My 500 has the fixed glass sunroof, which I paid ~£250 as an optional extra. Three and a bit years later, and it has gained a nice crack most of the way across, which I've just been quoted £1400 to fix. It's over £1000 just for the parts (glass panel and seal kit). Anyone on here have any insight as to what is going on here?
General Excessive cost to replace roof glass
- Thread starter ray648
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General Excessive cost to replace roof glass
Supply and demand. Think of how many windscreens get replaced and then think of how many glass roofs will be getting replaced. Plus the glass roof will be heat reflective also. I would shop around, or look at getting a roof from a car that's been written off if the roof is still intact (obviously)
not got glass cover on insurance?
I've not called to check, but I would assume it is covered under accidental damage, which unfortunately appears to have a £300 excess. Obviously thats a lot better than £1400, so that is the route I will take if I can't find second hand parts. I'm just shocked as to how much the parts cost. I assumed that if an optional extra costs x amount, that the cost for parts would at least be in the same ball park. A replacement panel costing 4 times the original option price seems crazy to me.
Check on your insurance policy as Dave has suggested, glass replacement excesses are usually far less than normal excess, typically £50 to £100.
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£1,000 is ridiculous. and the supply and demand argument totally fails - if there is no demand it should be cheap, not expensive!
This is a great example of quasi-legal blackmail by the motor industry. "No one else makes Fiat spec sunroofs (and there is not enough demand to make anyone bother to produce a pattern part) so we can charge what the hell we like."
This is a great example of quasi-legal blackmail by the motor industry. "No one else makes Fiat spec sunroofs (and there is not enough demand to make anyone bother to produce a pattern part) so we can charge what the hell we like."
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There was a thread recently on fitting a retractable roof - there was one on ebay for £250 - but that 'might open up a can of worms'. Sorry to hear about the crack. It's a frightening repair cost. I can see why the Lounge model has higher insurance over the pop although is appears yours might have the sport given that you mentioned it was an extra. I wonder how Opel 'do it' they have a windscreen that goes back into the roof seamlessly but although the 500 can give that impression the insurance assessors would argue that it is 2 seperate 'pieces'.
How do you reckon the crack happened ?
No idea. Found it when I got in the car sunday afternoon. Don't think it was there saturday but I may have just not noticed, or it might have been there a while and just got worse. I would imagine it was caused by something hitting the top of the car. Stone? Bird? Drunk person? I'll probably never know.
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Probably some idiot walking over the roof of your car for the laugh.
It's amazing how glass cracks. I was carrying a lenght of steel gauze in the Marea weekender last year and it was leaning against the rear view mirror (I was too lazy to strap it to the roof). The pressure of it against the mirror created a fine crack on the windscreen which if I had been quick enough could have been repaired in time. I ended up getting the windscreen replaced at a cost of €250 - I only had the cheapie insurance cover on the car so I had to pay for it myself.
Is the crack beyond repairing ?
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I think the new Twin Airs with the + spec and the shiny black gloss painted roofs are looking good now. I'm glad my Pride & Joy 
(PJ !) is parked in a garage at night.
(PJ !) is parked in a garage at night.Fixed glass is normally covered by the windscreen & glass cover. The excess is unlikey to be over £100 and it won't be marked as a claim.
I would give them a call first.
I would give them a call first.
Good advice. I've just checked my own policy, (which is with DL) & all the glass in the car is covered, including the sunroof, up to the market value of the car. Only the glass excess to pay & NCB is not affected
At these prices for replacement, lounge owners would do well to make sure at renewal time that their car insurance policy does indeed cover the glass roof. Not perhaps particularly likely (first time I've heard of it), but ludicrously expensive if it does break.
Silly thought,
If its a fixed roof that may indeed come under the glass section of an insurance policy.
Does an opening one?
Some perverse insurance company may suggest that an opening sunroof is a body part, even if its made of glass.
Must get out more.
Cheers
D
If its a fixed roof that may indeed come under the glass section of an insurance policy.
Does an opening one?
Some perverse insurance company may suggest that an opening sunroof is a body part, even if its made of glass.
Must get out more.
Cheers
D
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I made a phone call today to my insurance broker One-Direct based in Athlone in Ireland - I am insured through Aviva (formerly Hibernian insurance). I have comprehensive insurance and with the windscreen cover it includes glass but NOT the glass roof . This is being double checked with a specialist assessor but from the phone call conversation (all calls with insurance companies are recorded) I am not covered. The 'glass' cover specifically excludes sunroofs (which would be tough to argue with). Surprisingly the 'panaromic windscreen' is covered on the GM cars.
. This is being double checked with a specialist assessor but from the phone call conversation (all calls with insurance companies are recorded) I am not covered. The 'glass' cover specifically excludes sunroofs (which would be tough to argue with). Surprisingly the 'panaromic windscreen' is covered on the GM cars.Your not wrong, the fixed rear glass roof on the Land Rover is covered, but the front opening one isn't on my insurance.
I made a phone call today to my insurance broker One-Direct based in Athlone in Ireland - I am insured through Aviva (formerly Hibernian insurance). I have comprehensive insurance and with the windscreen cover it includes glass but NOT the glass roof
According to Aviva website it covers glass roofs, should be in your policy whether it does or doesn't.
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Checking the Irish Aviva website...
http://www.aviva.ie/online/driving/.../rhs/Collectors_Motor_policy_PD_042_09_10.pdf
Windscreen Damage:
Accidental breakage of the windscreen or any other vehicle window (excluding sunroof),
and scratching of bodywork resulting solely and directly from such breakage.
Different wording to the UK one. I am no expert but when Discovery 3 roofs started to crack it started a whole insurance debate and in the end the insurance companies over here had to concede that any "fixed" glass was not a sunroof and that a sunroof was one which was defined as being able to open.
As you say it is well worth asking the question. I have also seen them crack on a Qashqai (full length glass roof) although from memory it was less money then quoted here for a 500 roof, but the leadtime was weeks.
As you say it is well worth asking the question. I have also seen them crack on a Qashqai (full length glass roof) although from memory it was less money then quoted here for a 500 roof, but the leadtime was weeks.
