An interesting dilemma.......

b2tf · 14-07-2005, 08:39 PM

Some of you may remember not so long ago I had my windows tinted in darkest legal tint by a place here for a very good price. The place that did the job does the new vehicle tinting for the Ford, Holden, Mazda and Subaru dealership here, the guy is very good to deal with as are his staff, and they also specialise in fitting bodykits. Their portfolio of work is outstanding.

However when I got the car back, i found at least 10 very large and deep scratches in my back window, on the oustide. Im told this happened when they were cutting the tint to size for the window - their explanation is that the blade that was supplied with the tint was defective and went too deep, however I think whats happened is theyve simply pushed to hard onto the glass and the blade has cut into it.

So now I am left with very large scratches all around the edge of the back window, none of the other windows are affected but it is very noticable on the back window.

I went and saw them again today, and theyve agreed that damage has been done (they couldnt really deny it when i showed them, theyre huge), and have agreed to fix it.They first suggested diamond buffing the scratches out of the glass, and had an expert in this field take a look at the car. I was there when he looked at it, and he took all of 5 seconds to say "no way, theyre way too big and i cant get them out without hours of work". So it seems the only other thing now is to get an entire new back window, tint it, and take the old one out and fit the new one.

I am not keen on doing this but at the same time i dont want bigarse scratches in the glass. They are obviously concerned that it is going to cost a lot to do, and I think it will too given the LR is now superceded and the glass would have to come from Germany, so they have given me the option of supplying and fitting a genuine Ford Focus bodykit, free of charge, to make up for the damage.

So a few things:-

Anybody got any idea how much a new rear back window costs?
Again, any ideas about bodykit (and fitting and painting) costs?
What would you do in my situation?

Ill try and get some pictures of the marks tomorrow, they are hard to get pics of (Ive tried before), but believe me, if you see the car in the flesh they are VERY big and VERY obvious.

Oh and by the way, aftermarket glass is not an option.

Smoke Pursuit · 14-07-2005, 08:49 PM

Had something similiar happen last week, my wiper blade came off on the drivers side of my BA and ruined my windscreen...

Personally I think its better to get thinks fixed otherwise you'll never get over it, thats if your as fussy as me.. I got a new Geniune Ford BA windscreen for $250 trade.. I don't know how much for a LR Focus screen but id say there would be stock in Australia as its only just beome superceded as you well know.

As for Focus body kit, that would have to cost atleast $1000 painted if it was geniune.

b2tf · 14-07-2005, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShockWaveXR6na

Had something similiar happen last week, my wiper blade came off on the drivers side of my BA and ruined my windscreen...

Personally I think its better to get thinks fixed otherwise you'll never get over it, thats if your as fussy as me.. I got a new Geniune Ford BA windscreen for $250 trade.. I don't know how much for a LR Focus screen but id say there would be stock in Australia as its only just beome superceded as you well know.

As for Focus body kit, that would have to cost atleast $1000 painted if it was geniune.

Yeah I do agree, I want this fixed cos it kills me to look at it, but my concern with pulling the window out and fitting a new one is that it may never be the same again with leaks etc etc.

Both the guy and myself have no idea how much a new window is (Im getting a price tomorrow), but if it is less than the bodykit, it will be what we do. The bodykit idea was just something he brought in in case the window is $1k or so. As I said, I honestly dont know how much it will be, so when I get the price tomorrow we will have a better idea of what we're talking.

Smoke Pursuit · 14-07-2005, 09:00 PM

Mate I wouldnt be concerned about water leaks.. My BA has none after getting the new screen and I was concerned myself, but when you think about the thousands of cars and trucks O'Briens and associates do its highly unlikely that your going to have any problems... I also think a rear screen on a hatch would be easier to remove then a Windscreen.

Timmeh · 14-07-2005, 09:26 PM

My new non-Ford Focus windscreen is more quiet than the old one and certainly doesn't leak at all, or they'd be doing it again.

My bodykit was painted and fitted, including custom fibreglassing on the front, for $550 (as the rear bar repair which was done at the same time was quoted at $250 for a total cost of $800).

And they did a good job of it too, including blending onto the panels, not just a basic spray, and then fit, job.

Tim

b2tf · 15-07-2005, 11:13 AM

An update.

I got the quotes today, one from Windscreens O'Brien (who were very helpful), and one from Ford.

Windscreens OBrien - $560 supply only
Ford - $630 supply only

Been quoted supply only as what will happen is the tinter will buy it, tint the new window before its fitted, take the old one out and then put the new one in. Obviously my preference is for genuine Ford parts.

Its not as expensive as I thought it might be (still costly though), so I wont be going with the bodykit idea.

whippet_zetec · 15-07-2005, 11:36 AM

my preference would be get the window fixed, otherwise I would always be looking at the scratches and thinking it detracts from my car, a body kit wont make those scratches go away

b2tf · 15-07-2005, 02:37 PM

Here's some pics of the damage, apologies for the size.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74.../DSC01497a.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74.../DSC01496a.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74...a/DSC01500.jpg

Thats only 3 pics but it gives you an idea of the damage. After counting, there are at least 11 scratches in the window, on the outside.

I gave the written quotes to the tinter today, he wants to go with a 2ndhand window for obviuos reasons, but that wont be happening. The car went in with a new window with no damage, so it will come out that way too.

I really should say though that apart from the back window, I am VERY happy with the job. The tint is great and they didnt bugger up any of the other windows (believe me I checked them all very carefully!).

fordel · 15-07-2005, 03:31 PM

Far out that is some pretty bad damage there thats for sure.

Yep make sure you get the new window, they buggered up so they can fix it all like new including the new window.

Chris

b2tf · 15-07-2005, 07:59 PM

Well, had another meeting with the owner of the place that did the work again this afternoon.

He is keen on sourcing a secondhand window, even after my repeated refusal to accept anything less than brand new. Ive relented and decided that an aftermarket one from Windscreens OBrien will suffice, but there's only $50 difference between theirs and a genuine Ford one so I am still pushing for the Ford item.

Im reasonably confident that I'll be able to get the new window, but if he does try and weasel out of it, what should I do? Im thinking I might give Fair Trading a call and inform them of the situation, just in case it gets ugly. I dont think it will, but we're talking a lot of money here and I dont want this guy to start scheming to get out of it on the cheap.

zetec · 15-07-2005, 10:51 PM

He stuffed up, he is liable for nothing less than an exact replacement. Factory all the way mate, you shouldn't have to budge on what you want. It was his mistake after all. Tell him you accidentally damage a rim on his car and decide to replace it with a copy... see how he feels about that!!