w126 windshield replacement mishap, pls help! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rsieracki · #1 12-13-2008, 02:49 PM

Hello all,
What a horror story I have. My ‘near perfect’ (no rust or p.o. halfassed repairs) 87 300SDL had a cracked windshield replaced in Sept 08 by safelite auto glass. A few weeks ago when going thru the car wash I noticed 2 nice dripping leaks at the top of the windshield so I called safelite and had them come out for a warranty repair yesterday, what a disaster. I requested the tech to come early between 8-10am as they said, no such luck shows up at 11, made me late for work as a result… at first his hello his comment was about how cold it was outside and how he’s trying to keep warm. Demanded my original paperwork which I didn’t have as I didn’t know I’d need it. Then on how he can’t do the repair as he can “see” the rust in the pinch weld (interesting he must have xray vison) he based that of 2 pin head size rust spots on the roof top near window. Told me it would have to be done at the “shop” again commented on how cold it was about 20 degrees. I’m like I called safelite for a reason u come to my house or place of business if I wanted to bring it in I would have dropped it off at the stealership. So I get his managers name and phone call him and get the same bs I got from the tech. and how I should bring it in, I’m like no, you come to my house so he does meanwhile the tech calls back and says he’s downstairs. The tech pulls the windshield out for the managers inspection, then the manager and some corporate trainer run to home depot to get a wire wheel to grind the “extensive rust” they’re telling me as there grinding how there other location never should have done the job this was wrong isn’t safe due to rust in the pinch weld (note, not that much as there is none whatsoever on the car as it was a Georgia car). It needs to go to a body shop to have the rust cut out and repaired or they can’t warrantee it or reinstall the window. This took about 10 mins of him talking to me like I was an idiot who didn’t understand the concept of rust. I responded telling them that seeing as though there office that installed the window didn’t disclose this or document it on the work order, how they just said over and over again how this should have never been done that way or at all and how they are the professionals who gave a lifetime warranty this is their problem and not mine and that they are liable to correct it.
Se we go back and forth, they say there taking it to a body shop, getting me a rental, and agree that im right. Call their corporate claims center that calls original shop and gets a ‘copy’ of the w/o which has clearly been altered as now I found mine and no rust was documented or anything mentioned about it not having a warranty. The 2 guy's (the manager and trainer) are dumb founded and clearly pissed and know what I know that I’m right and the other affiliate shop of theirs is lying to cover themselves. But their hands are tied as they can’t authorize body work and so forth and in the end it seems like they were on my side and did what they could. The customer service girl on the phone kept giving them and me the runaround, told me that they were going to try and get my insurance co to help then pay to fix my car, was promised a call back. It’s now about 230 pm
Next issue what about my car w/o a window? So about 7 that night the manager calls me back, says his 2 techs just installed the window so I can drive it and I will have to take it up with corporate and on Monday he will ask them how “safe” they feel about the install and how he knows that the rust will come back. I then ask how if he was so dead set on how unsafe it was how now it was ok and he said if I want it done ‘the right way” (weld in new metal) deal with corporate but he’s sure his 2 best techs did a great job. So I get in late last night and go out this morning to look at the job, holy ***** what a crappy job, I would have been better letting some high school auto shop kids try it, or caulking myself like I wanted to do but didn’t as I didn’t want to void the safelite warranty. None of the chrome trim lines up, nor does the cowl gasket, the cowl is damaged so is the chrome trim, the body color painted pieces and the pillars are no longer secure and are all chipped, the inside of the car is filthy, there is a nice gap all around the top of the windows, one of the buttons is missing off my seat switch (that I just rebuilt mind you)

So heres where you all come in, I need to know if any of you have done this job yourself or can link a thread where repair or replacement of these items is covered as I have searched and searched and not come up with much good info, also I need some replacement park number and sources, hopefully fastlane, so when i call the window company Monday I can know what im talking about and get them to replace the parts they ruined as well as detail the rust dust out of my car.

Pictures to follow!
So:
-chrome/aluminum windshield trim
-OEM windshield gasket
-cowl, complete with molding and gaskets
-any clips or special fasteners
-drivers side seat switch
-body painted pillar pieces (looks like mine are bent)
-anything else?