W124 Coupe rear window delamination

[Apial]

My back window is somewhat delaminated at the bottom corners. I think it has also done some damage to the the rear window heater. Getting a new rear screen will fix both problems, but how much will it cost?

 

[SUE.]

You will be better to phone autoglass and they will give you a proper quote on the price of a replacement glass.

 

[Apial]

Autoglass

Thanks for the advice, but I wouldn't advise you to get your quotes from them.

"How much will it cost to replace my delaminating window?", I asked.

"Sorry Sir,could I take a few details first? Could you give me your cars registration number and your Post Code, and can you confirm the first line of your address?"

I give the lady the details, and almost immediately she tells me that I am insured with Fortis. Very clever so far, but then I ask her why she is involving my insurance company?

"Well Sir, the window is broken and your policy covers you for its replacement, subject to a maximum claim price of £500 and there will be £50 excess to pay. We will of course have to get this confirmed in writing from Fortis. I can ring them for you and get it all sorted for you straight away."

Bemused at this unexpected offer, I say, "Well I wasn't expecting this, but how much will I have to pay if the job is done through the insurance policy?"

The friendly voice on the end of the line responds," Well we do have rates that are different to what we normally charge the public that are reserved for insurance companys. I will find out. In the mean time I an tell you that the normal full retail price is £1102.50 inc VAT, but we have a very special promotion running at the minute, and you can get the window fitted with a substantial discount for only £771.00!. I can ring you back later with the price that you would pay if the job is done through your insurance company."


Overwhelmed with her generosity, not, I then tell her I will have to decline. I had just got a price from another firm for £411.25 in Vat.

The conversation then carried on," Sir , I can ring Fortis and see what they say. Can you just hold?!, "Fine." I respond.

After 3 or 4 minutes the cheery voice comes back, " I have spoken to Fortis, and initially the woman on the line was very off-hand, even wondering whyand said she would check to see if I was covered. When she came back, she said that Fortis would cover the cost subject to the £500 max claim and £50 excess. We will need confirmation faxing from Fortis though. I can ring you back later today once they have sent the fax, and also let you know how much."

I thanked her for her help and hung up. Something was very odd. Was she going to charge Fortis £771 and I would pick up the bill for £271 + £50 excess. That seemed a good deal, and for once in my life I felt sorry for the insurance company. You see I had only just started with them in January, and the claim was going to cost them as much as my whole years premium! No wonder the Fortis lady was grumpy and off-hand about it.

It seemed all too good to be possible, so I picked up the Yellow Pages and started ringing around for a new quote, this time without claiming on the policy. Eventually I found 2 local firms who would do the job for £360 inc VAT!

So I waited for Autoglass to phone back, and sure enough they did. this time thought it was the more gruff voice of a man with the noise of a workshop in the background, "Hello, this is Autoglass, can you tell me the details of your car?"

I go through the details again, "Right then, we will need the car in next week..."

"Hang on!" I butt in, " You haven't told me how much it will be!"

Surprised at my daft question, he replies "How much it will be? The insurance company are paying for it, they have given their consent."

I explain, " But they will not pay more than £500 maximum. How much will I then have to pay?

The penny drops, "Ah, so there is a claims limit. I'll just check."

After a few moments the gruff voice is back, " It'll be £700."

I query his answer, " Do you mean that it will be £700 less the £500 plus £50 excess?"

"No, it will be £700 to you", comes the reply.

Shocked I tell him that the price is ridiculous. The total price was £1150 for the back window. I could get 3 windows fitted for that price! The man with the gruff voice sounded embarassed

The £360 price looked like a bargain, and the glass firm was even apologising at how expensive they thought it was!

Then I had a thought. What if Fortis will pay the £360 and I only end up with the £50 excess? I rang my broker and left the question.

It will be interesting to see what the answer is. Did Fortis really give their approval for the repairs? Or has something more underhand taken place?

In retrospect I wonder if it would have been a lot simpler for a tile to slide off the roof and drop on to the window?

PS As I write, another firm has just given me a price of £329 inc VAT!

 

[pascal]

Glass Claim Harvesters

I got both side window, and windscreen rteplaced by insurance in the past.

First call should be to ring your insurance company. They (Eagle Star) told me their approved replacement fitters. Arranged apointment, singned to say job was done, no cost, no hastle.

In the US at the moment there are huge scams going on, with fitters going around car parks advising people to get free windscreens.

They are called 'GLASS CLAIM HARVESTERS'
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/windshield_scam.html

 

[Spike]

Autoglass.....

Watch them like a hawk, they sent a complete monkey to replace my front windscreen - never again

They scratched the bonnet, lacerated the A pillar trims, gunged up the wiper mechanism with sealant, bent the exterior trim, and left loads of sealant spurged all along the inside of the cabin along the headliner.

Despite agreeing to put things right in writing on two occasions, even to the extent of claiming they had orderd replacement parts that were damaged, they failed to bother to even turn up to look at the damage caused let alone fit them. I gave up after 9 months of being given the run around and sorted it myself.

 

[Terminator]

Beware! Fitting is all important with the Coupe rear screen, otherwise you will get water leaks. There is no requirement to use the Insurance Company's recommended glass installer. You can use who you like but it will mean that you will have to pay the bill then claim it back minus the excess. I would entrust the job to a good body shop which will have the right contacts.

 

[jberks]

All,
Am I missing something here?
Insurance co's cover broken glass, not delaminated due to age/wear. If you can get them to pay for the window then good luck to you, but I suspect the ins co is under the impression that some lovely soul has put a brick through it. I'm pretty sure if you explain the real story to the ins co then they'll tell you that you're on your own. e.g. They'll replace a rusty wing if someone smacks into it, but not if its just tatty. The same rules apply to glass.

I mention this because, if someone puts the real story on the paperwork to the ins co, you could find yourself with a nasty bill 2 weeks down the line!

 

[Apial]

The nice helpful lady at Autoglass was made absolutely clear that this was delamination. Delamination was explained to her as a slow process. She offered to contact the insurance company explaining to them that is was delamination. She reported back that the insurance company knew it was delamination and they still agreed to pay upto the claims limit of £500.

The autoglass man said that he had received authorisation for the work that was to cost £1150, of which I was expected to pay the excess , ie £700.

I have been quoted £329 for the same job by another firm.

As I see it, Autoglass were guilty of over-charging both me and the insurance company. They wanted 4 times the amount the job was worth.

It is a disgrace that they should even think that they could get away with it.
I have since reported back to Fortis the situation, and so far everything has gone quiet from them.

You might also like to know that a larger laminated heated rear window is used in a Ford Focus, and it costs half the price of the Mercedes one.

The longer that over-charging is allowed by the insurance industry, the longer our premiums will continue to rise.

 

[jberks]

The insurance co probably know they pay over the odds, or more likely, the bill is £500 but they get a 50% discount. Its in their interests to pay high prices so that you pay proportionately more than they do as you don't get the discount.

I generally find there are 'insurance/lease' type repairers and private ones. The former ones tend to have high list prices. This makes the leasee feel good as the lease co is paying out lots making them feel that the lease is good value, but in fact the lease co claims a massive discount which is built into the prices and they only really pay the real price. The poor sucker walking in through the door is the only one that really pays the list price. The retailer isn't really intended for Joe public. Qwickfit is switching over from company to private as company cars are taxed out of existence, but they still quoted me TWICE as much as my local independent for the same tyres.

 

[pascal]

The autoglass man said that he had received authorisation for the work that was to cost £1150, of which I was expected to pay the excess , ie £700.

Sounds like the insurance company and autoglass are in collusion, and you are footing the entire bill. Do you actually beleive the insurance company is paying Autoglass £450 on top of your £700.:roll:

 

[42731]

My 300CE has shown similar delamination along the lower sides of the rear screen. It does not seem to be getting any bigger and everything works. Is there some way of preventing it spreading through the glass or is it self-limiting?

 

[Oxmerc]

question on rear windscreen

I'd be interested to know if anyone knows of a company would replace my W124 coupe's delaminated rear window. On this string, someone mentioned a firm that might do it for £329. Is there any such company in the thames valley area? (I am in Reading)