sard Major 235 Rep 1,334 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Southern California iTrader: (1)	I was in your same situation not too long ago and was told the same exact thing. That the quality is exactly the same, just you lose the markings. My friend had non factory glass put in and it was a piece of shit. You could tell it wasn't as good. Maybe he had really cheap glass put in and maybe the one we could of gotten is same as factory, but I didn't want to risk it. I went with the bmw factory glass. My deductible was $250. Non factory was like $230 installed, BMW glass was like a lot more, but to me it was just $20 dollars more to hit my deductible.
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03-14-2009, 11:39 AM	#4
RandyB Lieutenant Colonel 20 Rep 1,504 Posts Drives: '03 330i, '09 M3 Coupe Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Don't put anything in it other than the factory BMW piece, and hope you get a top notch installation. Actually I would probably live with it for as long as you can and then if another chip appears then replace it. __________________ '09 E92 M3 6MT \| Alpine White \| Black Leather \| EDC \| CL Trim \| 19s '03 E46 330i 6MT \| Electric Red \| Black Leather \| ZSP \| Bi-Xenons
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03-15-2009, 02:56 AM	#5
spyderco10 Colonel 63 Rep 2,426 Posts Drives: AW E92 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Honolulu, HI iTrader: (0)	BMW of course!! __________________ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16
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03-15-2009, 10:00 AM	#6
BMWI6 Major 96 Rep 1,337 Posts Drives: 335is Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miami, Fl iTrader: (2)	the BMW windscreen sucksss!!!! it gets chipped so easily, i would get one made from a better and different material. __________________ If everything seems under control, then you aren't going fast enough"
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03-15-2009, 10:04 AM	#7
SlammedR8 Major General 523 Rep 5,483 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i/2020 R8 V10 Spyder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (2)	I dont understand the question? IF your insurance is paying for it, why would you even consider getting a non BMW (aftermarket) windshield? __________________ Current: 2019 BMW X5 40i - Carbon Black/Tartufo Individual Leather 2020 Range Rover HSE - Black/Black 2020 Audi R8 V10 Performance Spyder 6MT - Ascari Blue/Black
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03-15-2009, 11:34 AM	#8
NYSPEM3 Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 221 Posts Drives: E90 M3 DCT Join Date: May 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	I would wait till you get a few more chips before considering windshield replacement. Given the lousy road maintenance we have these days we all know it's just a matter of time before a big pebble cracks the glass beyond repair. __________________ -------------------------------------------------- E90 M3 DCT Interlagos Blue/Silver Interior, Tech Pkg, Prem Pkg, Folddown Seats, 19"... that's it Certified V1 Zombie
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03-15-2009, 12:56 PM	#9
SF-M3 Enlisted Member 1 Rep 40 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SF. CA iTrader: (0)	Hey, Go with the original BMW. I had a similar experience with insurance companies with my other vehicle (03 Land Rover Disco) I said I wanted the real deal because it it had a heated screen and special solar glass. The glass guy showed up at work to do the swap. I was in a meeting so I had one of my engineers go out and unlock my LR asked him to check to see that it had the wires in the screen for heating. It did but it was still after market glass. Decided to live with it. Until I get in a few months later and need to clear ice to find that the wires in the glass do not cover the entire windscreen as the original LR part did. I guess I should call and cause a stink with the insurance company. We will see, maybe once it has another chip in it. Go original.
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