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Windscreen replacement - insurer not allowing OEM

P911X50

Well-known member
Joined
3 Jan 2017
Messages
421
Hi

I am currently insured with Zenith Insurance :sad: with fully comp cover. Last month I found myself with a cracked screen. I called my insurer who forwarded my call to Autowindscreens. I have been told by my insurer that I cannot request a OEM windscreen and would have to accept their version

Has anyone used Autowindscreens and come across similar problems?

Thanks
 
This has happened to me in the past (5 years ago) with Admiral who I'm with again this year. :eek:

I don't have an issue with a non OPC screen as they are all made and tested to the required specs. What is a problem is that it's total pot luck as to whether you get a careful fitter who takes a bit of pride in his work, or Dwayne the party animal who was out clubbing til 3am the night before he fits your screen at 9am.

I used Autoglass up here in Newcastle and although the guy was a jobsworth he managed to scratch my colour coded ashtray lid. After much arguing with him and his boss I was refunded my £75 excess towards respraying the ashtray, which I didn't get done as it would have opened up a right can of worms I think. (Matching guards red etc).
What was also funny was the fact the fitter kept telling me over and over that "I don't get 911s me. Don't see the attraction". I'm not sure why he thought I'd be too bothered. I just wanted my screen fitted.

Oh and the first time they came they brought the wrong screen. I'd taken the day off work too. Not impressed.

If you don't choose Autowindscreens your insurer will have a list of companies they use, but you'll always be at the mercy of the fitter.

I'd try and contact Glassman on P'heads.
He's very good, based in the London area but may know a decent non-OPC fitter in your area, although they may still only want to fit an OPC screen.
OPC screens are generally about £800 and your insurer may let you pay the extra yourself. I personally would rather pay my £75 excess than about £600 but it's upto you

Good luck. Hopefully someone may have a better option. :thumb:


Edited to add - I've just noticed you're in Herts. Definitely ring Glassman for advice.

I have also used the Newcastle branch of Auto Windscreens and they were great but again it's pot luck as to the type of person you get.

Unfortunately we need to clarify things like windscreen renewal when taking out our policies, as by the time you realise, you're snookered.
As I've said I'm not particularly bothered about the make of glass, as long as it's fitted correctly.
 
I had exactly the same issue with Admiral and my 996T. They offered to contribute £100 towards the cost of fitment by an OPC which would have left me with a bill of c£500.

I chose to go with their 'Autoglass' option and paid my £75 excess.

The windscreen they fitted was identical to the one previously in my car but I don't know whether that was original.

NB: I took it to an Autoglass Fitting Centre rather than using a mobile fitter and watched the guy like a hawk.

I wouldn't hesitate to do the same again with my 997T.

Good Luck
 
this gentleman takes a particular interest in doing Porsche car glass I came across him years ago after loads of great references on pistonheads he came out to me to do a home fitting mainly because the distance was so far but i think he is more based in one center now

highly recommended

http://www.glasstecauto.co.uk/

as above the glassman or Paul

I used him after an enormous FU by autoglass on my old 996
 
Gets my back up this, they kick and scream and increase your premium should you have the audacity to fit a non oem part making it non standard yet they insist on doing exactly that!!
 
New Windscreen

I had a cracked windscreen fitted last year, and told insurer that I wanted an oem screen, there was no problem although it took a few days to arrive. I am insured with E sure. The 1st screen was fitted and seemed ok, until I went for a drive and there was wind noise above 40mph. So I called insurers and they arranged for another screen to be fitted, this time by a competent fitter. No problems this time and all is good. Fitting can look fine but afterwards check for noise in car, as it is quite common. :thumb:
 
If you are in or around London go to Glasstecauto.co.uk, Paul Ralhan has an excellent reputation, I would not go anywhere else.

Sadly we only learn about the limitations of more reasonably priced motor Insurance when we come to claim. If you want to use a non approved supplier and require OEM glass then it it's likely to cost extra.
 
I had the misfortune of cracking the screen in my brand new bmw as I drove it home from the dealership. I was with Admiral and I told them that bmw said that they should replace it with a genuine bmw screen. Reason being is that as the car had auto wipers, auto everything in fact and that the rain sensors would not work as well through a non genuine screen. Admiral were fine with that, although autoglass (i think it was) had a right moan on the phone to me about it saying that their cheaper brand screens would work fine etc. At one point they tried to say it would take weeks to get a BMW screen in etc... I said that was fine and in the end they backed down.

They fitted it in my drive and I watched the fitter like a hawk. He did an excellent job.
 
The original screen in my old 996.2 Carrera suffered damage from a stone chip last year. The default supplier for my Insurance company was Autoglass - when they arrived the fitter had a 964 screen in the van (I think they got confused as the last three digits of the cars chassis number were 964). After telling me that this was in fact the fifth 964 screen they had received as the first four had been damaged in transit and that he could not guarantee an OEM I got back on the phone to my Insurance company. They were surprised that my getting an OEM screen was even in doubt and allowed me to source my new screen via my local OPC (Porsche Belfast). They then arranged for the screen to be collected directly from Porsche Belfast and installed in my garage by National Windscreens. As soon as the fitter arrived I knew he was a 'car guy' and I left him to it - the job was second to none and I was very happy with the result.

Additionally I have a good relationship with my OPC and the parts department were even able to source me a screen with a number very close to the original - it was ...3 being an 2003 car and they managed to source a ...4 (2004) screen - top service!
 
I had the same issue with Admiral and, after reading the horror stories about squeaking windscreens, opted to pay my OPC to fit an OEM screen.

The result was a bill for 1K and a windscreen that squeaked like a box of chicks. For info, they outsource their windscreen fitting.

So I'd either take the cheap option, or go with Glassman, who was just too far away from me.
 
When mine broke about a year ago , I called my insurer and told them the facts . That the windscreen on these cars is an integral part of the structure of these cars and was intrinsic part of the safety feature of the car. and as I had OE glass I would not accept anything less, unless they were prepared to put in writing that they were supplying me with a non genuine structural part for my car and any failure causing anyone injury or loss of life they would accept total and complete liability for in the future.
the adviser took this to the underwriter and within 15mins I had agreement to have OE glass from Germany at a cost of nearly 1k.
I agreed to use their fitting company so called them up told them the glass needed very careful fitting as it was structural and if they sent a fitter who had never fitted 911 glass before I would send him away and continue to do so until they sorted it. I also insisted it was fitted on the site of my indy who would check it over afterwards . they agreed and sent down from London their trainer who had fitted lots of 911 glass . he arrived at my indy and clearly knew what he was doing and was not phased by me and my indy lurking watching him.
A great job done . BUT you do have to be very clear and insistent to get what you want from these people.
I was only with one of the normal run of the mill insurers not a specialist think it was swift or someone. :thumb:
 
Phil 997 said:
When mine broke about a year ago , I called my insurer and told them the facts . That the windscreen on these cars is an integral part of the structure of these cars and was intrinsic part of the safety feature of the car. and as I had OE glass I would not accept anything less, unless they were prepared to put in writing that they were supplying me with a non genuine structural part for my car and any failure causing anyone injury or loss of life they would accept total and complete liability for in the future.
the adviser took this to the underwriter and within 15mins I had agreement to have OE glass from Germany at a cost of nearly 1k.
I agreed to use their fitting company so called them up told them the glass needed very careful fitting as it was structural and if they sent a fitter who had never fitted 911 glass before I would send him away and continue to do so until they sorted it. I also insisted it was fitted on the site of my indy who would check it over afterwards . they agreed and sent down from London their trainer who had fitted lots of 911 glass . he arrived at my indy and clearly knew what he was doing and was not phased by me and my indy lurking watching him.
A great job done . BUT you do have to be very clear and insistent to get what you want from these people.
I was only with one of the normal run of the mill insurers not a specialist think it was swift or someone. :thumb:

Jesus Phil, I bet you also insist on Heinz when you have sausage, chips and beans at the greasy spoon cafe :floor: :floor:

In all seriousness, it's a shame you have to go to these measures to ensure your car is looked after and gets what it deserves.
 
jpsh120 said:
Phil 997 said:
When mine broke about a year ago , I called my insurer and told them the facts . That the windscreen on these cars is an integral part of the structure of these cars and was intrinsic part of the safety feature of the car. and as I had OE glass I would not accept anything less, unless they were prepared to put in writing that they were supplying me with a non genuine structural part for my car and any failure causing anyone injury or loss of life they would accept total and complete liability for in the future.
the adviser took this to the underwriter and within 15mins I had agreement to have OE glass from Germany at a cost of nearly 1k.
I agreed to use their fitting company so called them up told them the glass needed very careful fitting as it was structural and if they sent a fitter who had never fitted 911 glass before I would send him away and continue to do so until they sorted it. I also insisted it was fitted on the site of my indy who would check it over afterwards . they agreed and sent down from London their trainer who had fitted lots of 911 glass . he arrived at my indy and clearly knew what he was doing and was not phased by me and my indy lurking watching him.
A great job done . BUT you do have to be very clear and insistent to get what you want from these people.
I was only with one of the normal run of the mill insurers not a specialist think it was swift or someone. :thumb:

Jesus Phil, I bet you also insist on Heinz when you have sausage, chips and beans at the greasy spoon cafe :floor: :floor:

In all seriousness, it's a shame you have to go to these measures to ensure your car is looked after and gets what it deserves.

:floor: Jason at minimum cross and blackwell mate :grin: :grin: :thumb: :thumb: funny was sat in my NOT so greasy spoon today having brunch and in walked Harry Rednapp and Wife who sat on the table next to me, he only lives around the corner from the cafe . think he insisted on Heinz as well :floor: and bowyers bangers :grin: :thumb: :thumb:
 
The subtext of this thread is that not all insurers are created equally. My own experience of having a cracked screen replaced was that I contacted my insurer (A Manning) and their position is that either they can sort it directly with whoever they use by default and I would pay the excess or if I would rather use my own choice that is fine but I pay, send them the invoice and they reimburse the cost less the excess.

So I had Paul from Glasstec (aka GlassMan) fit a new Porsche screen to the car and the insurers reimbursed me without hassle or any undue delay. I would add that there is a reason why practically everyone recommends him - he is one of those specialists to whom doing the job right is critically important and it is a pleasure to watch him work and chat to him about Porsches while he does. I reckon that he does every bit as good a job as the robot that famously puts them in on the production line (possibly better) and I would always want him doing the job anytime I needed a screen in any serious car.
 
wait wait wait... am I missing something here??

the glass in a Porsche isn't anything special? It's laminated, has an internal aerial, maybe a coloured band across the top..
Oh, and they de-laminate in the corners.
Yes, it's structural.. But so is the one in a 1998 Vectra?
A focus has a heating element, is that less complicated than a Porsche one?

yes, it has to be fitted properly.. but that's the same in a BMW, Audi... Citroen.... if its badly fitted or the bonding agent doesn't cure, then you'll have problems..

Are you all being a bit, you know... precious? :D :D :D
 

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