Replacing a Side Window

Different types of side windows

Side windows play a dual role of comfort and safety: they increase natural brightness and ventilation within the cabin. They also provide the driver with additional visibility to control the risk of blind spots behind them, in addition to the rearview mirror.

The side windows that cover each door are movable: they can be raised and lowered using a control button coupled with an electric motor. Some models are still operated vertically using a crank, but this system is gradually disappearing.

Some side windows are fixed: this is the case with glass surfaces housed in the quarter panel, a body element located on the right side of the doors or above the rear wings of the vehicle.

The vast majority of side windows are made of tempered glass, an ultra-resistant material but also more brittle than the laminated glass of the windshield. Hence the extreme importance of reacting very quickly, at the slightest impact.

Why did my window break ?

The tempered glass used in side windows is five times stronger than conventional glass. This technical quality, combined with the lightness of its structure, has gradually made it a flagship product in automotive glazing. Unlike the laminated glass used in windshields, which does not shatter in the event of an impact, tempered glass, when subjected to a violent collision resulting from a collision, projectile or break-in, shatters into a multitude of small, non-sharp pieces. Therefore, any crack, breach or impact that alters this type of surface cannot be repaired: there is no other choice but to replace your side window with a new product. Glassdrive takes care of this rather complex task, which requires removing the door panel to access the window regulator mechanism installed inside the bodywork. Removing the old glass also requires unclipping the trim and removing the seals fixed around the window frame.
The intervention takes about 1 hour for a mobile window, a little longer if it is a fixed window (the time it takes for the glue to dry). As a bonus, Glassdrive makes sure to return a perfectly clean vehicle to its owner: the interior of the cabin is thoroughly cleaned and returned in better condition than when it arrived at the technical center. Our teams take care to remove all the small glass fragments from the seats, floor, carpets, rear shelf, and inside the door that result from the broken glass.

Most of the damage that affects side windows is due to acts of vandalism, where someone is trying to gain easy access to the inside of the vehicle to steal an object or equipment visible from the outside. Drivers who do not have an individual garage to shelter their car must react very quickly to these emergency situations, which Glassdrive is able to respond to quickly and in very short notice.
Our workshops, continuously supplied by our main supplier Sekurit Service (Saint-Gobain group), have the replacement part within a few hours. If it is necessary to respond more urgently, our teams offer, at the request of the customers, to cover the damaged side window with a temporary security film: a free service that allows the user to remain mobile and to drive safely - and legally! - until the new glass arrives to our technicians.
It should be noted that a side window can be repaired if it is made of laminated glass identical to that used in the windshield. In both cases, the impact to be repaired must be isolated and must not exceed a certain circumference: our teams fill the crack with a thermosetting resin directly injected into the thickness of the glass. Although the use of laminated glass remains a minority for equipping a car's windows, some manufacturers use it to equip all openings of their high-end models, including windshields and side windows.

What can you do to preserve your side windows ?

Here are some tips from Glassdrive to prevent further damage to your new window in the future:
To reduce the risk of theft and/or vandalism, make sure not to leave any valuable objects visible from the front seats or the back seat, as well as on the top of the dashboard: even an empty cell phone envelope, a grocery bag, or a coin can sometimes arouse the envy of a malicious individual. Before leaving your car, don't leave anything lying around, even on the floor or in the cup holder, and transfer your belongings to the trunk or glove compartment.

While driving and even during parking, your side windows are also exposed to the risk of projectiles. On the road, keep your distance if you overtake a truck loaded with debris or if you spot a construction machine operating on the edge of the roadway (such as a lawnmower or a mower). Finally, even at your home, park your vehicle away from any activity that could accidentally result in a heavy object being thrown against your door windows (beware of petanque or golf games!).

Damaged side windows: How does your car insurance work ?

Car insurance contracts provide, as part of the glass breakage guarantee (if you have taken out one), for the coverage of the repair costs of your side window (excluding deductible). However, other types of optional coverage apply in certain specific cases: for example, theft coverage takes over if the damage to your window results from a break-in that resulted in a burglary inside your vehicle.

Whatever the cause of the damage, it is important to quickly report it to your insurance company (in France, the legal deadline is 5 working days). Glassdrive advisors will assist you in this administrative formality and will directly inquire with your insurance company to determine what compensation you are entitled to.