It's Just a Windshield.....

[Ricky Bobby]

WOWWWW! Pics when complete!

[srmmmm]

Originally Posted by jsoto

GOLDEN Unicorn Install !

I just couldn't help myself.

[jsoto]

Couple of things while I'm on my soapbox..

The only glass places I have used is Safelite or my Bodyshop.
BodyShop - mainly my relationship is strong and he will cover any issues with no pushback once I leave the shop - I spend too much money there ;-) I know who his sub is....and it's a run of the mill glass shop that has 2 fixed locations.

Safelite - while many abhooorrr Safelite, I will say this. To some degree, I don't know if the tech is paid hrly wage or ~by job~. The tech today used the ~string~ to cut the glue, which is the safer way of cutting the bond out ! Whether it be the Indy or Safelite, they all get paid the same rate + booktime of 4 1/2 hrs. The job takes about a hr - more or less. The primary difference I would say would be Safelite probably uses 2 sealants, a Indy may have a few on the truck as a wider variety. But when dealing with a large chain, there is a certain level of warranty coverage *hey, my glass is distorted*, etc, that will have coverage compared to a small Independant Mobile Installer who may not answer your phone call if you call in for warranty.

Safelite went to bat on this one. Insc. denied OE glass. I tried bitch1ng more than a few times with no luck. The 2 ~OEM~ glass that arrived at the shop was not even the comfort version. Part # and Description, it was in theory comfort, but whenever it got to the shop, it did not have the solar film on it. I DID not even know that I was getting OE until Friday, when they called to schedule, and somehow they got insc. to cover for OE glass. So instead of a $275-$320'ish OEM glass, Insc. paid out $999.93, $196 labor and $106 in tax. I think to SOME degree, it sorta helped that Safelite had in their system that they did install/replace the glass years ago with the OE 51 31 7 064 863. Which may be a moot point on a 15 year old car - and KBB value .That might have worked to my advantage today ?

I only post this because at the end of the day, there is nothing special in a windshield install IMO. Many get wrapped up on anti-safelite comments.
I assure you, many Dealer and exoctic Body Shops subs this out all day, everyday to glass installers(both Indy and Safelite !)

[donmayor]

i recently had to replaced my windshield after 3 different projectiles hit it on three different occasion. anyway i went to non-OEM brand for $220 installed.

my question is, if you're driving on a highway and a projectile hit your windshield, is the city liable to get your windshield replaced? or if a car kicked a rock, is the car liable?

[jsoto]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

WOWWWW! Pics when complete!

pfft. nothing special.

Just brownie points I suppose for having roundel on all glass..

BTW, my final receipt includes also the make/manf. of the sealant used and the BATCH code. Batch code was interesting as when it comes down to construction adhesives, products of any sorts - I'm a HUGE stickler for that and also look at batch codes. Not for warranty-recall on my part, but more to make sure I am using fresh product. Almost any liquid/adhesive I use, if it's not a batch code I cannot make out, I always sharpie the date I bought it on the bottom of the bottle. If you can't make out a batch code date, manuf. are always friendly in deciphering that to you.

Hell, this applies to even frozen wild blocks of shrimp, where you would be surprise on some of the date codes I've come across....


For the many posts that advocate against Safelite due to their use of rapid set adhesive-----I googled the BMW branded one. It shows 1 hr, to infer 1 hr SDAT, which to me, is still considered rapidset vs. the many many MANY post that say BMW adhesive calls for a 24 hr slow cure. Just saying..

[jsoto]

Originally Posted by donmayor

i recently had to replaced my windshield after 3 different projectiles hit it on three different occasion. anyway i went to non-OEM brand for $220 installed.

my question is, if you're driving on a highway and a projectile hit your windshield, is the city liable to get your windshield replaced? or if a car kicked a rock, is the car liable?

Don -

That's why the comp portion of insc. is there for. windshield rider is actually a windshield claim under comp with no deduc. SOME states, regardless of the rider of not, may have insc. carriers just charge you $100 or something to that effect if you were to file a windshield claim.

$220 installed. What brand of glass was is ? Brand aside, at bare minimum, I would go with various 'merican branded glass vs. some offshore glass. Not only for the optics, but isn't the windshield like 50-60% a factor of the structural integrity should you get a rollover. Eh, now this sorta reminds me of that dry-rot tire inquiry posted not too long ago

[jsoto]

OT for those into GLASS .....

All other 5 windows have SSG on it.
If I was offered a SSG for the front, I would have had to check the DOT code on it before they even unwrapped it. Half of SSG is china made. Just for the wiki I suppose

[LOWvert]

I got a PGW installed after my April incident with a 4 foot piece of ice off the back of a semi...


I cant really offer an opinion on resistance to chips and what not because my OEM one was pitted like a teenagers face


I do notice however that the curved parts of the PGW do distort light and your view, but how often are you looking in the extreme corners of the windshield glass.


I got the same glass (PGW) put into my E46 convertible in June due to a crack from a rust bubble in the A pillar and it looks the exact same as my E53 glass around the extreme corner bends.


I can live with these imperfections being that these were $225 CAD pieces of glass on 17 year old cars...


Now I wouldn't want to replace the glass of my previous E60 with heads-up display, auto wipers and auto high beams... I'm guessing an OEM replacement would be in the $1000s :O

[Clockwork]

Lowvert, where did you get the Comfort glass from??

Sent from my Xperia Z3 using Tapatalk

[jsoto]

Hello -

It's me again ;-) Safelite seems to get a bad rap and while I'm not a e-marketer for Safelite, I will post this for a + for Safelite.

I was not approved for OE glass.
Swung by the Safelite location and chatted it up with the local manager.
He told me he ordered the OE glass as the 3 glasses that came in prior were not what I had on the car even though the PN was stating the correct solar glass feature. This same location did also install the OE Comfort glass which was approved by insc. a couple years back .He literally said corp. might call him and give him sh1t as they took a loss on the install. I did not believe him and assumed that he sub-grogate for the OE and got it approved.

I don't know what dealer wholesale rate is but it's certainly not a huge discount. Maybe a bit more than our usual Tischer, etc pricing ?

Anyhow, I just got off the line with my insc. carrier and they got paid $406 in total *labor and materials* for the claim. Figured labor is $200 even. So $206 for mobile service visit, + materials. You guys do the math....

So I suppose the manager did do me a solid.