Windscreen replacement - is FY glass OK?

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Technofreak

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#1268736 27-Mar-2015 00:03

I had a similar experience about 25 years ago with a headlight replaced under an insurance claim. The panelbeater wasn't altogether happy with having to use the light to start with. He told me if I wasn't happy to complain.

It looked OK from a distance but the pattern on the glass was very different to the original and it threw a shocking beam. I rejected it and they ended up fitting a genuine article.

Insurance companies, well more particularly the assessors, will cut corners to save a buck. I complained about the actions of one assessor after the repairer told me what had happened on another repair.

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graemeh

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#1269041 27-Mar-2015 14:07

I had a windscreen replacement a few years ago where they used a generic windscreen. After three visits to Novus it still wasn't fitting properly, there was a lot of wind noise that was not there previously.

Fortunately a year later it was hit by a rock as I was waiting to turn off SH1. This time round I went to my usual mechanic who insisted that the insurance company should pay for a genuine windscreen, even that had a little problem with wind noise but it was fixed and now all is OK.

It seems that the generic ones are just the manufacturer's best guess as to the dimensions of a proper screen and often don't fit well. Even the genuine ones seem to be a PITA to fit correctly.

richms

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#1269046 27-Mar-2015 14:16

I drove a loaner with a crap screen. Kept thinking the distortion was something moving towards me. Definite safety issue. May as well drive in $2 shop sunglasses.

Richard rich.ms

mattwnz

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#1269114 27-Mar-2015 15:59

This is all good info to know, I didn't realise they were doing this sort of thing. Next time I will check my glass.

gzt

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#1269164 27-Mar-2015 17:39

richms: I drove a loaner with a crap screen. Kept thinking the distortion was something moving towards me. Definite safety issue. May as well drive in $2 shop sunglasses.

My $6 glasses are 300% better than those ; ).

But seriously those cars should not be getting warrants. Imho the guidelines are clear on that. LTSA should take a look at the issue and issue a bulletin etc.

MikeAqua

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#1273229 30-Mar-2015 10:15

I take my car to smith and smith for all glass repairs and I have never had a problem with their glass/workmanship. I've had a few new windscreens, due to stone chips in drivers field of vision.

Mike

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mdooher

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#1273248 30-Mar-2015 10:43

MikeAqua: I take my car to smith and smith for all glass repairs and I have never had a problem with their glass/workmanship. I've had a few new windscreens, due to stone chips in drivers field of vision.

Funny, I used to go their but the job was so poor I refuse now. Depends on the branch I guess

Matthew

RogerMellie

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#2689712 9-Apr-2021 08:46

Geektastic: I am going to call the broker tomorrow and ask them to speak with the insurer.

I drove the car yesterday for the first time since the screen was done and on the left and right edges the view is distorted as if you were looking through optically uncorrected curved lenses! It bends the image you see.

FY stands for Fuyao, btw. They are a Chinese company and do make OEM glass for some Audi vehicles amongst others. This one is a POS though!!

Unfortunately I went through the same experience last month with AA Insurance and their glass provider Novus fitting a Fuyao replacement to my Nissan LEAF. Same problem with imperfections/faults in the glass and a ripple appearing in the drivers 'critical viewing area'. Difficult to discern sometimes but I noticed it immediately after driving the car away. Drives me nuts, and especially after I had explained I was concerned about this happening with aftermarket glass.

Long story short, I have told AA I'm not happy and will be pushing for Nissan factory glass replacement to be ordered in from Japan as I had initially requested from the outset owing to its far superior hydrophobic qualities. The car is a very low mileage, 7 yr old Jap import but the factory windscreen still repelled rain and water like it was brand new.

Geektastic

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#2689713 9-Apr-2021 08:51

Sorry to hear that! Hope you get it sorted.

I now insist our brokers have the insurer confirm in advance that they will cover any glass replacement with OEM regardless.

alasta

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#2689752 9-Apr-2021 10:43

I just had mine replaced by Novus and they installed an OEM part despite me not specifically asking for it, so I'm not sure why everyone else seems to be getting aftermarket rubbish.

Prior to replacing it I had to send them a photo of the sensor array as there are apparently a lot of different Mazda CX-5 windscreens depending on the particular active safety sensors installed. Maybe there was no aftermarket part available that could accommodate that particular sensor array.

Scott3

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#2689865 9-Apr-2021 11:25

alasta:

I just had mine replaced by Novus and they installed an OEM part despite me not specifically asking for it, so I'm not sure why everyone else seems to be getting aftermarket rubbish.

Prior to replacing it I had to send them a photo of the sensor array as there are apparently a lot of different Mazda CX-5 windscreens depending on the particular active safety sensors installed. Maybe there was no aftermarket part available that could accommodate that particular sensor array.

Some windscreens have integrated sensors, making aftermarket options not viable.

Also, Aftermarket windscreens have a reputation for not being compatible with HUD systems in Mazda's. It is possible that the rejection rate on some car models is so high, the repairer's / insures have decided that it is not worth the time to even try and use cheap aftermarket screens in those models.

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Wheelbarrow01

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#2689924 9-Apr-2021 13:17

I got a nasty crack in my Ford Ranger on the same day I bough the vehicle in November 2016 (gutted!) but fortunately I took out the insurance policy before driving it off the lot.

Lodged the claim through AA Insurance, and they arranged for Smith & Smith to install a new Ford factory windscreen. Job done.

Fast forward a few months to winter 2017 - when the sun is low in the sky - and I started to see crazing within the laminated surfaces reflecting the sun as follows:

Invisible when the sun was higher in the sky so didn't notice it over the first summer, although I couldn't work out why night driving was weird - oncoming headlights looked funny and I thought it was my eyes/contact lenses causing it. But in winter I could hardly see in front of me with the sun low in the sky.

When I took the vehicle back to Smith & Smith they could see the issue, but said as it's a Ford windscreen I'd have to do a warranty claim with Ford. I politely stated that no, they supplied the screen as part of the insurance claim so it's their issue. They then stated that they could put an aftermarket one in free of charge, but I again refused. They then said sorry, go back to Ford.

I went to Ford (specifically the dealer who Smith & Smith say provided the faulty screen), but they refused to help without an invoice number - which Smith & Smith refused to give me. In desperation I finally called AA Insurance and they promptly told me they would fund replacement with an aftermarket screen, citing a change in policy that they now only offer aftermarket screens.

At this point I lost my sh1t over the phone - "someone supplied a faulty Ford screen, I don't care who did it, my contract is with AA, sort it out now!" and only then did AA put me onto a manager who saw sense, called Smith & Smith and demanded them to put a new Ford windscreen in. In the end I have no idea who covered the cost but I got what I wanted (and was entitled to - a like for like warranty replacement).

Of course had the originally cracked windscreen been replaced with an aftermarket one in the first place, I probably could have done nothing about it.

duckDecoy

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#2689937 9-Apr-2021 13:50

Wheelbarrow01:

In desperation I finally called AA Insurance and they promptly told me they would fund replacement with an aftermarket screen, citing a change in policy that they now only offer aftermarket screens.

Damn, im with AA.

Does anyone know which insurers do replace using factory windscreens?

duckDecoy

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#2689940 9-Apr-2021 13:53

Geektastic: Sorry to hear that! Hope you get it sorted.

I now insist our brokers have the insurer confirm in advance that they will cover any glass replacement with OEM regardless.

Do you pay more if you are using a broker?

We've got car house and contents with AA Insurance and never considered going through a broker, does a broker get you a better deal or perhaps better cover (such as ensuring OEM glass)?

Geektastic

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#2689946 9-Apr-2021 14:12

duckDecoy:
Geektastic: Sorry to hear that! Hope you get it sorted.

I now insist our brokers have the insurer confirm in advance that they will cover any glass replacement with OEM regardless.

Do you pay more if you are using a broker?

We've got car house and contents with AA Insurance and never considered going through a broker, does a broker get you a better deal or perhaps better cover (such as ensuring OEM glass)?

I have no idea. It would be difficult to work out. The broker commission is paid by the insurer.

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