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BrettMRC

Member Since: 02 Jan 2024
Location: South West
Posts: 31

Bodywork issues post windscreen replacement

The fun and games I had getting the bits to refit the snorkel to ours after Autoglass fitted a new screen are well documented...however, recently the drivers A pillar trim has started to unclip when driving at speeds above 60mph.

All is fine, and suddenly you get a buzzing/rattle that gets worse with speed. Identified it fairly quickly and clipped it back into place, but it happened a second time yesterday I was taking it in for a service/MOT/yet another alternator/investigation of other odd noises.

The service manager has indicated that if the car has had a new windscreen LR have been directed that there is no good will on these components, and it's fully chargeable. (This is on the basis that apparently the windscreen fitters always damage the clips when removing them - that being the case I agree that LR shouldn't be on the hook for it)

It does mean that I am on the hook for the cost of replacement, and it appears the finishing panel does not come painted either - so yet another cost!

Has anyone else had trim issues as a result of a replacement screen?

28th Feb 2025 8:40am

LR Nuts

Member Since: 10 Aug 2022
Location: UK
Posts: 1269

another issue with vehicles being made easier to 'assemble' and not for 'dismantling'. Vehicle body repair technicians get this all the time !!!

28th Feb 2025 10:08am

Moo

Member Since: 01 Oct 2021
Location: UK
Posts: 1472

I had five windscreens in two years. All fitted by Autoglass. Only issue I had was that they damaged the scuttle plate on the fourth screen. Having it sorted by Autoglass and LR was painless. Got to say I was impressed with Autoglass and that was using two different centres.

Interestingly, both centres said they got a lot of Defenders in with cracked screens.

Powerful UK do a trim upgrade for the A pillar. Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy.

28th Feb 2025 10:23am

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 3170

Five screens in two years, that's incredible. l've not had any chips or cracks on my screen in two years and driven all over the country in all conditions.

28th Feb 2025 2:31pm

BrettMRC

Member Since: 02 Jan 2024
Location: South West
Posts: 31

Ours was very lucky not to go through, potatoe sized stone from the other carriage way!

28th Feb 2025 2:38pm

J77

Member Since: 04 Nov 2019
Location: Fife
Posts: 3473

I’ve had one windscreen replaced, fitted by Autoglass, no issues that I noticed regarding bodywork.

The windscreen on Defender seems to be made with sugar glass. 24MY 90 D250 HSE, Tasman Blue

28th Feb 2025 10:13pm

BrettMRC

Member Since: 02 Jan 2024
Location: South West
Posts: 31

For those interested, a new A-pillar trim (about 4 parts in total) supplier, painted and fitted is £492.

4th Mar 2025 8:43am

BrettMRC

Member Since: 02 Jan 2024
Location: South West
Posts: 31

I sorted this myself the other day, basically Autoglass had abused it removing it - causing damage here and there, but nothing that should have created the rattling, and failed to reassemble it correctly. I noted that this trim hadn't had the recall to fit the pads to stop the rattling either... I fitted a couple of thick 3M pads, reassembled correctly and it's been fine since.

Total cost to me about £4... I suspect LR would have charged me the £500 and said nothing!

Worth noting the way the lower trim has rubbed the top of the wing, I've treated this with jenolite for now, but it's far from ideal!

Click image to enlarge

24th Mar 2025 9:45am

lightning

Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 3170

Yes l noticed the trim rubbed the top of the wing on mine.

24th Mar 2025 10:38am

TreyFortier

Member Since: 23 Dec 2024
Location: MA
Posts: 6

I'm dealing with this exact issue right now.

Brought to Safelight (US) for windshield repair. Later on the highway the passenger side pillar trim came loose and was just flapping in the air being held by the single bolt on the bottom.

Took it back to Safelight who said they fixed it. It happened again. Took it back and they ordered the part from Land Rover (no cost to me). They installed the new part yesterday and as I'm on the highway this morning I can hear a lot of wind noise from that exact spot.

I'm positive it's going to break away again but I have no faith in the windshield shop to fix it properly. Nearest dealership is over an hour away. I'm beyond frustrated.

8th May 2025 2:59pm

BrettMRC

Member Since: 02 Jan 2024
Location: South West
Posts: 31

It's a very simple fix if you want to do it yourself? (Quite a few youtube videos show how to take it apart)

Remove the lower trim piece, undo the bolt at the bottom and remove the A pillar trim.

Clean the a-pillar trim on the inside and add a couple of self adhesive foam pads, (I use a cut up pad designed for holding number plates).

Carefully slide the A-pillar trim back on, if you have done it correctly it will be held in by the little tabs - the bolt at the bottom is really only there to stop is sliding down and coming unhooked. (Took me a couple of attempts to get it right - but it's very obvious once you have... I think the windscreen fitters dont bother with this, they just use the bolt and to hell with doing it properly)

The whole job is well under 10mins.

8th May 2025 3:54pm

R1 paul

Member Since: 30 Dec 2022
Location: Hungerford
Posts: 7

I have this same issue with Autoglass, however my A pillar trim came off at speed causing damage to the paint on the door. Am still waiting after 2 months for them to get the replacement trims and paint repairs to the door even though they have admitted liability.

8th May 2025 4:04pm

TreyFortier

Member Since: 23 Dec 2024
Location: MA
Posts: 6

BrettMRC wrote:
It's a very simple fix if you want to do it yourself? (Quite a few youtube videos show how to take it apart)

Remove the lower trim piece, undo the bolt at the bottom and remove the A pillar trim.

Clean the a-pillar trim on the inside and add a couple of self adhesive foam pads, (I use a cut up pad designed for holding number plates).

Carefully slide the A-pillar trim back on, if you have done it correctly it will be held in by the little tabs - the bolt at the bottom is really only there to stop is sliding down and coming unhooked. (Took me a couple of attempts to get it right - but it's very obvious once you have... I think the windscreen fitters dont bother with this, they just use the bolt and to hell with doing it properly)

The whole job is well under 10mins.

I really appreciate this walkthrough. It's really good to know, but I guess I'm more annoyed with the wind noise more than anything--until the trim comes off. I guess if I do your method (correctly) it will at least help guarantee it won't come off again, but I really want the road noise gone.

8th May 2025 11:27pm

TreyFortier

Member Since: 23 Dec 2024
Location: MA
Posts: 6

BrettMRC wrote:

Carefully slide the A-pillar trim back on, if you have done it correctly it will be held in by the little tabs - the bolt at the bottom is really only there to stop is sliding down and coming unhooked. (Took me a couple of attempts to get it right - but it's very obvious once you have... I think the windscreen fitters dont bother with this, they just use the bolt and to hell with doing it properly)

The whole job is well under 10mins.

I just reread your post. I will try this! Thank you! I'll post once I have an update.

8th May 2025 11:30pm

TreyFortier

Member Since: 23 Dec 2024
Location: MA
Posts: 6

BrettMRC wrote:
It's a very simple fix if you want to do it yourself? (Quite a few youtube videos show how to take it apart)

Remove the lower trim piece, undo the bolt at the bottom and remove the A pillar trim.

Clean the a-pillar trim on the inside and add a couple of self adhesive foam pads, (I use a cut up pad designed for holding number plates).

Carefully slide the A-pillar trim back on, if you have done it correctly it will be held in by the little tabs - the bolt at the bottom is really only there to stop is sliding down and coming unhooked. (Took me a couple of attempts to get it right - but it's very obvious once you have... I think the windscreen fitters dont bother with this, they just use the bolt and to hell with doing it properly)

The whole job is well under 10mins.

Fixed! Thank you!

Couple of things:
- I didn't put on any 3M tape (even though I have some) because I wanted to focus on aligning it right when putting it on and I didn't want the tape to stick before it was properly in place. Once I finally got it on I didn't want to take it off again.

- I don't know what they did to the hole of the bolt, but I couldn't screw it tight. It doesn't seem stripped, it just gets to a point where it won't go down any further but keeps spinning... hopefully it's inconsequential since the clips seem to be doing all of the work of keeping it tightly in place.

Thanks again.

10th May 2025 6:21pm

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