It's Just a Windshield.....
 

Took a nasty rock chip . Have glass coverage and given the age of the car, I'm sure insc will cover a $200 glass VIN match.

I have OE Comfort Glass.
Right now, none exist in the USA.
I can get it, just will need to wait 2-3 weeks
OE, OEM, dealer installer, glass shop install, I can go on-on.

For discussion, arguements sakes, dealers and even my uber high end body shop subs glass out. So all the heresay arguments on special tools, pretension, etc.....

What camp do you sit in. Does anyone actually re-install/ replace
glass per the TIS once it leaves the factory....\

Just hemming and hawing on what level of repair I want to go with the windshield

I would probably use a different glass shop than Safelite to do install, I've seen some shoddy installs from them -



Is your ins. paying for new OE glass? I've seen PGW comfort glass equivalent which looks the part and I know BMW has used PGW interchangeably with Sekurit/Saint Gobain over the years -


Some nasty chips can be repaired quite well - I had one done on my 2008 GLI back in the day and it was 99% gone - with the new resin technology etc I wouldn't be surprised if they could make your existing OE windshield look good, and you wouldn't have to go back and forth with how good the R&R is of a new glass, etc..

FWIW, BMW of Manhattan and another Competition BMW I know subs it to a Safelite I have used. There are 2 camps of theory but I'm typing this saying good dealerships if not the uber $$ bodyshop I use sub out their glass to glass shops.....

I highly doubt said subs are following TIS procedure using ~slow~ sealant. It's all about production like anything in life. You may think you have a unicorn install if they say we need to keep it overnight..

I don't think the insc . company will pay for OE glass on a 15 year old vehicle...
If I went to my bodyshop, I know for a fact he can get it with OE glass. I swear the adjusters are greased there....

And other swear that same *brand for brand*, the ones with Roundel has better tolerances in quality, clarity. Others say OE chips faster.

It really is a crapshoot IMO !

replaced mine with a Safelite replacement. The rain sensor and auto headlights didn't work afterwords. Didn't figure it out for awhile. then I found out if you unplug the sensor the intermittent wiper reverts to timed operation which is fine by me. I don't know that BMW glass chips any easier than the Safelite glass, but after 3 years I've got about 1/4 the number of chips that the OEM windshield had when I replaced it. That one had between 7 or 8 years on it. I replaced it because to was so badly pitted that the window always looked dirty. I looked into OE glass when I changed mine, but it was about $400 more than I paid for the Safelite.

I can't find anyone in Canada selling the 51-31-7-064-863 ACTUAL OE comfort glass. Sellers say they can get it, but when it comes into their stores, its not the actual true comfort and just the normal glass with shade at top that the suppliers are saying fit the same as 51-31-7-064-863 so its hard to track it down here.

None in USA (not sure about North America).
Can be ordered but 3 week lead time.

Still have not had glass repaired. Hemming on hawing on OE vs OEM.....gosh, given the KBB of the vehicle is one thing, maybe I should just get over it....but there is a slight difference in my ~mind~ to have the roundel on it.

Here ya go. $2.49 roundel sticker on eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Vinyl-D...5/322864593725

Attachment 74321

LOL. The hard core OE windshield guys would say look at the the thickness, the edge finishing details, how the tint is between the panes vs sprayed on, etc, etc.

I'm on my fourth replacement windshield, thanks to plenty of road construction in Texas, and have found the PGW windshield more resistant to "sand blasting" and chipping than the OEM, but more prone to cracks running. Anything other than PGW and OEM has never worked correctly with the rain sensing wipers though.


2002 X5 3.0 348,150 miles
2014 428i 40,000 miles


2004 325i sold at 123,600 miles
2001 325i sold at 66,000 miles


1970 Firebird Under restoration - Long block assembly finished

GOLDEN Unicorn Install happening today.

Installer is putting in a OE Comfort in today at this very moment in my driveway. Great way to start a Monday !

WOWWWW! Pics when complete!

:bustingup


I just couldn't help myself.

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 !)

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?

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..

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

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

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

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

Sent from my Xperia Z3 using Tapatalk

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.

Thanks to this thread, I ended up noticing my windshield was not OE......greaattt...... LOL

Guess it was changed at some point by the previous owner, no wonder it was very clean pit free.

It has a marking on the corner that is made by Pilkington, which I looked up and it's at least OEM!

So I think my OCD can live with that it's oeM.

All good Mr. R. IME, the PPG is harder than the OE

My glass is horribly pitted. Like surface of the moon pitted. And it's aftermarket being replaced by the PO. :( I'm just waiting for something to crack this glass...

Took a dime size chip in the front glass on I95 yesterday coming home from Florida. :banghead:

Got a Pilkington from our local glass dealer and having it installed tomorrow. I have the genuine BMW upper rubber seal here (51 31 7 182 004), anything else I should have? :dunno:

Test/Confirm Rain Sensor when they're done

- Make sure he's not a cowboy and goes to town with the urethane
- Have the guy use the string method if possible

Can't think of anything else. It's like any 'ole windshield except for us OCD'er

I used the same company last year when I retrofitted my E46 for auto lights/wipers. I insisted on Sekurit Saint Gobain glass and they did an awesome job installing it and all the auto functions worked perfectly after the install.

https://forum.e46fanatics.com/attach...1&d=1485994586

https://forum.e46fanatics.com/attach...1&d=1485994586

SSG with Roundel - brownie points.

PPG/PGW IME seems a bit harder.
Well, if one was to be a stickler, not on this chassis, but when you look up the DOT SSG code, some of that glass may be coming from the grand old...'PRC. YMMV

It all boils down to installer. Hope you get a good one.
The one that did the E53 recently went all cowboy. No helper handle needed - aka suction cup on the DS window. Just Lift, placed, dropped and checked for final adjustments. I was watching indoors on the ipCam. Was kinda surprised he did not use the helperhandle.

Ultimately it is a 15 year old car now worth about $4K so the roundel requirement for the front windshield just isn't there anymore... My only parts replacements requirements anymore are simply OEM suppliers. ;)

:bawling:Did you need to remind me what book was.
I was mentally blocking it out as I went parts ordering crazy.

Hahaha, you and me both brother. I have spent half the book value of this car in the last month... :confused:

Well my glass installer showed up and went out to inspect the glass to make sure it was correct and Pilkington and indeed it was the right part I ordered. However when I inspected the sensor prism attached to the glass it was cracked and some small pieces were on the tape. Told the installer, NOPE, not gonna work for me. Even with the factory tape over it, it looked like it had been damaged by heavy handed handling or something. Anyway, rescheduled for Monday with a replacement... :rant: