Replacement Windsreen - Word of Caution!

[AGW82]

I'm sure changing your windscreen when it's been cracked is supposed to be a relatively painless task..? Apparently if you have Lane Assist then the process is far from simple..

So AutoGlass have replaced my windscreen due to the original getting a nice big crack on the motorway, I didn't know at the time but apparently they fitted OEM glass (Pilkington) rather than OE glass with the Audi logo, probably still made by Pilkington.. The fitting seemed to go fine, but when I went to inspect the work, the technician advised the Lane Assist camera would need to be recalibrated due to the new glass... It sounded quite benign and I assumed Audi would do it FoC... How wrong was I... Not only is it chargeable work (at least an hours labour so £120 ish), a lot of dealerships don't actually have the correct equipment to do the calibration... What a nightmare..! :aargh4:

So a word of warning for anyone with Lane Assist on their car.. If you get your windscreen replaced you will probably need to get the lane assist camera recalibrated, most likely at your own cost... I tried to get AutoGlass to cover the cost, but they pointed me at their Ts & Cs which state they will not cover the cost of recalibration for advanced driver aids..

I'm waiting to hear back from Derby Audi to see if they can do it and get a firm cost... Coventry Audi can't do the calibration as they don't have the equipment which I believe is a VAS 6430

[Boy]

This usefully highlights a point to be discussed with the insurers at renewal.

[AGW82]

It will certainly be an interesting debate.. I'm sure the insurers will try and wash their hands of it and say it's down to the glass companies..

Looking at the actual procedure and the equipment required, this is not something the glass companies will ever be able to do..

I've also contacted several indies in the local area and they can't do it, so it looks like a dealer only job...

[AGW82]

One point I forgot to make in the original post is that apparently you are more likely to need a recalibration if none genuine Audi glass is used.. I take that with a pinch of salt as it came from the Audi dealer in coventry.. I might see if the glass company will change it to Audi stamped glass though.. I did ask for Audi glass when I booked the appointment..

[AGW82]

I think this is the procedure for recalibration: Calibration procedure (http://workshop-manuals.com/audi/a5/running_gear_front-wheel_drive_and_four-wheel_drive/wheels_tyres._axle_align/lane_departure_warning_%28audi_lane_assist%29/)

I can't see any of the galss companies doing this any time soon..

[tonye60]

Are you getting a fault message to inform recalibration is needed

[AGW82]

Are you getting a fault message to inform recalibration is needed

No warning messages on the dash it just doesn't pick anything up on the camera..

The Audi dealer in Coventry said there was a fault logged for the camera in the system... And they also stated that you should always recalibrate the camera when the screen is replaced (which is backed up by the workshop manual extract above)... That's also when they said you might get away with it if a genuine Audi screen was used but they couldn't guranetee it..

They are apparently producing me a report, if it turns up I'll post it on here...

[zollaf]

i think these glass companies need to move with the times. it started with tint strips, stick on rear view mirrors, then rain sensors and now this. if they can't do the job properly then should they be doing it at all. the whole poit of insurance is that you are left in the same position as before, but not in this case...

[AGW82]

I hope your sitting down for this....

Derby Audi just called to say it would be between £450 and £750 but they can't say until they do the calibration... :zx11: But the good news is they do have the equipment...

[zollaf]

so they need a computer from nasa, operated by leprechauns.. ?

[tonye60]

I had my screen replaced on my A7, no lane assist but head up display and dynamic headlights. All seems OK it's a genuine Audi screen so maybe that's why. Did have letter of autoglass afterwards to say about recalibration. All the dealers we rang before the screen was changed didn't have the equipment to do it.

[AGW82]

I had my screen replaced on my A7, no lane assist but head up display and dynamic headlights. All seems OK it's a genuine Audi screen so maybe that's why. Did have letter of autoglass afterwards to say about recalibration. All the dealers we rang before the screen was changed didn't have the equipment to do it.

It's specifically the camera for the lane assist that has to be recalibrated, so I don't think there would be anything to calibrate on your car..?

[AGW82]

so they need a computer from nasa, operated by leprechauns.. ?

I think the computer is also gold plated and uses a quantum processo,r so requires somone with quantum mathmatics skills to operate it.....

Aparently this isn't something Derby Audi do very often, so it feels like a finger in the air job...

This is going to get messy... I will call Audi Customer Services to complain for what good it will do... Then probably a call to Watch Dog, they always like a good consumer rip off story..

[AGW82]

So... I've called Auto Glass and asked them to replace the screen with Audi branded glass (OE), which they say they well do as Audi have refused any warranty work on the items attached to the windscreen with the OEM glass.. I know they can't really do that, but it seems easier to take that excuse away by replacing the glass.. They've agreed to do it but I have to wait for the screen to be ordered in so it will probably be a couple of weeks according to Auto Glass..

I've also heard back from Audi UK who are now investigating the situation and will advise what, if anything, they are prepared to do within the next week..

So looks like I'll be waiting at least a week before I have any further update...

[Rower1978]

It's specifically the camera for the lane assist that has to be recalibrated, so I don't think there would be anything to calibrate on your car..?

What about auto headlights? I think this works via a camera in front of the rear view mirror. Would this require recalibration for a new screen also?

[Guest 2]

The RLS doesn't need calibrated.

[Rower1978]

Rls?

[Guest 2]

Rain & Light Sensor.

[Rower1978]

Rain & Light Sensor.

Ok thanks. Is that the same sensor which operates auto headlight dimming?

[Guest 2]

What do you mean by auto headlight dimming?

[Rower1978]

Exactly that. The full beam automatically dips for oncoming traffic. This is on my facelift A6.

[Guest 2]

High Beam Assist then.

Yes, probably, as it doesn't use the RLS. Look into the technical side online and see if it uses the windscreen as any part of its scanning.

[Rower1978]

High Beam Assist then.

Yes, probably, as it doesn't use the RLS. Look into the technical side online and see if it uses the windscreen as any part of its scanning.

High beam assist - that's the one! Cheers.

[tonye60]

dynamic headlights are not as simple as auto dimming, they are led and detect cars coming towards you and turn small sections of your lights

[Rower1978]

dynamic headlights are not as simple as auto dimming, they are led and detect cars coming towards you and turn small sections of your lights

That's matrix led.

[tonye60]

thats what i have and I've had a new screen, never mind I'm confused now

[AGW82]

I can't find any info on high beam assist or other camera systems (Matrix LED) needing to be recalibrated when a new screen is installed.. This might just be to do with the type of camera used in the lane assist system..

The system used to calibarate the camera seems to have 2 purposes, one is lane assist calibration and the other is ACC calibration.

http://wheelbasedtech.com/oem/VAS6430_low.pdf

[AGW82]

Auto Glass are coming out Friday to replace the screen with a genuine Audi one.. As much as I know that shouldn't make any difference, it seems to be a sticking point for Audi and I'd rather take it away as an excuse than keep fighting..

We'll see if it magically starts working again... :rolleyes:

Audi UK are aparently coming back to me by the end of the week to confirm if they are prepared to do anything about the recalibration cost..

[tonye60]

We insisted on a genuine Audi screen on our replacement. Do you have head up display

[AGW82]

No head up display.. I did ask for OE glass, but the technician turned up with OEM, in a moment of weakness and after the technician assured me it was identical and there wouldn't be any issues, I agreed he could fit the OEM glass..

[AGW82]

So Auto Glass didn't turn up Friday, apparently someone jumped the gun and booked the appointment without the glass having arrived.. The glass ironically arrived Friday so my appointment is now Wednesday to fit the OE glass..

I've also been speaking with Audi UK who have been completely useless to me on this occasion.. I have made the point to them that customers should be advised when they buy a car with the lane assist option they could end up picking up the tab for recalibration if you have a windscreen replaced.. I'm sure it will fall on deaf ears though..

Trying to find a dealership that actually has the equipment and the experience of doing it has been challenging... The only dealership I have found within a reasonable distance from me is Huntingdon Audi, they have the equipment and do alot of these jobs and ACC recalibration jobs.. They want £360 to do the job, which given I've had quotes up to £750 isn't too bad.. Apparently the job takes around 3 hours.. I called quite a few dealers within 50 miles of me and a good number said they used Huntingdon for the work

I spoke to my insurance company on Friday and they have agreed to pick up the recalibration cost as part of the windscreen claim so that's something.. So I'm booked in at Huntingdon Audi on Thursday for the recalibration..

Hopefully this whole saga is coming to a close next week... I'm just praying I don't need another screen before the car goes early next year..

[zollaf]

now part of being a franchised dealer for any make of car is that you have to have the kit to do everything. years ago this was a board full of model specific tools for various operations, today its a bit more complicated. i would be getting hold of someone higher up the chain and having some words.

[AGW82]

now part of being a franchised dealer for any make of car is that you have to have the kit to do everything. years ago this was a board full of model specific tools for various operations, today its a bit more complicated. i would be getting hold of someone higher up the chain and having some words.

Who though? I'm not really sure where responsibility for this lies..

I think Audi have a part to play in terms of informing customers... But equally there seems to be a grey area between the glass companies and the insurance companies...

I'm still in two minds if I should report it to someone like Watchdog... The issues probably not big enough for them to be bothered though..

[AGW82]

Screen replaced.. The guy who came out was quite knowledgeable, he said the OEM screen wasn't fitted in the same position the screen would have been when it came out the factory, apparently it was 6mm lower, and he could also see the glass wasn't sitting completely flat across the top edge..

I'm quite surprised there aren't locating lobes or something to ensure the screen is always fitted in the same place.. Apparently not..

The camera is actually working again now of sorts, it is picking lines up, but it's not as accurate as it was..

We'll see how it performs tomorrow after the re-calibration..

[Embisix]

They want £360 to do the job, which given I've had quotes up to £750 isn't too bad.. Apparently the job takes around 3 hours.. .

Why the hell does it take 3 hours? What do they do at the factory when they build a car with this option, hoik it off the production line and spend 3 hours calibrating it? I Doubt it!

Very glad I don't have it! What a b@all@che!

Good luck, hope it finally gets sorted.

[AGW82]

It's been a bit of a nightmare that's for sure...

All sorted now though.. The car has come back from Audi fully recalibrated, and the system is working just like it did on day 1.

Now I just need to get the insurance company to pay out..

Re the production line.. My working theory is that all the sensors are pre calibrated and because the windscreen is installed by robot, they are always in exactly the same position.. Could be completely off the mark, but it's all I can think of..