Optical distortion on the left side of the windscreen

[popjunkie]

Since the car was new, I've noticed optical distortion on the lower left corner of the windscreen. As a result, when you're driving along, lines by the left side of the road can actually look a bit wavy as I drive past... I think the best description I can give is that it looks like heat waves coming off a hot road surface.

The patch giving the distortion is about 8 inches square, so its not a very small part of the windscreen by any measure.

Anyone else noticed this on their cars?

[maisbitt]

Wouldn't that distortion apply to looking out of any curved window from the angle you're looking out of it? I dont think there's a fix for that.

[popjunkie]

Wouldn't that distortion apply to looking out of any curved window from the angle you're looking out of it? I dont think there's a fix for that.

Can I take this to mean you see it too?

[maisbitt]

It happens - unless you had an odd dip in that corner of your screen, it would be a safe bet to say they're all like that. It might look more pronounced if your seat height adjustment is set a certain way - try raising or lowering the seat a bit. I tend not to use the lower left corner of the widscreen - it's where the tax disc is.

[maddogdave]

It's all down to the quality of the glass manufacture and the difference between an acceptable and rejected sheet. Looking at a greater angle will magnify the effects hence why the screen probably looks worse the further away you are from the area you are looking through. If there is noticable distortion when looking through the screen in a 'normal' way, ie. straight ahead or at an angle but across the central portion of the screen then I would say you have a poor screen. But if it's towards the edge / corner when looking across then that's just down to the manufacturing tolerances and you're unlikley to get anything better with a new screen. No piece of glass is optically perfect, especially when curved to fit a car windscreen.
I did however experience on my previous car a problem with a replacement screen where there was noticable distortion in the central and passenger area. After living with it for a couple of weeks I called the company and they came and fitted another (much better) replacement with no quibbles. The replacement was the same (non original) make, but comparing the replacement (checked thoroughly before they fitted it) it was much better.
Next time you're at a set of lights with a car along side you take a look through their screen. As you will be looking at an angle it's amazing how many 'wibbly wobbly' screens are out there that the driver probably doesn't notice.

[Westfaliaman]

Only had the car a couple of months and just noticed my screen has this distortion on lower left side as well-if you run your hand over the outside it is very apparent the screen is not flat.Can't believe that VW quality control would be happy with this on a 24K car- would this be covered under warranty for a replacement screen?
Sam

[kianok]

would this be covered under warranty for a replacement screen?
Sam

Worth a try.

Last time i noticed a screen like that it was in my 83' MKI golf!