Heated windscreens - interest?

[Baron von Teuchter]

I have asked a UK-based manufacturer of heated windscreens how many orders they would need to do a run of Grenadier screens.

Just gauging interest at the moment.

I assume the manufacturer would want preorders / commitments so it’s possible they might want payment up front. Don’t quote me.

I have no idea how expensive they’ll be, I bought one recently for a mk2 escort which was £180, one for my Elise years ago which was £150. These days the ones they stock seem to vary between £200-400, presumably depending on size, curvature and expected number of sales. Something like a Lancia Monte Carlo is £270. A Lotus 340R is £400. A Defender (a proper one) is £112.

Regarding the heating controls, I imagine easiest way is the 25A circuit under the bonnet switched from EXT5.

The benefits aren’t just in icy/frosty weather, they make demisting a whole lot easier and with our occasionally questionable Ineos HVAC it’s a real shame they didn’t come as standard.

And yes they do ship worldwide.

Let me know your thoughts and please vote above

 

[Coullabus]

Interesting. I think I would choose this as an option, but not until I need to replace the screen. I will watch with interest.

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

Interesting. I think I would choose this as an option, but not until I need to replace the screen. I will watch with interest.

You raise an interesting point good sir.

I have added a fourth option.

Mine cracked within a few weeks of getting it and I got it replaced by Autoglass within a week or so. From the enormous thread about cracked screens I gather this may not be the case anymore - some people are waiting a long time to get a screen.

If the chap does a run of, say, 50 it might be an idea to buy one and stick in your shed for the inevitable day when your screen bursts so that you have a spare available immediately.

 

[Magical Mystery Tours]

A good thing in principle. I had one in my Ford Ranger and the windscreen cleared quickly, even after a heavy night frost. But... I had to replace it twice due to stone chips. The damage was not even visible in the glass, but had destroyed the fine wires, so that the defrosting of the windshield failed over a large area. If I can't get a replacement in the short term and have to use a normal windshield again, it doesn't really make sense for me to buy one.

Apart from that, it's a really good thing - thx- and I chose the fourth option.

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

It’s entirely possible it might be quicker to get one of these than one from Ineos

 

[nuclearbeef]

I have asked a UK-based manufacturer of heated windscreens how many orders they would need to do a run of Grenadier screens.

Just gauging interest at the moment.

I assume the manufacturer would want preorders / commitments so it’s possible they might want payment up front. Don’t quote me.

I have no idea how expensive they’ll be, I bought one recently for a mk2 escort which was £180, one for my Elise years ago which was £150. These days the ones they stock seem to vary between £200-400, presumably depending on size, curvature and expected number of sales. Something like a Lancia Monte Carlo is £270. A Lotus 340R is £400. A Defender (a proper one) is £112.

Regarding the heating controls, I imagine easiest way is the 25A circuit under the bonnet switched from EXT5.

The benefits aren’t just in icy/frosty weather, they make demisting a whole lot easier and with our occasionally questionable Ineos HVAC it’s a real shame they didn’t come as standard.

And yes they do ship worldwide.

Let me know your thoughts and please vote above

If they could make them out of tougher stuff than the OEM unit, I'd buy one for sure!

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

I will talk to them about that! They primarily started making aftermarket heated screens for rally cars and they take a hell of a beating, especially on gravel stages.

 

[nuclearbeef]

I will talk to them about that! They primarily started making aftermarket heated screens for rally cars and they take a hell of a beating, especially on gravel stages.

Corning has a new windshield glass out called Fusion5. The outer layer is borosilicate (think Pyrex) instead of soda-lime. That might fit the bill!

https://www.corning.com/gorillaglass/worldwide/en/applications/automotive/windshields_windows/fusion5.html

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/corning-fusion5-glass-is-stronger-lighter-and-good-for-electric-and-autonomous-cars

 

[ryket]

If it's a limited run and fairly cheap, I might preorder and keep it as a spare.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

I have asked a UK-based manufacturer of heated windscreens how many orders they would need to do a run of Grenadier screens.

Just gauging interest at the moment.

I assume the manufacturer would want preorders / commitments so it’s possible they might want payment up front. Don’t quote me.

I have no idea how expensive they’ll be, I bought one recently for a mk2 escort which was £180, one for my Elise years ago which was £150. These days the ones they stock seem to vary between £200-400, presumably depending on size, curvature and expected number of sales. Something like a Lancia Monte Carlo is £270. A Lotus 340R is £400. A Defender (a proper one) is £112.

Regarding the heating controls, I imagine easiest way is the 25A circuit under the bonnet switched from EXT5.

The benefits aren’t just in icy/frosty weather, they make demisting a whole lot easier and with our occasionally questionable Ineos HVAC it’s a real shame they didn’t come as standard.

And yes they do ship worldwide.

Let me know your thoughts and please vote above

ADAS compatible, I’m assuming?

 

[grenadierguy]

ADAS compatible, I’m assuming?

Yes this needs clarified... or we need two styles run.

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

OK that’s a good question. My Grenadier is a 2023 with no ADAS. What’s different about the screen?

 

[CrazyOldMan]

Yes this needs clarified... or we need two styles run.

Smug self-satisfied ANZ and “RoW sad losers”

 

[CrazyOldMan]

OK that’s a good question. My Grenadier is a 2023 with no ADAS. What’s different about the screen?

They would have to certify that an ADAS enabled Grenadier could successfully recalibrate after installing the new windscreen - auto manufacturers typically publish detail specifications for this for aftermarket glass manufacturers- but I kinda doubt Ineos has done this

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

Ooof. No that doesn’t sound very likely.

In what way is the screen actually different?

 

[CRH]

Ooof. No that doesn’t sound very likely.

In what way is the screen actually different?

Ours, the correct version, no ADAS, has a small area blacked out where the rear view mirror sits. The wrong version, with ADAS, has a much larger blacked out area with a cut out for the ADAS camera.
It does concern me for the future that there will be so few versions of the correct style in the future that it will be hard to get screens without having to have it suitable for ADAS.

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

Hmmm. Shit.

Perhaps the ADAS version will fit the non-ADAS version but not vice versa. I have no idea.

 

[CrazyOldMan]

My guess is that @CRH is correct - that it’s just the “window” in the blacked out area for the camera, but I’m not positive that’s the only difference. Ineos SHOULD be publishing specifications for 3rd party glass manufacturers- but I don’t know if they are/have.

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

Got a reply from them.

They would need to make a run of ten and they’ll be around £300-350 each including vat.

Anyone around Tamworth be happy to go in for a template to be made?

I’m 8 hours away