[Sabor]

Just got it done at safelite for 300 n change. Told them this is my baby and they took real good care of me. New windshield is pilkington brand. Rain sensor works excellent. No adhesive leftover. Everything looks great. Definitely a happy customer. Just wanted to let anyone who's on the fence on changing out window. Don't waste your money on oem. Pilkington is basically oem brand for half the cost.

[E92_335M]

LOL, I was just searching Google about this. I'm due for a new one and consensus is the oem glass is not as good as aftermarket. Thx for the info

[bhall]

Thanks for posting. I live in the desert and I get rocks banging off my windshield all the time, always getting chips. I'm sure I will have to replace it eventually.

[kevinbahnz]

Safelite did mine march 2014 and it's still holding up. I'm gonna have them do my x5 due to 2 small chips in the middle of the windshield where you would normally mount a portable navigation.

[1QuikWS6]

I'll waste my money ($25) on OEM glass/install thank you

It's not only the question of the quality of the glass, but also the install technique.

I have $25 deductible on glass breakage for all my cars + 'OEM Replacement Parts Only' rider so I will definitely replace mine at the dealer. That way there's absolutely no question...

And I would love to see documented scientific proof that aftermarket glass is better than OEM - I'm not buying that one just because what a couple boneheads on the internet say.

[ilicboris]

How did you get it so cheap from safelite? I got a big rock chip in my windshield like 2 weeks after I bought the car. Took it to safelite who said that chip was already there and that I probably just noticed it then because I heard something hit the windshield. They filled it for free due to my insurance coverage.

My windshield has not been replaced to my knowledge. It doesn't have a BMW logo on it that I can see. Only the words "Saint Gobain Sekurit" which safelite says is the OEM supplier for BMW glass. They quoted me $650 for a new Saint Gobain windshield. Now I see people getting it for much cheaper from safelite.

[E92_335M]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

I'll waste my money ($25) on OEM glass/install thank you

It's not only the question of the quality of the glass, but also the install technique.

I have $25 deductible on glass breakage for all my cars + 'OEM Replacement Parts Only' rider so I will definitely replace mine at the dealer. That way there's absolutely no question...

And I would love to see documented scientific proof that aftermarket glass is better than OEM - I'm not buying that one just because what a couple boneheads on the internet say.

Most if not all dealerships don't replace glass, they farm it out. Dealer told me they won't work with insurance companies either and would need to be reimbursed after paying dealer.

[phubar]

I had mine replaced about three weeks ago. I was set on getting an OE replacement but when my insurance wouldn't budge on covering it I did a lot of research and it came down to more than a couple of boneheads saying the aftermarket windshields are better. I read and talked to different pros in the industry and they said the OEMs are more invested in protecting their brand names with aftermarket replacements vs OE windshields. OE windshields are negotiated in a bid process and it would absolutely make sense for OEMs to provide a slightly lower quality glass as OE. I also realized I have never had to replace or had any issues with aftermarket OEM windshields, where as all the windshields I have had replaced have been the OE windshield.
As far as aftermarket windshields go, make sure you stay with an OEM, such as saint-gobain or pilkington, and stay away from XYG and Chinese made pgw or ppg, whatever they decide to brand their windshields at the time. PPG or PGW still has some US made windshields but most are Chinese. Always ask for the DOT number and look it up online, it will show you the actual manufacturing plant and country.

[1QuikWS6]

Originally Posted by E92_335M

Most if not all dealerships don't replace glass, they farm it out. Dealer told me they won't work with insurance companies either and would need to be reimbursed after paying dealer.

Had one replaced at my dealer already under insurance.

Dealer ordered the glass, it was installed at the dealer (may have been done by someone else that came in, IDK)

Insurance company made check out in both my name & dealer name, I signed my name on the back, handed over the check, paid the dealer $25 to make up for the deductible, done deal

Marking on new windshield was same as original that came with the car

[phubar]

To be a bit more clear, OE = original equipment (BMW branded Saint-Gobain, Pilkington Glass). OEM = original equipment manufacturer, same brands, likely better quality, statistically less prone to chips than OE, no BMW stamp.

[1QuikWS6]

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't being down on the OP's choice to save $$ - it just makes sense for me to go with the dealer since OEM replacement parts option is already being paid for every time I pay my car insurance, & with a mere $25 deductible, I can't go wrong going the more expensive route

[E92_335M]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

Had one replaced at my dealer already under insurance.

Dealer ordered the glass, it was installed at the dealer (may have been done by someone else that came in, IDK

Exactly......Farmed out, they came to the dealer instead of your house or work or wherever.

Marking on new windshield was same as original that came with the car

I don't remember the company but I had my 550s windshield replaced with OE Pilkington and it was flawless......BMW stamp and all. Now, it cost me $800 since I didn't have glass coverage at the time but my point is, the installers knew what they were doing and I got OE glass.

I'm not saying aftermarket glass is better than OE, OEM or anything else, I just found it interesting a lot of folks have commented on far less pitting with other glass. And I'm totally with you on the dealer thing, I don't let ANYONE touch my car except BMW dealers......not even for an oil change.

[phubar]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't being down on the OP's choice to save $$ - it just makes sense for me to go with the dealer since OEM replacement parts option is already being paid for every time I pay my car insurance, & with a mere $25 deductible, I can't go wrong going the more expensive route

I wasn't calling you out at all just commenting on my experience. Like I mentioned I was set on OE specially because I thought not seeing the BMW logo on the windshield would bother me but after spending a lot of time reading and talking to other people I decided OEM was a better choice for me since OE was way overpriced and supposedly softer glass ($800 from dealership but only $375 online but nobody would ship it so that wasn't an option).

[Sabor]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't being down on the OP's choice to save $$ - it just makes sense for me to go with the dealer since OEM replacement parts option is already being paid for every time I pay my car insurance, & with a mere $25 deductible, I can't go wrong going the more expensive route

Trust me, I wasn't trying save money, I spent over 10k on mods. Just cause u got oem doesn't mean better quality, I got 60k on my car and my original glass was a piece of shiet. Rock chips everywhere and cracked so easily. Did research and they said afternarket pilkington held up better so that was the route I went. Don't assume things because if i wanted oem, I will get oem.

Just wanted to add that I also changed out a glass for my lexus is350 and the aftermarket held better than the oem and thus add to my decision to do the same with this vehicle.

[sy2767]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

I'll waste my money ($25) on OEM glass/install thank you

It's not only the question of the quality of the glass, but also the install technique.

I have $25 deductible on glass breakage for all my cars + 'OEM Replacement Parts Only' rider so I will definitely replace mine at the dealer. That way there's absolutely no question...

And I would love to see documented scientific proof that aftermarket glass is better than OEM - I'm not buying that one just because what a couple boneheads on the internet say.

I am in the glass business and I will certainly tell you that "aftermarket" glass is just as good as OEM and in some applications better. I replaced my windshield last October with a pilkington unit and it still looks as new, and there is no harsher environment then where I currently live and drive. I certainly did my research and the only thing your paying for with OEM BMW glass is the logo in the corner of the glass. I will also add that ALL OEM glass is made by an aftermarket supplier, car manufacturers are not in the business of making glass and none of them make their own, and as for the technique involved in removing-replacing the glass it is most likely outsourced to a local glass company and not done by the dealer.

[Sabor]

Originally Posted by ilicboris

How did you get it so cheap from safelite? I got a big rock chip in my windshield like 2 weeks after I bought the car. Took it to safelite who said that chip was already there and that I probably just noticed it then because I heard something hit the windshield. They filled it for free due to my insurance coverage.

My windshield has not been replaced to my knowledge. It doesn't have a BMW logo on it that I can see. Only the words "Saint Gobain Sekurit" which safelite says is the OEM supplier for BMW glass. They quoted me $650 for a new Saint Gobain windshield. Now I see people getting it for much cheaper from safelite.

You got a saint gobain sekurit with bmw logo thus the 300+ north price hike. Ask for an aftermarket pilkington or sekurit glass and call the 1-800 safelite#. Talk to the sales person and tell them hook u up with the best price.

[phubar]

Originally Posted by Sabor

You got a saint gobain sekurit with bmw logo thus the 300+ north price hike. Ask for an aftermarket pilkington or sekurit glass and call the 1-800 safelite#. Talk to the sales person and tell them hook u up with the best price.

Not necessarily true. Mine was an OE "Saint Gobain Sekurit" with the BMW logo and had it replaced with exactly the same brand and DOT number but without the BMW logo for roughly $400 (covered by insurance). Maybe the PO (if he's not the first owner, had it replaced). To my knowledge all OE glass has the BMW logo and he mentioned his doesn't (almost impossible to miss it if its on there). Also with safelite you can actually talk to the warehouse personnel in your area and get information on what they have in stock, the call center people don't know squat.

Maybe they quoted him the "BMW special price" or OE glass

[xc68000]

Not my experience at all. I had several windshields replaced in our Acura and BMW. Most of my insurance replacements started with they companies coming out and installing aftermarket, but in my experience they usually have more defects. Especially close to the top, bottom, and sides having distorted optical properties. OEM (BMW stamped) glass is more expensive and has better QA/Tolerances (in my experience). I literally had 3 windshields replaced in a row in one car because of optical defects and demanded OEM stamped which was perfect.

[ilicboris]

The price I was quoted with ($650ish) was because of the rain sensor and the dark strip that runs across the top of the windshield. I declined to replace it at this point due to the price and because the windshield is still in good condition, minus the big chip I got that's right in the center beneath the rearview mirror.

I'm not a windshield expert so who knows, maybe they were BS'ing me about it. Rain sensing I can make sense of for costing more, but the darkened strip at the top? Not buying it.

[Efthreeoh]

OP, did you have the work done at a Safelite shop, or did they do a parking lot install.

Thanks

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

I'm not buying that one just because what a couple boneheads on the internet say.

Well that escalated quickly

[phubar]

Originally Posted by xc68000

Not my experience at all. I had several windshields replaced in our Acura and BMW. Most of my insurance replacements started with they companies coming out and installing aftermarket, but in my experience they usually have more defects. Especially close to the top, bottom, and sides having distorted optical properties. OEM (BMW stamped) glass is more expensive and has better QA/Tolerances (in my experience). I literally had 3 windshields replaced in a row in one car because of optical defects and demanded OEM stamped which was perfect.

They were probably installing XYG or Safelite brands which are chinese child labor made glass, worst than the glass in your kitchen window... There is a very credible rumor that OE replacement windshields are factory rejects, softer and thinner vs OEM. If you wanna drink the kool aid thats fine but its been proven you are only paying for the BMW logo, in the same way you pay a premium for the M3 control arms with the M and BMW logos vs the same exact product with the logos grinded off... Like someone else said BMW doesn't make windshields, they get them from OEMs like Saint-Gobain and Pilkinton, so at the very least you are getting the same product just no BMW logo.

Ultimately, either way you have to educate yourself as a consumer or just pay the premium at the dealership and hope for the best. No one is gonna look out for your best interest, the dealership will push for the OE replacement not because is the best but because of profits. Aftermarket companies will push for the Chinese brands for the same reason. You are always allowed to inspect the glass before they install it, if you care about defects you should inspect it regardless of brand.