allsop83

iTrader: (9)

Hi Guys,

Needing a new windscreen and came across something I can't make my mind up about....

Got a quote of £200ish for a new windscreen however I thought I would prefer to get a 'Subaru' one (etched with Subaru etc. same as the one coming out. So got a quote from Subaru UK - £800!!

Anyway, as this was an insurance job I said I would rather have one with Subaru on it etc. soley cos I am a bit of a nonce and wanted to keep it original.

Today the windscreen turned up from Subaru UK.....

....and it has no etching on it at all!

Apparently they don't etch anything on them anymore and he gae us the "this is the last one in stock in the UK" spiel. I am just wondering where Subaru would get their windscreens and also if they are at it just buying the type of thing I had a quote for originally, wrapped it in some subaru packaging and threw £600 on the price!!

Anybody had any experience on this? Do Subaru not have 'Subaru' windscreens/glass anymore?

Cheers,
Chris

d4vidh

How much did you end up paying for the screen?? I had my bugeye windscreen changed a few weeks ago (Auto Windscreens, £80 insurance excess) and they said they only stock non manufacturer screens especially with Subaru as it takes far too long to get them in as they ship them from Japan. I wasn't to fussed if mine said Subaru or not, just not happy with the crack in the old one

Tidgy

hmm, be interesting to hear what your sinurance company thinks of that, wonder if there paying the full price for an origional when there not getting one?

allsop83

iTrader: (9)

^^^ That's kind of what I am thinking. The car is off the road until April anyway so I am in no rush to get the screen in there tbh- although if my insurance is paying the £800 Subaru have asked for I want it to be a Subaru screen, not just them buying in a cheap one and throwing it in a Subaru box.

This is being done at the paint shop whilst it is getting a front end respray so we are dealing direct with Subaru UK....and getting a cheapo screen for big bucks it seems?

Unless somebody can tell me that Subaru don't have their names on their glass anymore?

urban

iTrader: (1)

Question really is why do you insist on having one with a Subaru badge?

allsop83

iTrader: (9)

Why not? That's what came off the car so would have been nice to put the same back on......and as I said....I'm a nonce

If my insurance is paying an extra £600 it is worth the question though.

urban

iTrader: (1)

Sure is

I had a screen changed on my old 05STI.
If I went to autoglass it was free, if I went elsewhere they only covered up to a certain amount.
The screen from autoglass was as far as I could tell the same as the original, except it didn't have the Subaru name.

steve ex vauxhall

iTrader: (5)

All the insurers have agreed rates with the windscreen companies, there's no way that they will pay the full retail price, which is what you have been quoted.

They have many different levels of discount with all the glass companies.

This is why you end up paying more if you don't use their " approved supplier"

reef67

I had Autoglass change my screen through insurance this time last year, they told me there was no way the insurer would pay for a Subaru branded windscreen...they found one at £800 and the insurer approved it!...trouble was it was brown tinted, i.e jap spec, I then had to convince Autoglass that mine is blue tinted, i.e for a UK car...
After a lot of dicking about I managed to source a 'Subaru' etched screen from my local dealer for about £230...

legb4rsk

My glass (JDM Legacy)has some Japanese symbols & stamps on it.If they are cheap copies maybe they wont have these as they could be manufactured somewhere else.

rob84

iTrader: (5)

From what I remember there are two types of screen ones a proparts screen (Unbranded) the other is a genuine item, Ones cheaper than the other.

CharlySkunkWeed

iTrader: (7)

At £800 it would be alot cheaper getting an unbranded one etched !

Moley

iTrader: (9)

I can assure you that's not the case, as i get to see all payouts made per month, including windscreens.

The variation in price is amazing, have seen one company charge the insurers over £1200 to supply and fix a screen to a WRX.

gpssti4

iTrader: (6)

If you're changing your 'screen, are you aware that there are now heated front 'screens available?

Miketemplar

That's not new! I've been doing them for 14 years now, but back to the original thread, Subaru commonly source their glass from outside suppliers for nearly all the older models and as and when stocks are used up that arrangement will spread to the newer ones too. Good quality pattern part glass is available for both the "classic" and "bugeye" Imprezas for £120 or less.
How do I know? Because for the last 35 years I've run a windscreen business and specialise in classic and competition cars, for the last 9 years we've also manufactured polycarbonate window kits for all models.

allsop83

iTrader: (9)

So there is no difference in the glass bar an etching?

Is the guy at Subaru UK full of it then or do Subaru genuinely not etch their name on their glass anymore?

Went and had a look last night and told them so long as the non-Subaru part has the black lining around the outside of the glass just to put the cheaper one in! Am I right enough thinking the pattern part will have the black surround?

urban

iTrader: (1)

Its should have.
When Autoglass changed my screen it had the black surround.

Miketemplar

Lets just say he was "mis-informed"!
Manufacturers have an obligation to hold OE stock for a number of years to supply cars they have sold, after that time they will buy from the guy with the best price same as the rest of us! And as the "classic" went out of production over 10 years ago I think it's fair to assume that it's been a long time since they held stock of OE glasses.
All replacement windscreen glasses for your model will come with the black obscuration band, so you will be fine. But you don't need to pay anymore than £165 fitted for it.

allsop83

iTrader: (9)

^^^ Nice one, cheers guys

Thanks for everyones input!

steve ex vauxhall

iTrader: (5)

Well it used to be mate, I worked at auto windscreens head office in chesterfield about 8 years ago, and that was the way it worked then.

I thought you were a broker?

Why would you get to see all the payouts?

Moley

iTrader: (9)

Two of the insurers we use send us claim details down every month, detailing every claim inc costs.
We work very closely with the insuers to make sure our schemes run well, and it seems to work for us.

Why wouldn't a broker want to see the payouts? It helps see any problem areas.

To be fair neither of those insurers use Autoglass, so the ones who do use them may have an agreement.

Three Fives Green

Are you sure you want to describe yourself as a "nonce"? You might want to google it first?

mickywrx

iTrader: (29)

You might like to consider that it may have a different meaning in Aberdeenshire.

Although I did wonder why the OP would refer to himself as such.