Clubman GL Smashed Window

Hi Folks,

This my first post following my introduction post, unfortunate that it is on a negative rather than a positive but that's life I guess!

We bought a VW Autosleeper Clubman GL last year after we both retired and like it very much, we've done a lot of work to sort a few problems and add improvements, generally the van is in very good condition and drives well.

We were just getting ready to head off in a weeks time when a Council worker replacing pavements in our area backed his dumper truck into the van smashing one of the sliding side windows in the cabin.  

It could have been worse, the main part of his truck didn't hit the van just a high structure on the back of his dumper which went through the first layer of window. He did admit to it and we are currently going through the Councils insurance company, my fear is that it will be extremely hard to get a replacement part as the van is 20 years old. I have located a local repair company and they have contacted Autosleeper regarding getting a replacement but I haven't heard back from him yet about any developments.

Anyway, I would be interested to hear from anybody who has had to get similar work done and whether Autosleeper can supply parts such as a full window unit for a van of this age, also any suggestions would be welcome on how to deal with this if Autosleeper can't provide a replacement.

I was going to post some pictures but apparently can't do this until I have been a member for a week, so will do that next week.

That is tough luck, you might find these people may well me able to help http://eeco-ltd.co.uk/ 
Hope you can get it sorted for your trip.

Regards Mike

Hi Mike, many thanks for your reply, very helpful. The guy at the local repair company said he had a company who had made replacement windows for him in the past but was not too enamoured with their products. I suspect it's a different company to tbe one you're suggesting as they look to produce windows to a high quality.

I'll pass on this link to him to give him more options.

Thanks again.

Geoff

EE Co.  (Exhaust Ejector Co) have been around for years doing these plastic windows.  You can be assured of their work

Thanks for confirming that Roger,  sending the link to the local repair company just now. It will probably be useful for them for other repair work they get.

Hi, an update on this as I have finally got this resolved.

I got a quote from EE Co which was £290 + vat inc. postage to reproduce the broken pane, I was also searching for a company who would make a complete reproduction of the complete window assembly. The rubber runners on the window were badly perished so going down the route of using the reproduced pane would require replacing all of these. Autosleeper kindly sent me an example of the replacement rubber runners they can now supply, not the original but looked like it would do the job.

However getting a fitter to do this was proving difficult, as it was an insurance job I had to get a fitter who the insurance would approve. I found a really good guy in Perth who would take it on but he wasn't too keen to rebuild the window. We looked at replacing the whole window frame with standard offerings but couldn't find a size which would fit.

I eventually found a company in Yorkshire who would make a bespoke complete window to the required sizes, this was a sliding window but used tinted re-inforced glass as opposed to perspex. I decided to go down this route but was concerned that only having this on one side would look odd and perhaps reduce the re-sell value. So I pushed the insurance company and they agreed to pay for having both side windows replaced.

The company who built the windows can be found here,

https://www.vehiclewindows.co.uk

To cut a long story short, I had the windows made at a cost of around £540 for both windows inc. postage and the fitter put them in for me a week or so ago. Very pleased with the result, they look good and are completely functional. The fitter had to cut a small section out of the wood frame to allow the slide catches to function, also there is a very small section of the wooden frame showing inside but a bit of grey carpet and glue will sort that, it's barely noticable.

This is the guy who fitted them for me,

http://motorhomeservicesscotland.co.uk/?gclid=CjwKEAjwrO_MBRDxgqLa-LX041QSJABgmcMsHK79l9IBWFcbUWjgwlS_Olvk5pL1hILIqK78-OcSZBoCg9_w_wcB

And here are some pictures of the finished job,









So I now have 3 panes of the original windows for sale if anybody is looking for original spares, two with catches/handles and one without. I'll put these up in the for sale section when I get a chance.

Pleeeeease can I have one of them with the catch on. Desperate for one. Thanks. Have pmd you.

Hi Jif.

If you still have a fixed one left I would be interested. Ours acquired a hole and every spider for miles around decided to make it their home and become an exhibit in our double glazed display cabinet of spider skeletons.

Couldn't see anything in the classifieds and I'm not yet eligible to send PMs (?) so hope you pick this up.

Thanks, Andy (scmarf)

Hi Andy, I never got around to putting these up in the classifieds, I had a few enquiries but there were differences in sizes, so I still have all three.

I'll need to dig them out of my shed and I'll post up the exact measurements so you can see if they would be suitable.

I'll put them up in the classifieds once I've retrieved all the details etc, I'll keep one by for you if it is what you require.

Cheers Geoff

Thanks Geoff. My AS is 1998 so hopefully they will fit but let's see. I'll keep an eye out.

Andy

Hi I also have a 97 clubman with a window that could do with replacement if you are selling them so please send me a message as I would be interested 

Thanks

Hi  chaps, sorry for the delay they were buried deep in my shed and I had to dig them out.

The size is - Height = 740mm x Width = 720mm.

This is the actual size of the pane, no trim etc. Two of the panes have a latch on them, one does not. The pane without the latch has a blank where a latch could be fitted with a little work. Likewise the latches could be removed from the other two, although this would leave a square hole through the latch area.

I'd be looking for £80 a pane plus postage, not sure what the postage would be but if you are interested I'll get a cost.

Here's some photos,

Thanks Geoff. Size looks fine. PM sent with details.
Now to sort out some window runners for them to go in...

Andy

Wow they look fantastic I just bought a clubman last week
And was wondering if there was anything I could replace the dated windows with 
Does anyone know if the clubman auto-sleeper has the same size windows 

Thanks 
Aaron 

Jif wrote:Hi, an update on this as I have finally got this resolved.

I got a quote from EE Co which was £290 + vat inc. postage to reproduce the broken pane, I was also searching for a company who would make a complete reproduction of the complete window assembly. The rubber runners on the window were badly perished so going down the route of using the reproduced pane would require replacing all of these. Autosleeper kindly sent me an example of the replacement rubber runners they can now supply, not the original but looked like it would do the job.

However getting a fitter to do this was proving difficult, as it was an insurance job I had to get a fitter who the insurance would approve. I found a really good guy in Perth who would take it on but he wasn't too keen to rebuild the window. We looked at replacing the whole window frame with standard offerings but couldn't find a size which would fit.

I eventually found a company in Yorkshire who would make a bespoke complete window to the required sizes, this was a sliding window but used tinted re-inforced glass as opposed to perspex. I decided to go down this route but was concerned that only having this on one side would look odd and perhaps reduce the re-sell value. So I pushed the insurance company and they agreed to pay for having both side windows replaced.

The company who built the windows can be found here,



To cut a long story short, I had the windows made at a cost of around £540 for both windows inc. postage and the fitter put them in for me a week or so ago. Very pleased with the result, they look good and are completely functional. The fitter had to cut a small section out of the wood frame to allow the slide catches to function, also there is a very small section of the wooden frame showing inside but a bit of grey carpet and glue will sort that, it's barely noticable.

This is the guy who fitted them for me,



And here are some pictures of the finished job,









So I now have 3 panes of the original windows for sale if anybody is looking for original spares, two with catches/handles and one without. I'll put these up in the for sale section when I get a chance.

Hi Jif, The new side windows look amazing and very reasonable price and hassle-wise compared with new perspex panes and new seals etc.

How are they in use - much more condensation / heat loss / weight?

cheers, B

Swift_b wrote:Hi Jif, The new side windows look amazing and very reasonable price and hassle-wise compared with new perspex panes and new seals etc.

How are they in use - much more condensation / heat loss / weight?

cheers, B

Hi B, the windows have been absolutely no problem in use, no noticeable increase in condensation in normal use, when stored I use a condensation catcher & there has been no noticeable increase in the amount of water gathered. There might be some loss in heat due to them not being double glazed but tbh we usually use it in the warmer weather, in fact the way the weather has been recently I could use a bit more heat loss!

Obviously they are a bit heavier than the perspex windows but I have not noticed any effect on mileage etc, as far as the structure is concerned the van has had no problem supporting the extra weight & there has been no movement or warping of the van structure, that's been a few years now so they are well settled.

The supplier was extremely professional with good comms & helpful all the way with a fast construction and delivery.

Hope this helps,

Geoff

Hi Geoff
Could you tell me how your frames windows are held in place? 
Louise

Doris wrote:Hi Geoff
Could you tell me how your frames windows are held in place? 
Louise

Hi Louise, I can't say for sure as it was a fitter who put them in, but from memory I believe there is an internal wooden frame behind the fibreglass body that the window frames are attached to. I think the guy used an extremely strong adhesive to glue them into position. He said to me afterwards that they would never come out again as the substance he used was a permanent fix.

Cheers

Geoff

Thanks for this. I have had a quote for the replacement window and am now looking for somebody to fit it. Will come to Perth if necessary but I hope to find somebody closer.
Louise