Ian_C question - chip repair on heated screen

[Chris_B]

The S8 has a litle chip in the windscreen, found it yesterday while cleaning.

Anyway, it's got a heated windscreen which was an £800+ option. I have seen heated windscreens on Range Rovers and you can just make out the fine heating element lines, but on this it just looks like plain glass. This might be because it's heated by a separate heater, or it might be because it's an extremely clever inbuilt heater.

If it's the latter, replacing the windscreen could be an expensive job.

Any ideas what can be done to repair heated windscreens? Are the treated as normal and filled? The chip is a tiny 'dot' on the outside that's fragmented a little sliver off inside, if that makes any difference.

Ta!

[P_G]

I had a neighbour with a Range Rover with heated windsreen and for the small chips he amassed from driving then resin injection worked fine as it does not deform with the elements is switched on. Something (I think) to do with the element being on the inner of the two panels of glass that make up the windscreen?

Anyway, he had been advised that was OK to do rather than a replacement screen..

[Ian_C]

Chris, I am surprised you mention it has gone through to the inside. Can you feel it inside with your fingernail, or does it merely look damaged from the inside? More likely to be a 'cone' of glass from the outside layer punched downwards into the laminate. If the outer layer of glass is chipped, it can be saved, whereas if both layers of the screen are damaged, replacement is the only option.

Afaik, Audi don't offer a Ford Group-style fully heated screen. Believe yours might have 'heated wiper park' - an idea originating from north America I believe where the very base of the glass is heated to thaw the wipers from the glass in freezing conditions.

To answer your question, repairing a heated screen uses the same process as a non-heated screen.

If replacement is necessary and the car is privately insured then you'll just have a small glass excess to pay like Craigy. If you run your A8 through the business then your excess might be higher. You should get chip repair free with any major UK insurer.

For your information, Autoglass don't use patterns, instead buying parts from the manufactures' suppliers direct. Just like you buy new wipers from Bosch not Audi, Autoglass buy glass from Guardian/ Saint Gobain/ Pilkington not Audi.

Whilst chips can be done mobile - weather permitting - the A8 is certainly a branch job for replacement due to the time and difficulty.

Ian

[Chris_B]

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Can you feel it inside with your fingernail, or does it merely look damaged from the inside?

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Ah, that might be it - I'll check later.

Thanks for the input. AFAIK, the heated windscreen is a new A8 option this model year, and I can't see any heating elements at all, not even down by the wiper park area, hence not knowing what it is or how it works. I suppose I could ask my dealer.

Hopefully it's just the outer layer that's damaged then and I can get it to my local Autoglass to be sorted.

[Cupramax]

I cant believe in this day and age that heated windscreens are not standard on ALL cars. I know Ford hold the patent for it but seeing as virtually every car for the past 20 years has a heated rear window it seems a bit stupid that the main window that you look out of isn't... rant over.

[techieboy]

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I cant believe in this day and age that heated windscreens are not standard on ALL cars. I know Ford hold the patent for it but seeing as virtually every car for the past 20 years has a heated rear window it seems a bit stupid that the main window that you look out of isn't... rant over.

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Absolutely. I used to have it on my old Sapphire Cosworth and it was fantastic. Come out in the morning to a thick frost and 20 seconds later the windscreen and mirrors were clear. Just wish it had heated seats!

Mercedes used to offer this as an option. Not sure whether they still do...