Date:         Thu, 2 Jul 2015 20:16:49 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: New windshield
In-Reply-To:  <CAP_YzpJFD0ZdigbA=4DSJaNxtZJ0z_G6KLHkgeL8o8D+CMZJ6A@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

   I called my insurance company (Hartford) and reported a rock chip and
crack in mine...which it's had for quite some time.   Living in the
Southwest deserts for the winter months, in the Vanagon and some other
camping vehicles...They set me up with an appointment with a glass shop
they had on their 'list' in a nearby city...El Centro, Ca.   Went to town,
dropped the van off and walked over to a nearby mall for an hour or two and
came back to a brand new nice clear windshield.   No charge.
Comprehensive coverage with the Hartford was real cheap...less than the
cost of the glass...so it was one of my few "wins" with any insurance
deal...They gave me a bunch of choices...San Diego, Yuma, Escondido, Vista,
etc etc....I chose the place I needed to go anyway, and arranged the date
to coincide with another errand I had in that town...Easy .... No mention
of any 'special' problems with the installation...they just did it...no
charge to me..
    I can NOT believe I waited about 5yrs to get that pitted up old
windshield replaced.  The difference is remarkable...Again on this one, I
put a 4" stip of dark tint across the top...it already had that light tint
in the glass, but the extra tinting is a good thing... You can get 'curved
glass' tinting kits at the chain auto stores...Not difficult to install,
that aftermarket tinting film...and it lasted fine on my install...

On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 6:21 PM, Tyler Hardison <tyler@seraph-net.net> wrote:

> Color me skeptical. But ok. :)
>
> On Thursday, July 2, 2015, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I was there to inspect it. It looked supple and undamaged.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> > On Thursday, July 2, 2015, Tyler Hardison <tyler@seraph-net.net
> > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','tyler@seraph-net.net');>> wrote:
> >
> >> Heh, inspect it when removed. Even fresh ones tend to tear during
> removal.
> >>
> >> On Thursday, July 2, 2015, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>> FYI, I would never reuse a seal. They're cheap and you're guaranteed to
> >>>> damage the old one during removal
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> How can I collect on this guarantee?
> >>>
> >>> Jim
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>> --t
> >>>>
> >>>> On Thursday, July 2, 2015, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> Mine was done at Glass America, a chain like safelite. I think the
> >>>>> challenge is finding someone who would do the job with your glass,
> not
> >>>>> theirs. I don't think the problem is guys knowing how to install it.
> I
> >>>>> could be wrong, but it seems any glass installer over 30 knows how to
> >>>>> do
> >>>>> rubber channel.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I called around a few years back when I visited safelite for a Jetta
> >>>>> glass
> >>>>> replacement. I asked about the vanagon and they told me they couldn't
> >>>>> get
> >>>>> that glass. I called one or two other places and they wanted either a
> >>>>> ridiculous amount or said they couldn't get the glass. I live in a
> >>>>> town of
> >>>>> about 200,000 and there is every kind of service chain there is
> >>>>> anywhere
> >>>>> else, so I figured that was just the way it was. I ordered the glass
> >>>>> from
> >>>>> Rock Auto, it was just over $100 shipped.It arrive broken all over. I
> >>>>> did
> >>>>> the online return thing with them, they immediately shipped another
> no
> >>>>> questions asked. This time it came in one piece with a quarter mile
> of
> >>>>> bubble wrap.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The place I found to install it is the one I got in touch with
> before I
> >>>>> ordered it. I got their agreement to install for $100, which they
> >>>>> lived up
> >>>>> to today, even taking care of a little rust thrown in. Be advised
> that
> >>>>> all
> >>>>> shops I have ever known of say that if you provide the glass, we are
> >>>>> not
> >>>>> responsible if it breaks.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> So I got the job done for $200 flat, maybe a little more with
> shipping
> >>>>> from
> >>>>> Rock Auto (a ridiculous $17 or so to ship a windshield across the
> >>>>> country?)
> >>>>> and am very pleased with the results.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Since I discussed the windshield order from Rock Auto a while back I
> >>>>> have
> >>>>> heard from list members in smaller and lager communities who have
> paid
> >>>>> less
> >>>>> than $150 for the glass and the install, with the local company
> >>>>> providing
> >>>>> the glass. So, bottom line, there is no rhyme nor reason. I did it
> the
> >>>>> best
> >>>>> way I knew of at the time and after doing so would not mess with used
> >>>>> glass
> >>>>> again ever. Been there and broke that.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I have done rear and side glass by myself and with my wife helping
> me.
> >>>>> There was no way I was going to take a chance with a Vanagon
> >>>>> windshield.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Jim
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 2:53 PM Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> > May I ask how much this is costing?  I have one in need also.
> >>>>> >   Should I be concerned about finding a place with installers who
> >>>>> can still
> >>>>> > do the old type?
> >>>>> > Would a local place likely be cheaper than a nationwide company?
> >>>>> >
> >>>>> > Larry A.
> >>>>> >
> >>>>> >
> >>>>> > On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 2:50 PM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com>
> >>>>> wrote:
> >>>>> >
> >>>>> > > Mine is  blue-green. I like it better than I thought it was. Love
> >>>>> it in
> >>>>> > > fact.
> >>>>> > >
> >>>>> > > Jim
> >>>>> > >
> >>>>> > > On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 12:56 PM T Collins <tonycollin@gmail.com>
> >>>>> wrote:
> >>>>> > >
> >>>>> > > > I'll find out tomorrow. I hope it is the blue/green.
> >>>>> > > >
> >>>>> > > > Thanks,
> >>>>> > > > Tony
> >>>>> > > >
> >>>>> > > > On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 1:41 PM, Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>>> > > >
> >>>>> > > > > it's funny... I have one to replace soon...
> >>>>> > > > >
> >>>>> > > > > did you get all clear or with faded blue/green on the top?
> >>>>> > > > >
> >>>>> > > > > thanks
> >>>>> > > > >
> >>>>> > > > > dan
> >>>>> > > > >
> >>>>> > > > > On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 10:37 AM, T Collins <
> >>>>> tonycollin@gmail.com>
> >>>>> > > wrote:
> >>>>> > > > >
> >>>>> > > > >> I get my new one put on by safelite tomorrow...
> >>>>> > > > >>
> >>>>> > > > >> I hope I can feel the same way :)
> >>>>> > > > >>
> >>>>> > > > >> T.
> >>>>> > > > >>
> >>>>> > > > >> On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 1:22 PM, Jim Felder <
> >>>>> jim.felder@gmail.com>
> >>>>> > > > wrote:
> >>>>> > > > >>
> >>>>> > > > >> > Finally got around to installing my new Rock Auto
> >>>>> windshield.
> >>>>> > Seeing
> >>>>> > > > the
> >>>>> > > > >> > world through that big clear picture window takes me back
> >>>>> to the
> >>>>> > > day I
> >>>>> > > > >> > drove my brand new Red 1990 Carat off the lot for the
> first
> >>>>> time.
> >>>>> > > > What a
> >>>>> > > > >> > Vanagon is about.
> >>>>> > > > >> >
> >>>>> > > > >> > Jim
> >>>>> > > > >> >
> >>>>> > > > >>
> >>>>> > > > >
> >>>>> > > > >
> >>>>> > > >
> >>>>> > >
> >>>>> >
> >>>>>
> >>>>
>