Windscreen cracked in Costa Brava

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Gandalf

Joined
Jun 12, 2019
Posts
61
Likes collected
227
Location
West Malling Kent
Funster No
61,597
MH
Pilote G740
Exp
2020
Hi everyone
Currently on a campsite in Costa Brava and windscreen chipped then developed into 400mm crack on way here. Insurance co told me to drive home to get it replaced which I’m not keen on. Any one know of company that may be able to help with replacement?
Thanks
 
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Gandalf said:
Hi everyone
Currently on a campsite in Costa Brava and windscreen chipped then developed into 400mm crack on way here. Insurance co told me to drive home to get it replaced which I’m not keen on. Any one know of company that may be able to help with replacement?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Why not drive home, we toured for 10 weeks last year with a cracked screen. Its laminated so its safe so long as its not obstructing the drivers view its OK.
 
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The usual large windscreen replacement companies are pan European, your issue is the type of windscreen if A Class as per listing.
That said there will be no issue driving back, it's laminated so crack is only in the outer layer.

Given the high costs I've seen for A Class windscreen I hope you have suitable coverage.
 
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I would also drive home and get it done in UK, If there is a issue later you have a chance to get it sorted.
Had this happen twice in the past 20 years and both times came back.

You may even have a long wait for a replacement if its an A class screen.
 
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I would also be ignoring it till home, I would have set off with it as well if it had happened before setting off and I couldn’t get it changed before leaving

Try to ignore it, nothing can go wrong even if it creeps right across the screen 👍

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Id leave it till home, but possibly get some windscreen crack glue to avoid it doing further. YOu can even use superglue as a last resort like i did til the next mot :LOL: or some clear nail polish
there are plenty amazon collection points in costa brava, if you cant find any in the Tat shops or auto stations

6 Ways to Stop Windshield Cracks from Spreading While Traveling | Only 1 Auto Glass

Learn what you can do to temporarily stop windshield cracks from growing until you can schedule permanent auto glass repairs.
only1autoglass.com
 
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I have read on here that some screens supplied can be ill fitting on A class and if you go against the insurance companies advice you may find they wash theres hands of it if you have problems and I doubt any company where you are will warranty it unless you take it back to them just a thought
 
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It can take some time to get an A class windscreen so take the number on the screen! And arrange with your insurance company to order & assign a company to fit when you get back to the UK
 
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You have an A class motorhome.
A class windscreens are notoriously expensive.
They also have a long waiting time in the UK.

The reason for the long waiting time is the need to make up a pallet load or lorry load of spares to go from the manufacturing plant in France to the UK and with all the new Brexit paperwork it not worth doing for only a few items.

There was a member on this site a few months ago who worked out is was cheaper and faster to drive to Germany to get an A class windscreen for a Hymer, even after taking into consideration the ferry and fuel costs.

Therefore I would suggest you very seriously look at driving back via France.

The main manufacturing plant for Pilote near Angers on the Loire (It's a nice place to spend a few days!)
I'd get in touch with one of the Pilote dealers local to Angers now, and arrange to get the screen fitted on your way home in a few weeks time
You may also make a saving with a comma in the price.

This Pilote dealer is local to Angers and seem to also rent out motorhomes, so probably speak English.
 
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Cara glass would not touch our A class when we had a screen crack out in Spain we just waited until we got home 😊
 
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Apologies for jumping on the thread but coincidence or what - sort of!

We are just about to depart the U.K. on a 6 week bimble around France and when washing the Moho last night I found a 3” crack at the very top of the screen. The insurance authorised repairers, Autoglass, don’t have one in stock, (standard 22 Ducato), and no call back yet as to when one might be available.

I’m just off the phone with LV and their answer is that if I use a non-authorised repairer I’ll have a £200 excess in addition to the £95 standard one. Can’t delay the trip until ……. whenever, so I’m tempted to put some Capt. Tolley’s ‘Creeping Crack Repair’ on it inside and out. What’s the verdict on that?
 
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Orion said:
Apologies for jumping on the thread but coincidence or what - sort of!

We are just about to depart the U.K. on a 6 week bimble around France and when washing the Moho last night I found a 3” crack at the very top of the screen. The insurance authorised repairers, Autoglass, don’t have one in stock, (standard 22 Ducato), and no call back yet as to when one might be available.

I’m just off the phone with LV and their answer is that if I use a non-authorised repairer I’ll have a £200 excess in addition to the £95 standard one. Can’t delay the trip until ……. whenever, so I’m tempted to put some Capt. Tolley’s ‘Creeping Crack Repair’ on it inside and out. What’s the verdict on that?
Click to expand...
Bung in the crack repair and mark the end of the crack
If it continues to creep then you will need to replace it.

A standard 2022 Fiat Ducato screen should be easy to obtain at any Fiat dealership in France with a few days notice.
So just ensure you have a list of the Fiat Dealers in the area you are going to
(You may also find a windscreen is cheaper in France!)
 
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Didn’t wait long for ours when we got back a couple of weeks🤔😊

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Brains said:
Bung in the crack repair and mark the end of the crack
If it continues to creep then you will need to replace it.

A standard 2022 Fiat Ducato screen should be easy to obtain at any Fiat dealership in France with a few days notice.
So just ensure you have a list of the Fiat Dealers in the area you are going to
(You may also find a windscreen is cheaper in France!)
Click to expand...

Yep, bunging it in is what I’m going to do!

Been back to Autoglass and had a chat with a very helpful young lady. Upshot is that she’s transferring the job to their French associates - turns out it’s Carglass- and I’ll liaise with them over having it replaced over there if need be. No addition excess as they are part of the same company - just quote the job ID I’ve been given.
 
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If a replacement is not on the cards...get the crack stopped......and continue on your holiday...
Just as well my OZ insurance company didn't tell me to drive home when we experienced a chip, then crack, then whoops...whilst driving our own vehicle in OZ...🤔
 
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Brains said:
A standard 2022 Fiat Ducato screen should be easy to obtain at any Fiat dealership in France with a few days notice.
So just ensure you have a list of the Fiat Dealers in the area you are going to
(You may also find a windscreen is cheaper in France!)
Click to expand...
But then what about the import tax when they drive back into the UK, or are you suggesting they don't report it to customs


:reel:
 
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We had a crack appear whilst in Spain, nobody would touch it even though its illegal to drive a vehicle that's got a cracked windscreen in Spain, travelled through France into Germany, we tried twice to get it fixed in Germany but they kept sending non a class screens.
We eventually got it replaced in the uk.
An absolute waste if time trying to get it done in the eu.
Travel and get it fixed on your return to the UK.
 
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Mr porky said:
We had a crack appear whilst in Spain, nobody would touch it even though its illegal to drive a vehicle that's got a cracked windscreen in Spain, travelled through France into Germany, we tried twice to get it fixed in Germany but they kept sending non a class screens.
We eventually got it replaced in the uk.
An absolute waste if time trying to get it done in the eu.
Travel and get it fixed on your return to the UK.
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Odd.

Our experience of getting stuff fixed in the EU was very positive.
Done as soon as they could get the spares (2 days), cost half of the UK cost, and were actually happy to help.

I remember your Morello, you would have thought as it's German, they would have been able to deal with it far better there than in the UK (and no import tax!)
 
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Brains said:
Odd.

Our experience of getting stuff fixed in the EU was very positive.
Done as soon as they could get the spares (2 days), cost half of the UK cost, and were actually happy to help.

I remember your Morello, you would have thought as it's German, they would have been able to deal with it far better there than in the UK (and no import tax!)
Click to expand...
It was fully covered in any country including the uk as we are with NFU insurance but it wasn't to be.

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Thanks for all the feedback folks, a number of people I contacted said they could help, but no one has come up with a solution. Knowing that others have driven back to the uk with a crack has made me feel more positive about doing that, so thanks for the reassurance. Will still see if I can get it replaced though, even if it’s en-route home, it’s not as if I’m busy whilst sitting in the sun with a cold beer in hand😁
 
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Try motorhome heroes, speak to Lucy, National windscreens messed me around for three weeks and sent out the wrong screen, I rang them after three weeks to find out what was happening and apparently the guys who came out with the wrong screen had handed it back to the specialist unit incorrectly so it was in limbo, after my phone call they subbed it out to motorhome heroes, I got a phone call from Lucy asking me for a photo of the screen and confirmation of the van, this was on a Tuesday afternoon, on Thursday they turned up with the correct screen, although it's not marked Hymer it is made by Pilkington glass the same as the original, great service from Lucy and her colleagues.

Homepage - Motorhome Heroes

Our dedicated team of specialist technicians can come to you to repair motorhome windscreens and replace glass and plastic caravan windows...
www.motorhome-heroes.com www.motorhome-heroes.com
 
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If nothing else available I would put the smallest amount of super glue on the crack and scrape of any excess with a Stanley knife blade, it should get you home without it spreading 😉.
 
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MichaelT said:
Why not drive home, we toured for 10 weeks last year with a cracked screen. Its laminated so its safe so long as its not obstructing the drivers view its OK.
Click to expand...
Apart from being illegal in Spain 🇪🇸 although you'd be unlucky to be caught.
Orion said:
’ll have a £200 excess in addition to the £95
Click to expand...
For a standard ducato Windscreen that is all I'd expect to pay for supply and fitting paying direct.
 
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