The normal scenario.. that no doubt we've all experienced every now and again in our motoring lives, played out for me last night. Driving home......"Is that a stone chip, or just an insect mark that looks like one?" Well in actual fact it was a chip, in fact it was two, about 10mm apart and as such according to Autoglass it can't be repaired and has to be replaced !!

Of course on my SE, the front screen is the full fat version, being the heated, auto head light and rain sensed version (anyone know how much these babies are to buy and fit at a dealer if you didn't involve insurance?) and with that said, so far it's turning out ok actually. With just £75 excess (already paid) and because non branded stuff is dry on the stock levels, Autoglass are purchasing straight from dealer. Which means I'm getting LR genuine at no extra cost.

There's going to be 10 days plus to wait and I think I'll arrange the fitting for home when I'm there. So, question to members......as a loving owner of his SE, what do I make sure is done and not done correctly when autoglass fit the screen, especially considering, as already said, the version that goes in the SE. Cheers

I think you had better do a search for Autoglass then decide from there. Not knowing how old your Freely is, if you have three years warranty on your Freely and Autoglass fit one of the infamous Solarflare screens it will only have one years warranty on it regardless of how much warranty the car has.

Had my screen replaced but it has to go back to dealer as the auto wipers don't work now. The sensor is not working looks like who has replaced the screen may have broke it. New part ordered and to be fitted. The auto lights still work, at the mo. So when they have fitted it check that the sensors are still working along with heated screen

My warranty ran out late dec, so not a factor. I can certainly check the auto head lights on and the rain senor with a watering can. Any suggestions though in being able to check the heating elements?

when they cut the old one out, make sure they dont

scratch the dashboard
scratch the paint work leaning over
scratch the paintwork in the area were the glass fixes when cutting out

the last two could lead to rust

then when fitted, check the sensors, lights and wipers, then mist the screen up with a hot drink (and all the windows closed to steam the car up), no blowers on and then switch on the heated screen to check for elements not working

Also check the rear view mirror is secure, mine fell off with the lesser spotted solarflare screen  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

I watched them do my screen, it was horrible! They use a cheese wire to cut it out very close to the pillars and cables! It was not pleasant! But the only way!! Pretty crap really, the rain sensor can also break when doing it too! But check all function after its finished. Also chech the left and right side of the screen as it split in the middle and prob has two supply's!

Last edited by landy19840 on 20th May 2011 3:34 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Fail

Yer, when I had mine replaced under warranty due to the corners starting to de laminate they said it would of cost £1,000 for the full heated genuine heated one for the SE

A Pilkington heated front screen, auto washers/headlight one for me other car, the Disco, cost 402 quid fully fitted from Autoglass.

I only know cos when renewing the insurance today, they told me it was a non counted claim for December 2010, so I asked what the cost had been. Considering I only paid 184 quid from Zurich for Comprehensive Insurance, a 100 compulsory excess, breakdown insurance, legal etc. - b/down not needed mind you with warranty, it was pretty cheap, sorry, very cheap.

Do people actually pay for windscreens? Surely just tap it with a hammer, and say stone chip!

Cost me 50 quid excess, not happy bunny, especiaslly as it had been a stone chucked up by a Caravan!

Haha! Yes £50 is tho, I had a pheasant destroyed my windscreen once!

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