Windscreen Chip :-(

[sym]

Was going down the M1 today, and a very nice brand new SL500 decided to "undertake" me for no apparent reason.

As I was admiring it, it threw up a rather large stone which smacked the passenger side of the windscreen, and has left a small curved shaped crack about the size of a 1p piece.

Nothing too major, just annoying and one of those things . . However, I'm wondering whether to have it repaired, or try my chances with a new windscreen for the £50 insurance excess, whilst trying to obtain one with the small transparent square in the top centre shading to accomodate a rain sensor.

Don't want to leave it in case it gets bigger.

Any thoughts ? Has anybody had a succesful "repair" done on similar sized cracks ? And what's the procedure for ordering a new screen if I wanted to try and get one suitable for a rain sensor - who would normally verify that the screen was the right one for the car ? Do all orders go through MB and checked against the VIN ?

S.

 

[Shude]

Do all orders go through MB and checked against the VIN ?

I would say there is zero chance they would ever check the VIN through MB when changing a windscreen. If they DO want a VIN, simply ask a forum member with a w202 and rain sensor for the VIN number, job done .

 

[sym]

Thought so . . . do windscreens suitable for rain sensors actually have a part number ?

Mr "Data" Guy - can you help me out here ? Would want to make sure they supply the right one if I'm going to get the rain sensor version. Also - anybody know whether the colour of the tint is variable on a 202 . . blue / green etc ?

S.

 

[GrahamC230K]

Repairs are rubbish. I have pits and small cracks all over mine, I don't bother with repairs any more.

I knew you were going for a rian sensor when I read the title of this thread!

 

[Tigger]

What you can do is check with your insurers as they usually will allow you to source the screen and have it installed yourself. In the past I've just used my normal MB dealers who have ordered an original screen and then subbed out the install. Of course you have to pay the full whack first which is then reimbursed minus the excess by your insurer.

 

[fuzzer]

Was going down the M1 today, and a very nice brand new SL500 decided to "undertake" me for no apparent reason.

As I was admiring it, it threw up a rather large stone which smacked the passenger side of the windscreen, and has left a small curved shaped crack about the size of a 1p piece.

Nothing too major, just annoying and one of those things . . However, I'm wondering whether to have it repaired, or try my chances with a new windscreen for the £50 insurance excess, whilst trying to obtain one with the small transparent square in the top centre shading to accomodate a rain sensor.

Don't want to leave it in case it gets bigger.

Any thoughts ? Has anybody had a succesful "repair" done on similar sized cracks ? And what's the procedure for ordering a new screen if I wanted to try and get one suitable for a rain sensor - who would normally verify that the screen was the right one for the car ? Do all orders go through MB and checked against the VIN ?

S.

The things some people will do for a mod ....

hehe .. how long did you have to follow the lorry that left Jewsons with the stones in the back of it

 

[sym]

I knew you were going for a rain sensor when I read the title of this thread!

Just a co-incidence . . . honest

(might need your VIN )

 

[guydewdney]

99 c lcass 202

202 670 07 10 green heat absorbing glass, with sun filter, for rain sensor
code 345


hth

guy

 

[sym]

Cheers

S.

 

[GregE240]

Sym, when I had mine with with RAC Auto Whingers, they took my VIN in order to order the screen from MB.

In spite of this, they still f***ed up the order and got me a screen with no sodding sensor in it.

So, bearing that in mind, I look forward to your thread on how the muppets at the windscreen centre got you a rain sensing windscreen for 50 sovs. Good luck squire!

Greg

 

[Alex Argent]

I acquired two stone chips on the same day (!!!) last December (no doubt something to do with that very rare phenomenon of the local council gritting the roads in the depths of winter). I must add though that I don't think it was the same stone on both occasions!

Anyway, although they are both out of the line of vision, I thought it best to at least obtain a quote from RAC and Auto W for a repair, as one of the chips was beginning to mist up a bit inside the laminations. Both came in with approximately the same price........wait for it......................£45 + VAT...............wait for it..............................................................................................................................................PER CHIP.

So why does David Dickinson keep using the phrase "as cheap as chips" ?

Seriously though, if this is the kind of money it costs for a repair, then it seems very worthwhile coughing up the £50 excess with the insurance company, albeit that longer term I suppose they use this kind of claim to force up premiums.

Me, I've decided to leave as is, at least until the top of the dash starts to get wet.

Cheers 4 now,

Alex

 

[Shude]

I was following a mondeo onto the M60 this morning at about 7am and it must have flicked a stone up or something, because the noise of it hitting the windscreen nearly stopped my heart and I then spent a few seconds looking around for the chip, it's to the left of the RVM but quite noticable.

Leaves me wondering if I should do the £50 windscreen job too.

 

[sym]

Horrible noise, isn't it !

I haven't approached the insurance yet, but I'm off work tomorrow, so will see what the deal is, and whether I can specify what I want

S.

 

[Shude]

Horrible noise, isn't it !

Not pleasant at all! Last time I heard that noise was when MBenzNL fired a stone at my windscreen. I would blame him for trying to overtake in that little patch of land between the outside lane and the crash barrier, but I was at the time practicing my german-inspired precision tailgating so it's as much my fault if not more so!

I haven't approached the insurance yet, but I'm off work tomorrow, so will see what the deal is, and whether I can specify what I want

What we need is for someone with a facelift w202 with rainsensor to tell us the VIN. This may lead to problems however if that same VIN gets used by several of us when claiming new windscreens within a short space of time, either the insurance companies will get smart or the glass people will.

 

[Dieselman]

I doubt the windscreen fitter will order the screen using the VIN number anyway, and I also doubt that they will eithe care or report to your insurance company that you have upgraded the screen.

At work we always have to specify what screens our cars need.

Some years ago I upgraded to tinted with sun band. Nobody cared less.

 

[sym]

Double Grrrrrrr



On closer inspection of the car this morning - I found a hole in my passenger side headlamp ! Looks like it was more than one stone thrown in my direction

Does anybody have a passenger side headlamp for a 202 that they wish to dispose of ?

(or maybe I should just fit Xenons along with the rain sensor .... ??? )

S.


**EDIT** - Just found one for £60 on eBay (complete unit with bulbs). . . dealer price is allegedly £185 . . . I assume nobody knows anywhere cheaper ?

**EDIT EDIT !!** ECP have this :-

BOSCH n/a 472220650 L.H HEADLAMP GLASS 202 1997-2000 FROM CH NO A436536 @ F483848
L.H FROM A436536 F483848 £36.95

Reckon I can get away with just replacing the glass ?

 

[Shude]

**EDIT EDIT !!** ECP have this :-

BOSCH n/a 472220650 L.H HEADLAMP GLASS 202 1997-2000 FROM CH NO A436536 @ F483848
L.H FROM A436536 F483848 £36.95

Reckon I can get away with just replacing the glass ?

An oem glass from your stealership is about £50, that will be the same item as the one from ECP. If you want to get it even cheaper, find a little garage somewhere that's bosch authorised, there is one near me that took over 30% off the Bosch RRP.

 

[Alex Argent]

Sym,

I had same problem a few months back .

Bosch replacement sourced from ECP at the price you state.

You will need to remove the entire headlamp assembly. About 6 or 7 screws along the top, bottom and side of the bodywork aperture. Fitting took about half an hour (although mine was the drivers side - I think there may be a bit more junk to get out of the way on pas. side).
Just check that the stone hasn't damaged the internal part of the reflector assembly. Also, a further friendly bit of advice - the glass seats against a thin foam seal, when removing mine, the seal disintegrated in bits. Therefore make sure you put a thin layer of sealant around the edge of the new one prior to fitting the glass (it's only held onto the main plastic headlamp body with about 8 metal clips therefore without any seal, I guess it would be easy for water to penetrate at this point). An alternative would be to source a new seal from the stealership, I don't think Euro Car Parts stock them.

Lastly, I decided to fit headlamp covers on mine to prevent recurrence. A big stone at high velocity could cause internal damage, and as you correctly state, a new headlamp assembly complete is around £185 (I think about £130 at ECP). The covers - also from ECP - cost £25 and look okay (as h/lamp covers go - piccies below)!

Best regards

Alex

 

[GrahamC230K]

See if Ricky has a used glass?

Will match your other side better too.

 

[sym]

Thanks to all for the advice.

@ Alex - I was also thinking along the lines that some headlamp covers might be the way to go - certainly for motorway journeys. How easily removable are they for cleaning / quick removal purposes ?

S.