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Crap....Windshield took a rock right now.

4K views 47 replies 20 participants last post by  alia176 
#1 ·
On the way to work right now got a huge rock fling up and its made a huge crack in the windshield... :crybaby2:

Doesn't look repairable and from the outside I nearly cut my finger on it since its got a huge lip on it where it hit -- its pretty deep and the spiders web has spread out about 2 inch's in all directions (immediately happened).
Even if it is repairable, I am not sure if its even worth it since after 23 years its pretty pitted and its not that great viewing when the sun is low you can see that it looks sand blasted.

What are my options? I remember reading something somewhere that MB doesn't make our windshields anymore? I am hoping I read wrong...

Any clues on the $$$ replacement?
I don't have any experience with windshields so this is new to me.

Thanks guys.
 
#2 ·
not sure on a W124 but 4-5 years ago had to replace a windshield on my W201. I asked a local indy where he would take his cars to and sent me to a reputable glass shop.
If I remember right it was about $200.

Mark
 
#3 ·
I definitely want to stick with MB glass...I don't want aftermarket.
I am also concerned about the replacement itself as I have heard it can be a tricky job. I wonder if this is something I should just cough up for and have the dealer do it. Parts.com shows the glass @ $240 PN #1246703301, how long is labor typically for this type of thing?
 
#4 ·
Man, that sucks! Of all the cars to deal with a windshield the 124 if not the worst is certainly one of the worst.

I'll offer a warning and you may already be totally aware:

It is common for even a savvy windshield guy to glue the windshield wiper assembly to the windshield. I gave in and put a windshield in my car several years ago. That winter I was headed to Kansas City in a pretty serious blizzard and my windshield wiper got really lazy. I made the trip and got home then pulled the windshield wiper to lube it. It was glued so tight to the windshield that I broke the windshield getting it out.

Now that the car is on the road again I'm going to put in a new windshield before too long after sorting out a few other things. When I DO, I am going to remove the windshield wiper mechanism and then take the car for the new windshield.

If you take it to the dealer, they're just going to call their buddy at Safelite or somewhere.

Best of luck with it!
 
#5 ·
You see, that is what I DO NOT want. I don't want any junk windshield installed or by any moron making $10/hr. If I have to, I will purchase the glass myself then find someone to install it. (and possibily remove the wiper assembly myself if need be).

I know basically nothing about windshield installs, so give me everything because I probably don't know.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Well, if you take out the WW assembly then the rest of the job is pretty straight forward for an average windshield guy. If you want to be extra careful remove the surround so that you can leave him with nothing more than to glue in the windshield.

I'm not sure about the glass quality from MB to aftermarket. The aftermarket that they used in mine seemed to be fine except for the sloppy glue around the WW which was not the fault of the glass.

I've also read about windshield guys for all practical purposes gluing the windshield to the edge of the dash cover which would be a hassle if God forbid you ever have to replace the evaporator or do a podectomy. I think this might have happened because of the WW in the way.

That's all I know to tell you. I'm sure there others with more experience in this area than myself.

BTW, you sound like me. I have a real problem being at the mercy of the unknown repair guy. He might be the end all ace in what he does, but probably not. I totally understand the emotion.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Sometimes it depends on the car.
Wifes mini cooper took pebbles to the windshield and cracked, twice in a month @ $800 pop from the dealer, because I wanted OEM. After that I figured I could get four Safelite (they make their own) windshields for one OEM.

Dont you know the safelite glass took a rock about a month later that scared me so much I jumped in my seat and just kept on keepin on. No damage other than small "dent"

Turns out there was a problem with OEM glass on a very stiff, and "structurally dependent on the windshield" car. Turns out safelite was better.

I like Saint Gobain and Pilkington personally.

*EDIT- Go get the $15 "kit" at auto parts store. You can prevent further spidering, and might even do a good enough job to not worry about it. I've repaired about 4 big chips and 1-2 dollar bill length cracks with it. Most useful part is it prevents cracks spreading, so you can have more time to decide what to do. It's easy as pie, just follow directions.
 
#8 ·
Evaporator and pods haven't been replaced in my wagon yet. It all works right now *knock on wood*, but let's face it, I'm on borrowed time 24 years old, so in the near future it's gonna have to come out.

GOOD side though, dash is showing small cracks, so I will replace the dash when that time comes anyway, so even if they did, not a huge deal.

Dealership just called me and for whatever reason they need to call me back with a quote in a few hours -- maybe they gotta call safelite :rolleyes:
 
#12 ·
She said parts department doesn't know. She said it could be Pilkington since they have a contract with them.

Hows Pilkington?

Also, does $615 sound about right for a dealer?
 
#13 ·
Just had another thought. Would it be much cheaper to purchase the windshield, I myself remove the wiper assembly then have someone install it for me?
What do you guys suggest I do?
 
#22 ·
Absolutely. The windshield specialists could do a good job without the WW in place. If you are familiar with removing it, that's the only way to go IMHO. I would expect it to only be a couple of hundred dollars that way. I have nothing but liability insurance on mine, so that's what I will do.

Best of luck with it.
 
#15 ·
The Windshield Business is somewhat turbulent, kind of like the Mobile Locksmith Business but without any required skill level. Sorry Glass Guys.
My friend has been in the business forever. Almost all windshields are $ 100 !
Now add about an hour and a half for labor. Any hack with a beat mini truck can enter the business and undercut the knowledgeable guys that have been doing it for a time. Now that I have offended the Glass Guys.

A well seasoned Glass guy will give at least few options for Quality.
Ask the right questions and make the ‘how much’ your last question.
The cheapest Guy is the one to avoid !
 
#16 ·
How's your insurance in Arizona? Here in Florida, per state law windshields are covered as a $0 deductible repair from damage.

I know the windshield on my E is PPG though it has Mercedes markings on it. :confused:
 
#17 ·
Sorry to hear about that, but at least your original screen gave good service. My screen is a non-oem replacement, and in poor shape. De-laminating / milky at three corners, chipped, and now cracked at the edge too (I think it happened the last time the car went on a lift, and it's creeping.) I think a genuine screen would be a sensible move having seen how poor this one is.

I've been quoted £340 (about $550) for replacement by my specialist, using whatever make of star-branded genuine screen that comes from MB UK, so your price sounds about right.

The shop will do what the dealers do... call a guy in to do the job. However, at least their guy regularly sees 124's and others of the era which to me makes this a better prospect than the dealer this time. The fitter will not only have to treat the wiper right, but also the paint round the frame as he's cutting the old screen out, with primer applied as necessary, and the roof trim strips will have to come off too all the way to the back of the car. Perhaps you know a specialist who could hook you up with an experienced fitter?

I'm sorely tempted to halve the costs and just get the cheapest firm to come and do the job (can get a 124 screen for £120 fitted) but I'm too paranoid of future leaks and rust due to poor workmanship. Last week my neighbor had a replacement on a 2011 BMW done outside his house by a low-cost mobile fitter his insurance company sent - his car is worth 6 X the value of mine and he didn't give it a second thought. Are we being too cautious?
 
#18 ·
I need to have my windshield replaced and if my car isn't totalled from the latest accident, I'll replace it. Upon my research, I learned couple of things:
- contacted a glass shop that does all of the local MB dealer's work. Quote was around $200. Sekurite glass and the proper adhesive (can't recall the name at the moment)
- I'll remove the WW
- I'll remove the Windshield trims
- I'll have them come to my work and then proceed to pull up a chair, grab my lunch, laptop and watch him like a hawk :)
 
#23 · (Edited)
This ground has all been covered multiple times. Check the archives. I don't recall seeing the WW as an obstacle the three or so times my windshield had been replaced in the DD. The roof trim and the two pieces along the bottom of the shield comes off but then all the work is done from inside the car to remove the glass. If someone wants to remove the ww assembly, they are wasting time. Safelite can do the job in an hour start to finish but their glass is lousy.
 
#24 ·
Well all I can say is that I sure do wish that I had wasted that time when they put in my last windshield! They slid the windshield underneath it and were sloppy with the sealer. Ended up gluing the windshield to the windshield wiper assembly and I had to bust the windshield to get it out.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
 
#27 ·
ps2cho,
There's a place in Dublin Ca. that will replace the windshield for you. $195 glass and labor.
They are good guys and know about the WW assembly. He said "no problem we've done them before". but like Larry says it's just you're call to take the WW assembly out or not. It takes all of 5 minutes for those of us that have had the pleasure of servicing the blower motor. With these guys I would leave it in cause I have had them do work before and they can be trusted.
Low Price Auto Glass
5.0 star rating
82 reviews Rating Details

Low Price Auto Glass
6355 Scarlett Ct
Ste 8
Dublin, CA 94568
(925) 828-5111
 
#29 ·
Going through exactly the same thing today! Driving to work and SOB dump truck with an uncovered load lobbed a big stone and BANG!

Working with Safelite through my insurance and they advised that they can only get OE. Not sure who the actual manufacturer is but the quote was around $600.
 
#30 ·
I booked a screen replacement today via my insurance company, which will happen next week in return for a token excess payment. The screen is available here on a next-day basis, and will be Pilkington or Sekurit, depending on UK stock levels, with top-tint, green heat-insulating, vin-window - the same screen as the dealers will supply, but with no star.

The one in the car now is a non-mercedes replacement, but I don't know how old it is. It was scratched, pitted, chipped, delaminating and leaking slightly before it finally cracked - there's some green growth behind the glass near the scuttle on one corner.

The firm doing the job is the UK's biggest, so I will have to hope for a seasoned fitter. I was offered a choice of home or workshop fitting - I chose home, as I wouldn't be allowed to watch at their shop! I'm going to take some pictures, too. They offer a guarantee on workmanship that is valid as long as I own the car and their reputation suggests they're good for it.

I refuse to become paranoid about possible replacement pit-falls any longer, I just want a free new screen. I won't enjoy watching the cheese-wire in action, though!
 
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