Author Topic: Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield  (Read 8963 times)

JamesL

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Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield
« on: February 13, 2009, 15:28:33 »
I have a small milky patch starting to appear at the bottom of my windscreen - half way between speaker grille and the A pillar

I assume this is delamination?

Any known cure or am I in for a new screen at some point soon?

Thanks
« Last Edit: February 13, 2009, 15:41:47 by 280SL71 »
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

dseretakis

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Re: Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2009, 16:25:17 »
I'm not aware of any way to repair that.

I have a small milky patch starting to appear at the bottom of my windscreen - half way between speaker grille and the A pillar

I assume this is delamination?

Any known cure or am I in for a new screen at some point soon?

Thanks

waqas

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Re: Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2009, 17:02:14 »
I have a small milky patch starting to appear at the bottom of my windscreen - half way between speaker grille and the A pillar

Picture?
Waqas (Wa-kaas) in Austin, Texas

mdsalemi

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Re: Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2009, 19:48:09 »
More from the "I can't believe he knows this stuff department":

I once worked for a bit in a factory that actually made laminated windshields.  Duplate Canada, which was located in Hawkesbury (near Ottawa) in Ontario.  It was taken over some years back by PPG and still operating.  It is a fascinating process: automated machines score and break the shaped glass out of blanks; vinyl is laid down on one, the other lite placed on top.  Then a vacuum is applied to the edges and it is baked in an oven to bond the glass to the vinyl.  It then was placed on a special frame and baked again, this time to actually melt and bend this glass/vinyl/glass sandwich to the contours of the required windshield being made...and oh BTW, the tint band is in the vinyl, not the glass.

Now, all that being said, a windshield sells for something like $500-600.  So, if there was a repair method, first you'd have to get the glass out of the car, rig up some kind of repair method to get to the edge that has lost its seal, and reinstall.

My guess is it could be done (like the way they repair chips today) but with the cost of removing it and reinstalling it (and the inherent chance of breakage along the way) my guess is when it becomes bothersome, replace it.
Michael Salemi
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wwheeler

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Re: Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield
« Reply #4 on: February 17, 2009, 04:00:11 »
The windscreen on my 111 definitely has the delamination that James is talking about. I should be able to take a good picture since it is about a 2" x 2" area. BTW, the options for my car show the #598 heat insulated glass option which I assume is the piece that is delaminating. 
Wallace
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wwheeler

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Re: Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield
« Reply #5 on: February 17, 2009, 17:10:33 »
Here is the picture of the delamination. Luckily, I happened right where the label is so you know exactly what kind of windscreen it is.

Hope this helps.
Wallace
Texas
'68 280SE W111 coupe
'60 220SE W128 coupe
'70 Plymouth Roadrunner 440+6

JamesL

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Re: Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2014, 12:28:43 »
Well FINALLY I pulled my finger out and got a new screen organised. Insurance company has windscreen coverage so for £75 got a new screen this morning

Fascinating to see it come out and go in - they sort of hated me as I bought a new seal as well. A 3 hour job and the chap who did it (Lee at National Windscreens at Elephant and Castle) is a car nut and wanted it done right.

I knew the old screen and chrome was not fitting well - both bottom corners were slightly proud and the seal  was tucked under at the top of the frame. The new one looks amazing - not only not scratched but fits brilliantly. No damage anywhere and the whole lot fits flush and the amount of sealant they used suggests it should be watertight for a while...

Clearly the old one was not as watertight as it might have been.... First picture is bottom of screen on left side of car. Second picture of the top of the screen from the INSIDE of the car. And then in.  The rust is surface and I was advised to POR15 it before the screen went back in but I have too much to do today to chase all over town for POR15 so it can wait a while (and yes, I know there's a risk in popping the screen in an out...). Car was restored about 20 years ago...

Oh, and the final picture... one of the guys who owns the place is now retired and a few years ago he bought the 230. He also was delighted to work on my car but does need to drive his... Tower pumps rebuilt his fuel pump twice.... he left the car sitting for years after the first rebuild and it gummed up!






James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather

Peter van Es

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Re: Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2014, 12:54:20 »
Yet another European Event attendee leaving things to the last minute just to make them exciting….
1970 280SL. System Admin of the site. Please do not mail or PM me questions on Pagoda's... I'm not likely to know the answer.  Please post on the forum instead!

JamesL

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Re: Delaminating Windscreen? Windshield
« Reply #8 on: September 10, 2014, 14:01:34 »
It only took me 5 and a half years!
James L
Oct69 RHD 280 in DB906 with cognac leather