It's OK to have glass shop to replace windshield, right?

Not that I'm trying to cheap out on a BMW, but the stealer quoted me

$951.23 - windshield
$715.00 - labor to install windshield

And the online shop has it for $360 all inclusive and onsite installation.

Originally Posted by whoever

Not that I'm trying to cheap out on a BMW, but the stealer quoted me

$951.23 - windshield
$715.00 - labor to install windshield

And the online shop has it for $360 all inclusive and onsite installation.

$360 may sound too inexpensive for an OEM windshield replacement. That windshield may be a different quality level than OEM - worth asking.

Aside from that, or if you don't care, there's no inherent problem in having your windshield replaced by someone other than the dealer. IMO and IME.

Make sure and read into the auto sensing wiper sensor (on windshield replacements) to make sure the work is done properly. If it is not, that sensor will no longer work. It's not a complicated thing (IIRC) but there is a certain step that must be done.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

$360 may sound too inexpensive for an OEM windshield replacement. That windshield may be a different quality level than OEM - worth asking.

Aside from that, or if you don't care, there's no inherent problem in having your windshield replaced by someone other than the dealer. IMO and IME.

Thanks, it's certainly not OEM. But I guess there are some basic standard about windshiled right? They can't be thinner or less reliable or break into sharp pieces, can they?

Originally Posted by xclone

Make sure and read into the auto sensing wiper sensor (on windshield replacements) to make sure the work is done properly. If it is not, that sensor will no longer work. It's not a complicated thing (IIRC) but there is a certain step that must be done.

They did ask questions if you have a rain sensor and window fogging sensor (what's that callled?) I guess they are prepared. I'll make sure to bring a bottle of water.

Glass shops almost always replace windshields for dealers. If you take it to a dealer, they will have a glass shop rep come to the dealer to do the job. You can have them do it at your home. I actually helped the rep to install the windshield in our M-B in my garage. It is not rocket science. Just make sure they send a competent person. I have heard several stories where the sealant was not properly applied and wind noise entered the cabin.

Originally Posted by Fahrer

Glass shops almost always replace windshields for dealers. If you take it to a dealer, they will have a glass shop rep come to the dealer to do the job. You can have them do it at your home. I actually helped the rep to install the windshield in our M-B in my garage. It is not rocket science. Just make sure they send a competent person. I have heard several stories where the sealant was not properly applied and wind noise entered the cabin.

Cool. Hope for the best and count on their lifetime warranty

Originally Posted by whoever

Thanks, it's certainly not OEM. But I guess there are some basic standard about windshiled right? They can't be thinner or less reliable or break into sharp pieces, can they?

There are basic standards, though I couldn't quote them. I am confident that they will all be tempered glass, for example, and not break into sharp pieces.

The differences you may be looking at (pun!) might be thickness, clarity level, and perhaps the tolerance for surface contour (a wavy windshield).

But don't let that scare you; I am no automotive glass expert. My suggestion would be to confront the glass shop about the price and ask them if the windshield is OEM quality equivalent and see how they respond.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

There are basic standards, though I couldn't quote them. I am confident that they will all be tempered glass, for example, and not break into sharp pieces. The differences you may be looking at (pun!) might be thickness, clarity level, and perhaps the tolerance for surface contour (a wavy windshield).

But don't let that scare you; I am no automotive glass expert. My suggestion would be to confront the glass shop about the price and ask them if the windshield is OEM quality equivalent and see how they respond.

Windshield are NEVER made from tempered glass for the US market. Only side windows and sunroofs are made from tempered glass. It is a safety issue. If tempered glass was used for a windshield, your skull and or spine would be crushed if impacting the glass ( remember cars are also designed to protect unbelted passengers) in an accident. Windshields are made from two pieces of glass with and adhesive film between to hold, as much as possible, the shards of broken glass from an accident.

Originally Posted by Fahrer

Windshield are NEVER made from tempered glass for the US market. Only side windows and sunroofs are made from tempered glass. It is a safety issue. If tempered glass was used for a windshield, your skull and or spine would be crushed if impacting the glass ( remember cars are also designed to protect unbelted passengers) in an accident. Windshields are made from two pieces of glass with and adhesive film between to hold, as much as possible, the shards of broken glass from an accident.

Like I said, I'm no automotive glass expert.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Like I said, I'm no automotive glass expert.

.....just a little bit of automotive trivia

Thanks guys. Just confirmed it's an after market glass, but claimed made in the USA with high quality in OEM spec, blah. I guess anyone feel proud to claim Not Made in China these days.

But compare to dealer's $1,800+, I guess it is what it is.

I just had mine replaced with aftermarket glass - $650Cdn vs. the $1,700 dealer quote. The shop confirmed the various options (HUD costs significantly more for the glass) and did the install in a less than a day, including complementary pickup and drop off of the car at my work. From my perspective, I can't see much of a difference between the new glass and old -- except for the giant rock chip/hole in my line of sight is now gone

It can't be an OEM windshield. I had 2 windshield replacements on a 530i and they were around $750-$800 installed by a glass shop. The car had HUD which did increase the price of the glass (special coating) over non-HUD.

I just had this issue in my new (to me) 530xi. Going down the interstate and the only kicked up rock in miles had to of course find my car. I called a local dealer friend who sells another upscale brand and asked him who he used. Complete job cost me $350. They gave me the dealer rate. That's for a Pilkerton rain-sensing windshield and labor as well.

My local factory stealership wanted $385 for labor and 800+ for the part.

Has anyone tried getting thier insurance to cover it? A rock kicked up and cracked the windshield on my FX, all I had to pay was the deductible.

Originally Posted by Vinsobe

Has anyone tried getting thier insurance to cover it? A rock kicked up and cracked the windshield on my FX, all I had to pay was the deductible.

Depends on the state. NH does not have glass coverage (at least for Allstate).

Originally Posted by Vinsobe

Has anyone tried getting thier insurance to cover it? A rock kicked up and cracked the windshield on my FX, all I had to pay was the deductible.

I think it depends on what your deductible is if you have comprehensive. I used to have a $100 deductible on comprehensive with Allstate. When I got suckered into State Farm they raised the deductible to $500 on comprehensive without telling me, probably in order to keep their quote down. My fault for not realizing it until I needed it this past week and taking the agent at her word for "the exact same level of coverage."

I don't think most insurance companies are going to spend much above $500 for a windshield replacement, regardless of how much it will cost to get you back to the same quality you had before damage. When I called State Farm they were already prepared with a script to quote me verbatim about "your policy allows us to use a substitute of similar quality, bah, blah, blah." Basically they said tough, I could sue them if I didn't like it.

It should be around $1200 to have a brand new windshield installed without insurance. We've had to replace a few. However, we had Safelite replace it once and the windshields wouldn't "seat" properly and would pop every time you drove over an uneven service. We went threw 4 windshields before they told us their windows weren't going to suffice and then paid our deductible to have an OEM one installed.

Thanks for all the advice and discussion. Just had it installed. The new glass looks EXACTLY the same as original down to every details except an extra tinted top banner. Hope it behaves the same. It costs $360 through autoglassguru down to a local glass shop.

Here in NYC, full insurance with no deductible plus full glass probably cost you a quarter of a new BMW a year. So I skip it altogether.

Originally Posted by whoever

Here in NYC, full insurance with no deductible plus full glass probably cost you a quarter of a new BMW a year. So I skip it altogether.

Bummer. I just pulled my latest bill out of the file. In Colorado, I pay $133 every six months for $500 deductible comprehensive insurance with a zero-deductible rider for glass.

I'm told, informally, that I can replace two windshields a year at no cost without triggering any issues with my premiums.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Bummer. I just pulled my latest bill out of the file. In Colorado, I pay $133 every six months for $500 deductible comprehensive insurance with a zero-deductible rider for glass.

I'm told, informally, that I can replace two windshields a year at no cost without triggering any issues with my premiums.

Ah, the dream land. Just went kayaking on Yampa this summer. Wish I could afford living there.