I just got a stone chip on my new baby today. I wish trucks had to obey some law that would prevent them from spilling debris everywhere. Anyway, its really tiny but I don't want it to spread, are places that fill the chip any good? Will this be a permenant solution to not let the chip sread? Does it really work? Thank you.

Living where I do, I get many stone chips (drat). The chip repair places generally do a good job . Go to a reputable shop. Also, get it done ASAP to prevent the chip from getting contaminated (dirt etc) as this can make the repair more visible. If you can't do it right away, put some clear tape over the wound to keep out dirt.
A good repair should prevent the chip from spreading into a bigger crack.

Just so you don't feel alone about the truck incident, about year ago I was on the freeway and a city truck lost some pieces of concrete or something. Smashed my windshield pretty good, as well as some real nice chips in the paint and grill of my relatively new CLK. Needless to say I was not impressed. I took the plate and truck number and reported it to the city. It took me a while and much battling, even had to serve them with some legal threats, but in the end we settled out of court.
Fortunately, we do have laws about tarping loads.
It was a real inconvenience, but at least they didn't get away with it.
Good luck.

Repairing/filling these stone chips in the windshield is a very good, permanent solution!!
It prevents the windscreen from getting cracked (started by the chip).

greetingz,

__________________
1990 300SL-24
1993 C250D with a minor 600+k kilometer
www.MBenzNL.com(the Netherlands)

Do what the Law in your area entitles you to.

First- get the truck Licence No. and Company name on the door and jot it down on anything at hand.

Second- notice if the top is covered, in WA state all trucks are required to do this.

Third- if the top is not closed, reach for the cell phone and promptly call 911 and state that there is a truck dropping gravel all over the place.

Fourth- if you have time, stick around, for soon will appear a Highway Patrol (if on the highway) to pullover and fine the driver for his laziness and ignorance of the Law.

Fifth- call your insurance.

And to the question, the repairs do really work, but most places will not do a repair if the chip is within your line of vision, a replacement will be needed.

Ross

P.S. If your wondering if the 911 call works, my wife has done it 3 times in the last year alone. Needless to say, she hates rock chips.

If you repair it before it "cracks" it is excellent. In fact most insurance companies will send a repairman to your car for the fix, (it takes about 1/2 hour), and pay all the cost. It is a lot cheaper for them to do this than pay for a new windshield. Call them post haste. Ed

All these answers have been really great. The truck got away because I didn't think there was anything I could do but now I know. I will cover the chip with tape and I have an appointment at a reputable shop tomorrow. Thank you all!

I just had a glass outfit come out to work a few days ago and fill in a rock chip. It wasn't in my line of sight luckily, but in front of the rear view mirror.

Due to the extreme temp. changes in this Madison, WI climate, I thought it best to get repaired ASAP.

The chip itself is a little less evident, but cracks shouldn't spread. I've had this done before in the past with great success.

Didn't bother with insurance, as it only cost me about $50. Not sure if it's covered or not. I have full coverage through Allstate -- if it happens again, I'll check.

Good luck!

I got some free time yesterday so I moved today's appointment to yesterday and had it done because its freezing here in Ohio and the sooner the better. It looks a little better although they obviously can't make it go away. One thing that upset me on the chip is that its on the blueish area on top of the windshield and it made the area around chip clear, taking away the blue, and makes it more visible. It took 45 minutes, cost was $60 and I too just decided to pay cash and skip the insurance.

Go to Wallmart and get a windshield repair kit. It works

Take numbers, call the State Police, or Highway Patrol, and try to get the driver to pull over and acknowledge the damage to your car! Take note of the condition of the truck in question as regards loose materials on it, and when possible take pictures of any loose materials remaining on any part of the truck, as well as the damage to your car!

Always keep a cheap and/or disposable camera (along with an accident report from your insurance carrier and/or state DMV) in your glovebox for such emergencies (and accidents)! Always note the materials in the truck that the truck last hauled (if loaded). Or, (if empty) ask the driver to see his mainfest for his last load to confirm what material he last hauled!!!

And, if the truck company somehow does not end up paying, there is such a thing as "road hazard" insurance that is carried by the authority responsible for maintenance of the roadway!

I got the Golden Gate Bridge District to replace a windscreen on a car for me one time...

__________________

Scott Longston
Northern California Wine Country...
"Turbos whistle, grapes wine..."

Funny how irresponsible some trucks are across the globe. I have changed my wndscreen at least 5 times in the past 4 years because of rock missile launched from these trucks. Lucky they were insured. The last one was repaired by a window-chip repairer. Charged me RM150 (approx. USD40) for the not-so-satisfactory job.

The only place I know with responsible truckies must be in Singapore where, on top of having to pay for the damage or consequential claims/damages, the driver and owner of the truck could lose their license if a complain was lodged and founded against them.

However, it certainly pays to be insured against windscreen damage.

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

Hay everybody,

I went ski-ing on my benz this weekend on I-80. Those @#$!@%! trucks always through up all sorts of small rock, dirt etc.. when you pass then or even when your are 50 feet behind them more than anything (suv, busses, cars EVERYTHING). There should be a law on them having better fenders or mud flaps.

But, anyway. I notices a bunch of very small chips on my windshield. They are very small almost dust size, and also I notice that they windshield were scratch from the wipers, wiping around the dirt, mud, salt, sand etc..

My questions. Is there anything I or a shop could do to polish the little chips and scratches out. I know the windshield is mode of glass or somekind of glass compound. I know they could polish glass to a near or flawless quality, but that is just theory.

ben

__________________
Silver Honda Accord, 2006
Silver G500, 2003
Silver SLK-320, 2002
Black ML-320, 2000
Bule Porsche 993 Targa , 1997
Silver Merkur XR4Ti, 1987

I dont think there is though I wish there was.
Sorry.
Perhaps anyone would dare recommend "filing" the first layer of?

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.

Someone could get rich if they developed tear-offs for the windshield, like the ones on racing style helmets?

Every month, just tear off the battle scared layer and start with a "Fresh One"!

Can't be that hard to make? Anyone heard of such a thing?

You could even have a yearly visit (repeat business ) by the Windshield Repair guy in town to setup for the new year.

[Edited by roas on 02-26-2001 at 09:16 PM]

That would be an EXCELLENT idea. Perhaps it could be patented by "mercedesshop.com"!

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.