Gutted...

Just had a call telling me that I may not be able to pick up the Evoque tomorrow as they've noticed a hairline fracture on the windscreen and have to replace it.

Just a bit worried about it not having been fitted at the factory and if this could cause any problems. A bit miffed really tbh. Would like the resaurrance that the car is completely new as fitted in the factory and not been cobbled together.

Could the new windscreen potentially not be fitted as well as the original one and maybe cause more noise in the cabin? Do they use the same method to fix it to the vehicle as they do in the factory?

Does any one have any experience of this? Am I worrying about nothing?

I would rather a new windscreen that the 'factory fitted' screen with a crack in it.

In my experience of replacement windscreens I've never noticed a different in noise or fitment from the originals.

I would say you are worrying about nothing.

Tough one! The Evoque windscreen is heated, houses a lot of sensors for lights, rain etc and with the bonnet coming right up to the base there is lots of opportunity to damage the surrounding paint etc.

You're going to have to inspect the car very carefully to ensure they haven't caused any damage and that all the electrics etc work.

Ultimately you have the right to reject the car and in most cases I know of where a car has been rejected the dealer/LR have given the use of the original car while the replacement is built.

The dealer will inevitably tell you that they'll replace the windscreen to the same standard as the factory but only you can decide if you're happy with it.

We've had a couple of replacement heated windscreens fitted on our Freelander and they've been as good as factory fit. However I can understand your dilemma given that it's a brand new car still at the dealer.

Also I do wonder why there is a hairline fracture in the windscreen in the first place? If I was you I might want to either see it before they repair or at least ask where on the windscreen the fracture is/was so you can check that area for any other damage and the cause of the fracture.

(26-03-2012 10:56am)WB Wrote:  Also I do wonder why there is a hairline fracture in the windscreen in the first place? If I was you I might want to either see it before they repair or at least ask where on the windscreen the fracture is/was so you can check that area for any other damage and the cause of the fracture.

The dealer said it was a small fracture at the base on the black area which is probably why it wasn't spotted at the factory check.

I can understand you being gutted stef but the fault has been spotted and is being corrected. Better this happens now than the screen going in a months time.

(26-03-2012 12:33pm)MartinP Wrote:  I can understand you being gutted stef but the fault has been spotted and is being corrected. Better this happens now than the screen going in a months time.

Yeah I hear what you're saying.

Tbh as long as it is totally indistinguishable from the original and it is fitted perfectly then theres no problems.

Sometimes theres always that niggling doubt whether something has been done right though, know what I mean?

Though I guess its pretty straight forward to have it properly fitted? You can't really have a poorly fitted windscreen (hopefully)?

My sympathies. It's a great pity this has happened because it dilutes the handover experience but far better it's being replaced now than you notice it after delivery and have to argue your corner.

I think you should ask who is doing the work - glass work is often sub-contracted - and I would actually feel more comfortable with a specialist doing it rather that a couple of dealer grease monkeys who've been on a course grappling with the thing.

I agree you should inspect the car very closely - inside and out. At the factory, windscreen installation is a mechanised process done by robots; a manual replacement needn't be of lower quality but of course it takes much longer and the car should be left to stand overnight to let the bonding agent set before driving it. Make sure too that the replacement windscreen is the proper Land Rover part, not some after market effort. Official ones have the RR logo and the manufacturer's name "Saint Gobain" near where the VED disc goes.

Keep in mind that all sorts of rectification work goes on before a car is delivered - that's the whole point of QA at the factory and PDI at the dealer - to catch stuff before it becomes a warranty issue. I've seen remedial paint work being done, engines in bits, trim out (though not at Halewood, they wouldn't let us there), so this is hardly exceptional. If they had noticed it, the glass would have been replaced and you would have been none the wiser...

Good luck, hope you enjoy the car and let us know how you get on.

(26-03-2012 01:17pm)mark_n Wrote:  My sympathies. It's a great pity this has happened because it dilutes the handover experience but far better it's being replaced now than you notice it after delivery and have to argue your corner.

I think you should ask who is doing the work - glass work is often sub-contracted - and I would actually feel more comfortable with a specialist doing it rather that a couple of dealer grease monkeys who've been on a course grappling with the thing.

I agree you should inspect the car very closely - inside and out. At the factory, windscreen installation is a mechanised process done by robots; a manual replacement needn't be of lower quality but of course it takes much longer and the car should be left to stand overnight to let the bonding agent set before driving it. Make sure too that the replacement windscreen is the proper Land Rover part, not some after market effort. Official ones have the RR logo and the manufacturer's name "Saint Gobain" near where the VED disc goes.

Keep in mind that all sorts of rectification work goes on before a car is delivered - that's the whole point of QA at the factory and PDI at the dealer - to catch stuff before it becomes a warranty issue. I've seen remedial paint work being done, engines in bits, trim out (though not at Halewood, they wouldn't let us there), so this is hardly exceptional. If they had noticed it, the glass would have been replaced and you would have been none the wiser...

Good luck, hope you enjoy the car and let us know how you get on.

Thanks this is a big help and is a little more reassuring. I will check on the things you suggest like the logo to make sure its an official LR part and try to make sure there is a specialist handling this. Out of interest have you worked at Halewood and other car manufacturing plants?