Windshield replacement advice- look before i leap
 

Have had a crack in the lower left portion of DS of the windshield that started out about 2 in long and now is progressing to 4 in about three weeks time. I've searched and have been cautioned by a few experiences that I have read about ( dealing with noise, fit, tinting, etc..). I am down in Tampa FL and wondering if I had the choice of the St. Pete's BMW dealer who states that they do the windshield in house v. the national chain etc.. where obviously all they do is windshield replacements, which route should I choose? What should I look out for?

I normally wouldn't ask but I think I have replaced a total of 1 windshield in 25 years.

Thanks

Search PPG and Pilkington, which is OEM.

The local gurus told me the national chain people just remove the old glass, install new glass. Then a few years later, rust shows up at the A pillar windshield area.
Why? Because most places don't apply prime paint to the attachment area. FYI, During glass removal, very often the glue removal takes some of the paint off.

Thread on primer paint:
moparts: urethane windshield adhesive, is primer needed?

Elvis, given your locale, you might also want to search the threads for OEM 'tinted' UV? resistant optional glass.

I second the optional Comfort Windscreen glass, X5SND and e30cabrio have both had it installed recently.

Get the comfort windshield. the one with the purple hue to it

Thanks-
 

Thanks for all of the replies. Looks like I will look to have installed by the dealer with comfort glass, if possible.

Will update if anything pertinent comes up.

thanks again.

update
 

According to the bodyshop dept. at Bert Smith BMW St. Pete's ( after sounding not familiar with my 'comfort glass' request, but then returning my call [assuming they researched it]) comfort glass is only available in Europe.

They quoted approx. $210 for labor, and approx. $940 for the windshield. My insurance (progressive) said they would only cover $390.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Call some independednt windshield replacement companies. BMW probably calls one of them in anyway

I appreciate the input pezho but the matter at hand is to do both economically but more importantly correctly. That is I don't want to have some third party installer do it with non OE glass and have issues. The St. Pete BMW dealer states that they do not outsource but other local dealers state that they do.

A healthy dose of skepticism makes me cautious when they say they do it in house, but who knows.

It's always the simple tasks that come back to bite you. I'll probably end up going through insurance with no cost but was looking for any similar experiences in FL in dealing with a glass claim, fighting with insurance over replacing with BMW glass, etc..

Thanks!

Do some searching on the site. A number of people have had comfort glass installed both by the dealer or independent. It is not a European item. It was a factory option. If they told you otherwise I would run, since they don't know what they are speaking of.

Agree on plugging in Comfort Glass in Search Tab, upper right hand corner of page: there are literally pages of Threads on OE vs OEM and Comfort Glass on the site.

Also +1 on that dlr, or at least the parts dept., not having knowledge of available options for windshield replacement...would give me pause for having it done 'there', though I suspect they too will farm it out.

And, that nearly a $ grand is a bit high, esp for standard oe like replacement, but dlrs will charge all they can, and more.
GL, mD

X5SND has a picture of the PGW part number for comfort glass (oem but without roundel on glass) and it's not $940

Thanks JCP, MD, and RickyBobby
 

I had looked at the threads a while back on comfort glass and also did a search prior and appreciate the reminder. That was why I found it odd that the body shop at Bert Smith BMW St. Pete's acted like I had two heads when I requested a quote.

I also agree that should make me want to run and not to do business with them. Which I have already decided that is the case. I'll let you know what the other 2-3 semi local BMW shops come up with. Very surprising considering you would think that the comfort glass option would be popular in FL.

Thanks all for the input.
(would have replied earlier but was watching the dolphins get destroyed by the ravens)

Pilkington for $400 installed via a mobile service. They were trying to tell me that they were going to install the comfort glass for that price because only the comfort glass had the rain sensor.. I didnt believe them and ended up with a regular glass.

Windshield Tips
 

Summary of what to ensure with glass repair and insurance.

Please confirm before arriving the following will be used.

-PPG or Pilkington or Saint Gobain glass
-OEM weather stripping
-Any paint pulled off will be touched up with primer.
-VIN Tax cutout will be in place
-There is NO rain sensor on the glass (if that is what you have or vice versa)
-Rear view mirror will be reconnected to wiring tested with alarm or additional features.

New Comfort Glass here!
 

So last week I was noticing a small crack at the top of my windshield (windscreen) from behind the rubber where the glass meets the body. The next morning the crack was 2" long and by that evening it was 6" and forking. I called my insurance company (SafeCo) and was immediately (without ever being able to talk to an insurance employee) transferred to Safelite... CUE EVIL LORD MUSIC... I told them what happened and DEMANDED "OE" and only "OE" glass. Appointment was set for a week later and they said they would call if there was any issue from my insurance with using "OE" (with BMW logo) glass. Never got a call... Thursday came and I got a call that the installer was on his way. I reiterated my only acceptance of glass would be "OE" and was told I could inspect the glass when the installer arrived at my location. When he did arrive I immediately checked over the glass and noticed a familiar friend of a white sticker with a color BMW logo!!! Part number is 51 31 7 064 863 that when I googled IS COMFORT WINDSCREEN!!! It is AMAZING!!! I always tint my windshield to reduce glare and I will not be doing that here. This is how all windshields should be. Talk about a SCORE!!!! Oh and I have 100% glass coverage so this COSTED ME NOTHING. But after using it I would have payed $1000 to have a perfect one removed and this installed. This is perfect!:thumbup::cool: