Windscreen Woes

[kiwiland 3]

Driving down motorway today and some clown shoots past and sends a stone into windscreen and pits the glass. 10 minutes later the pit has developed into a 300mm long crack. Car is a 2001 E39 with rain sensor and tinted top strip of glass, is original BMW screen.

Have full glass insurance (I think) but have heard horror stories about replacement glasses and some replacement Companies. Am on the North Shore and would welcome some advice, can I insist on BMW replacement glass and who to do it

[elmarco 56]

I think they can only use OEM for cars with rain sensors - just make sure you tell them. Get quotes from a couple of sources that you are happy to have do the work, and make sure they are aware that it has a rain sensor.

[hotwire 352]

As above John - insist that it is returned to OEM spec - this car is what the premium you pay is based on.

If it needs to be OEM to achieve this then so be it. Assuming you do have glass cover of course

[my_e36 43]

Make a glass claim with insurance, get a claim number first. The insurance will try to send you to some glass place (like Novus, Smith & Smith, etc..) but talk to Jerry Clayton BMW and tell them you got a claim number and ask them to follow up with your insurance and see if they can do the work.

I was with AA insurance with full cover and had no problem getting my windscreen glass done at BMW.

Edit: Actually, call Jerry Clayton (JC) first and tell them if they can deal with insurance ON YOUR BEHALF. Then give them your insurance details. This way, JC can do the run around to get your business, should save your some trouble.

Edited November 24, 2011 by SpikeyLemon

[kiwiland 3]

Thanks for all the good advice.

Update on the saga:-

Insurance claim lodged and claim No obtained. Insurance directed me to S & S who initially wanted to supply and fit an "after market screen" which would have rain sensing but not be a genuine BMW item. Told them I was not happy with this and they are now pricing to the insurance Co to do the job with a genuine replacement. Am also getting Jerry Clayton to quote insurer to do the whole job with genuine part (available on 1 day delivery from BMW-NZ)

Insurance Co talking about possibility of "extra cost" to do the job with genuine part.

Can see some full and frank discussions with them in the near future!!

Watch this space.

[Andre3000 55]

When my e36 window got smashed I called insurance company (NAC) and filed claim, told them I'd be dropping it to Team McMillan. Somehow I got it in the next day and was fixed that day with OEM glass. Under 18 hours to go from dirty thieving ****** smash to brand new!

I'm pretty sure you can take it wherever and whenever you want.

[kiwiland 3]

Final washup on this saga:

1. Insurance Co agrees to supply BMW OEM windscreen but job has to be done by S & S because of "several hundred dollars difference between their price and JCs". ( JC supplied the screen to S & S)

2. Screen installed by S & S who came to house to do the job, their man certainly knew what he was doing, was pleasant to deal with, and quickly carried out the work.

3. Tested rain sensor and all working OK

When looking at the amount of specialist equipment carried in the S & S service vehicle and the expressed knowledge it is difficult to see how anybody else could do a better job.

Thanks to all for their advice and comments

[hotwire 352]

^^^^^ Great outcome