Windscreen replacement
 

I had my windshield replaced yesterday due to a very aggressive crack that was quickly moving across the bottom. The glass installed was Pilkington and I am happy with the glass. It has a tinted top band and overall, it looks much nicer than the OE glass that was installed before. My only concern is how the rain sensor looks which is the most messed up part of these replacements it seems. Tomorrow afternoon, I'll run some water on it and see how it performs. I know one thing, it doesn't look good.

The sensor itself doesn't look like it got covered. You should be okay...

It just doesn't look clean. I don't remember the air bubble in the center and the screw being visible. Then again, I hadn't spent a lot of time looking at the rain sensor.

On my e46 I had to have the windshield replaced...my insurance company said to go to Safelite. They replaced it with a non-OEM windshield and immediately I had issues with the rain sensor. They replaced the windshield AGAIN with a non-OEM and I had the same problem. FINALLY my insurance agreed to pay for the OEM and all was fine.

What was the OEM that they used in the end? My OE windshield was Saint-Gobain but I know Pilkington is OE for other BMW models. The glass guy made it sound like there weren't many OEM or aftermarket windshields available for the E70 anyway.

Fortunately, I didn't go through my insurance because I know they would require or push me to go through Safelite so I'm the only customer this shop will have to be worried about. I don't have the time to wait for OE glass to come in and I couldn't do what I needed to do with the windshield as it was.

Safelite is the worse- absolute bottom of the barrel when it comes to glass, materials and labor.

The materials and methods they use have NOT been evaluated by the mfg. Yes, the adhesive is listed for windshields, but not by BMW. The use of the safelite method and materials on a BMW will result in a car that does not comply with the original car safety certifications. Twice Ive gone to the mat with my insurance and Safelite to win that battle.

I agree wholeheartedly. My deductible was more than the replacement cost and GEICO told me as much that Safelite was my choice or submit the bill for reimbursement after the fact.

The glass is good, the trim strip on the left vertical is not right and the rain sensor looks, not right. Not right is all I can say about the sensor. The eye looks okay but there's a big honking screw and oblong bubble around it.

Stand a few feet back from the car and evaluate again. Its probably a lot less noticeable that you think. If you experience no issues with the sensor then I would leave well enough alone. It's probably not easy to get a perfect air bubble there. And who knows what other issues you may run into with another installation.

How much for an OE windshield? I have a couple of very small cracks from rocks on the highway.

I think OE glass is around $1000 and then a few hundred dollars for installation.

The rain sensor works. I called the shop and they said bring it in and they would fix the trim and evaluate the sensor. I noticed it, my brothers noticed it, my dad noticed it and even a brother's friend noticed it and he didn't know I had the windshield replaced.