Windshield

[jbenington86]

awsome

[jbenington86]

I need to make a decision....USAA refered me to a place to fix my windshield... Should I use this place to have my windshield fixed or go to a BMW service center...not sure if it will be true BMW glass

[plien69]

I requested true BMW glass when I had my windshield replaced by the insurance company's glass company.

The glass company had to get approval from the insurance company, who had to call me to verbally verify that I wanted OEM BMW glass.

Still, it didn't line up exactly, and I'm not sure why.

[jbenington86]

what do you mean by it didnt line up?

[plien69]

On my E46 M3, the replacement windshield came pre-trimmed with rubber gaskets around the edges. The shape of the gasket trim at the top corners of the windshield is supposed to line up with the frame rails in the roof of the E46.

In the replacement windshield, one side lined up correctly, but the other side didn't. It's only a matter of fractions of an inch, but it didn't line up as well as the original factory windshield, which was perfect. It was mostly a cosmetic thing, I'm sure, but it still bugged me.

[jbenington86]

omg mine better line up

[Russo]

at this point in the game, the 1 series windshield is only available through the dealer.... i'm an automotive glass tech :smile:

[jbenington86]

looks like I might be skipping this service and going to bmw...but im not in the states and i think they use the exact same windshield on there 116,118 and 120 here....and the 1 series is not nearly as new here as in the states

[Russo]

Originally Posted by jbenington86

looks like I might be skipping this service and going to bmw...but im not in the states and i think they use the exact same windshield on there 116,118 and 120 here....and the 1 series is not nearly as new here as in the states

if it works the same way as it does here, the dealer will just sub contract the job out to the lowest bidder to maximize their profit from the insurance company...

[jbenington86]

the damage is 620 euro....aka $979.09

[jbenington86]

This is my final update....I watched them replace the windshield and for people that werent BMW glass techs they were fast!!! Like 15-20min install time..Also I saw the windshield before it was installed and it almost looks like electronics are attatched to the windshield where the rear view mirror goes (2 small metal connectors)......AND the best part I got 100% authentic BMW glass!!!!!!!!! and I didnt even have to ask for it!

[redwood]

Also, if you ever replace your wiper blades (not just the inserts), be very careful when doing so. I had difficulty getting one of mine off and when I finally did, I accidentally let go of the arm and WHACK, CRACK. This was on a windshield that was one month old after being replaced for a crack from a rock. My car has the rain sensor too, so big $ twice in a short period.

[plien69]

Originally Posted by jbenington86

it almost looks like electronics are attatched to the windshield where the rear view mirror goes (2 small metal connectors)

That would be the combination rain and light sensor for the rain sensing wipers and the auto headlights.

[JTdrivin1]

so i did the same thing last night... wiping it down and opened the hood to hear a crunch. i hate myself...

only sharing because i'm hoping someone will see this, remember it, and not do the same thing...

[EspressoBoy]

Russo is so right. For those reading this, and maybe a few years down the road, remember there is cheap glass, very cheap, and not good quality. On top of that, here in Ontario, it is understood that the rubber around the glass should also be replaced. Do not let them use cheap glass and get the rubber replaced with proper BMW OEM. I find the best way is to get the dollar quote from the insurance co, then go talk to the glass people yourself. You can get a few quotes, and even find out what is considered OEM, it will say so on the glass itself!!!! No label, don't get it. Oh it can change over time, you can find out from BMW in your area who they use at that time, but it's still OEM. Do not ever go to speedy autoglass and the likes of them. Anyway that's my two cents... and thank you very much for being honest and telling us how that happened. It is very good to know. jbenington86, you just might have saved a few dozen windshilds and a lot of tears. If you can let us know how it goes. If it is not 100% perfect, go back and get them to do it right. They have to.

EspressoBoy (Yoda is snoring......wakeup you dirty lizard!....he hates that)

[jbenington86]

Well its kinda funny a BMW service shop did not fix my glass...it was some company that USAA (my insurance company) told me to call. I trusted USAA as most USAA customers do. I got OEM glass installed...the way i know is because its got the exact same BMW markings on the new glass. I was so happy when I got it fixed...did the paint touch-up on my own though.

JTdrivin1 take a look at the paint on the lip of the hood facing the windshield and check for paint damage also...dont want bare metal or anything showing on you could run into even more problems down the road.

BMW quality - BMW insane charges = jbenington86 happy :thumbup:

I looked at the BMW service shop and it would have cost me like $200-$300 more.

[Russo]

Originally Posted by jbenington86

Well its kinda funny a BMW service shop did not fix my glass...it was some company that USAA (my insurance company) told me to call. I trusted USAA as most USAA customers do. I got OEM glass installed...the way i know is because its got the exact same BMW markings on the new glass. I was so happy when I got it fixed...did the paint touch-up on my own though.

your insurance company shouldn't be the one you trust... dealing with US Agencies, Progressive, and Gieco on a regular basis, they "steer" you to use their "preferred" shops... what they do is get cheaper rates through Safelite so they put them #1 on the list, and tell you things so that you feel compelled to use Safelite... on top of Safelite handling all the autoglass claims as a 3rd party company, they kind of get an even greater advantage...

you should trust the people doing the work, not the company paying the bill... your insurance company does not make the glass, nor can warranty any work done to your vehicle.... sure, they can kick and scream like you when a shop makes a mistake, but this doesn't solve the problem...

as stated earlier, the glass is only available through BMW dealers.. in the next few months/year the contract with whoever has it will expire and you'll see the same quality glass come out of PPG, LOF, Crinimex, Guardian, Carlite, etc OE aproved manufacturers

[ChrisK]

One winter I was changing my wife's wiper blades on her Benz...the wiper arm slipped from my hand and hit the windshield.

Crack... Snap... Son of a B*&^%$

The crack run up and down the whole frickin windshield.

$1000 pair of wiper blades later.

[JTdrivin1]

i called my CA and told him what happened, and asked about getting a replacement. He told me who they usually use and checked the warehouse for a windshield. I then called my insurance company (Allstate) and they asked if i had a vendor i wanted to use, so i told them the place my CA uses, and they hooked me up with them. the guy is now calling my CA and getting the info to order directly from them. OEM windshield to be installed by a BMW preferred vendor, at no cost to me... my day just got a lot better. definitely pays to have full glass coverage.

[jbenington86]

Originally Posted by Russo

as stated earlier, the glass is only available through BMW dealers..

If this is so then how did I get OEM glass.......It didn't have to be shipped across the ocean so its all over the place here... Its like someone in the states that has a ford or a chevy and the warehouse filled with OEM parts is like 5 hours drive max... it didnt have to be shipped across the atlantic.....I didnt use saflite they dont have them here in germany....My windshield is 100% OEM so I dont care :biggrin:

I dont trust anyone around my car....not even a BMW shop using OEM parts because no matter where you go there are gonna be screw ups or people that dont care about your car because it isnt theres.

I watched them fix it makes be feel better.

[Russo]

Originally Posted by jbenington86

If this is so then how did I get OEM glass....

the people you used, either can get them from a distributor, like us, or they got it from the dealer...

[Blondebimmerbabe]

I had a rock hit my windshield this last weekend. My 135 is 2 1/2 weeks old. It's gonna be $800. parts and labor to replace.