A lot of shops sends the windshield jobs out or have a windshield specialist like Safelite come to the shop, to replace the windshield.

I'm thinking I should buy th glass from bmw and bring it to a shop to do the job. I saw on YouTube a guy putting on one on a latest model 550 msport. The guy seem to know what he is doing. Too bad he is not in the queens/LI/Brooklyn area. He is in California.

Don't forget to replace the windshield gasket at the same time since ours have a bad habit of disintegrating over time...

That should be standard procedure during windshield replacement.

That gasket was replaced in fall of 2014. The original was done. I should say this is brand new

Are you funding this yourself, or filing a claim? My X5 took a large rock chip on the way home from vacation a few years ago. It had grown into an 8in long crack until I drove the 200 miles home. My insurance guy tried to fob me off onto Safelite; I fought them and ended up having BMW glass installed by the dealer.

If you have Geico or Progressive, of one of the budget carriers, they'll insist on Safelite and probably won't back down. I called my agent - a real live human being where I have my auto, home, umbrella and life policies and told him if they didn't cover BMW glass that I'd leave. Five minutes later the claim was approved for BMW glass.

We had Safelite replace the windshield on our car last fall. The car has the rain sensor. So far so good. The only thing I noticed was a missing clip on the interior windshield pillar molding. The clip was laying in the driveway and the molding wasn't flush in the middle. I didn't fret over it.

Thoughts:
Use only the BMW glass and seals if you want the OE fit and finish. The glass is different on more than a few areas. The obvious ones are three thick layers of sound deadening glass (comfort glass), green tint instead of blue, the "blackout area" around the sides of the windshield when installed, and the seal is a no brainier decision- replace every time as ozone kills them over time. If you ask and insist your insurance company will upgrade at no charge. The installer must be familiar with BMWs or you are screwed. Safelight techs are good as the glass installed.

Pay the "up charge" for OE it is worth it. Just replaced the glass in my 528 and it took a little arm twisting but the insurance company took care of the difference.

Now if costs are the only factor then go with whatever your insurance company pays for.

Just understand what the down stream issues will be.

My windshield replaced under insurance by Safelite in Mass.
rain sensor was NOT working, they replaced it again, still rain sensor was NOT working, they ordered and installed a "BMW" windshield - rain sensor WORKING.

No up charges, Safelite could not have been easier to work with, replaced the windshield 3 times under same claim.

Only one issue.....Tech told me "real" BMW windshield has coating that it will be like wearing $500. sunglasses. Now my garage door opener and toll fast lane remotes don't work/register until much closer........but not complaining

The "real" BMW windshield you refer to sounds like the "optional" comfort windshield. BMW makes multiple windshields depending upon model/model year...here's a few:

• regular
• regular w/rain sensor
• Comfort (has IR coating aka $500 sunglasses)
• Comfort w/rain sensor
• protective (aka security glass)