Windscreen, Autoglass, Rain/Light Sensor Cal 2010 C63

[jet noise]

Dear All,

spring is here and my windscreen is cracked! Top to bottom, tiny, tiny chip right at the top of the screen is the cause. I don't recall a stone hit but must have done.

I am going to be claiming through my insurer (privilege) who use Autoglass with a £75 excess. I don't think I'll take the any fitter option as the contribution is a princely £125.

Does anyone know:
Will Autoglass use OEM glass?
Will the (I assume rain/light) sensor for auto wipers & lights behind the rearview mirror require recal? If so do Autoglass do it and if not how is this arranged?
I'll be asking this lot of my insurer/Autoglass in due course but it would be helpful to be pre-warned.

thanks in advance,
Colin

 

[st13phil]

Will Autoglass use OEM glass?

Not unless it is specifically requested, and even then it will require special authorisation by your insurer.

Will the (I assume rain/light) sensor for auto wipers & lights behind the rearview mirror require recal? If so do Autoglass do it and if not how is this arranged?

Sometimes it will work OK without recalibration, other times it won't. My experience is that Autoglass will not carry out sensor recalibration as a matter of course (except if it is for the stereo cameras used by Lane Keeping Assist which they have to do as it's a safety critical system), and if you subsequently find it needs it you will have to go to an MB dealer or an indie with STAR.

 

[jet noise]

thanks, st13phil
I'd already got that suspicion. Just about to call the insurer.

 

[Eddy77]

I had mine done by Autoglass last week.　


(1)　

They will fit OEM glass but only if your insurer agrees. My insurer (Admiral) wouldn't agree to it, so I had the non-OEM fitted which looks identical. Ask Autoglass and they will contact your insurer to see if MB glass can be fitted. What Autoglass do stress is that there is no difference between OEM and non-OEM apart from the logo. Not sure if I really believe them but that is their party line and they stick to it!　

(2)　

My car has autolights and rain sensor wipers. No recalibration was needed after the screen was fitted, but I did have a minor issue with the rain sensors as noted in this thread:　

Auto-wiper and Interior Light tips!　

General Advice:　

My advice is to test the lights and wipers BEFORE the screen is replaced. I took a video of them all working so I had evidence in case of post-installation issues.　

Once the screen has been replaced, test the lights and wipers to ensure they work OK. Do it with the technician and don't let him leave before it is all OK.　

To test the auto-lights, put your hand (or a cloth) over the sensor block which is behind the rear view mirror. Just lay a cloth on the windscreen covering the optical sensors on the other side of the glass. Your lights should come on. Remove cloth. After a few seconds the lights should switch off.　

Then (with the doors shut - or it won't work), spray the sensor with a plant spray or similar and check the wipers come on. Test and few times to be sure. Just be sure the bonnet and doors are all closed or you will look like a lemon trying to test the wipers as they will be disabled!

 

[PenelopePitstop]

You can pay the difference if you want OEM glass, at least with Admiral. They should authorise OEM glass on cars up to 3 years old, it's in their T&C. In my case, Autoglass said straight away, that I have to go to their office to replace windscreen, due to sensor calibration.

 

[Glassman]

You'll get what you agreed to when you took out the policy.

The question of 'what glass' should be thrashed out before policy inception.

Motor Insurance: Windscreen Cover

 

[philt32]

I had one changed by auto glass on a cls with intelligent lighting late last year, auto glass said it HAD to be done at one of their centers because of the calibration of the cameras. When I took it in i politely said to the fitter, please check around the car while I’m here for any marks or scratches as there is none and we can check again when I pick it up. They should tell you if calibration is needed.

Forgot to add, I tried to book it in online and it wouldn’t let me complete the booking, it said to call, the reason being is because the cameras have to be calibrated in the workshop, can’t be done on a home/ work installation


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[E53AMG]

A close friend of mine is an Autoglass fitter with 30 years experience and trains others. Unfortunately like all walks of life you get good and bad fitters, the installation carries a guarantee so any post fit issues and they have senior fitters (like my friend) who come and resolve. In general chat he said one thing he hates are owners who insist on standing watching as he works as to him it shows a lack of trust and respect for his skills ( worth noting if you want the fitter on your side).

Interestingly I asked him what was the hardest job and he said replacing full length panoramic roofs such as those fitted to the Range Rover, the insurers pay the same fit cost as for side Windows to Autoglass....

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[turismotodd]

Had my screen changed last Saturday by autoglass. After the change the rain sensor/auto wipe would not work, setting one changed to a 6 second intermittent wipe instead of the auto wipe settings.
Auto glass sent out a mechanic to take a look at it on Sunday to see if he could get it working. Somewhat surprised at a mechanic rather than an auto-electrician! Not only couldn't he get it to work but the intermittent wipe also stopped!! So now I've got nothing at all on setting one.
Been waiting all week for someone from autoglass to get in touch as promised to arrange to get the issue fixed, eventually had a call Friday afternoon and they are sending a "technician" Tuesday evening.
Today, after researching the net I've done a manual reset procedure, doors shut wiper stalk set at 0, engine on move setting from 0 to 3 then back to 0 then to 1, wife chucked some water on the sensor and bang it worked. Been driving in the rain this afternoon and it seems to be now working fine....

 

[Monkeylegend]

I have had 4 windscreens over the last 10 year or so and none have caused an issue after fitting. The last was a an OEM screen through the AA, I forget who fitted it, but I got a call after fitting saying they would make an appointment at my Mercedes dealer to recalibrate, to be paid by the AA.

As everything was working ok I turned this down, after Mercedes phoned me to say they would do a health check at the same time, obviously in the hope that they could generate some income from me.