Replacing your X5 windshield
 

If you come to a point that you have to replace your windshield, what happens to the embedded rearview mirror on the windshield??? :dunno:

I noticed that the rearview mirror assembly's metal base is embedded into the glass (maybe halfway through the glass). The assembly cannot be simply pulled out without damaging the windshield or at the least chipping the inner part of the glass.

How do you re-install the rearview mirror to the NEW windshield??? Or, does the new windshield come with a NEW rearview mirror attached to it??? :dunno:

Anyone who can share their experience in changing windshields particularly with the re-installation of the rearview mirror will be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys! :)

I've had two replacements on mine and in both cases they came with the mirror mount bonded already and also the auto headlight/wiper sensor mount bonded.

The critical bit in my case was to get the right screen. I have the 'Climate Comfort' screen and it comes in two versions where the auto wiper/light sensor mount can be either rectangular or with rounded corners. The actual sensor unit just clips into it's mount and the mirror clips on too.

Whatever you do, do not allow the fitters to scrape the old mount off the old windshield and try to attach it to the new one - it will never work as the bond MUST be optically perfect.

I had two OEM screen used as the car was still under warranty and BMW GB refused to honour the paint warranty if a non-OEM was fitted, or was fitted by anyone other than BMW themselves. Insurers were happy with this and paid up both times.

Can only speak from the experience of replacing the windshield on the M3 - Mirror mount was embedded in the OE replacement windshield, would imagine it's the same deal with X5 glazing.

Straight from RealOEM, BMWNA Parts and pricing, not sure how BMWSEA will price.

01Green windscreen, green shade band
BMW P/N: 51.31-8408528 $593.47

For vehicles with
Rain sensor S521A=Yes
01Green windshield, shade band+rain sensor
BMW P/N: 51.31-7064862 $653.27

For vehicles with
Climate comfort windscreen S358A=Yes
01Green windscreen, green shade bandIR
BMW P/N: 51.31-8408529 $856.08

For vehicles with
Climate comfort windscreen and Rain sensor S358A=Yes S521A=Yes
01Green windshield, shade band+rain sensorIR
BMW P/N: 51.31-7064863 $922.61

Thank you all for sharing your infos and experiences. My X is an 03 model with no rain sensors it only has the simple anti glare and probably a temperature sensor on the rearview mirror assembly and has no connections (electronically) to the windshield. I then conclude that it will be the cheapest from the above mentioned pricelist.

I wanted to ask - are you sure the windshield comes with the rearview mirror assembly? But you seem to be sure that it does. Im just doubting because the rearview mirror assembly looks expensive to be just a part of the windshield package. Am I making sense? :)

It won't come with the entire mirror assembly, just the mount for the assembly embedded, you would still need to pull your mirror off its existing mount and transfer to the new mount.

You're in the PI, right? If I'm reading the tech notes correctly *no guarantee of that* I'd recommend the climate windshield (no rain sensor), it has anti-UV coating, so you won't have as much heat buildup when it sits in the sun.

E

I see. Go it. I still have my small doubts on just simply pushing the mirror in the mount due to the wires coming from the above console, into and through the mirror neck and into the ball going inside the mirror itself. The long and short of it is that the assembly cannot be taken apart. Well thats me, maybe the dealers would know how to dismantle the assembly and install it on the windshield. I will have to trust them and let them do their job hahaha. Anyhow thanks for all the info. It was really helpful to control my panic - honestly, guys, I accidentally pulled out and broke the rearview mirror from the windshield! Pieces of glass everywhere due to the mount being embedded halfway through the glass :( Hence replacing the whole windshield :( oh well my wife said if I did not have to go to work everyday, I will be doing more damage to our cars hahaha :)

I finally discovered how the rearview mirror assembly attaches itself to the windshield. It's a simple TWIST and TURN. To re-install your rearview mirror, just align the base and turn either clockwise or counter (it doesn't matter), it will lock in the mirror assembly after a quarter of an inch turn. Broken windshields like mine, you have to take out the original base that came from the windshield first ofcourse.

@Lookin4Trouble - Yes I'm from the PI. Ordered my new windshield from the dealers yesterday and specified your suggestion of having an anti-uv coating. There were only 2 choices available (I think both have the anti-uv coatings on them), 1 was plain and 1 had a green tint on top. I opted for the plain one since my original didn't have a green tint anyway. It costed me US$753.00 only. Insurance said they'll take care of it. Lucky me! Thanks again!

wouldn't the insurance cover the windshield?

Err - Sorry, didn't see that it was from a different country,
Here in the US, the insurance covers glass, atleast in my state. Not sure how it is in other countries.

I just got a quote to replace my rain sensing with climate windshield for...1,170!

Sounds about right. Both of mine were just over £700GBP each four years ago. Scary money for two layers of glass, a sheet of plastic and a metal film!

just replaced 2001 windshield.

Went to a local friend at discount auto glass. He went over how PPG (OEM on most X5s) divided their paint and glass divisions. We went into the PGW Pittsburgh Glass works (PPG) catalog. I was able to score the sound insulated front windshield, installed for 400.00 :thumbup:

It is supplied with the proper sensors attached. Fully stock and actually, my intermittent wipers work better. I used to have to turn them on everytime I started the car; now I can leave to stalk in the 'on' position and they work on their own.:D

The one draw back is the added internal layer blocks radar signals. They have a space in the center, bottom and each side of the RV mirror. The cutouts could be bigger, but they work.:rolleyes:

bringing up old thread....i have to get a new windshield tomorrow!! yikes...dealer qouted me about 850 plus 13% taxes for regular one, and 1200+ for a comfort glass....called a local shop that did my boss 335, 450 for a comfort glass one...we'll see......they did a good job on his, why not?

Let us know how it goes!

Mine is coming up for replacement as well. What is the difference between regular and comfort glass?

comfort is suppose to have like a purplish tint to it, very faint and light...i see alot of benz with them....suppose to keep out more UV rays....? try to get a pic of before and after....but its dam cold here!!!

well i got it done...not the comfort glass they had hoped and tried to order...but a solar glazed one, almost the same as comfort glass? suppose to keep out my uv rays and a slight tint to it...went without a hitch, i can't complain cause it was cheap enough...but sounds noisey...i'm gonna have to check it over since i haven't yet...
before pics....
first pic, is how it all start, mini chip, then spread to about 10 inches...
second pic is how far it spread it across almost right across the bottom of the windshield....i'm just happy its all nice again!!!

So overall its decent?.....i haven't posted a pic yet of how it looks with the solar glazed glass, but you can tell a slight difference that its not clear glass....but i don't think my sensors are workign properly? strange when i'm parked the sensors work, but while i'm driving....the sensor doesn't seem to be? any suggesstions?

I wonder if there is an issue with BMW glass in that area? Mine looks EXACTLY the same as the 2nd picture. Couple inches from the bottom all the way across. I could take a picture and place the cracks on on top of another.

I need to get it replaced, but it's still winter(gravel hazard), since it isnt at eye level it isnt really bothering me except for the embarrasment of driving a BMW with a broken windshield, and I don't want to spend $500 right now.

I was quoted just 2 days ago by a local glass shop since I have a crack to get rid of.

Without rain sensor $325 installed

With rain sensor $558 installed

Aftermarket of course. Cheap enough to give a shot.

Mine was about $325 WITH rain sensor and my E90 was a bit more. The guy I used is the guy my local BMW dealer uses and he used the same glass (either PPG or Pilkington) but it only lacked the roundel in the lower corner. It's the exact same glass but much cheaper if you can live without the roundel. :yawn: "Aftermarket" doesn't have to mean inferior. There is cheaper quality Chinese windshields out there but you can get OE brands for a reasonable price.

I post this for reference. There is absolutely no reason why anyone should pay $700, $800, $1000 for a windshield for the E53.

^^ location, location, location......

well, i'm taking it back in again....still some whistling noise coming from passenger side, and still rain sensor not working....it works when the car is in park? but when i'm driving...they don't sense the rain at all!!! argh....so hopefully this time they'll get it right...any suggestions on what i could tell them?

Well, go it back now....looks good as it did before, we'll see if the rain sensors are working.....if it doesn't, what fuse do i take out to stop the speed sensor with it? So it'll atleast have intermintent something...

no rain sensor still...they took it apart and replugged everything....nothing....argh...should have just left the old windshield!!!

:thumbup: eeyup.

great deal on mine, comfort glass, too. 4 bills. But the guy i know is a pro.

OK folks, not sure if this is true BUT I was told by BMW SA that overwhelming majority of the aftermarket windshields with rain sensor will not work properly when installed. BMW recommends OEM windshield to avoid these problems and of course for us to put our hard earned money into their pockets. I have the same problem and it was diagnosed that aftermarket windshield is causing this, waiting to crack (hopefully) to do it properly. Previous owner did short cut causing me a headache!

hmmmm that would be interesting to know for sure if only OEM ones would make the rain sensor work again....that would be nuts if it was the cause.....
i'm taking mine back again soon......how would you tell the aftermarket one would cause the sensor not to work?

Well i take mine apart....these are the 2 different sensore, both oem...the one on the right is what was in my truck...the other if from a different truck.....both are from the same years when i looked it up on REALOEM....strange i thought...
Any input to shed some light on this would help....could be my sensor is broken?

have not been here for a while. PGW w/s is the best overall glass and it has to be installed with non-conductive urethane (3x more expensive) then you would not have a radio problems. and i believe UV coating is called "infrared" by NAGS catalog/database. Getting OE stamped glass is overpaying but do request dealer mouldings and non-conductive erethane for sure.