Warped windscreen?

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PDA3

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Picked up my 1.4 cod s-line yesterday and it's a joy! However, noticed driving home that when turning a corner, my line of sight focuses through the corner of the windscreen (where it naturally curves) and there is a slight defocus (like looking through a lens). I've never experienced this in any other car and can find little on google relating to Audi windscreens, or any factory fitted windscreens. So either I am super sensitive eye man and it's normal, or my screen has a defect. anyone else noticed this?

Ps I have 20/20 vision (prob better than Spider-Man) so it could be my extraordinary eye ability?

Thanks
 
You do realise that 20/20 indicates average vision, right? :p

Not noticed this on mine, but haven't really been looking for it.
 
Yes I've noticed that with mine, it's really strange but used to it now.
 
Thanks squiretolley that makes me feel more at ease. I'd rather not have a trip back to the dealer :)
 
I notice this on the passenger side especially when turning a corner, I didn't think much of it though
 
Maybe you've got one of those new prescriptions windscreens.
 
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leosayer1 said:
Maybe you've got one of those new prescriptions windscreens.
Click to expand...

In that case perhaps I do not need to wear my glasses when driving? Sorry officer but I didn't see that pedestrian/car/lorry/building/planet please refer your complaint to Audi...
 
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Interesting.

I've just had my windscreen replaced on my S3 8P.

The OE factory fitted windscreen (Guardian) did not have any optical distortions at the corners or edges, it was optically neutral looking through every bit of the glass.

Today's replacement (Pilkington) fitted by Autoglass - has distortions at the corners, and very slightly along the edges.

You can really see the effect looking through the bottom 2 corners, or driving alongside some railings, and watching them distort their way as you go past ! Just like the funny mirrors you get at the fair !

Hurrrmph. OE equivalent NOT ! :)


PS: The Guardian windscreen had an "ear" symbol indicating Acoustic Screen
The Pilkington has no marks on it at all saying it is Acoustic, I only know its Acoustic because I saw the Pilkington label stuck on which said "ACOUS" (before the fitter peeled it off).
 
I had a small stone hit mine right where the distortion was and it quickly turned into a 3 way crack. Coincidence?

The fitter said that he had changed quite a lot of 8V screens.

The new one has the same distortions but is not OE.
 
It's odd as many say their screen has distortion (not sure if this is all screens or just insulated) but we seem to accept it's normal. Is this a fault or normal?
 
Mine is insulated and I can't say I have noticed any distortion. Problem is once you 'see' something then it sticks in your mind all the time...
 
veeeight said:
The Guardian windscreen had an "ear" symbol indicating Acoustic Screen
The Pilkington has no marks on it at all saying it is Acoustic, I only know its Acoustic because I saw the Pilkington label stuck on which said "ACOUS" (before the fitter peeled it off).
Click to expand...

If it doesn't have a symbol in the silkprint, it's not acoustic. Aftermarket suppliers get labels wrong and will often move entire stocks of glass labeled incorrectly. It usually goes unnoticed because the windscreen trade is mostly a collection of dimwits and fitters in a hurry to get through the day doing as little as possible.

Re: optical issue - insist on OEM, always.
 
Hello Glassman, good to see you in the 8V section!

A few people with OE windscreens from the factory are reporting that their Acoustic Windscreen fitted at the factory, doesn't have the Acoustic Symbol printed.

Maybe this is a recent change?

See here: http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/new-a3-s3-8v-chassis/211473-acoustic-windscreen-not.html


PS. Very impressed with the fitter that did my replacement. Took him over 2 hours, very careful removal of trim, scuttle, really careful initial piercing of the bonding to feed the wire, then took time while ratcheting and moving the plastic protectors around to make sure the wire didn't damage anything, then got the old bonding off in a lovely smooth action ! Top man. Did his work carefully despite the depot loading up his PDA with more jobs !
 
Glassman said:
If it doesn't have a symbol in the silkprint, it's not acoustic. Aftermarket suppliers get labels wrong and will often move entire stocks of glass labeled incorrectly. It usually goes unnoticed because the windscreen trade is mostly a collection of dimwits and fitters in a hurry to get through the day doing as little as possible.

Re: optical issue - insist on OEM, always.
Click to expand...

Does anyone have a picture of what the symbol looks like if it has acoustic glass - due to pick mine up in a few days - thanks
 
Prescription Windscreen :)



(bit early :) )
 
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AcousticAcoustic
 
cuke2u said:
Mine is insulated and I can't say I have noticed any distortion. Problem is once you 'see' something then it sticks in your mind all the time...
Click to expand...

This thread made me look and I do have mild distortion. And now it is stuck in my mind dammit!
 
Mine doesn't say acoustic nor does it have an ear symbol but it has a standalone "A" near the CCC inside a circle.

Could that A be for acoustic?

John.
PS not noticed any distortion in the corners.
 
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MA3RC said:
I notice this on the passenger side especially when turning a corner, I didn't think much of it though
Click to expand...

Picked my car up yesterday and this was one of the first things I noticed as I pulled out of the dealership.
 
I have just brought a new A3 SE sportback and noticed this issue and it became annoying. I contacted my local Audi at Nottingham and they replaced the windscreen under warranty however the new one is just the same. I tend to notice the issue mostly while driving (on the drivers side) very frustrating. Do any of you with the sport model get it with the tinted windscreen? or is it just the SE windscreen. I was wondering if to try a non OEM windscreen see if its better?????
 
I get it with a sport model. With comfort pack ie the tinted strip across the windscreen. I can't say it really bothers me. May notice it once every few months. When I turn left on a really bright day lol
 
MA3RC said:
I get it with a sport model. With comfort pack ie the tinted strip across the windscreen. I can't say it really bothers me. May notice it once every few months. When I turn left on a really bright day lol
Click to expand...
Lol thanks for the speedy reply, do you see it on both sides of the windscreen? I think it may be one of those things when you notice it, it bothers you. Ive asked a few friends and they cannot see it either.
 
I've not been in a 8V that doesn't have distortion in the corner/edges.

It's reasonable mild, but once you notice it you see it.

Nowadays I just stare straight ahead, or look at my 7" Nav screen constantly to get through the day, getting value for money for all that extra I paid for a larger display ......
 
I can't say I've ever noticed it on the right. But now you've said it I probably will :p
 
haha sorry about that, I haven't really noticed it on the passenger side at all just drivers side.
 
Hi this is my last post on the subject but I have been in touch with Audi UK and my local dealer about my windscreen they acknowledge there is a a problem with the screen and the replacement they wanted to fit was just as bad if not worse. The issue has now been escalated to Audi Germany where they are investigating it and attempting to get me another screen under warranty asap. I suggest if your not happy with the distortion you talk to your main dealer about the issue. I did check my current screen against other Audi ones and it is much worse so maybe mine was a exceptionally bad one.
 
I dont know if I have the same problem but did notice a really annoying thing when looking through the windscreen. I thought it was that the dashbosrd curve around the back of the binicle and infront of the dash speaker etc is line on the dash or join.

This appears to reflect on the windscreen and bugs the hell out of me... maybe it a distortion and the reflection makes it worse? I don't know if I am more affected as I have my seat as low as possible although I am not overly tall...like being enclosed in the car (probably like being in the old tt).

Does anyone else have this?
 
Also have a visual distorsion (though a vertical area of about a few cms large) on the right side of the windscreen (my car is a left side drive). It's a bit disturbing mainly when turning on the right. I'll not miss to check this with Audi when my first service date arrives...
 
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noticed this too. and swmbo comments every time she is in the car.
 
W
GARTHY said:
noticed this too. and swmbo comments every time she is in the car.
Click to expand...

Mines in the area where I'm pointing all the way up and down the screen about 3" band
 

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Ok I think I see it in the photo - the vertical cement pointing in the brickwork is wavy from one row of bricks to the next and not in a straight vertical line? Either that or the bricklayer was a cowboy.

Movement would make it easier to see and movement is what cars do.

Never noticed this on mine (with acoustic glass). Only a small amount of a sort of spherical aberration right in the corner at the bottom where the glass curves the most - and that's to be expected.

John.
 
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