super3day

I have a bullseye shape chip on my front windshield, and it is the size of penny. Is this chip qualify as DIY item? Where do I get the material and tolls (repair kit) needed to do the repair by myself?

I went to glass shop, and the OEM windshield priced at around $500/piece and the after market one is about half of the price. They will charge me $65 just for repair the chip and does not guaranty to be invisible after repair. I have replaced one windshield before, and got the chip again. So this time I decide to do it myself.

SLK Boy

I believe your insurance company covers windshield repairs..usually one per year or something like that...i think the deductible is $50, depending on your policy...you might want to look into that.

super3day

will check with my insurance again on monday, as i remember last time when i was trying to use my insurance to replace one, they do not cover the repair, only the whole windshield replacement. the repair does not meet the DOT standard according to my insurance company.

J__

do not do it urself!
get them to repair it, if u take it to a good place it is 95% non visible, u'll see a hole where the rock hit but other than that u wont notice it, but sometimes under certain angles u can see the glass kinda weird but id say its worth it
i had 2 chips fixed

jamesp

and i went through my insurance co. paid the deductable ($50 i think), and the glass shop sealed the chip. they used some sort of suction device with an adhesive and the chip has not spread at all. the co. i used was Royal Glass. hope this helps.

Matt H

I'll pipe in here since I'm from Colorado and windshield and front grille dings are just a way of life. Every winter, they throw down gravel for icey conditions, come Spring, well, trucks get the caught in the treads and throw them at your car.

Insurance companies in Colorado pay for chip/star repair free of cost to the owner. Cost benefit is greater I'm sure. On avgerage you will replace your windshield in it's entirety every 24 months.

Most shops can do a great job of it and they will come to you, fix it while you work or whatever. You can hardly notice they've done anything. Is it invisible? No, I mean, after all, it was a crack,star or pock mark in your windshield. I've had 3 fixed on my windshield and looking at it straight on, you can't really notice it. Some angles reveal work has been done. Still, easier on you and your checkbook in the long run.

They do sell some DIY kits that are pretty easy to use, but don't take into account drilling out and cleaning the center of the ding prior to using the silicon application.

super3day

potomac (pgauto.com) has the windshield for 98 and 99 W202. will it fit my 97 w202? the price is fairly low at $120/each. does it cost a lot for installation?

dwang

Windshields themselves are not expensive, it's the labor that's costly. I would take it to a window repair specialist if the starburst/chip is less than the size of a nickel. I just had one repaired on my 99 C230K, and my insurance paid for the whole cost. The chip/starburst is filled with a silicone based liquid which dries up in about an hour. Now I can't even see where the original chip was.


Dave

super3day

thanks, i'll try to repair it first, if the result is not good. then replacement is needed.