Windscreen

[ianm5]

I’ve just got a 12 inch crack from the top the windscreen, growing 1cm a mile..

There’s no sign of impact damage so I wonder if it was those nasty little hard rubber speed bumps, I had to do 10 last night of the Doesn’t-matter-how-slow-you-go kind.

The insurance is likely to oblige me to use their approved repair, is there anything I need to know? The screen on my old Volvo cost 1600 and took hours to calibrate.

[OneExtra]

Originally Posted by ianm5

I’ve just got a 12 inch crack from the top the windscreen, growing 1cm a mile..

There’s no sign of impact damage so I wonder if it was those nasty little hard rubber speed bumps, I had to do 10 last night of the Doesn’t-matter-how-slow-you-go kind.

The insurance is likely to oblige me to use their approved repair, is there anything I need to know? The screen on my old Volvo cost 1600 and took hours to calibrate.

Normally windscreen cover is part of your car insurance with an excess

If you pay cash it will be about £1000 + fitting

It should not need calibrating.

[hawker1986]

Only thing I would push for is a genuine screen from BMW - whos fitting it would worry me less but with the coating on the inside of the screen for the HUD I would want it to be a proper screen. They may argue but I dont see why they shouldnt replace it with a genuine part?

[ianm5]

Thanks for the replies

Thankfully it was only 85quid for the BMW part under terms of insurance (that’s the 250quid a year policy....)

I seem to be getting a stream of little tedious problems, cracked screen, bubble tyre, RDC (warranty excess only). It the most reliable car I’ve ever owned but the most trivial accident prone.

[ianm5]

Well crappy ending to this one.

The screen isn’t OEM (still an expensive part though) and although they did a great job fitting it, the heads up is ruined.

It’s distorted and a bit blurry, to the point that it makes your eyes ache to use.

I’ll browse to see if there’s a film or something that might help.

You get what you pay for I suppose.

[F10dave]

Nightmare, I've a cracked screen ATM and after reading this am very concerned about this happening with mine. Did you request an OEM screen or were the insurance company being awkward?

[ianm5]

No in fairness I just let the insurer use their own people...national windscreens.

The windscreen guys were great and did an immaculate job, but seriously the HUD looks like a Chinese knock-off aftermarket thing.

Would I pay hundreds for my HUD? Not sure.

There are films on amazon for about 20quid, I’ll read up and give them a try.

[ianm5]

I’ve bought a generic HUD film for the screen for a few quid. Not really holding out any hope but I’ll let you know....I suppose they work for phones without being awful.

[OneExtra]

Originally Posted by ianm5

I’ve bought a generic HUD film for the screen for a few quid. Not really holding out any hope but I’ll let you know....I suppose they work for phones without being awful.

Why would you complain that the screen is not fit for purpose?

[ianm5]

Update...the rain sensor is massively impaired too.


I’ve read around a bit. It’s not the insurer or windscreen company’s fault really. My insurance offers me a product for 85quid and the T&c are pretty clear. There are a few threads where people get it fixed OEM then send the cost to the insurer and so on but the thread stories often end in protracted arguments.

It’s pretty crappy though, I’ll probably get an OEM fitted when I win the lottery.

[hawker1986]

If the rain sensor and the HUD are not working properly I would be arguing with them that they need to replace it with an OEM part - if it was fine then fair enough but its not and its their job to replace it with something which works as it should. Agree may be a total faff though. Does your insurance state that you need to use their fitter or does it state what sort of windscreen you should have. National windscreens I imagine can get an OEM part if they want.

[OneExtra]

Agree with the above if the product is not fit for purpose then its sub standard, surely your insurance company are not happy that they have fitted a part that's not to the manufacturers specifications.

[Qwertym5]

My guess is they have simply fitted the wrong screen. HUD and rain sensor should work fine on non OEM screen. I had blurred HUD after M3 screen replacement, that was quickly found to be a non HUD screen. They changed it and it was fine. Don’t know about M5 but there are at least 3, possibly 4 versions of the M3 screen; 2 diff camera types, HUD, or not and Reflective, or not.

[ianm5]

Ok...I think you make fair points.

I’ll chase it tomorrow and see where I get to

[F10dave]

Did you get it sorted in the end?

[ianm5]

No. In the end it was a ‘kick off with the insurer’ matter to move forward.

I’m not really suprised a non BMW part is a bit crap. Anyone who has ever had a cheap repair to a phone knows that the part may have the same technical spec but it doesn’t quite work the same any more. I only paid 85 quid for the screen so I’ll put OEM screen on the list of things to do..

It would have been easier to argue the case before rather than after...really recommend people watch out for this one. Hopefully my screen will get chipped next year.

[OneExtra]

Originally Posted by ianm5

No. In the end it was a ‘kick off with the insurer’ matter to move forward.

I’m not really suprised a non BMW part is a bit crap. Anyone who has ever had a cheap repair to a phone knows that the part may have the same technical spec but it doesn’t quite work the same any more. I only paid 85 quid for the screen so I’ll put OEM screen on the list of things to do..

It would have been easier to argue the case before rather than after...really recommend people watch out for this one. Hopefully my screen will get chipped next year.

As a reference when I got a replacement screen from BMW it was £980 so if your cost £85 I am not surprised there are issues.

[steviec53]

I had my screen replaced about 6wks ago after it cracked 3/4 width across.
My insurance co. stated in their terms & conditions that they would only cover the cost of a pattern screen, If I wanted an OEM screen then I would have to pay the difference up and above my excess.
I checked the cost of an OEM from dealers and they quoted £824 inc. vat that was for screen and all the gubbings, supply only.

In total I was £458, £100 excess and £358 difference in cost

[M5Rick]

Quite a few screens getting damaged, is it just the M5 screen is not as tough as normal run of the mill ones on other cars,maybe thinner for weight saving on M's.On one he said car went over a hump and it cracked!

[OneExtra]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Quite a few screens getting damaged, is it just the M5 screen is not as tough as normal run of the mill ones on other cars,maybe thinner for weight saving on M's.On one he said car went over a hump and it cracked!

No its just one of those things they are not thinner not when the car is nearly 2 tonnes

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by OneExtra

No its just one of those things they are not thinner not when the car is nearly 2 tonnes

Going through other posts I'm not the only one that thinks that and indeed it's because the car is nearly 2 tons that they may be thinner than normal.
How do you know they're not.

[OneExtra]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Going through other posts I'm not the only one that thinks that and indeed it's because the car is nearly 2 tons that they may be thinner than normal.
How do you know they're not.

I dont I just dont think saving a few lbs on a winscreen would be worthwhile on a car thats nearly 2 tonnes