E Class screen replacement

[st13phil]

I expect a call telling me to do one.

Your expectation is correct.

As a general rule, insurers will pay the extra for an OEM windscreen on a car up to three years old if you push for it (they won’t offer it automatically) but after that they will insist on a non-OEM replacement if they’re picking up the tab.

 

[MrGreedy]

Your expectation is correct.

As a general rule, insurers will pay the extra for an OEM windscreen on a car up to three years old if you push for it (they won’t offer it automatically) but after that they will insist on a non-OEM replacement if they’re picking up the tab.

I thought I'd give it a go, as per my earlier comment a few weeks ago, where an ex-autoglass employee was under the impression they would, if pushed, fit like-for-like regardless of age, but only if genuine was still in place at the time of replacement.

We'll see. I doubt they will allow a Merc screen, and the crack is quite big, so obviously I'd rather get it sorted than hold out for something unlikely, which certainly means they won't have a genuine screen available for my Friday morning booking. But I thought I'd give it a go. I'll report back when they tell me the good news

 

[keith of kent]

Hi Mr Greedy,
Yes the replacement screen is fine. I don't know if a genuine one would be any different apart from the MB signature. I bought the car 18 months old with 12K miles, later discovered that it had already had a replacement (non gen) screen

 

[MrGreedy]

Hi Mr Greedy,
Yes the replacement screen is fine. I don't know if a genuine one would be any different apart from the MB signature. I bought the car 18 months old with 12K miles, later discovered that it had already had a replacement (non gen) screen

Just one more thing please Keith,

Can you let me know what brand of screen has been fitted please?
I've seen a lot of grumbling over FY (Fuyao) and Lamisafe screens online. I'm hoping it's not going to be one of those.

On the plus side, when booking in, it recognised from my reg that my car needs recalibration for a new screen, so it's booked in at an Autoglass centre for the whole job, rather than some poor chap rocking up on the drive in the lashing rain

 

[keith of kent]

Just had a look, it's Fuyao. Just had a look on line and they are OE for BMW and Bentley among others.
The Autoglass centre wanted the car for just under 3 hours when it was ready to drive home. Was told not to wash the car for 24 hours not that it needed it as it was mint. I always take a car in for work like that, I think that if they can see that you really look after your car they will take a bit more care with it, rather than some dirty old S**t box that is clearly unloved

 

[ALFAitalia]

Same for MOTs....my cars always get a good clean inside and out before the test for the same reasons. In reality it probably makes no difference at all....but makes me feel happier about it!!

 

[MrGreedy]

Just been on the phone to book my car in for MOT and I asked about screens and issues with rain and adaptive headlight sensors, post screen replacement.

The Merc independent specialist suggested that the reason for common issues with these sensors is because they are sensitive to bonding (distance from screen), and a not designed to be removed and re-bonded. One of the reasons Merc are more expensive to replace the screen is because they (correctly) fit new sensors, whereas the likes of Autoglass will re-use the sensors to keep their costs down and maximise profit.
One option suggested might be to buy new sensors from Merc (£72 for the rain sensor) and hand it to the Autoglass guy when the new screen is fitted.

 

[OneForTheRoad]

My screen is signed by Daimler .

 

[MrGreedy]

Ha ha, what a bunch of scammers.

Admiral has declined to fit OE Merc glass.

So, Autoglass will fit Mercedes orignal glass as part of the job for an additional payment of £635, "which includes my excess".
That's funny, because I've already paid my excess, and I can't get an answer about whether I would need to pay and extra £520 or £635 (my excess is £115).

What is not funny is that I can get a screen from my local dealer for £498, or just a shade over £400 with my MBO discount.
Would I be silly to assume a (regular?) trade customer would get it for less than the Joe Public price of £498 as well?

I've asked Autoglass to explain why the difference in prince is £235 MORE than the cost of the glass alone.
Part of this is that Autoglass are claiming the cost for the Mercedes glass alone is £580.

The call handler at least understood that, say the Autoglass aftermarket glass was £200, and they bought the Mercedes glass for £580 (even though they can buy it for between £400-498 via a Mercedes dealer), why is the price for Autoglass to fit the Mercedes glass not £380 (580-200)? or whatever value you get to with the price for the glass Autoglass would normally use.

They are going to escalate both these questions into a pricing team:
- why is the glass £580 when I can buy it for £400?
- Why is it £635 to 'upgrade' to Merc glass, and not £580 minus the cost of the aftermarket glass?

The call handler also understood the point that the job was the same, and they seemed to be as confused as I was at the inconsistency in prices/costs/quotes.

Obviously the sensible, logical and fair result (although I doubt Autoglass worry too much about these criteria) is that I can get Autoglass to fit the genuine Merc screen for £400 minus the cost of Autoglass aftermarket glass.
The cheapest aftermarket glass I've seen is at £250, but no doubt Autofarce get it a good chunk less that.

At £635, I can get a relatively local specialist to fit a Merc screen for very little extra, which I would rather trust that Autoglass.

 

[st13phil]

The call handler also understood the point that the job was the same, and they seemed to be as confused as I was at the inconsistency in prices/costs/quotes.

For reasons that are unclear, it would seem that they're trying to stop you having them replace with OEM glass.

Personally, unless the car has the full Driving Assistance Package with the stereo cameras, I'm not sure I'd be that concerned about having a non-OEM screen fitted and even then my concerns wouldn't be that great.

 

[MrGreedy]

For reasons that are unclear, it would seem that they're trying to stop you having them replace with OEM glass.

Personally, unless the car has the full Driving Assistance Package with the stereo cameras, I'm not sure I'd be that concerned about having a non-OEM screen fitted and even then my concerns wouldn't be that great.

Yes, it's very wierd.
Sorry, I should have said the £635 was quoted to me as "if I pay the DIFFERENCE between the two screens, I can have the OE screen, and the DIFFERENCE is £635".
And then I went down the rabbit hole with them of how is £635 the difference when the screen alone is £400...

My ideal outcome will be that they apply sense, and I pay the difference of £100-200, which I am personally happy with to get the OE screen.
If Admiral and Autoglass can't manage to act like reasonable organisations, I'll just get the FY screen fitted.
I wanted to avoid the aftermarket screen because:
- they are thinner, and there are reports that they chip more easily.
- they usually fit less well.
- there are reports of sensors (especially rain sensors) not working correctly with aftermarket screens; and,
- particularly with FY screens, there are a lot of reports of them getting 'clouded' on the inside that requires cleaning every couple of weeks.

In speaking with the independent screen fitter yesterday, he said when an OE screen is fitted, recalibration has neven been required. It's only usually required with aftermarket screens.

I think Original fitment windscreen for my car was A2126704101, superceded by A2126703900 after "first exhaust stock of old parts" according to the catelogue.

Solar control glass, with camera mount, Heatable, with rain / light sensor, with condensation sensor, with sight window for vehicle identification number (VIN)