Which new windscreen for 1991 W126 500SE?

[Roygarth]

1) If I claim on insurance should I trust Autoglass (or whichever national chain they will insist I use)?
2) If I tell them my current screen has 'green tint at top' will that ensure they bring correct one?
3) Are there any difficulties unique to changing a 500SE screeen I should tell operative about?
4) Any other top tips?

Thanks
Piers

 

[Mudster]

Before trusting Autoglass, call your dealer for the price of a genuine one, sometimes Autoglass are out of whack on older vehicles.

 

[louisv6]

Apologies for the hijack - but it's sort of related. Do people trust autoglass etc to do their screens? A friend of mine worked for one of the big windscreen companies and told me that in many cases stanley knives and other tools which should never go near paintwork were being used to get the original screen out.

The natural consequence of this is rusty windscreen surrounds several months later...

 

[MPG]

I've used autoglass once - to replace a stone chipped windscreen on my XJS. On the third attempt they arrived with the correct screen. They only bonded it about half way round and fitted the seals upside down. Needless to say I had the screen subsequently removed and reinstalled correctly by an expert. Draw your own conclusions !

 

[grober]

If you insist on a bona fide Mercedes replacement screen [which I would recommend] you may have to pay an excess or additional costs. However your NCB should remain unaffected. It really depends on the policy small print. A Mercedes dealer may well farm replacing a screen out anyway. Might be worth enquiring of your local MB dealer who they use?

 

[del320]

Autoglass, like all franchised outfits are only as good as their employees. I got a perfect job done by them, but their initial quote for sourcing and fitting a pattern screen was £££ more than obtaining a genuine screen from MB then getting Autoglass to just remove and replace - which, of course, is what I did.

If a 126 is anything like a 124, the garnish strip along the top of the screen is unlikely to come off intact, so reckon on a new one.

 

[jaymanek]

I asked for their most experienced fitter when they did mine and i stood over them like a dark cloud..

 

[Dr.Grillz]

I did not even know there was an aftermarket glass for the rear screen. I thought genuine is the only one available and I heard at the tune of $1100 US here in the States.

 

[jaymanek]

There is aftermarket here.. but its not cheap.. i saw the invoice at almost £700

 

[219]

I did not even know there was an aftermarket glass for the rear screen. I thought genuine is the only one available and I heard at the tune of $1100 US here in the States.

The OP is not talking about a REAR screen .

Companies such as Autoglass generally have replacement glass for the entire car , however .

 

[C43AMG]

When i had the front and rear screens done on my 560 SEC i had a local company called Old School who specialise in original screens and know how to fit them, they are very well known in this part of the world. Autoglass

 

[Roygarth]

If a 126 is anything like a 124, the garnish strip along the top of the screen is unlikely to come off intact, so reckon on a new one.

Is that the silver (ally, ABS?) trim that goes around the screen? If insurance are paying (because of big stone chip) will this part be covered as well as glass?

 

[jontyash]

Is that the silver (ally, ABS?) trim that goes around the screen? If insurance are paying (because of big stone chip) will this part be covered as well as glass?

Can anyone answer this as I need mine done too in the near future

 

[del320]

Whether the insurance is paying or not, I was just pointing out that if you go down the route of getting the parts yourself and having Autoglass do the fitting, factor in the probability that the trim along the top of the screen (if similar to a 124) will be damaged on removal and will require replacement.

I suppose, strictly speaking, it's not part of the deal and could, in theory, be reused. Trouble is, as it's pulled out, a series of unsightly cracks will appear along it's length under the finished surface

For a 124 coupe, the screen is around £175 and the trim along the top is c£18. Fitting is whatever you negotiate.

 

[Glassman]

When i had the front and rear screens done on my 560 SEC i had a local company called Old School who specialise in original screens and know how to fit them, they are very well known in this part of the world. Autoglass

FWIW, the vast majority of screens made for Mercedes-Benz are by Lamisafe (M-class) Pilkington, Sigla, Sekurit (now Saint Gobain), Guardian, Safevue or Armourplate. Most of these have, or are, the OEMs for MB glass.

These are all available via the aftermarket suppliers and are no different to what you'll get at a main dealer - except for the absence of the MB logo; some may even have had the logo removed (polished out) and can be seen looking more like a watermark.

Of course, there are some cheaper versions available (AIS, AAA, Lamishield, XYG and of course, Autowindscreens own brands which have been HW, RAC and Autowindscreens). Cheaper and some are poor quality, but these days they are all made to OE specifications and it has to be said, are decent. But they are better suited for commercials and the cheaper cars imho.

 

[eundaddy]

have the dealer do this. i was on the phone with my insurance company for a couple of hours until they decided to let me take it to the dealer.