The windscreen is attached to the front clam, so the clam has to be loosened to change it. Fitters who haven't done one can crack the clam: one owner in 2018 had it crack on both sides near the top mounts and paid about £600 for a respray. Several owners said the way to avoid it is to loosen the clam bolts yourself, and to check that the fitters have done this car before.
What you can buy
- Black surround only. From 2016 owners said the original silver-surround screens were no longer made. In 2018, 2019 and 2021 the advice was the same: you get the black Elise/Exige-style screen. The same glass is listed for every VX220, the Europa S and the Elise S2.
- The surround is part of the glass. It is moulded onto the screen ("encapsulated") and can't easily be removed. In 2019 one owner whose old surround was damaged was told you can't (easily) remove it from the screen, and nobody could point him to a source for the surround alone.
- Encapsulated or not. In 2018 one owner was quoted for both types by a local glass company. Non-encapsulated screens come without the trim, so the surround from the old screen is rescued and reused. The encapsulated one has the new black trim, and he chose it because his trim was worn out.
- Outside the UK. In 2013 an owner in New Zealand couldn't get a VX220 screen and planned to use an Elise S2 one at about NZ$1,200. Another owner confirmed the S2 screen is identical.
- If you want the silver look. Owners suggested wrapping or spraying the black surround silver (2016). For the other direction, see Windscreen surround: wrapping it in vinyl.
Cost
- Through insurance. Owners paid the excess: £75 in 2012, 2014 and 2021, against a screen that cost the insurer far more. One owner in 2014 said a black-surround screen was nearly £1,500 retail, and another had a docket that priced it at £1,700 in 2009.
- Paying yourself. One owner in 2014 was quoted £750 for a black-surround screen and £800 for silver. In 2017 another said his was about £530 fitted. In 2009 a regular screen was quoted at £300 locally. Prices have probably moved since.
- Which screen. One owner in 2012 asked the insurer's glass company for the black surround and was told they happily fit either, and a fitter booked another owner's car as an Exige so it would get the right screen.
Before they fit it
- Check the bolts first. In 2016 a fitter told one owner to make sure the two front clam bolts in each door shut and the two in the bonnet shut can be undone. In 2021 one owner thought his were fine because the clam had last been off "a year ago". It was three years, and one bolt was rusted, which he had to cut out the night before.
- Loosen the clam yourself. Fitters' policies vary. Some loosen a few bolts at the front, some won't touch any bolt and tell you to take the car to a body shop, and one owner in 2021 was told the fitters couldn't do it until he undid the bolts himself on the day. The clam only needs to move forward a little.
- Ask about experience. One owner asked beforehand if they had done the car before and said that gave him confidence. Another in 2021 asked for two experienced fitters. Branch experience varied: owners had good fits at several Autoglass branches in 2012 and 2018, and one bad one.
- Take photos of the clam, door gaps and bonnet gaps before and after.
- Flex. One owner in 2021 said the surround flexes a surprising amount with the glass out and can be pushed a couple of inches out of line, and that there is an alignment bead round the surround that should make it fit in the right place.
- Hard top. Owners disagreed. Some said to have a hard top ready, because if the screen goes in out of line the hard top may never fit properly (2013). One owner in 2021 had never used a hard top for the fitting but had the roof on while the sealant cured.
If the front clam is coming off anyway, for example for a radiator change, owners in 2012, 2013 and 2018 suggested having the screen done at the same time. See Front clam removal and Radiator replacement.
When it is booked in
- Where. A fitting centre normally took about three hours (2012, 2021). One owner whose clam was already off had it done at home in 45 minutes. Another said the fitters' own guide tells them not to have the owner watching.
- Fitters. In 2016 one owner found his insurer's glass suppliers could not source or fit a VX220 or Elise screen at all, because the largest fitter had sold its controlled-environment repair centres. Insurers use different glass companies, so you may need to push for one that has done the car, and tell your insurer that clam removal labour is part of the job.
- Insurance and a specialist. In 2009 one owner's insurer first paid only a fixed amount towards a specialist, then agreed to the specialist's full quote once it covered clam removal as well.
- Afterwards. Leave the sealant to cure. One owner in 2021 had the roof on while it cured.
Chips and cracks
- In 2012 one owner's chip was less than 3 cm from the edge of the surround, so the repair company said their tool would not fit and the screen had to be replaced.
- Tiny surface chips often stay as they are: one owner in 2013 said the ones on his older cars never got worse, and another with a very small chip near the surround had a winter pass with no change.
- A crack can come from very little. One owner in 2018 had a crack appear while driving after someone leaned on the screen.
Heated screens
- What they are. An aftermarket screen with very fine wires, like a heated rear window. One owner in 2009 compared the wires with the Ford Quickclear screen. Owners said you only notice them if you look for them.
- Where from. In 2018 and 2016 the supplier named was a specialist in heated Lotus screens, with an S2 screen at £250 plus VAT in 2018 (£300 in 2016). In 2009 a Romford specialist charged £120 plus VAT extra for a heated screen, including wiring it up, plus labour of about £350. By 2017 that business was said to be gone.
- No surround. The aftermarket heated screens come without the encapsulation. The surround from the old screen has to be cut off and refitted (2016, 2019), or a specialist bonds on a new one. One owner in 2017 said his old surround went back "probably not in exactly the right place". In 2009 an owner had a heated screen with a top tint and a black surround fitted by the specialist.
- Quality. One owner with a heated screen from that supplier reported significant element failures after 12 months (2017) and said it is still worth having but he would look for better quality if it exists.
- Old screen reuse. In 2021 one owner passed on his old screen, with the glass in good condition apart from two chips, to someone who wanted its surround for a heated screen.
Help wanted
We don't know where a black-surround screen is sourced now, or what a screen costs fitted.