[tomgwuyn]

Hi Folks,

I have a front windshield crack that is expanding day by day. After reading the posts, I came to know that the after market windshields installed through insurance are not as good as the OEM's. Where to buy and install the OEM ones? and how much would it cost approx?

[neilvan]

Actually Ive heard the opposite. OEM BMW glass seems to be soft and crack prone whereas some aftermarkets are better. But you gotta get a good aftermarket.

[tomgwuyn]

Originally Posted by neilvan

Actually Ive heard the opposite. OEM BMW glass seems to be soft and crack prone whereas some aftermarkets are better. But you gotta get a good aftermarket.

Thank you. Any specific aftermarket brand names?

[sonofsun]

Originally Posted by tomgwuyn

Hi Folks,

I have a front windshield crack that is expanding day by day. After reading the posts, I came to know that the after market windshields installed through insurance are not as good as the OEM's. Where to buy and install the OEM ones? and how much would it cost approx?

Just curious have you tried stopping the crack? In Texas most cars have cracked windshields because of big pickup trucks flinging loose chips from concrete roads. I've done the drilling and cracking filling to stop the spread of cracks.

From personal experience I can say they work for even the Texas heat. For upstate NY cold temperatures may cycle the stress.

[marvinstockman]

Your insurance installed windshield is guaranteed for as long as you own the vehicle, what are you worried about?

Anyway, BMW doesn't make glass, they buy it. Find out who makes the glass, and see if you can get it.

[krhodes1]

The windshield in my wagon cracked over the winter a couple of years ago while parked in storage. I wanted OEM glass, so I had the BMW dealer do the replacement. Zero issues, you would never know it had been replaced (other than I lost my "Umwelt" sticker from Euro Delivery, sigh). Cost me nothing out of pocket, cost my insurance company about $1700.

There have been *plenty* of tales on here about the rain sensors not working correctly after an aftermarket windshield replacement, which was reason enough for me to insist on OEM. Plus I have personally had a couple of bad experiences with Safelite, which is what my insurance company would otherwise have used.

[tomgwuyn]

Originally Posted by sonofsun

Just curious have you tried stopping the crack? In Texas most cars have cracked windshields because of big pickup trucks flinging loose chips from concrete roads. I've done the drilling and cracking filling to stop the spread of cracks.

From personal experience I can say they work for even the Texas heat. For upstate NY cold temperatures may cycle the stress.

Yes i tried stopping the gap by using a repair kit, glue but didn't work.

[tomgwuyn]

Originally Posted by marvinstockman

Your insurance installed windshield is guaranteed for as long as you own the vehicle, what are you worried about?

Anyway, BMW doesn't make glass, they buy it. Find out who makes the glass, and see if you can get it.

My insurance goes through Safeco and i heard only bad reviews about them . They use low quality stuff.

[Mantraxalos]

Originally Posted by tomgwuyn

Yes i tried stopping the gap by using a repair kit, glue but didn't work.

Yes but did you do the drilling?
Many kits don't require drilling but they don't work as well.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

The windshield in my wagon cracked over the winter a couple of years ago while parked in storage.... ....Cost me nothing out of pocket, cost my insurance company about $1700.

While in storage!? Also, you didn't have a deductible?

[tomgwuyn]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

While in storage!? Also, you didn't have a deductible?

Nope, not in storage. I have a deductible of $100

[tomgwuyn]

Originally Posted by Mantraxalos

Yes but did you do the drilling?
Many kits don't require drilling but they don't work as well.

Did not do the drilling.

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

While in storage!? Also, you didn't have a deductible?

Yup - parked it in the garage when I headed to FL in October, came back to Maine in June, went to drive it and there was an 8" crack right in front of my eyes.

No deductible on glass with my policy. So no out of pocket with me, and no issues with insisting on the dealer do the work.

[Efthreeoh]

Don't use Safelite, they suck. Try to find a local, independent auto glass shop. If they have BMW experience, even better. BMW glass is not much more expensive than aftermarket glass. Most shops have a pre-established price negotiated with the larger insurance companies. PPG makes good glass. Make sure the glass comes assembled with the BMW mirror mount and rain sensor (BMW glass will). Expect the most to be paid by insurance is around $350 for a 3-series.

My experience based on two windshield replacements: E90 at Safelite, and E46 at an Indy.

[tomgwuyn]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

Don't use Safelite, they suck. Try to find a local, independent auto glass shop. If they have BMW experience, even better. BMW glass is not much more expensive than aftermarket glass. Most shops have a pre-established price negotiated with the larger insurance companies. PPG makes good glass. Make sure the glass comes assembled with the BMW mirror mount and rain sensor (BMW glass will). Expect the most to be paid by insurance is around $350 for a 3-series.

My experience based on two windshield replacements: E90 at Safelite, and E46 at an Indy.

Thank you.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by krhodes1

Yup - parked it in the garage when I headed to FL in October, came back to Maine in June, went to drive it and there was an 8" crack right in front of my eyes.

No deductible on glass with my policy. So no out of pocket with me, and no issues with insisting on the dealer do the work.

Wow that's nice. What insurance company are you with?

[krhodes1]

Originally Posted by Fritzer

Wow that's nice. What insurance company are you with?

AIG Private Client Group, but most insurance companies have that option. In many cases you pay a little extra for it (it's a "free" feature of my policy though). Other than glass I have a $500 deductible.

For my cars insured in FL I believe the state actually mandates zero-deductible windshield glass coverage, oddly enough. I use that Gecko company down there.

[lookalikehuuh]

On my old Lexus windshield cracked due to truck flying debree on the highway, called glass places and they all wanted a small fortune for the glass replacement. Like $1300 if I'm not mistaken.

So I said screw that and called my insurance company, Geico, they looked it up and said it was less than my deductible so I told her about the prices I had seen so she offered to give me a quote that Safelite would honor. Sure enough they ended up doing it for like $300 and no issues.

I did actually go to the Safelite facility instead of having them come out to do it in my driveway so not sure if that ensured a better fit.

[sonofsun]

Originally Posted by tomgwuyn

Did not do the drilling.

The drilling is the key trick. You gotta a drill like 1/4" or 1/2" away from the last point and fill it with the resin.

The drilling need not penetrate all the way through, just a small dimple.

[e91Owner]

In my state, glass is completely covered with no deductible. 2x on my e91 & 1x on my e60. Both with safelite. No problems at all, but YMMV.

[fravel]

FWIW, I just had the windshield on my '06 330i by a local shop recommended by EAG, specifically requested OEM glass - they took down my VIN and sourced it from BMW. Total cost was $770

[tomgwuyn]

Originally Posted by fravel

FWIW, I just had the windshield on my '06 330i by a local shop recommended by EAG, specifically requested OEM glass - they took down my VIN and sourced it from BMW. Total cost was $770

That's cool . Did you go through your insurance ?