Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(4n6 @ Sep 6 2007, 07:52 PM) [snapback]508309[/snapback]</div>

I have to say that I really can't see any difference between my Safelite replacement and the original windshield. I paid particular attention while driving today and couldn't see any unusual distortion. I can accept that there may be some differences relative to OEM but after a couple weeks, they aren't apparent to me. I may have a different opinion down the road but unless I have another rock encounter, I expect this windshield will perform as well as the original. Higher cost does not always mean better value.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jwe8f @ Sep 5 2007, 06:16 PM) [snapback]507532[/snapback]</div>

I've had my windshield replaced twice in the past 3 months. Both times courtesy of the Long Island Expressway.

The first time I went to my local Toyota dealer - final cost $1380.00 - Insurance company paid

Second time ( last week) Safelite Auto Glass - $370.00 . Insurance company paid again.

I could see absolutely no difference between the two replacements. The second time a van came to my house and the technician took no more than 20 minutes from start to finish. One hour later, I was on the road. The first time I had to leave the car for a day, Lay out the payment (Toyota wouldn't bill the insurance company) and then wait for reimbursement. Bad Toyota!

 

A couple of additional thoughts. We just went through this with our '07 Prius. Windshield fairly well demolished when something got kicked up into to it while we were driving at 70+. AAA Insurance sent out Safelite which initially replaced with non-OEM. I believe the total invoice was around $800 and I paid my $500 deductible. My wife noticed that she was getting a whole lot more interior reflection (the cowl) and complained to AAA. They said that because it was an '07, i.e., new(ish), Safelite ought to have replaced it with OEM. Last week Safelite showed up with OEM glass -- and, if memory serves me right, an invoice for around $1400.

My wife is convinced that the tinting on the OEM looks substantially different than the other glass.

Ted

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tedb @ Sep 16 2007, 06:22 PM) [snapback]513406[/snapback]</div>

If the Safelite glass picture on post 14 of this thread is color-accurate, I can see how she might say that...

 

For those of you wondering what degree of UV protection your windshield has, just do the following. Set up some kind of shoplight with a UV blacklight bulb installed outside the windshield. Wear a white shirt. Sit inside the car and check if your white clothing is glowing a purpleish color. If it is, the glass you are testing is letting UV light through.
I discovered this after cleaning the glass on my Prius with some white cloths. I had earlier put a spare blacklight bulb in my shoplight to complete the circuit and get the other normal bulb working. When I was cleaning the outside of the car, the cloth glowed, but nothing was glowing when I cleaned the inside. Just another interesting discovery that was accidental.

 

Re: Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

A few months ago, I took a rock chip in the upper middle of the windshield just above the mirror mount. Of course, being a high stress area it spread quickly. So after several phone calls, I found that Eveready glass of Phoenix does work for some of the local dealers and had them replace the glass. I wanted OEM Toyota glass, but the insurance would not cover it. Speaking with the technician that came out, he told me that Pilkington / LOF is the glass factory for Toyota USA. He said he has seen glass come through from Pilkington with the Toyota marking acid etched off, though it is still visible when viewing at the correct angle. The difference? About $600. The Pilkington glass comes standard with a light tinting, sound absorbing design. Of course, the glass is laminated (as all windshield glass is), not tempered. I requested the glass with shading (built in gradient shading strip at the top) which is an upgraded glass. Cash price would have been around $350 if I had to pay out of pocket.

Since I also am going to install my scangauge above the mirror, I decided to install a 7ft CAT5 network cable across the headliner and A-pillar while the glass was out. To save the technician some time (and because I'm uberanal about my car), I removed the rear view mirror, windshield wipers, and plastic cowling prior to the technician arriving. The replacement was done in my garage so I could help and observe the process.

Here are some photos of the installation:

1.) First layed down some old blankets on the seats, dashboard, and floor to catch any stray urethane shards and goop.

2.) Use a T20 torx head driver to back out the mirror set screw (not all the way) then slide the mirror up on the mount to remove. If you have the Homelink mirror you must first remove the connector from the back side of the mirror.


4.) Use a 14mm hex socket to remove the bolts holding the windshield wiper blades. Use a gear puller to separate the wiper blades from the drive shafts. Remove the plastic cover. There are two push-pin fasteners, one on each side. Then the cover lifts out.


3.) The technician pulled the existing rubber gasket from around the glass, then used a special draw knife to cut the seal between the glass and the frame from the outside. The inside seal was cut and the glass removed. The excess sealant was cut away and cleaned up.


4.) Installed 7ft network cable from mirror mount across headliner, down A-pillar and into dash compartment. Use a flat network cable such as this one I purchased at Fry's Electronics


5.) New urethane sealant applied.


6.) glass prepped and set in place. I helped support the glass while he aligned and set it in place.


He recommended letting the car sit for 2 hrs before moving and keeping the windows open for 2 days to avoid blowing the seal due to pressure differences from shutting doors or turning on the AC. I plan to let the car sit for a week to fully cure (plus it's my carpool friend's turn to drive next week ).


7.) all parts replaced in reverse order.

 

Our Prius recently suffered some vandalism, and the bill was close to $5,000. That included the windshield, side passenger window, hatch glass, and some repainting (which they STILL didn't get right, after the third try!)
The glass is not oem, which I wasn't warned about, and the hatch glass doesn't seem to fit properly. The good news is that the deductible was only $200.

 

Re: Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

This must be the official Priuschat glass thread. Rock hit windshield about 1/4 of way up on driver side near edge of glass, crack started moving up fast, yesterday it increased 2 inches so its probably 12 inches long now. State Farm has waived my deductible before on other cars if I go with their recommended glass shop, hope they do again. My windshield does not have the UV designation... it has

Toyota
AGC Automotive
DOT-207 M874 AS1
11T
Lamisafe

Does it have the extra UV even though it is not labeled that way? I wonder if Prius OEM glass is thinner to save weight. You would think it's at such a low angle that the rocks would deflect with a glancing blow and not crack it so readily. First car I ever owned that had a windshield replaced before 2 years. Guess I'll visit State Farm this afternoon.

 

windsheild and glass repairs fall under the comprehensive section of your policy, comprehensive claims do not raise your rates, there is no financial reason to pay for this out of pocket, hoping to save money down the road.

if you feel that the deductible for the glass is too high, you should shop around, a lot of insurance companies only charge $50 for a glass repair, where as other insurance companies will repair or replace the windshield free of charge, because it is illegal to drive without one is there reasoning

if your windshield is repairable, meaning you hit a rock, and theres a small chip in it, and a crack has not spread, that service is free of charge also. it won't make the window perfect, but it will prevent a crack from spreading (free meaning they wont ask you for any money out of pocket they will just bill the insurance company).

my brother recently had his passenger side window busted out, he made the mistake of showing up at a body shop, they quoted him 1,200 to fix it, the insurance company balked, and he had to actually rent a car for almost 2 weeks, while waiting around for them to do a simple window replacement, please do not make this mistake. there is no need to rent a car, they will show up to your home or work and do the work on site.



i wish insurance companies would let us get the dealer glass, just so it says toyota on it.

another neat feature about glass repairs that there is no claim work involved on your part , if it is just the glass, then all you have to do is call the repair company, and they will look up your policy, take the deductible from you, repair the damage ON SITE, and file the paperwork for you on your behalf.

if you have the work done at the toyota dealer, you know they are going to want you to drop off the car at 7 in the morning, shuttle you to work, and then it will be ready at 5pm!

 

Re: Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

Riiiiiight.......

I can tell you from first-hand experience that we had to change insurance companies one time (Allstate), because we had "too many claims". All we had done as to repair chips in the windshield 3 (three) times. Total cost for all 3 repairs (100% paid by Allstate), was under $200USD. Each time, was done under comprehensive, over a 3 year period to the same vehicle.

After the last repair, they would not renew our policy again the next year, for "excessive use". Not expenditure - too much use.

Unfortunately, legal within the state (talked to the insurance commissioner), so we had to change policies. I won't deal with Allstate ever again.

*edit* I'll also add this - the agent was totally unaware of this policy, and had actively encouraged ALL customers to have rock chips repaired (since they were paid 100% by the company, without deductible). It was stated that the company "preferred" this, since it would help avoid windshield replacement. *end edit*

I've also found, that GENERALLY, if you talk to the glass company, and tell them insurance ISN'T paying for it, you'll get your windshield replaced for $150USD or less. Usually around $100USD. If insurance is involved, the cost is higher.

Anymore, we pay out-of-pocket for this kind of repair. The cost isn't that much, and usually isn't much more than a $100 deductible anyway (we carry at least a $500 deductible anymore).

We have found a few other insurance companies who have admitted (most won't), that they also have "excessive use" clauses or policies (read the very fine print). State laws may override these, but I doubt there are many states that do.

 

man, that's crazy. i had two 2,000 claims for 2 years back to back, and my company still renewed my policy! of course it was more expensive as they were collision claims, but they still offered!

if i had allstate i'd probably just throw a brick through the window, or get one of those emergency hammers, so they won't cancel me
for repairing the same glass 3 times haha

AAA premier @ 109.00 a year will pay $50 of your windshield deductible, heh

 

Re: Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

State Farm uses a contractor, Lynx Services, to coordinate glass repairs. You notify your agent, they fax some things to Lynx, you call Lynx and they tell you where you can go. I asked for Toyota, they called the local Toyota dealer and found out who they use, then Lynx referred me to the local shop that does glass work for the Toyota Dealer. Local shop told me the glass will not have a Toyota label, and will probably be Pelkington or LN. I'm dropping it off tomorrow morning, they will shuttle me to work, but its up to me to get back there in the afternoon. I pay my deductible.

Somebody told me they always keep a crack repair kit so that they can repair a chip or crack before it gets too big to fix. Might be a good idea, considering how expensive a new windshield is.

 

Re: Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

A few interesting points, though not necessarily Prius related.

- My insurance company (State Farm, through Lynx) does not make a distinction between replacement and repair. Comp deductable is charged either way, and the repair only costs $99 w/o insurance. I got a small chip four days after a windshield replacement, and opted not to repair it once I heard this. While it's close to being in my line of sight (which would prohibit repair anyway), I'll wait until next June when I need another inspection.

- Lynx asks a tricky question. I was asked if there was any other damage. On the last chip in my Jetta, the rock hit the hood and came up to the windshield. Even though I wasn't claiming the hood, I made the *mistake* of saying there was some other superficial damage. Even though I wasn't claiming it, Lynx wouldn't process the claim. I had to do a song and dance between Lynx and State Farm for two days to get the claim processed under Comp.

- I think the tolerances and QC are a little lesser with aftermarket. I've had one that had two visible distortions in it, and another that was perfect. I didn't bother sending the distorted one back, but I suppose I could have.

- When I had a wrangler, the windshield was almost $1000 from an aftermarket shop. The explanation was that it had to be thicker and stronger because of the lack of arc and the angle at which it's installed. Glass company said that was one of the top 3 most expensive windshields out there. I'd imagine that starts lending to why an FJ might be more?

J.

 

Re: Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

I didn't have any other damage that I noticed, it didn't even make much sound when the rock hit and I don't know where it came from. They put in Pelkington glass, looking from drivers side it has lots of small wavy distortions on the passenger side. I have not said anything to the wife, she has not made any comment, so it must not be noticeable from the passenger seat. The new glass does say accoustic. The owner of the glass shop told me if I get a repairable chip or crack in the new one, bring it to him right away and he'll fix it for free.

 

Re: Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

Ditto, same glass, crack developing rapidly. I'm major PO'ed at Toyota over this.

 

Re: Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

We just had our 2005 windshield replaced two weeks ago, Safelite was the shop of choice for our insurance company, Ameriprise. Guy drove 50 minutes to our house, did the job in less than an hour, we paid our deductible. Total was $360 on the invoice.

The glass is marked:
SGC (Safecoat Glass Co.?)
M48 DOT65 ASI E
7 8
A C
FW2602

I'm wondering if this is acoustically insulated glass, as the OEM Prius glass is.

 

to bump the main windshield thread, I'll add this info. OEM glass in new 04-05 prius seems to be from DOT-20 Asahi. Another OEM toyota glass is Thai Safety : DOT-207

Replacement glass ordered from toyota parts costs $900+ and they didn't know the mfr or DOT code.

Replacement glass from safelite seems to be mostly DOT-65 Safelite and they occasionally use PPG: DOT-18 and Pilkington: DOR- 177 all of which seem to be ok. seems to be from $300-360 (with new seals).

It is better to have them come to your house, b/c then you can be right there and watch them, other wise they do it in the shop, where you have to wait in a waiting room and can't see what's going on and they are probably using your car to train the new hire.

The wiper blades/arms do not have to come off -- they just lift up. They start by pulling the rubber seal all around the glass, using a tool to cut the urethane seal and then lift out the old glass.

you can take the opportunity of having no windshield to fish out things that fell in front of your dash that you couldn't reach, or run a wire up to above the mirror for a radar dector, scangauge or whatever. You can fish the wire down below the dash from the lower part of the A pillar.

They run a bead of urethane sealant and lay the windshield back onto it. He said I could drive in an hour.

 

Re: Windshield replacement over $1,100?????

We just replaced the windshield on our 2006 Prius and paid the $100 deductible in order to get the OEM glass replacement. Here are photos that show the "before" (original windshield markings) and the "after" (OEM replacement windshield markings).

 

I got mine replaced for $250 ($100 deductible). I don't know if it is OEM glass, probably not.