I discovered a chip in my windshield this weekend, and since I have a zero deductible, decided to get it fixed right away. The auto glass place came out today to fix it IN THE RAIN! The tech explained that its not flawless--chip repairs are difficult/impossible to do perfectly in the rain. He's right: there's a definite mark where the chip was. And no, they can't do the repair again; my only options are live with it or have the entire windshield replaced.

It's not a huge mark, but I want my baby to be flawless. I've heard that it's bad to replace the original factory windshield--leaves the car open to rust, etc. If I have to choose between a small mark on the passenger side of my car's windshield or potential longterm deterioration, I'll choose the small mark.

Any informed opinions on whether I should live with it or replace it would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

 

Live with it. In a couple months, you'll forget about it and be more concerned about the new door ding in your passenger side door.

Generally, you should not replace the original windshield unless absolutely necessary (cracked or big chip).

 

Just wondering what information you base this statement on.

Everytime I think about seeing if my insurance will cover windshield replacement, I start thinking about the things that could get screwed up installing a new one. Then I decide that I can live with the windshield (so far, anyway)

 

I had the windshield replaced in my Eclipse last year, because the insurance covered it, and it took 3 windshields before I got one that was acceptable. The first one they installed, everything looked like I was in the fun house (distortion). I requested a new one right away. Then, with the second one, I sat behind it before they installed it, and it was almost as bad. The third one wasn't perfect either, because there was some distortion way over to the right.

The same exact thing happened 3 years earlier with my Prelude.

With the Eclipse I accepted the 3rd windshield, because I already knew that even the OEM brand, which the 3rd one was, is not going to be perfect like the one from the factory.

If you decide to have it done, you may want to supervise the entire event. There are tools and glue and broken glass laying all over the place during this. You want to make sure the guy knows what he is doing. Make sure you ask for a teck that has done several hundred windshields in the past.

 

If you haven't called your insurace company yet, take a rock and just smash the window and get the whole thing replaced. ha ha ha.

 

I have faced this question many times and I always have chosen to have it repaired. Many of the replacement windshields I have had installed have leaked and that seems to be the norm. Installation at the factory can not be improved upon. Also, I can guarantee that if you have the windshield replaced you will have a new stone chip within a week's time. Wait until you have damage that can't be repaired and then have it replaced.

 

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Looks like I'm going to live with it...

 

Regarding replacing the factory windshield, I've heard that the windshield is to some extent a structural member of the car. So, when you cut the factory one out, the car body shifts slightly and then once the new one is installed, the car is never quite the same structure as before.

I had that experience in my old Integra. But the windshield was split all the way. It had to be replaced. The replacement was fine, but the car was never quite as solid afterwards.

So, my position now is to fix chips rather than replace the windshield. But, when it's cracked, you gotta replace it. Such is life.

The one advantage I can see with the S2000 is that the car derives its structure from the X-frame as opposed to the unibody of most cars. Therefore, the windshield is probably not so much a structural member and replacing it won't create too many problems.

 

I caught a fatty chip in front of the passenger. Some ricer with 19"s on his 88' Civic hatch threw up a rock on the parkway and, well, you get the point. I had it filled/ repaired. It was not done in the rain. I looked better then the original chip but you can still see it. I looks like a small bug mark. So I'm living with it, but if/ when it happens again I'll be purchasing a new windshield.