Front Windscreen Frame and heated screen idea

[Pastycrimper]

And of course my old frame is somewhat tatty too. Presumably sourcing a next to new one from a scrapper is the best way to go for one of these?

Maybe an good time to do the heated windscreen mod. I've heard talk of using windscreen insurance to get a replacement heated screen. I could buy a new surround, say I accidentally smashed my windscreen replacing the frame and ask for a heated screen replacement?

[daveturnbull]

The heated glass isn't massively expensive, probably not worth the excess, hassle & inevitable premium hike. The wiring kit to get it working adds quite a few quid to the price.

[Bowie69]

Agreed, just do it properly, and don't risk insurance fraud -grrr... not least because you put the premiums up for the rest of us.

I'm not sure why breakdown and windscreens seem to be exception to this rule!

[western]

Get another frame from the breakers at St Austell, I have a home drawn wiring diagram for my heated screen you can use, diagram on page 5 of https://forums.lr4x4.com/topic/4766-heated-front-screen/?page=5

 

heated screen from https://www.vehicleglazingspecialists.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=63_59&product_id=65

 

[Sharp]

I just replaced my screen and considered getting a heated one for the future but decided against it in the end. Insurance excess was £75 and a local is replacing it today for £85 but he seemed to think a decent heated screen would be considerably more even without the wiring. I believe it doesn't affect your no claims bonus but I'm wary of insurance companies, any excuse to weedle out of a claim when the sh*t hit's the fan. At renewal they always ask "have you had an accident in x years" and if somethings hit your windscreen and cracked it the answer is yes in my eyes regardless of no claims.

My insurance company only let you use auto-glass, I'm guessing this is because so many people try to get new windows out of insurance companies that they've got wise to it and only use companies that won't screw them over instead of the local independent who people would slip a few quid for an upgrade.

Edited December 13, 2017 by Sharp

[Lightning]

When the screen got cracked in my BMW Z3 3.0 the insurance company wanted to use Autoglass.

But l wanted an OE screen, Autoglass said theirs was “BMW but without the label” but it wasn’t.

They allowed me to take it to BMW but l had to pay a higher excess of £120 rather than £75.

[landroversforever]

36 minutes ago, Lightning said:

When the screen got cracked in my BMW Z3 3.0 the insurance company wanted to use Autoglass.

But l wanted an OE screen, Autoglass said theirs was “BMW but without the label” but it wasn’t.

They allowed me to take it to BMW but l had to pay a higher excess of £120 rather than £75.

I wish I'd done that with my Mini.... I'm sure the screen doesn't clear as well since being replaced, the heated area is narrower at the bottom than the old one. I also notice the wires in this one in sunlight.

[Snagger]

On 12/12/2017 at 8:19 PM, Pastycrimper said:

And of course my old frame is somewhat tatty too. Presumably sourcing a next to new one from a scrapper is the best way to go for one of these?

Maybe an good time to do the heated windscreen mod. I've heard talk of using windscreen insurance to get a replacement heated screen. I could buy a new surround, say I accidentally smashed my windscreen replacing the frame and ask for a heated screen replacement?

You do realise that posting this is a statement of planning to defraud. don't you?

[Lightning]

On 13/12/2017 at 9:15 AM, landroversforever said:

I wish I'd done that with my Mini.... I'm sure the screen doesn't clear as well since being replaced, the heated area is narrower at the bottom than the old one. I also notice the wires in this one in sunlight.

I had Autoglass fit a new screen in my Renault van, l said l wanted OE and they claimed theirs was “made by the same company”

But after that the van interior got much hotter in the sun, the Renault screen had some kind of UV blocker.

l always go for OE now except in my Defender where there is no technology at all, it’s just a flat piece of laminated glass. The only option is clear or green tinted

[Pastycrimper]

On 14/12/2017 at 5:50 AM, Snagger said:

You do realise that posting this is a statement of planning to defraud. don't you?

Yes. Truth is I am against all these people making false claims anyway. I've never really experienced the windscreen replacement element which varies greatly between policies. Doing the research I can get a new heated screen for not too much more and I prefer my clean sheet insurance.

[Pastycrimper]

Just purchased a new (old) TD5 Bonnet which looks in good nick an the guy had a windscreen frame from TD5 which he said had no corrosion so I've got that arriving too.

Thanks Ralph. I'll be purchasing a new heated screen and I figured the electronics shouldn't be too hard.

[Snagger]

Once you have it installed, try to get into the habit of switching it off as soon as the screen is clear.  The timer relays stay on far too long for most conditions, certainly the UK, and that is why the elements start failing within a few years.

[Mo Murphy]

I do exactly as Mr. Snagger suggests and mine has only two failed threads both of which failed in the first year, the remainder have all survived the following 5 years which I put down to only using as required.

HTH

Mo

[Pastycrimper]

 

11 hours ago, Snagger said:

Once you have it installed, try to get into the habit of switching it off as soon as the screen is clear.  The timer relays stay on far too long for most conditions, certainly the UK, and that is why the elements start failing within a few years.

 

8 hours ago, Mo Murphy said:

I do exactly as Mr. Snagger suggests and mine has only two failed threads both of which failed in the first year, the remainder have all survived the following 5 years which I put down to only using as required.

HTH

Mo

 

Useful advice, thanks. Aren't the timer relays adjustable?

[Snagger]

I don't think so.  Some cars use adjustable timer relays for intermittent wipers, and that is an upgrade covered on this forum, but the screen heater timers are usually fixed.  But even the standard momentary switches on factory fitted systems will deactivate the system on a second press, so you don't need to wait for the timer to cut out.

[western]

my timer unit has a 10 minute on duration, but I can switch it off by operating the momentary rocker switch. 

[ianmayco68]

You can get this Hellar one its adjustable was thinking of getting one to wire my screen in .

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Timer-Relay-Heated-Windscreen-Window-Delay-Off-15mins-max-Land-Rover-Defender/391722336135?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D7bd0d019baf84f35bcb8d8ebf713d8fb%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D15%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D253280857425&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A6adba746-e431-11e7-86a3-74dbd180ccd9%7Cparentrq%3A6b4c5f691600ad793f7d1df3fffcf644%7Ciid%3A1