Windshield chip repair

[raka]

Anyone have experience with windshield chip repair?

It is currently a 2mm dot with one or two radiating lines (2 or 3mm long each) and i want to take care of it before the lines become 'runners'. Thankfully not in line of vision.

This is a first for me, so wanting to see what others did. Probably not ready to try a DIY process, so would appreciate anyone who had success w/ a service in Los Angeles. Can it really be repaired to be invisible?

thks!

ps: i suspect an evil lawnmower as the guilty party :-(

[Norcal]

I've had that type of damage fixed a couple times in the bay area....no one special, but it always seems to work. You can still see the minor blemish though. I figure it's a nice stop gap before getting new glass. Good luck.

[macfly]

I've done it on my Lotus and my old M3, and it seemed to work pretty well on both of those. However they are both more raked back screens without the stresses the wind puts on our rather upright screen which is very prone to wind debris damage and cracking. When you wash you car don't let the softtop dry taught, as it will almost certainly torque-crack (http://www.bmwz8.us/vbb/showthread.php?t=225&referrerid=2) a chipped screen. To be honest I'd suggest fitting a new screen sooner than later, maybe at the next major service.

[jawz]

Griot's Garage sells the resin repair kit for around $25. I had a new windshield (3rd actually) with only about 500 miles on it before it got chipped. I purchased one of these kits from Griot's and did the repair myself with pretty good results. They repair isn't totally invisible, but they nearly disappear. You can sometimes see small "sparkles" when the light hit is just right, but it's no different than when done by a professional. For $25, it's worth a try anyway.

The best thing to do is to cover the chip as soon as possible with a piece of scotch tape to keep dirt/water from getting into the chipped area. I did this at my first fuel stop. Then when you get a chance, remove the tape and apply the repair. It takes about 15 minutes and "Viola!" the chip is all but gone. I recommend the kit and have now thrown one in the glove compartment for emergency repairs.

[raka]

jawz, thanks for the tip - i covered the chip as you suggested. Thanks also for the kit info.

I found this outfit that will do at home repair for about $70

http://www.safelite.com/repair.jsp

On the right-hand side of the screen they have a "Click Here to Learn About the Repair Process" that shows a process & tools that appear to be a bit above DIY level - so I'm leaning towards them (perhaps wrongly assuming it to deliver superior results).

I also heard from folks using kits that had trouble with the resin not hardening - so for my 1st repair, I prefer to just watch & learn.

Andrew, did you use a glass-specialty outfit for your chip repairs, and if so do you have a name you can recommend?

thks!

[macfly]

I had both done by local dealer's contacts, but I can get them for you if you're in the LA area.

[jawz]

Part of the process to complete the "fix", it is necessary to cover the resin with a clear plastic patch (comes with the kit) and expose it to sunlight for 5-15 minutes. This hardens the resin. Once that is done, you simply use a single sided razor blade (also provided) to scrape the excess resin off.
I did notice the portion of the resin that wasn't covered by the clear plastic patch DID NOT harden - so there must be something to it. If this isn't done or there isn't enough sunlight, I can imagine the resin may not harden properly.
Personally, I had great results, but then again, I live in the Phoenix area with little to no humidity and plenty of sunshine. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[raka]

I had both done by local dealer's contacts, but I can get them for you if you're in the LA area.

LA Reference(s) would be great - but ONLY if you have them handy & don't have to put yourself out to get the info.

[macfly]

I'd call Qais Noory at BMW of South Bay - 310-200-0022 as he found the guy who fixed my Lotus screen, and it held for over 12 months, until I sold that car.