Replacing a windscreen

[Rob77]

I recently had a windscreen replaced by ********.

Basically, they did a dreadful job. The inside of the glass is streaked as if it has had an ill fitting protective film over it and I can't get the marks off. The horizontal chrome trim to the outside top of the glass has a broken bit of gasket about 2" long and they made no attempt to fasten the inner trim to the glass - I can grab hold of the front edge all the way along.

After trying to get out of the broken gasket by claiming it had 'shrunk' with age, they now seem willing to replace that and they admit the streaking is called a 'tiger' effect and they intend to put that right.

However, they appear to be trying to avoid fixing the inner trim down saying this isn't in their remit. Yet it's ticked off on their job sheet as having been done.

What does the panel think? Doesn't it seem right that I expect them to refix the inner trim? I'm talking here about the plastic trim between the headlining and the glass - the thing the sun visors attach to.

 

[tagnut]

Presumably they removed the trim to enable them to take off previous windscreen and fit the new one? If so they should replace it to same condition no question.

 

[Rob77]

I doubt they removed the trim (although I don't know) but in removing the glass the trim would (and did) become unstuck as it were and that's how they've left it.

How should that trim piece be re-attached? Is it fixed to the glass with adhesive or to the headlining with clips or what?

 

[davidjpowell]

Mine, and I think others experience is the level of refit is all about the experience and attitude of the individual fitter. They do seem quite good at sorting out issues when they arise though.

 

[Rob77]

It would help if W124/W201 owners could please check, from inside the car, where the headlining trim meets the glass, how is it fixed? Does it look or feel as if there is a sealant there or adhesive or clips of some kind?

Or has anyone actually removed/fitted one of these? How did it fit and to what?

 

[tagnut]

I doubt they removed the trim (although I don't know) but in removing the glass the trim would (and did) become unstuck as it were and that's how they've left it.

TBH I don't believe this is relevant. The trim became detached as a result of the work they were doing. Whether deliberate or incidental it should be put right

 

[Rob77]

TBH I don't believe this is relevant. The trim became detached as a result of the work they were doing. Whether deliberate or incidental it should be put right

Ah, but their argument here is that with the age of the car this is an expected phenomenon. They say that the unfixed and slightly sagging trim is like that because of its age. I said I did not accept that.

Incidentally, this was also their argument as to why there was a 2" space behind the exterior trim. The 'gasket' behind had shrunk with age they said. Nonsense, I said, it looks like plastic, how could it shrink, it's broken.

 

[tagnut]

Ah, but their argument here is that with the age of the car this is an expected phenomenon. They say that the unfixed and slightly sagging trim is like that because of its age. I said I did not accept that.

Incidentally, this was also their argument as to why there was a 2" space behind the exterior trim. The 'gasket' behind had shrunk with age they said. Nonsense, I said, it looks like plastic, how could it shrink, it's broken.

It sounds like they are fobbing you off to be honest. The point is what was the condition of both of these items immediately before the windscreen was changed?

The fitting of a new windscreen should return your car to the exact same condition as before except of course you will have a new windscreen. That should be the only difference in my view.

 

[andy27168]

Hi,
The interior trim on a w202 along the top of the screen has no fixings along the screen edge, w124 "maybe" the same something to consider is that the ahesive bead of the old screen had oozed out effectively fixing the trim tighter than normal in place, it may of been purposely done because of broken clips if indeed they exist.. I had this with my "A" piller trim on my 43

 

[Glassman]

OP: any chance of an image?

 

[Rob77]

OP: any chance of an image?

I could try sure though I've never posted a pic on here before. You mean of the interior trim? Bear in mind too the trim is black/dark grey and set against the bright windscreen I doubt we' d see much.

The trim just looks fairly normal except it isn't fixed to anything at the front - except where the rear view mirror is - in that area they appear to have stuck it down with sealant. This is over maybe a 6" area - to the left and right it is not sealed down at all.

 

[Rob77]

Hi Glassman, I haven't managed to upload any pics yet but what would you be looking for in a pic in particular?

 

[rascalmaster]

blimey! looks like it really is pot luck; depends what the fella's like that they send out; have seen some good jobs carried out interspaced with some nightmares!