.....when they scratch easily. I'm not keen on Microsoft's products either.

I'm sure there's a few qualified MOT inspectors that look in here (and probably a few lapsed ones too ). I wonder if you would be good enough to comment on the following please? (though of course anybody is welcome to post ):



Sometime ago something small and hard (a diamond?) was thrown up onto my screen just at the wrong moment and was caught by the wipers which caused the scratch. The picture makes it look worse (wider) than it appears from the drivers seat. 95% of the time I don't notice it. Would you fail it at MOT? It's almost a wiper arch long and across the drivers swept area. Thanks.

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Next, some additional, probably unnecessary droning on about this :

I fully understand the normal damage and areas for windscreen failure. i.e. here:

http://www.ukmot.com/6-1.asp

But for scratches it is less clear cut:



OK, it doesn't fit into an area < 10mm diameter, but then it is not exactly that wide.

It's a relatively deep scratch (i.e. you can just feel it with your fingernail). Forget the polishing out suggestion. There are people/companies who claim to be able to polish them out, but I've been told by one of them, at that depth and length, it is not really financially viable. i.e. It will take a fair amount of time and a replacement screen will be cheaper. Besides, you wonder how much glass would be removed by the process.

I've also been told by a screen replacement company that 90% of the time insurance companies won't pay out for scratched windscreens. It's not really in my nature to be "economical with the truth", but if it does have to be replaced, looks like accidentally inducing a crack . If it's a MOT failure, you would hope it is deemed unsafe and a replacement should be approved, with little fuss?

I was really ****** off when it happened (no it wasn't due to knackered wiper blades ), but have come to accept it. I'm 4-5 months off the MOT, but if the screen does have to be replaced, for one reason and another, I'd like to get it done now before the winter sets in for real (then Murphy's law says I'll get a stone through it just before the MOT ). I was going to look into this a couple of months ago, but other more pressing events put paid to that.

Anybody have any favourite glass replacement people? I think Fuj said he got on OK with Autoglass, when his screen got hit.

Whadya think?

Cheers

The trouble is that examining a scratch is entirely subjective but the moment it is entered on the computer then a "less demanding" tester can't over-ride it anyway. I think a visit to one of the big suppliers is the first step and I wouldn't write off polishing it out as they can get the lumps out of corrugated iron these days!

When I have visited these places in the past with company cars, they have "found a way" to make it a valid claim - just go and chat to them!

Watch what they are doing though and just have another look at that TSB on water leaking through the heater. There is a plastic shield that needs to be hooked under the trim properly or you will need your wet suite out of the wardrobe.

Not window related schm, but what are those white strips across your fence pannels? are they some sort of plastic ridge to stop the top of the pannel from being water logged? is so where did you get them from?

I had to replace a windscreen because of a stone chip, at a cost to me of £75 through the insurance. What is the cost of a replacement windscreen by the way, no doubt my replacement will NOT be toyota branded.

It looks like the chap across the street has got a 12 pole digital aerial. Do you know if the reception is any good?

BTW that scratch is a neusance when we are trying to see around your neighbourhood, can you get something done about it

Arrr but SHCM you need to get Windows 7...... it's suppose to be better.... Ask for that at Autoglass..

Like you, I would have thought that if a scratch was bad enough to fail the MOT and also cannot be polished out, then it must be within the Glass Insurance criteria to replace?  If not, a deep scratch is bound to turn into a crack if you go over a big pothole (make sure you not got BMW Wheels!!  )





Re replacement glass companies, I have used RAC Windscreens the last 3 times and they have always done a good job.
Last screen I got was in January and they have just invoiced me for the Excess - 9 months later!  - I reckon I paid though at the time, so keep the receipt!!

centre punch and a small hammer!

The scratch may feel deep but is unlikely to be more than about 50 microns. The problem with polishing it out is that unless you do a substantial distance ( 10mm? ) on either side of the scratch you are likely to be able to see it as a distortion of vision through the windscreen. I have some diamond paste that watchmakers use for getting scratches out of watch faces but I think that with the length of the scratch there is really no option but to replace the screen - just what you wanted to hear ( not )? Sorry fella.

Fair comment. TBH, they said that it could be "spread on thick" with the insurance company, about it being across drivers line of sight etc. Probably just covering themselves.



Thanks for that. Already had that area off some time ago to have a look, so hopefully no worries. If I go ahead, and they are able to come to me, I was aiming to get all of the relevant trim off myself before hand. Shorter job for them and I don't mind taking the time to put it back.



Bespoke manufacture I'm afraid. . Coated metal strip. A neighbour used to have access to machinery to do it very easily and made them for us about 6 years ago. Yes, it is an attempt to lengthen the life of the fence panels, water shedding and all that. Whether it does any good really, I couldn't say, seems to help though. Spiders like hiding under there too . Maybe some of the posts need to be slightly closer, but it also seems to help stiffen up the panels as well. In freak high winds we've had a couple blow out in the past, but, touch wood (the fence I suppose ), it hasn't happened again, with those strips on.



Not with that poplar in the way, no! Better to have one pointing the other way at The Wrekin. You can see the TV mast on there from here on a clear day. Have I shown you my big scrap book of transmitter mast pictures? Very exciting

"digital" aerial = In most (but not all) cases, a con by antenna installer to extract cash from you.

Looks like a fairly standard Yagi to me. (I should call it a Yagi-Uda. Uda did most of the work, Yagi took the credit).



7?? Our RAV Windows go up to 11.



(8 down each side, front, back and sunroof). Have you noticed BBC iplayer volume goes up to 11?



Sound advice. Thanks



Exactly. . Thanks for all the info three5

Hi Jedi,
There is a company near Carlisle that makes this sort of bespoke plastic coated steel fabrication. Use them a bit for work, very accomodating. PM if you want details.