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Driving smoothly on hwy 280, enough distance between the vehicles, no roadwork around and bam, out of no where a faint tick is heard and windshield cracked like an eggshell..argghhhhh...looks like a bullet mark. Going to get it claimed via insurance, I know they’re going to get someone from safelite etc come to take a look to repair, but I don’t think it’s repairable... really mad!
Last edited by Festertester; 08-09-2020 at 12:41 AM.
Same thing happened to me on 280 after nearly 10 years of ownership. Had MB of SF replace it and by my incredibly faulty luck... just under a month later it happened a second time. This time on 101. This time I’ve just let it be.
keep in mind, it’s not a quick process, MB of SF asks that you pre-pay for the glass, then they order it (mine took about week) and then once it arrives, you can schedule the appointment.to replace it and they need the car for at least two days. The gasket has a glue that needs to cure for 24-36 hours prior to moving the car.
Looks like it's in the driver's line of sight? Before giving up, one thing you can try is something like the Rain-X windshield repair kit. Basically it injects resin into the crack and can often make it better, and nothing else at least close the crack's opening and stop the crack from spreading. It's like $10 from amazon.
The only issue is if you use the kit yourself then the professionals cannot repair it as you only get one try to do so, so if you rather have them do it, schedule it ASAP before the crack spreads more. Their rule of thumb is anything a dollar can cover can potentially be repaired, and I think this kind of spider crack can be.
If it were on the passenger side or somewhere not in the line of sight I would do it with the homemade kit and let it ride. However with it being on the driver's side may be worth a professional repair.
I got through two homemade repairs that way on my Sport's windshield instead of replacements before a golf ball sized crack recently on the highway caused me to replace it with Safelite, so the process is fresh in mind.
Their repair cost is around $125 and replacement I think for G-Class was $3250. Mobile fee is an additional $35 but they can come to your house and fix it so you can leave the vehicle in the garage.
You may want to help the crack enlarge - flat tips screwdriver in the center with a couple light taps with a hammer so that it spreads further, which will ensure you get a new one.
It’s just easier to have safelite do it. It gets done at your convenience and locatIon and you can drive it right after it’s done. The windshield is part of the airbag safety regs and only works with the glue cured, but what’s the chance of an accident the next day. Who ever makes the glass doesn’t matter since there is no distortion on a flat and almost vertical piece of glass.
Safellite may be able to repair that. I had a similar crack, maybe worse, on an SL that I didn't think could be repaired. They did and it lasted three years undetectable for the most part. They warned me prior to performing the repair that it might take off on them. At that point what did I have to lose? Insurance paid for everything. Give it a shot. Good luck.
Insurance can pay for repair and replacement but it depends on deductible. For a repair, I would just pay out of pocket.
I've heard insurance companies don't increase rates for windshields since it's not exactly something that can be prevented by even the best driver, but I would tend to try to limit the number of claims for sure.
In fact, I paid $900 out of pocket for my recent replacement since I know my G is forthcoming and want to keep my slate clean before then!
I tried. Companies like safellite won’t replace the w463 windshield. Safelite and two others that my insurance company noted, all said it’s a dealer only windshield. But that’s a good thing as my insurance was forced to fork out the $1800 for the factory glass, new weatherstrip and dealer install
Unfortunately, this is a never ending saga around here. I've had many of those over the years. Got hit a few weeks ago with the C63S. Anything smaller than a dollar bill can be repaired. I have Geico and they send out Safelite to repair it. It stops the damage from spreading, but you can still see it. Mine is on the passenger side, but the internal cracks are visible, and there is glare from the sun reflecting on the cracks. I'm going to have the windshield replaced. I've been holding off for things to return to something a bit more normal, but it looks like will be in the current crisis for the rest of the year at least. I've already informed Geico that the repair was not to my satisfaction. There's a recall I have to get done later this month, so I can just do the windshield at the same time under the original claim. I have a $100 comprehensive deductible. After having had to replace several windshields and paying $500-$1000 out of pocket every time, I got tired of it and lowered the deductible to a $100. Doesn't make much difference for the premium and to answer the above question, no comprehensive claims don't affect your insurance. Only collision claims.
Here's my before and after, so that should give you an idea of what to expect. I can tell you from past experience, if it's in your line of sight, it'll bother the heck out of you if you are like me. Yours may not be that bad after the repair, because the damage is actually minimal and it's a nice star. I've had those before, and as long as they were not in my line of sight, they were fine afterwards. The repair mostly keeps the integrity of the windshield and stops the cracks from growing, so it's a good temporary solution until you get around to replacing the windshield.
Last edited by superswiss; 08-08-2020 at 09:20 PM.
" $1800 for the factory glass, new weatherstrip and dealer install" - I am going to have to move to that area - W463 windshields in the Midwest are about $2600+ installed.... and YES it takes 245-36hrs to cure.. and best for the 1st few days to drive with a rear window slightly cracked so you don't build positive pressure in the cabin at speed.
" $1800 for the factory glass, new weatherstrip and dealer install" - I am going to have to move to that area - W463 windshields in the Midwest are about $2600+ installed.... and YES it takes 245-36hrs to cure.. and best for the 1st few days to drive with a rear window slightly cracked so you don't build positive pressure in the cabin at speed.
You should move to Florida or another state with a free replacement and zero deductible. Under state law it’s covered if you have a comprehensive policy. My last cracked Porsche windshield was handled over the phone and done in my driveway with OE glass.
2017 G 550, 2018 Jaguar F-Type 400 Sport AWD 'vert
Had an issue with GEICO and glass replacement when I lived in Illinois. They wanted their company Glass America to put what they called an "OEM quality" windshield in my BMW X5. The factory glass had some climate cool infrared rejecting capacity plus I had head up display and didn't trust aftermarket glass quality. I also read about rain sensing wiper problems with aftermarket windshields that don't come with the condensation sensor bonded to the glass so the old one is scraped off original glass and glued to the replacement. I'm too new to G class to know what from my BMW experience may/may not apply, though.
Had an issue with GEICO and glass replacement when I lived in Illinois. They wanted their company Glass America to put what they called an "OEM quality" windshield in my BMW X5. The factory glass had some climate cool infrared rejecting capacity plus I had head up display and didn't trust aftermarket glass quality. I read about rain sensing wiper problems with aftermarket windshields that don't come with the condensation sensor bonded to the glass so the old one is scraped off original glass and glued to the replacement. I'm too new to G class to know what from my BMW experience may/may not apply, though.
dont worry about it on the G. No aftermarket windshield is available for the W463A Gclass as of yet. The only way is going thru dealership, dealer will use safelite people doing the installation tho but using OEM windshield. Then all the sensors need to be re-calibrate.
Yeah, I think my plan is Exoshield for $400 when I get it and to buy the MB windshield insurance which should cover 2 replacements ($5000 coverage), then use insurance for everything else and hope for good luck.
You should move to Florida or another state with a free replacement and zero deductible. Under state law it’s covered if you have a comprehensive policy. My last cracked Porsche windshield was handled over the phone and done in my driveway with OE glass.
Not mention the job/business , just move the whole family to another state try to save $1000 or even $500 windshield deductible? Oh, how much is the moving cost?
Oh bugger! :-(. So sorry and completely gutted for you!
We had a 1cm stone flip up off a car coming towards us a few weeks ago, both of us saw it and held our breath. It caused a chip on the body below the windscreen and landed on the wiper- we were lucky.... that time!! You’re right though; it definitely seems inevitable :-(
Yeah, I think my plan is Exoshield for $400 when I get it and to buy the MB windshield insurance which should cover 2 replacements ($5000 coverage), then use insurance for everything else and hope for good luck.
I inquired for windshield replacement insurance when I was picking it up and learned that they don’t offer, I’m not sure if it’s via MB..I got mine beginning of July last year
Very sorry to hear that. I was glad that we haven't heard much of this issue lately. Hope everything works out with you. I'm putting Exoshield as soon as I pick up mine next week. Finally!
08-08-2020 | 05:58 PM
Inevitable happened
