Chav Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Hiya had my windscreen changed by autoglass last year and they put an unbranded one on. it was shite (deformed view in bottom inch of screen etc) but i couldn't be arsed with the hassle of another 3 hour change, so i just traded the car in etc - as you do. anyway, just had it changed again on my new car, but demanded an audi screen. autoglass were a bit crap but checked with directline who said "oem windscreen no problemo" and so they ordered one and put it in today. (I still just pay the £60 excess) So - new screen is fantastic - good as new. Had to take it in to them this time though as they had no mechanics capable of doing it at home (which i had done last time) Moral of story = unbranded windscreens are definitely not the same as the branded OEM ones with the audi stamp on. period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kite Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 IanC may have a different view I had an OEM screen fitted to the TT by autoglass, they did come out and change it, it took around 1.5 hrs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted July 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 Hmm, don't care if he works there or not but thats not how it looks to me!! Ian - please explain It took them 3 hours for the A4 cab this time. Last time the head tech came out and changed it at the house (took him 2.5 hrs), but he's left the chester branch now apparently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kite Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 OEM is the way to go. My daughters A3 front screen is a pattern. I think it may be attacked with a centre punch soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 I insisted on an Audi badged one when I had mine changed last year. They came to my house to do it, but I don't remember it taking anywhere near 2.5 hours, defo not 3. There was a thread on here at the time and Ian was saying the screens are the same whether they're badged Audi or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robpink Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 had an Autoglass screen fitted 3 weeks ago, no brand name on it, made a loud creaking noise afterwards(allowed glue to set for 48 hours before driving)which autoglass said should dissappear after few days, it didn't. Took car into AM quattro in Ilminster for service & they fitted a branded(Splintex) screen & billed my insurance company directly saying the Autoglass screen was not acceptable. No more creaking now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_m Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 I had the screen done on my A4 cab before I got rid of it I didnt care what was put into it though as it was 2 weeks away from going - it took them over 3 hrs! Sponge- it takes longer on the cab as the alu screen surround is fiddly apparently Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted July 9, 2007 Report Share Posted July 9, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Ian - please explain [/ QUOTE ] Autoglass don't use unbranded glass, nor make their own. Which manufacturer of glass was this one? Last time I checked, Audis current three OE suppliers are Pilkington, Guardian (a sub of Pilkington) and Saint Gobain. Like any car manufacturer, they bully their suppliers to get the best possible price. Audis tyres for example come from Dunlop, Continental or Pirelli. However, the first A3 Sportbacks came off the production line with Pilkington front windscreens and Saint Gobain heated rears - a mixture of glass manufacturers in the same car! Anyway, obviously there is zero point in shipping a replacement screen from Pilkington Cheshire, to Audi in Germany and back to England again simply for Audi to etch an Audi logo. There is nothing German about the glass, for Audi don't glass! Exactly the same as when you need a replacement wiper - you got to Bosch for a Bosch wiper, not to Audi for an 'Audi' wiper. Reference doing the job at your home address, in the last year or so we've changed the A4 Cab to a 'branch job' category. It can only be done mobile at branch discretion. The three-piece brushed aluminium trim is a nightmare - not something you want to rush. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted July 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Yes but Ian, autoglass must supply cheap shite windscreens if you dont specify OEM Audi branded glass. To be honest if I didn't do 30K miles a year, I'd have kicked up a mega fuss over it. But as it took the chap 3 hours to fit it and had to virtually disassemble my car, I couldn't be arsed having it swapped again and I tend to get chips etc pretty quickly anyway. This time I've had an Audi branded windscreen fitted and it's perfect! I think autoglass billed my insurers an extra £80 for the OEM branded windscreen over the approx £280 I think they typically charge the insurer for an unbranded one. The manufacturer of the unbranded windscreen should be closed down tomorrow - it was like looking through a bathroom mirror at the bottom - defracted image of total non-joy! grrrr. The chap that fitted the shite windscreen at my house last year was a top bloke and was very careful - not his fault that the windscreen was shite I guess. Similarly the service at autoglass chester today was excellent too! I think its completely out of order though that such crap is fitted to peoples cars as standard unless you kick up a fuss and demand a branded one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 I'm glad you've posted this Chav. I need a new screen for my car and I will be insisting that it is an OEM one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 The times I've had to wait for a branded one - "We have to order one especially Sir" "We don't carry those as stock" "An audi what model sir - it's not listed on the computer" "It's a four day wait and we can only fit it when there is a full moon and my cat has had whiskers tuna for its tea!" ffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Yes, I'm expecting all the excuses available, I'm in no rush though, I've lived with a cracked screen for about 3 months now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Only three months! I've had a star crack in mine for well over a year. It's not getting any bigger (as the actress said to the bishop.....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S3Bangs Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Yes, I'm expecting all the excuses available, I'm in no rush though, I've lived with a cracked screen for about 3 months now. [/ QUOTE ] You might as well order it and wait.. Remember when I requested an OEM windscreen replacement.... Think it took about ten weeks. Doesn't cost extra by the way and I think it's your right to demand it regardless Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kite Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 I used the "Audi ten year warranty is void without an OEM screen" excuse ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Yes but Ian, autoglass must supply cheap shite windscreens if you dont specify OEM Audi branded glass. [/ QUOTE ] Did you not bother to ready my above post Jason? Autoglass use Pilkington, Guardian, Saint Gobain or equivalent for Audi vehicles. These all supply the Audi production lines, hence these are our suppliers. Every manufacturer on the globe makes duff batches every now and again, and the glass companies are no different. I'm not going to name 'specific' glass manufacturers, but over the last few years there have been faulty batches of Golf mkiv, New Beetle, Vectra mki and Berlingo/Partner screens. Certainly agree that the smallest imperfection in a windscreen is annoying and very noticable. Autoglass will obviously swap a screen FOC if you spot a ripple or flaw we miss before fitting it. Slightly pointless moaning about it afterwards Jason! To be fair the glass manufacturers are amazingly good though. Not sure on the figure, but I know their error is less than 0.1%. Anyway, if you insist on us sending the screen to Audi for it to be stamped that is fine, but of course it will take longer. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UBM Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 oooooh... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted July 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Yes but Ian, autoglass must supply cheap shite windscreens if you dont specify OEM Audi branded glass. [/ QUOTE ] Did you not bother to ready my above post Jason? Autoglass use Pilkington, Guardian, Saint Gobain or equivalent for Audi vehicles. These all supply the Audi production lines, hence these are our suppliers. Every manufacturer on the globe makes duff batches every now and again, and the glass companies are no different. I'm not going to name 'specific' glass manufacturers, but over the last few years there have been faulty batches of Golf mkiv, New Beetle, Vectra mki and Berlingo/Partner screens. Certainly agree that the smallest imperfection in a windscreen is annoying and very noticable. Autoglass will obviously swap a screen FOC if you spot a ripple or flaw we miss before fitting it. Slightly pointless moaning about it afterwards Jason! To be fair the glass manufacturers are amazingly good though. Not sure on the figure, but I know their error is less than 0.1%. Anyway, if you insist on us sending the screen to Audi for it to be stamped that is fine, but of course it will take longer. Ian [/ QUOTE ] Yes mate I read your post ( ) - but the windscreen didn't just have a "ripple" or "flaw" - the entire 2-3 inches of the bottom of the screen defracted the image making any driver dizzy! Also as your post sounds rather patronising ( ) I'll be patronising back... Lots of manufacturers supply product A to both value-retailer X and luxury-retailer Y. Now in some cases the product is identical and simply rebranded. But in other cases, it's not. e.g. If we sell one of our games OEM (supplied with a computer), it may not have all the levels/game content of the full retail version or we'll make it work only with certain hardware etc. Pilkington supply glass to everyone...safe style uk, heritage etc. does that mean the same identical product is supplied regardless of price? maybe glass which is "ok" but not "perfect" are not sent to Audi for branding etc. Don't forget this post is semi-jokey Ian - you're a top guy, but FFS - the non branded windscreen was definitely NOT of the same quality as the Audi stamped one. I dont work at autoglass or have direct knowledge of pilkingtons distribution channels, but I'll never have a non OEM stamped windscreen again. And I did moan at the time - I was told I'd have to wait a week or so, and then another half-day faffing around - feck that - far too busy to be honest. </rant over - but only if you admit I'm sodding right!> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chav Posted July 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Autoglass will obviously swap a screen FOC if you spot a ripple or flaw we miss before fitting it. Slightly pointless moaning about it afterwards Jason! [/ QUOTE ] Actually I just read that sentence you wrote again - WTF!!! how can you spot a defect in a windscreen before its fitted. Is the guy going to hold it upright infront of me whilst I sit behind it and pretend I'm driving!? Thus a customers only option is to moan after fitting - is it not? If I had more time, I'd setup onlyhaveoemwindscreensfitted.com and have a right good rant!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDiAvant Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 I don't give a feck what people say about aftermarket screens, if It's not got the Audi badge & part number on the screen, then it's not going on me car. YES I'm a badge snob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 Apologies if you thought I was being patronising, for I certainly wasn't intending it to be. Just the way your opening sentence started with "Autoglass must supply cheap shite windscreens....." after my paragraph explaining the products we use. Autoglass ONLY source products from the manufacturers OE suppliers. If you are interested, the A4 Cab screen retails at around £650. Ari knows this as he called to ask! Obviously your glass wasn't Audi stamped, but again I ask which manufacturer of glass did we fit? Ian PS. Yes sorry I was a bit sarcastic when I said that only complaining now about the rippled screen you 'put with' was pointless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_C Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 [ QUOTE ] I don't give a feck what people say about aftermarket screens, if It's not got the Audi badge & part number on the screen, then it's not going on me car. YES I'm a badge snob [/ QUOTE ] I have to agree. Quality issues aside, when I see a 'Pilkington' or some other non-OE etching on a windscreen (at odds with all the other glass on the car) I find it difficult to ignore - it just jumps out at me! OTT maybe but the devil is in the detail and if I ever need a replacement screen for the S4 then I would also have to insist on OEM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasdrury Posted July 11, 2007 Report Share Posted July 11, 2007 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I don't give a feck what people say about aftermarket screens, if It's not got the Audi badge & part number on the screen, then it's not going on me car. YES I'm a badge snob [/ QUOTE ] I have to agree. Quality issues aside, when I see a 'Pilkington' or some other non-OE etching on a windscreen (at odds with all the other glass on the car) I find it difficult to ignore - it just jumps out at me! OTT maybe but the devil is in the detail and if I ever need a replacement screen for the S4 then I would also have to insist on OEM. [/ QUOTE ] But not the 80 .... Seriously though, on my 80 - JC's old one, it has a non oem screen in it, and I drive it 3 hours a day for the lsat 3 months, no issue or ripples etc... So presumably some are worse than others! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyuk911 Posted July 15, 2007 Report Share Posted July 15, 2007 I had a new screen fitted, Audi of course all was fine ... then on my new screen a very small mark below the windscreen wiper, so I thought I would play it safe. Autoglass at Bluewater cracked it big time They put acentone which via latent heat cracked it - idiots ! So I now having a new Audi screen fitted Thursday by Audi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted July 16, 2007 Report Share Posted July 16, 2007 [ QUOTE ] So I now having a new Audi screen fitted Thursday by Audi [/ QUOTE ] It won't be fitted by Audi - they contract it out to Autoglass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now