New Windshield

[X5Sport]

I have had 2 Climate Comfort screen changed in two years at a cost of £765 ($1400 US) each time. The screen is about £365 ($730). Insurance deductible was £60 each time.

Stealer costs here are now over £120 ($240) per hour here and they kept the car for 24 hours.

The first change was done by the insurer arranged repairer who fitted their version made by Pilkingtons, but it had the wrong shaped rain sensor block on the screen itself. Having expressed my disgust to the insurers they allowed me to have BMW redo the job and fit and OEM screen.

It then transpired that if I had gone with a non-OEM screen there would have been warranty issues with any equipment mounted around the screen and also the paint warranty.

Second replacement was done by BMW as I agreed with the insurer that for warranty purposes it had to be an OEM screen.

Word to the wise - if it's under warranty get an OEM screen and get BMW to fit it.

[2002Silver4.6is]

So... BMW quoted me $533 in parts (regular windshield) and, (ready for this?) $838 in labor. (6.5 hrs at $129 per hr) I asked if they outsourced the work and was told they did it themselves. Oh, when I told them I wanted the Comfort Glass I was told it would not work because my X5 did not have the wiring to hook up the Comfort Glass. (Scary what they do not know, thank you X5 World!!) I got a px quote of $545 for the Comfort Glass as opposed to $400 for the stock glass.......

When I contact Gieco they tell me there is no deductible but they will only cover $160 for the labor.

So I call Alpha Auto Glass in Ft Lauderdale. First off they tell me they do all of the installations for Lauderdale BMW. They often do work with Gieco. I arranged to have them get the OEM Comfort Glass through BMW and my labor will be completely covered.

So, Lauderdale BMW wanted to charge an extra $678 just cause they can and the same guys would have been doing the work. Amazing.....

The grand total will cost Gieco around $700 as opposed to $1,400.... wow