[deeebo8452]

Hi, I have a windscreen chip and was wondering if these products you can get from Halfords etc DIY ones are any good? Or do you advise going through autoglass which costs 4 x the amount. The excess with admiral is £75. Thanks

[JackR]

In my opinion, DIY is a silly idea, pay the £75 with you insurance and if it's like adverts they guarantee it for the time you have the car, if not they replace it!

[m@rk]

Originally Posted by tahirsplace

The excess with admiral is £75. Thanks

Is that the normal glass excess?

Most insurance companies waive the excess or only charge £10 if you get the windscreen repaired rather than replaced. You might want to double check.

Shouldn't affect your no claims bonus either

[xPETEZx]

I am with Admiral, and had 2 big chips repaired just after I got the car, and paid a £25 excess.
Glass has been good as new ever since.

The £75 is if they replace the whole screen.

[Glassman]

A few points to consider here:

1. An insurance claim will be registered against your history on the CUE database (Claims and Underwriters Exchange). This could be for a chip repair, or a replacement and even if you make an enquiry.

2. Why would you allow an insurance company recommend someone? This arrangement suits the insurance company based on massive cost savings. In order to compete for the title of being the 'nominated' repairer, suppliers will try to convince you that the glass they're about to fit to your car is "as good as", or "the same as" the OEM branded versions fitted at source. In most cases, they're not. Take a look at this.

3. The insurance approved/recommended option is not always going to guarantee the best outcome. For example, before a repair is 'attempted, you may be asked to sign a disclaimer which allows them to either walk away should the repair fail, but moreover, it is to authorise them to bill your insurer for a new windscreen. Why do you think there is this disclaimer? Do you think it's a coincidence that not all repairs (according to them) are repairable? IME (all 22 years of it) perfectly repairable windscreens are frivolously replaced with cheap, 'moody' glass and often by even moodier fitters.

4. Overall, the general public is not aware of what a properly repaired chip looks like.

[sylonien]

Aviva, £10 for repair and £70-120 for replacement? One or the other. Can't quite remember :P

[Glassman]

Originally Posted by sylonien

Aviva, £10 for repair and £70-120 for replacement? One or the other. Can't quite remember :P

£10 towards the cost of repair or usually 75-quid towards replacing it. Some of the older policies are a 50XS; some are 100. Commercial/fleet policies will be higher.

The general trend seems to be that more and more of the bill is being paid by the policyholder. For example, Admiral insurance have set an excess on repairs at £25.00 and I think that goes straight to their preferred supplier, end of.

Some LV policies carry a 175 policyholder contribution.

[Soul_Glo]

The Halfords kit is useless. Last year I brought this, the resin in the kit was dried up so it was useless. I went back and they replaced it with another one but that was dried too. IIRC it is discontinued now. I brought this kit instead to repair some bullseye chips and it did a pretty neat job - wipers don't smear over the repair and it has lasted two winters so far (on the good lady's car):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Windscreen-R...hip+repair+kit

[MrPogle]

Originally Posted by Glassman

....... (all 22 years of it) perfectly repairable windscreens are frivolously replaced with cheap, 'moody' glass and often by even moodier fitters.

4. Overall, the general public is not aware of what a properly repaired chip looks like.

+1

I had a chip repaired on my previous car and it was effectively invisible. I've had one done on this car and it doesn't look any better than before it was repaired (although it is smooth to the touch).

However, I would rather have a visible mark than have BMW glass replaced by something suitable for greenhouses.

[av_guy]

Two weeks into ownership of my then new BMW, I got a wonderful "spider" chip (3mm) on the front windscreen. Having called Autoglass, I was presented with two options:
- replace the windscreen (not recommended) £75 excess
- repair £10 excess (recommended due to auto wipers sensors and angle of glass potentially not working as per factory alignment)

I can honestly say that the repair is almost invisible and "factory" like. I am extremely satisfied I went down that route. Autoglass were brilliant.

Only if I go looking for the chip, can I see with a magnifying glass just about where the repair was but even then it is hard to find or tell.

Best,
av

[jammy78]

I got a bad chip / crack on mine! I'm with elephant & the excuss is £75 if you go with their approved fitter!

BUT they will only pay £50 towards the replacement if I go with an unapproved company! Really, I have no choice!

[sylonien]

Had mine attempted to fix by autoglass. Only a minor chip.
But made zero difference to it. Still completely visible, if not made bigger by him tapping that thing in to before injecting it with that glue stuff.

[Glassman]

Originally Posted by jammy78

Really, I have no choice!

You do.

I've helped many Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes and Porsche owners successfully deal with this issue.

In many cases, it's not easy and much will depend on who you speak to. But if you're armed with the right information and are tenacious, exceptions can and often will be made.

The whole thing is designed to suit the insurance company.