WARNING- Windshield Repair

X5FX · #1 06-02-2007, 10:32 PM

I just returned from a long road trip where a trucker kicked up a rock that left a small nick in my windshield. Today I went into a local shop to get a State Inspection Sticker, when a guy came out and said he could repair the damaged windshield, I agreed and he proceeded to drill and fill the chip. BIG MISTAKE, evidentally the BMW windshield has multiple layers (NOTE: I have HUD) and likely has a special layer to control reflections for the HUD. Here is the result...its about 20X larger than the original "nick"...looks like crap. I obviously complained to the repair guy, the shop manager and finally to the owner of the Glass Repair company, who I discovered works independantly of the shop.

The owner refused to do anything about the problem, other that offering to file a claim with my insurance company. He had the nerve to say, "it doesnt look that bad"...I am going to Small Claims Court and file a claim against the glass company monday.
I'm going to the dealer monday also to order a new windshield.

So be warned, do not let the glass guys fill a crack in the X5 windshield.

trueX5er · #2 06-02-2007, 10:35 PM

ouch man, I'm sorry. Hope it gets replaced quickly and painlessly. How long does windshield take to get replaced? About 5 hrs? So they'll probably give you a loaner. Good Luck

canamx5 · #3 06-02-2007, 10:44 PM

That sucks! You might want to give a call to the BBB as well.

X5FX · #4 06-03-2007, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canamx5

That sucks! You might want to give a call to the BBB as well.

Thanks, I will.

Verbalkint · #5 06-03-2007, 12:42 AM

Man, that is gruesome, and simply unacceptable.

I'd be very pissed.

Neither you nor your insurance company should pay for that. In the event your insurance carrier does pay for a new windshield, I'm confident they'll seek subrogation from all responsible parties, and be reimbursed, accordingly.

Good luck getting your windshield replaced, and that issue resolved, quickly.

ncx · #6 06-02-2007, 10:46 PM

Man that is huge. Good luck and us know how it turns out.

Blue Mountain Raider · #7 06-03-2007, 03:41 AM

please let us know how it goes with the small claims. thanks.

X5FX · #8 06-03-2007, 09:14 AM

I am beyond pissed.

I am also going to file a complaint with my states Insurance Commission and the Dept of Motor Vehicles. The glass shop owner told me that he would assist me in making a claim against my insurance. I asked him why my insurance should pay for his neglect...he just stared at me.

What is also interesting is the glass guy is an independent company that pays the shop to prey on people coming in for motor vehicle inspections. I thought the guy worked for the inspection company...he told me "you have a chip in the drivers view that needs to be fixed" implying that I needed to fix it to get my Inspection complete. Im sure my dept of motor vehicles will have an issue with this and will likely fine the shop.

This guy is not prepared for what is coming!

bmw5 · #9 06-03-2007, 11:01 AM

I am sorry for your cracked windshield.I dont know the American law but in Greece if you have insured your car for that kind of damage the insurance company will cover the cost that BMW workshop has issued.In my opinion you should have taken your car to BMW workshop to repair the damage or better yet change the windshield since you have HUD.
Small claims court will oblige the windshield company to return to you the money or oblige the insurance company to cover the cost for the correct windshield by BMW workshop?

xsracer · #10 06-03-2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw5

I am sorry for your cracked windshield.I dont know the American law but in Greece if you have insured your car for that kind of damage the insurance company will cover the cost that BMW workshop has issued.In my opinion you should have taken your car to BMW workshop to repair the damage or better yet change the windshield since you have HUD.
Small claims court will oblige the windshield company to return to you the money or oblige the insurance company to cover the cost for the correct windshield by BMW workshop?

Making claim to your insurance company might raise the premium so there is no reason to do it when it's not your fault. In addition, some insurance companies don't cover glass unless you get it separately, which usually doesn't worth it.

As far as original post goes, they certainly tried to swindle you. I've had a crack one of my car windshields. Pissed the sh.. out of me but passed inspections twice with no problems.

Unfortunately, I don't know if you have much of a case here. They might've implied that but didn't actually say it. And even if they didn, it's your word against theirs. Also, vendors doing bad job is nothing new - they're not usually found responsible. Of course, I'd definitely try small claims court - what do you have to loose. The shop is likely to have insurance of their own - court might make them pay.