Yeah this is a prime example of the BMW tax a lot of places tack on to parts and labor for BMW owners. I'd say shop around.

My X5 had the windshield for 150 including installation with fuyou glass. It had the rain sensor, solar tint, etc. and everything works perfectly. It was done in the hood by the glass guy a buy here pay here car lot uses, Yes it sometimes is good to know people, I discover them when having rims refinished.

I'll be frank, I break windshields a lot on my company cars due to lots of feeway debris, heat and road construction. I've replaced 3 windshields and 1 rear window on my cars in the last year, so I've gotten pretty experienced at this.... I've pad 500 for pilkinton installed at my house by safelite, 279 at a local body shop, and 150 in the hood. By far the most expensive place was the dealer asking $1400 and 48 hours for install. Since glass breaks are so common here in Houston between heat and freeway debris it pays to find a good price.

Safelite is fine, but the quality of the final product is entierely dependant on how good the installer is. There aren't very many glass manufacturers and they all hav to pass the same safety standards and have to be made to fit your car.

My recent ghetto windshield on my X5 has been fine, it's actually held up better less chips and sand blasting then the BMW pilkinton glass.