[G-Mann]

Mine is cracked and I am pricing out. Insurance company was steering me towards safelite, I was leaning toward the dealer until reading this thread. Insurance is allowing for $521 minus my $100 deductible which does not sound like that will come close to covering the dealer price.

Does anybody know if there is any sort of camera recalibration needed for something like lane departure after replacement?


Edit: Insurance company has provided an ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) recalibration voucher.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Structurally glass is glass.

True. Windshield glass is actually two panes that sandwich a bonding/shatterproofing agent.

But the quality of the glass used can vary. (See below)

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

People on these boards have talked about "soft" glass, which is snake oil BS - hardness is hardness.

Absolutely not true. On a new car with OEM glass, the glass is required to not break at all -- not once -- during frontal barrier crash tests. Aftermarket DOT regs lower this to 80 percent -- and that's only a recommendation, not a law. Also, aftermarket glass can be made from higher-stress material that's harder to break, while federal OEM regs actually limit the amount of stress the glass can take before breakage.

Consider that for a moment. Glass that can take a frontal crash test consistently, yet breaks easier? Sounds like a conundrum. Well, it isn't -- it's simply a more narrow engineering window to manufacture to because of federal regs that are not as stringent on aftermarket replacements.

That basically means that 'soft' OEM glass is not a myth. It's softer by design -- and so, cracks and chips easier. Aftermarket glass can be made more resilient and resistant to chips, etc. The tradeoff is that it may not be quite as safe -- and fail completely instead of just crack or chip heavily.

You've got three choices:
- OEM glass (the same as what came with the car. Most expensive)
- Glass from an OEM manufacturer (made by the same company that made the OEM glass, but not necessarily to new-car tolerances or properties. Somewhat expensive)
- Aftermarket glass (i.e. Safelite, which is generally regarded as one of the more chip-resistant brands. Least expensive)

I learned all of this during my days driving a Gen1 MINI Cooper, which uses BMW-branded OEM windshields. Because the windshield is somewhat vertical, chips and cracks were VERY common -- to the point where MINI was actually allowing one free replacement under warranty without even an insurance claim. Why? Because MINI/BMW knew it was an issue and could do nothing about it because of the OEM regs requiring softer glass to resist total failure.

[Tpeterson]

Very interesting information. You must have been an investigative journalist in your previous career! Since my windshield got a rock chip 3 months after I got the car, maybe I won't get a BMW windshield when the time comes to replace it.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by Tpeterson

Very interesting information. You must have been an investigative journalist in your previous career! Since my windshield got a rock chip 3 months after I got the car, maybe I won't get a BMW windshield when the time comes to replace it.

Well, not quite investigative ... but a good (ex) journalist like me's got game in a number of disciplines within the field, including research and critical thinking. Comes in handy for things like that whole extra-radiator thingee here. ;P

Face value is damned cheap to a dude like me. I always question. I'm kind of a sicko that way (and probably why I never married, haha).

[kdog26372]

I had my windshield replaced with aftermarket windshield for $395, my deductible was $500 so just paid out of pocket. Safelite through insurance company was an extra $100.

One advantage of new windshield is that it has a tint strip at the top whereas the stock one I don't recall having anything or if it did it was very faint. This helps with sun in eyes and looks better visually to me.

Broke glass on a Monday, fixed by the next day.

[G-Mann]

Dealer in area located oem glass out of state in Florida for $393.31. Not sure on the installation costs, as long as they are not outrageous I might just stick with oem.

[Viffermike]

Originally Posted by G-Mann

Dealer in area located oem glass out of state in Florida for $393.31. Not sure on the installation costs, as long as they are not outrageous I might just stick with oem.

Wait. Is that glass:
OEM glass?
or
glass made by the OEM manufacturer?

See my post above. Be sure about this distinction, and have that dealer be clear about it as well. That cost sounds low for the former.

[G-Mann]

Originally Posted by Viffermike

Wait. Is that glass:
OEM glass?
or
glass made by the OEM manufacturer?

See my post above. Be sure about this distinction, and have that dealer be clear about it as well. That cost sounds low for the former.

Trying to get an installation cost out of the dealer and they finally fessed up and said they outsource to the Auto Glass Connection, who I am now working directly with. They are pricing out both OEM and non OEM replacement and I will make sure to clarify we are both talking OEM glass with my next conversation with them.

[G-Mann]

I was quoted $729 OEM glass installed, exact match of what is on it Today 3 day lead time, $579 aftermarket installed in stock . They did go down to my allocated insurance funding of $521 for the aftermarket glass. Out of pocket expense I am looking at $100 if I go aftermarket vs $308 if I go OEM, $208 difference. Leaning back towards OEM now.

[chattanooga240]

Originally Posted by G-Mann

Leaning back towards OEM now.

That is such a small amount difference, I would be leaning the same way.

[G-Mann]

A bit of good news for me Today, my insurance company works with the company that will be doing my glass installation and they have worked it out where I will get the OEM glass for the $100 deductible. I do have a quote pending from another BMW dealer who uses BMW glass for the replacement and guestimated 1k plus for the replacement. I should have an exact price later, not that it really matters at this point.

Edit: Price from other BMW dealer (10 mins away of course) is $1327.78. I think I will make the 40 mile hike to the other OEM option.

[mcompact]

My dealer does their windshield replacement in-house; when my windshield cracked my insurer wanted to go with Safelite but I insisted on the dealer. I received a first-rate job(not to mention a BMW loaner) and my insurer paid the entire amount- in KY there is no deductible for vehicle glass.