Re: Windshield replacement

["Craig D. Niederst" <niederst@telerama.com>]

Dan,
Excellent post with some great tips. I'm going to call all 3 local Audi
dealers in the morning before contacting the insurance company to see what
shop(s) they use. What worries me is I took a dealer's advice on where to
have a broken drivers window replaced form a break-in 2 years ago, and it
took them 3 attempts with my Bentley in front of them to install it right
(and that required my personal help in their garage with the job). If they
couldn't handle that, I guarantee they will mess up the windshield job. On
the subject of the glass, I will definitely try for OE glass and gaskets
with the insurance company (even though I actually work for PPG). But my
insurance (Erie) has a special 800 number to call for glass replacement
which is run by a contracted service, not Erie themselves. I am hoping this
does not take my "choice" for OE glass and also the replacement shop away
since I am not dealing directly with the actual insurance company. Well, I
guess I'm in for a PITA, I just hope it all works out in the end. Thanks.

Craig
'92 100S (85k)

----- Original Message -----
From: Daniel Hussey <dan_hussey@email.msn.com>
To: Craig D. Niederst <niederst@telerama.com>; Quattro List
<quattro@audifans.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 1999 11:20 PM
Subject: Windshield replacement


> Craig,
>
> I just went through this on my '89 200 turbo quattro.  Mine was chipped
but
> not cracked yet, and I just sprung the cost to get it replaced.  It was
> pretty sandblasted too.  I paid a local shop with a good reputation to put
> in an aftermarket replacement.  Quality of install and product were poor!
I
> had them redo it at no additional charge and drop in an OE piece of glass,
> trim, and seal, and do it right!!!!
>
> Look in the manual first.  It may require use of spacers (not much to em,
> but I ordered mine from the dealer and had the shop use them.
>
> OK, now, an independent shop can do it fine (and Audi dealers usually
> contract out to have thiers done anyways!).  FInd out where they go may be
a
> good idea.  But, make sure you ask around and find a shop that is
guarunteed
> to do a good job and will stand by thier work.  The shop I went to didn't
do
> the greatest job, but at least they stood behind it and fixed it (which
was
> the right thing to do).  I'm happy now.  Anyways, here are some things I
> would reccoemend once you find a qualified shop.
>
> 1.  Use the OE glass, seal and trim!!!!  It costs more but is worth it!
> 2.  Don't get a silicone sealant!  Good shops all use butyl or
polyeurethane
> or something like that.
> 3.  Make them look at the manual (at least quickly) just to make sure
there
> isn't anything unusual that they don't know about.
> 4.  Make them remove the A-pillar covers before cutting out the old glass.
> They ruined mine that way and I had to find new ones at a junkyard.
> 5.  Make sure they are very carefull not to scratch the paint around the
> windshield when taking out the old one.  The shop I went to put some
rather
> tough masking tape around the areas around the windshield to make sure it
> didn't get scratched.
> BTW,  No matter how carefull he is, somewhere under there the paint is
going
> to get scratched off.... not visible, but it will!  So...
> 6.  Make sure he uses a primer to cover any exposed scratches before
laying
> the new windshield in place.
> And, last but not least,
> 7.  Make sure they clean up any oozing sealant and clean off the
windshield
> when they are done (they have really good glass cleaner).
>
> If you do all that, you should be fine!  I learned a lot more and finally
> got it right the second time.  Won't make that mistake again.  Good luck.
>
> Later,
> Dan
> 89 200TQ
> New glass is REALLY nice!  Clear view! :)
>
>
>
>
>