Windshield replacement company (chain?) to go with?

Hey, guys,

It's not exactly for my e46, but for our family van. I need a new windshield. What company does a good job? What's your experience? I read bad reviews about Safelite and good review about Glass Doctor. Of course there are a lot of smaller local shops too that I do not know anything about. I'm is St. Louis, MO and need a new glass for our Nissan Quest. I'm paranoid about hiring just anybody. Any nationwide chain that is known to be decent/honest? I have a large crack in the windshield so need to get it fixed soon. Anyway, any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

Safelite they are a good company nation wide

Originally Posted by Pabliniboy

Safelite they are a good company nation wide

A lot of people seem to give them bad review specifically for using aftermarket glass and trim that fits poorly. A lot probably depend on the tech that does the job too.

Originally Posted by Starless

A lot of people seem to give them bad review specifically for using aftermarket glass and trim that fits poorly. A lot probably depend on the tech that does the job too.

Do NOT go with Safelite! Check with a trusted local body shop and see who they use, or they may even have someone onsite that does their work. Most crashes break windows.

I would ask other bimmer owners in your area. I went with an indie shop and they chipped the cowl and the molding around the windshield was different than what was on the car previous... which made the water drain differently down the window.


Call the dealership and see what their prices are and then price shop. In my area I would cross check them with the glass repair shop that works with most major businesses in the area.

Originally Posted by SJBimmer

Do NOT go with Safelite! Check with a trusted local body shop and see who they use, or they may even have someone onsite that does their work. Most crashes break windows.

Great idea, will probably call the mechanic I know personally and I know he uses somebody who comes to his shop. At least if the job is not perfect he'll be there to back me up and so on.

Originally Posted by mofunk

I would ask other bimmer owners in your area. I went with an indie shop and they chipped the cowl and the molding around the windshield was different than what was on the car previous... which made the water drain differently down the window.


Call the dealership and see what their prices are and then price shop. In my area I would cross check them with the glass repair shop that works with most major businesses in the area.

Thank you. I do not deal with dealerships usually other than buying some parts sometimes. I think the windshield job usually run between $400 and $500. Ugh...

I've had good success with safelite. In contrast, my buddy had his E46 glass replaced by a dealer, when finished his A pillars were destroyed and they refused to pay for it.

I do not like the high pressure Safelite approach. Too cult like for me.

What ever you do make sure you get them to use the BMW dealer supplied gasket rather than aftermarket. That makes all the difference.

Safelite is the company my insurance contracts with, so the only way to get my cracked windshield replaced without paying for it myself was to go with them. I asked for OEM glass, and after dragging their feet for a couple of weeks, they finally agreed. The windshield was installed a few mm off center. To the manager's credit, he offered immediately to do the job again. Unfortunately, that meant me waiting another week for the new trim to come from BMW. So, the whole process took over a month, but in the end, the job got done right.

If you're paying yourself, shop around.

Wife's X5 took a rock to the windshield last year coming home from vacation. The crack started small, maybe an inch, but quickly grew to about a foot until I got home. My insurance company (a well respected brick and mortar company that I've been with forever) tried to fob me off onto Safelite. My X5 has some funky comfort glass; it is a different part number in RealOEM. Safelite told me they only stocked one part number for an E53 X5 windshield and we would get it regardless of what options the car had.

I called the insurance rep back and refused to accept anything but OEM unless Safelite could cough up the same comform glass. Dealer special ordered the windshield, installed it and kept it overnight to ensure the urethane bond set up correctly (the main cause of leaks according to their glass guy). It took a little fighting, and my situation may be a bit different as Safelite only had one style of generic replacement, but it's perfect and the dealer replaced all of the rubber trim too. The windshield alone was something like $1600 retail.