Realistic labour for replacing side windows?

[Barnsey]

Hi everyone,

One of the things on my to do list for my newly acquired 2005 S40 (after getting to the root of my mysterious and incredibly frustrating heavy steering) is to replace the side windows and windscreen due to various distracting and unsightly scratches which my buying eyes failed to spot.

Have found a pair of used but good condition front side windows however have been quoted 3 hours labour to fit them! Is it really that involved? I was expecting the 1 to 1.5 range.

Does anyone have experience of doing this either themselves or for a lower labour charge? I suppose I could call round local fitters but always prefer an indy Volvo garage to take of it.

Next will be the windscreen which was £210 including Vat which seems pretty reasonable unless I go the claim route but don't particularly want to.

Many thanks as always, hugely grateful for any replies!

Andy

[volvoid]

ring the local independent fitters, talk to the bloke who will do the work, youll get a sensible job done at a sensible cost. You may find side windows second hand, windscreen will be new as they are bonded in these days so break on removal
gut feeling -£200 ish for a new screen fitted is very sensible.

a lot of independant blokes will discuss the price with you with reference to your insurance excess. Some insurers wont use them, some will say uoi pay and claim back, some will pay them direct. Always cheaper than autoglass so everyone wins.

[dme123]

I haven't done the job on your specific model but having changed window glass in the past I can believe it could be 2 - 3 hours quite easily. It's often a fiddly job!

£200 for a screen is really cheap - has he said who the glass supplier is as I've had some aftermarket screens that are ropey quality with weird visible distortions in the glass.

[Barnsey]

Good point I'll have to find out as I wouldn't want anything less than the same quality, I think looking through a warped windscreen would bother me more than it's current state. Have tried one of these cerium oxide kits but either it wasn't up to scratch (no pun intended) or I just wasn't patient enough, and it did make an almighty mess too. Professional glass repair companies seem to charge £100 per arc of scratches so that's a bit of a pointless route to take.