Windshield Replacement Cost LOL

So I managed to get an 8" crack on the driver side of my windshield just out of the blue. It could have been from a small rock chip nearby, but whatever it's already there.

I've been pricing my options for replacement and am floored at the difference:

• Replace windshield with Non-OEM Pilkington Glass = $250
• Replace windshield with Toyota OEM glass (which should be Pilkington anyway) = $820

Supposedly the only difference will be the Toyota logos imprinted somewhere on the glass.

Couldn't convince myself to spend the extra $570 when the OEM glass was ridiculously soft anyway. I've only got 30k miles on the truck and it's so pock marked with chips from road debris that it glitters in sunlight.

Anyway we'll see what I end up with later this week. I can't seem to get a straight story on whether Pilkington manufactures glass in China, but the shop says this is a step up from their cheapest option.

It's too bad Carlite isn't an option. My previous vehicle was an F150 with a Carlite windshield and the OEM glass was crack-free for 13 years.

 

Glass is glass. $570 for OEM glass is nutty.

 

Who is doing your install?

I have windshields that keep breaking (I've been through 3 in the last year). I don't think they are Pilkington. Safelite was doing my replacements and I will be going with another company from now on. I think the glass they are giving me is basically made out of sugar.

 

Yeah but I've had too many break when one tiny thing hits it... I'm almost thinking it's not just coincidental anymore. It really takes nothing for this glass to break.

I don't think it's install that's the issue because they aren't breaking in the same way, but that could be a factor as well, and yet another reason Safelite will not be doing them anymore.

 

I went with a local mom/pop shop that appears to do a lot of business. They were able to beat Safelite's quote by $200, but I don't know which specific glass would have been used by Safelite.

On your current windshield, look in the bottom corner and look for a number that's like DOT 123 (the 123 will be whatever it is). Cross reference that number with this website and tell us which manufacturer made your windshield.

http://www.carwindshields.info/dot_db


For example, my current cracked OEM windshield is DOT 177 which is L-N SAFETY GLASS S.A.DE C.V. OF MEXACALI. They're a subsidiary of Pilkington.

 

the Toyota stamp strengthens the window by 400 percent, its totally worth the extra 570 dollars

 

Should I spray wax on it too to make it more water resistant?

It's a joke.

 

Ive replaced mine with 6k on the clock. Pissed me off that day, so I know how you cracked windshield folks feel. Replacement looks just like the OEM one minus the Toyota logos. Down to the black camera backing, mirro/camera/Gopro mounts, ceramic dots, frit and all. In and out in under a half hour and cost me $250 and some change.

 

yeah but they cost like 20 dollars to replace so its a trade off lol

 

I had to replace the Windshield on my 2010 last year the day after I got it. was on way out to Credit Union to sign the paper and going on Onramp plink and it grew from there. Had it replace by local company for $257 OE glass without the Toyota logo.

 

All true. I've been making windshields for 30 years. PPG/PGW. You can get bad glass from the primary float plants, miner edge defects from manufacturing process, heat annealing from bending. Many, many factors can add up to a "bad" windshield. OE glass usually, not always is made from 2.3 mm. ARG will most likely be 2.1 but not always. Depends on auto manufacturers specs. Sometimes only difference is a screen change and different logo. OE Jeeps are 2.3 inner and outer. The "gorilla glass" Jeeps are 3.2 outer .5mm gorilla glass inner.

 

I have a question for you, wondering if you might know haha, so I just replaced my windshield with a nice and cheap benson glass, now if you look at it from an angle say standing at the drivers door and looking through the glass you can see waves in the glass. Is it just a defect or are all the cheap cheap windshields like that.

 

Defect from float plant. Called "cross car distortion" It can happen from any manufacturer.

 

Choose your installer wisely. Most techs leave scratches down to bare metal when working. If you have any visible rust bubbles along the rim then you're rotting along the lip under the glass. Most tech just slather on the urethane glue to cover everything up. Warranty is useless if it only covers the glass.

 

I can't see how any consumer would get around this unless they stood in the shop while the guy worked on it, and constantly pestered him to not scratch into the paint. If the goal is to remove the existing urethane so that the new glass lays down properly, then what options are there?

 

I'll probably take some 3M blue tape with me to the shop and ask them if I should tape off the roof edge and a-pillars in case of scratches from the tools.

 

I could write a book of reasons safelite wont touch one of my vehicles after the last disaster.

 

Insurance = $0

I'm about to get the windshield replaced on my Corvette soon; they covered the windshield on my Focus ST 2 years back and since it fell under comprehensive, I paid nothing.

 

There's a thread on here somewhere that a 3rd Gen Glass was used for a 2nd Gen as it had better noise suppression. Might be worth looking into.

 

I'm a polite person but I'd rather pester then to pay a body shop to weld in a new lip when the damage is done. How long do you plan to keep your truck?