8 year old windscreen with scratches and nicks!

Crossmax

Crossmax

Registered User
Joined
Jul 25, 2014
Messages
162
Reaction score
11
Points
18
Location
Limerick
Hello everyone.
I have noticed recently that the windscreen on my 2009 A6 is covered in scratches and nicks, especially when the sun is low in the sky. I have tried polishing the windscreen several times using different methods and this helps to some degree but its never perfect, this is just a safety issue rather than a cosmetic one as some days when the sun is low that I cannot see out of it as the sun catches all the scratches! Any ideas folks??

Peter
 
I had a similar case on the A4. Whole windscreen was covered with teeny tiny dots, dust like and with sun shining directly onto it I couldn't see much.

I've sold the car after 2 years of driving so did not got around to sort it out.

I've asked tinting people when doing my rear windows, if they apply any film onto the outside rather the inside of the windscreen, will it make them disappear or no? Unfortunately been told that whatever is on the screen already, it will remain under the film and there is nothing I can do.

I think the best and only solution is to replace the glass.
Excess on the insurance paid will get your replaced but affect your NCB for some time.
 
Polishing powerful enough to remove marks, risks causing visual distortions. The only viable option is a new screen - I have a similar problem
 
Mine was the same, until a boulder flew off the roof of a lorry on the motorway! Just glad it only hit the glass. Had to argue a bit to get genuine Audi glass but the result is a nice clear windscreen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
KrisKrk said:
I think the best and only solution is to replace the glass.
Excess on the insurance paid will get your replaced but affect your NCB for some time.
Click to expand...

Insurance policies usually cover damaged glass. How this damage is interpreted can often vary. The general rule is cracks or stonechips (not pitting). There is also a degree of honesty in declaring when the damage occurred, ie., before policy inception (in which case you wouldn't be covered).
 
Glassman said:
Insurance policies usually cover damaged glass. How this damage is interpreted can often vary. The general rule is cracks or stonechips (not pitting). There is also a degree of honesty in declaring when the damage occurred, ie., before policy inception (in which case you wouldn't be covered).
Click to expand...
Ah, ok.

I was talking from my own experience.

Insurer was not interested to what happen to the glass.

They took money from me for replacement excess and affected my NCB for 4 years as "non fault claim".

[Edit] £80 was not worth it for 4 years
 
KrisKrk said:
Ah, ok.

I was talking from my own experience.

Insurer was not interested to what happen to the glass.

They took money from me for replacement excess and affected my NCB for 4 years as "non fault claim".

[Edit] £80 was not worth it for 4 years
Click to expand...

The way the system is designed, you probably didn't talk to your insurer as such. More likely to have been their nominated repairer who would have been very keen to get the windscreen bagged, regardless.
 
Glassman said:
The way the system is designed, you probably didn't talk to your insurer as such. More likely to have been their nominated repairer who would have been very keen to get the windscreen bagged, regardless.
Click to expand...
No, I rang the insurer, told them that I have my glass chipped and need to replace it.
Straight away they asked for excess and passed my contact details to the glass company.
They rang me, booked a visit, arrived to my home address and replaced the windscreen on the driveway.
Efficient service as old glass was taken out and whole glue scrubbed off.
Then new glue applied and seal fitted around new glass.

I'm sure you know the drill.
 
My A4 was the same, loads of minor scratches which really bugged me, 'unfortunately' one of the chips got a bit bigger one day and I got a new Audi screen with top tint (which I didn't have before). Had to pay about £50 excess but it didn't affect my NCD or renewal premium. Cabby screens are difficult to fit and expensive, best money I ever spent :)
 
Stevieb2905 said:
My A4 was the same, loads of minor scratches which really bugged me, 'unfortunately' one of the chips got a bit bigger one day and I got a new Audi screen with top tint (which I didn't have before). Had to pay about £50 excess but it didn't affect my NCD or renewal premium. Cabby screens are difficult to fit and expensive, best money I ever spent :)
Click to expand...

A classic example of why insurance premiums are so high.
 
Glassman said:
A classic example of why insurance premiums are so high.
Click to expand...

Really, that's quite a judgemental comment and also ill informed. I currently run 3 cars, renewal of multicar policy yesterday at £1,500. In over 30 years of insuring cars that screen is the only claim I've ever made - it was genuine BTW- so rest assured insurance companies have made 10s of thousands profit from me.
Incidentally I've never claimed off my house insurance either.
If everyone shared my history premiums would be very low indeed!
 
Last edited:
I tried some superfine steel wool (0000) and some old style cream Windowlene last night, polished and buffed the window several times. It definitely has helped but still having the same issue. Might try it again this weekend and finish it off with some carnuba wax..
 
Stevieb2905 said:
Really, that's quite a judgemental comment and also ill informed. I currently run 3 cars, renewal of multicar policy yesterday at £1,500. In over 30 years of insuring cars that screen is the only claim I've ever made - it was genuine BTW- so rest assured insurance companies have made 10s of thousands profit from me.
Incidentally I've never claimed off my house insurance either.
If everyone shared my history premiums would be very low indeed!
Click to expand...

Your post emphasised on the word, 'unfortunately'. Whether you intended to stick your tongue in your cheek or not, the inference is quite clear.
 
audi upgrades
Stevieb2905 said:
May I ask why you wish to know the make of my lovely new windscreen?
Click to expand...

Market research.

A lot of the cheaper insurers have whittled down their agreements (with their nominated suppliers) down to very lean invoice values. The consequence of this is that the supplier then relies on imported glass from a cheaper source (usually from ****) and there'll be some blurb about how you cannot have a genuine Audi screen fitted for your money.
 
audi upgrades
Mine was last replaced by National Windscreens who informed me that the usual system is to fit genuine glass to a car less than 3 years old, aftermarket to older cars.

I think my success in getting genuine glass on my 6 year old car might have been partially due to my car having lane assist and therefore there is an extra window in the top of the windscreen for the camera.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
There is nothing cast in stone about right or wrong when it comes to which glass is fitted, but it usually is for fiscal reasons. In your case, there is more (technology) to go wrong so it's probably - IMHO - more of a damage limitation exercise to opt for an OE Audi part . The best available parts, in most if not all cases, are OE.
 
Glassman said:
Market research.

A lot of the cheaper insurers have whittled down their agreements (with their nominated suppliers) down to very lean invoice values. The consequence of this is that the supplier then relies on imported glass from a cheaper source (usually from ****) and there'll be some blurb about how you cannot have a genuine Audi screen fitted for your money.
Click to expand...

Actually I don't usually partake in unsolicited 'market research,' TBH I'm verging on 'expert' level when it comes to getting rid of cold callers but, as you ask - it's laminated glass with a top tint, it's clear, verging on 100% transparent and looks remarkably like German glass, nothing like that nasty 'Asian' stuff you mention but unfortunately I don't know, can't be bothered checking and am not remotely bothered if it's got an Audi sticker or not. As long as I can see through it I'm happy as the proverbial.

From that I think we can safely deduce that X% of the X number of people asked couldn't give the other proverbial?

I only hope it doesn't chip as easily as the 'premium' original screen.

Do Audi even own a glass factory?
 
Stevieb2905 said:
Actually I don't usually partake in unsolicited 'market research,' TBH I'm verging on 'expert' level when it comes to getting rid of cold callers but, as you ask - it's laminated glass with a top tint, it's clear, verging on 100% transparent and looks remarkably like German glass, nothing like that nasty 'Asian' stuff you mention but unfortunately I don't know, can't be bothered checking and am not remotely bothered if it's got an Audi sticker or not. As long as I can see through it I'm happy as the proverbial.

From that I think we can safely deduce that X% of the X number of people asked couldn't give the other proverbial?

I only hope it doesn't chip as easily as the 'premium' original screen.

Do Audi even own a glass factory?
Click to expand...

I was being as facetious as your 'unfortunately' explanation when I said market research; it's within the context of this conversation, and totally flippant. For your peace of mind, I am not involved in any market research in the way that you perceive. I'm in the glass and windscreen business and I own an Audi.

Whilst on the subject of research, I'm particularly interested in your statement that you 'safely deduce that X% of the X number of people asked couldn't give a...'

Where are you getting these 'facts' from?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Crossmax
Windscreen smearing with old and new wiperblades..help!
Replies
16
Views
4K
Scottk
Scottk
F
Windscreen washers
Replies
6
Views
841
Florin Dohotaru
F
KrisKrk
Windscreen tint?
Replies
2
Views
1K
KrisKrk
KrisKrk
Steve Newton
Windscreen steams up on demist!
Replies
0
Views
428
Steve Newton
Steve Newton
E
Windscreen Wiper - Relay Replacement?
Replies
1
Views
940
annodomini2
A
Top
Back