Glass repair experience?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 45
From: Castleton VA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Glass repair experience?
The windshield on my '04 took a direct hit from a large pebble/small rock last night, leaving a semi-circular 3/8" chip in the outer layer of the glass. No apparent radiating cracks yet.
The big Q is: Should I go with glass repair, or eat the deductable and have the windshield replaced?
I'm leaning toward repair, but my #1 concern is optical clarity at the chip spot. Capt. Murphy, being the evil bastage that he is, of course intervened to ensure the rock hit nearly exactly where I look through the windshield (exactly level with and about 1" to the right of my line of sight). Knowing me, if the repair isn't clear, it will drive me batty.
So, those of you that have had repairs done, were you satisfied with the results??
Thanks, folks!
Mark
The big Q is: Should I go with glass repair, or eat the deductable and have the windshield replaced?
I'm leaning toward repair, but my #1 concern is optical clarity at the chip spot. Capt. Murphy, being the evil bastage that he is, of course intervened to ensure the rock hit nearly exactly where I look through the windshield (exactly level with and about 1" to the right of my line of sight). Knowing me, if the repair isn't clear, it will drive me batty.
So, those of you that have had repairs done, were you satisfied with the results??
Thanks, folks!
Mark
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
I would try glass repair first. It would definitely stop the windshield from cracking, but optical quality varies (due to damage). Most insurance companies will do for free and repair shops come to your home/business to fix. If you are not satisfied with repair then replace the windshield. Be aware that it is very costly and is one of the most difficult windshields to replace. They often leak and must be re-done.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I read the winshield repair procedure in the manual the other day, it sent shivers up my spine. I would try a repair first. I seriously doubt any repair shops are going to even look at the service manual, so if you go the repair route find a shop that has done them, and ask for references to those repairs.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 23,682
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff Az.
windshield
Call your insurance co. Most of them will have it fixed at no charge to you. The only caveat is if it is in the line of sight of the driver they usually won't do it for liability reasons.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
I had a rock hit my daily driver Camaro in nearly the same spot. I had it repaired and it hasn't cracked, but it drives me crazy. It looks like a bad water spot/ bug splat directly in my line of sight.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 1
From: Rugby North Dakota
Get it fixed SOONER, rather than later. The longer you wait to fix it, the more likely it will be to develope a crack in the windshield. Also, the longer you wait, the more chance for it to fill w/ dirt, etc, and this makes it hard for them to make an "unseeable" repair.
Most insurance companies will do rock chip repair for FREE - they prefer that over replacing a windshield - I've actually had 3 - 4 rock chips repaired at once on the same vehicle before.
Most insurance companies will do rock chip repair for FREE - they prefer that over replacing a windshield - I've actually had 3 - 4 rock chips repaired at once on the same vehicle before.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 94legaleagle
Get it fixed SOONER, rather than later. The longer you wait to fix it, the more likely it will be to develope a crack in the windshield. Also, the longer you wait, the more chance for it to fill w/ dirt, etc, and this makes it hard for them to make an "unseeable" repair.
Most insurance companies will do rock chip repair for FREE - they prefer that over replacing a windshield - I've actually had 3 - 4 rock chips repaired at once on the same vehicle before.
Most insurance companies will do rock chip repair for FREE - they prefer that over replacing a windshield - I've actually had 3 - 4 rock chips repaired at once on the same vehicle before.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 45
From: Castleton VA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Thanks, everyone -- kinda what I expected, but wanted to confirm. I'll be stopping at the local glass shop tomorrow to see if they have any examples of their chip repair work.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,013
Likes: 9,774
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Over the years I've had several windshields replaced in my various cars. Never had a problem with any of the replaced windshields leaking.
Its not a major deal for an experienced glass shop.
Bill
Its not a major deal for an experienced glass shop.
Bill
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 316
Likes: 0
From: Minnesota
My car has a nice rock blast right in the center just under the rear view mirror... The attempt was made to fix, and so far so good. I just bought the car (Southern car), and Its now in Minnesota. Hopefully the climate change wont make it worse.... So far so good on the fix tho.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 5,488
Likes: 4
From: USA
When I bought my 98 vert from the dealer, one of my requests was to have the front windshield replaced. They sent it to a car glass specialist to have it replaced. I have had no problems or leaks and you can't tell that it is not the original. If you have to have it replaced, make sure they are familiar with replacing C5 windshields.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 807
Likes: 21
From: Los Altos CA
I had a windshield replaced on a C4 and it went in easily and there were no subsequent problems. Don't forget that the C5 windshield is different and more expensive if you have a HUD. Some people say that the regular windshield works ok with a HUD, others say there is a problem.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 45
From: Castleton VA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
All done
Back on-line. I took last Friday off, and stopped by a known-to-me glass place. Left the car over lunch, and it was done by the time I got back. If I look hard, I can still see the spot, but it's 95% invisible. Good to go ... 