Rear glass install DIY? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

RamahX · #1 02-23-2012, 01:00 AM

Someone threw a rock through my wife's rear windshield tonight. Car was parked at the local mall while my son was looking for a job. Apparent random vandalism... (we hope).

Has anyone ever done their own windshield replacement? I'm also looking for a replacement from a local junk yard. It's not covered by insurance : (

and the rock...

ps2cho · #2 02-23-2012, 01:02 AM

Ah man that sucks....

Hope those vandals get their own glASS shattered.

Stretch · #3 02-23-2012, 03:20 AM

Which car?

That looks like a bonded windscreen to me - in which case - well it is a DIY so long as you can get the glue! I think I'd struggle here to get the stuff => perhaps I could buy 20 litres of the stuff for mega money but then I guess that would cost more than paying someone to replace it.

Depending on how slack business is for people you might find a professional who will fit a second hand screen - but most fitters rely on a "little bit" of profit on the new screen as well as a "little bit" of profit on the labour rate...

If you are forced to go as cheap as you can make sure that who ever does the job uses some good glue otherwise you'll not only be fighting leaks, but if it is a bonded screen, you're compromising the structural integrity of the vehicle.

jylee · #4 02-23-2012, 08:37 AM

I suggest to pickup one up yourself, and call a local glass company. Ask your insurance agent who they use. Most of them will come to home for $100 to do the installation.

Jack

gerryvz · #5 02-23-2012, 09:55 AM

It's not all that expensive to have a local glass company do the work for you. I'm not a fan of DIY when it comes to glass replacement. New rear windshields shouldn't be that much - I replaced the front windscreen on my 500E about 3 years ago and it was only a few hundred dollars, installed.

RamahX · #6 02-23-2012, 10:21 AM

Right now I'm going on my 3rd year of unemployment (thank you recession) and a few hundred dollars is hard to come by.

I do have a close friend who used to install auto glass and he said he can install it. Just looking for a yard with one...

Its the '94 E320.

disley · #7 02-23-2012, 02:25 PM

Getting the glass out of the donor car without breaking it will be the problem.
They're stuck in pretty tight.

gabzor · #8 02-23-2012, 03:29 PM

thats good that you have a friend who can do it.. its a real pain to get it out from the junkyard, and your car as well without breaking any clips,etc

atikovi · #9 02-24-2012, 08:34 PM

The pick&pulls around here get $60 for a windshield and they take it out for you. But for $25 more I got a brand new one at a glass wholesale warehouse for a C280. Installed it myself in about 2-3 hours. Back glass may be more having the defroster and being tempered. I've a few tubes of Dow adhesive I'll sell cheap if you will DIY.

satyr · #10 02-25-2012, 03:01 AM

How awful. I think people who do ***** like this deserve a special place in hell. My suggestion is to make a few calls and shop around- and check out "glass" suppliers, not just "auto glass."

My wife had a badly cracked windshield, and after calling several auto glass places, we found a "glass" warehouse place near us that turned out to be the supplier for most of the shops in the area. The price for a new windshield (complete with tint along the top, a built-in wire antenna for the key fob transmitter, and a good warranty) was reasonable, and after we told them the story about how the windshield was less than our deductible on insurance, they agreed to do the whole job while we waited for $250.

emerydc8 · #11 02-25-2012, 08:02 AM

I had Safelite replace my rear window about 4 years ago for $178. Now they want $278. Chairsatan Bernanke (the money printer) contends that inflation is in check. Right.