Windscreen replacement

[MikeO996]

I have a humungous stone chip in my windscreem (S3 heated).

Am I right in thinking that you need to replace the whole thing, frame and all, or can you just get the glass replaced?

[Scotty996T]

Hi Mike

We've been cursed this year and have had windscreens go on both cars. The whole assembly is shockingly expensive from caterham and their stock levels of black pack frames have been miserable.

We're awaiting a whole black assembly for our narrow bod Roadsport which also is heated screen. In the meantime I've bought a spare nonnheated glass from caterham for ninety quid and put it into the frame that is coming off.

The full assemblies are four hundred and five hundred plus quid.

Sould be ok and how often do you use the heated element.

Best of luck.

[Clousta]

"...how often do you use the heated element"

Never, because my 1988 model isn't fitted with one. It is safety glass, however. I carry a chamois mit/pad with me. Only used it to wipe moisture from the inside of the windscreen during rain showers with the hood down. I have never used the full hood (which is where I would expect to need screen demisting) but have always used the half hood/the ventilation is much better and no need for screen demisting.

Tell a lie, I did have to wipe the inside of the screen to demist when setting off at 0300 to catch a ferry and had driven out of the warmer garage but it wasn't an inconvenience and certainly not one where I thought that I have to invest in a heated screen and wire up my Seven to accommodate.

Gavin
1988 Supersprint (live axle, long cockpit)

[MikeO996]

Having done a bit more research it looks like it's worth getting Autoglass or similar to have a go at a repair first up.

Why is it that nearly everything on the Caterham parts site is out of stock?

[Gingerbread Man]

MSM insurance will replace glass for £70. Of if you also fit it yourself, they wavier the fee.

Any chance you're with them?

[Risky]

Just had a windscreen replaced - paid as a claim under my insurance policy. Had to pay £50 excess. Black pack heated screen for an S3 - in stock at Caterham, but took 2 weeks for it to travel from Caterham to National Windscreens.

Edited to say that I opted to fit it myself rather than let the fitters do it - I think they were glad and I prefer to fit it myself to make sure it's done correctly

Edited by Risky on Friday 15th July 22:37

[PeteSV]

I've used Autoglass to repair a couple of chips in my heated SV screen. Chips are inevitable, especially if you are blatting with other sevens and I guess I'm now just seeing it annual maintenance

[MikeO996]

Gingerbread Man said:

MSM insurance will replace glass for £70. Of if you also fit it yourself, they wavier the fee.

Any chance you're with them?

No chance of claiming - I went for track day insurance instead of windscreen cover on my insurance (I'm with Chaucer)- it was an either/or

[one eyed mick]

If you are moderatly handy [this is notfor heated screens!] take your chipped screen out of the frame and using as a pattern get your local glass supplier to cut you one in 6mm laminated glass for 40 quidish ,simples !alsomake up a card board pattern to keep . I used to see adverts in Autosport or Motoring News offering heated ones to pattern but have not seen the ad for awhile and I believe they were certainly not cheap!

[Bahnstormer]

so how difficult is fitting the glass yourself ?

[one eyed mick]

Bahnstormer said:

so how difficult is fitting the glass yourself ?

Depends on your definition of difficult really and how it has been sealed into the frame . to give you some idea I would rate it as 2/3 out of 5 ,5 being a real pain in the bum and 1 being simples. Iwould not bother aproaching 99% of windscreen companies as they always visibly shake in their boots if you mention the types of car in discussion with excuses like ,we are to busy , we cannot get a screen etc . My experiences any way .

[davidball]

Fitting a heated screen is not so difficult. The only real hassle is getting your hand up in the scuttle to pull the wires through.

[Gingerbread Man]

I can never get the weathering strip flush against the scuttle at the edges. Only problem I ever have.

[Risky]

Gingerbread Man said:

I can never get the weathering strip flush against the scuttle at the edges. Only problem I ever have.

You need to use a little silicon spray or even a bit of washing up liquid would do.

[Glassman]

one eyed mick said:

Iwould not bother aproaching 99% of windscreen companies as they always visibly shake in their boots if you mention the types of car in discussion with excuses like ,we are to busy , we cannot get a screen etc . My experiences any way .

99!

Harsh.

Edited by Glassman on Friday 15th July 10:23

[one eyed mick]

Glassman]ne eyed mick said:

Iwould not bother aproaching 99% of windscreen companies as they always visibly shake in their boots if you mention the types of car in discussion with excuses like ,we are to busy , we cannot get a screen etc . My experiences any way . [/quote

99!

Harsh.

But true in my experience !!,but there may be someone out there??

[Glassman]

one eyed mick said:

But true in my experience !!,but there may be someone out there??

circa 700 automotive glazing businesses all employing thousands of fitters/technicians.

99% of the ones you visited.