Cracked windshield
- Thread starter Underoath
- Start date
fins
New member
I can attest to this. I had 4 repairs and 1 replacement for the 1 year I owned my FJ.
i blew out the back window on my 2010 TE last fall in a bizarre fishing accident (long story). It crumbled into a thousand pieces of safety glass. Toyota dealer quoted $495 list price for the glass plus $190- 245 labor (no explanation for the range). Safelight Auto Glass quoted $710 total using Toyota OEM glass. Independent glass shop did it for $480 using Toyota OEM glass. Indy confirmed the $495 list price but the glass cost him $410 (supplier discount), and he charged $70 for labor. He said there wasn't any aftermarket glass yet available (due to low production volumes? or because it was a new model?), typically could save a couple hundred dollars with aftermarket glass, without sacrificing quality.
I had a volvo windshield replaced by the same independent shop in 2009 using aftermarket glass - total price under $300 vs. OEM glass price $900+ at volvo dealer. Funny thing is the dealer outsources their glass work to this same indy guy.
My deductible is larger than the repair cost and i have no special glass coverage, so i just paid out-of-pocket.
P.S. I was stuck behind a salt truck at 40mph on the Cross-Bronx Expressway during that Dec 26 blizzard, was worried about the windshield with all those big salt chunks bouncing off the road. I decided to pass but that was a mistake, pretty nasty when you get up close to that guy with all that salt being flung around, some pretty big pieces bouncing off the 4R. I thought i might have some body dings. Checked for damage afterwards but i escaped unscathed. I won't pass one of those again.
RH
I had a volvo windshield replaced by the same independent shop in 2009 using aftermarket glass - total price under $300 vs. OEM glass price $900+ at volvo dealer. Funny thing is the dealer outsources their glass work to this same indy guy.
My deductible is larger than the repair cost and i have no special glass coverage, so i just paid out-of-pocket.
P.S. I was stuck behind a salt truck at 40mph on the Cross-Bronx Expressway during that Dec 26 blizzard, was worried about the windshield with all those big salt chunks bouncing off the road. I decided to pass but that was a mistake, pretty nasty when you get up close to that guy with all that salt being flung around, some pretty big pieces bouncing off the 4R. I thought i might have some body dings. Checked for damage afterwards but i escaped unscathed. I won't pass one of those again.
RH
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Misterquad
New member
I realize this is an old thread.
Safelite just replaced my heated, 3rd visor, auto dimming mirror windshield in my 2012 TE for $494. It was out of pocket expense to be included as a cost of going to Summit 2014.
Safelite just replaced my heated, 3rd visor, auto dimming mirror windshield in my 2012 TE for $494. It was out of pocket expense to be included as a cost of going to Summit 2014.
Shop around for this. Tell them you have the heated windshield. Safelite quoted me $295 and 7 Stars Auto Glass about the same. I took it to 7 Stars because they could take me in right away. They originally had the wrong windshield (no heater plug) so had to have another one sent over. They discounted it to $265 total for having to wait. No problems so far after about 10 days.
Jeremy556
New member
Leave LOOOOONG following distances in Colorado. In the winter, they pretty much just use gravel to treat the roads and it sticks around a long time.
IronManKansas
New member
Cost me 500 dollar deductible but the Toyota glass on a limited heated glass with third visor was a little over 1000 dollars and then labor was like $150 total cost was over $1200.
Misterquad
New member
The Safelite technician told me two interesting things.
1. Toyota is making their glass thinner to save on weight.
2. The dealers call Safelite to do their windshield replacements.
1. Toyota is making their glass thinner to save on weight.
2. The dealers call Safelite to do their windshield replacements.
Randyman...
New member
So I guess Safelite is not using OEM Toyota glass then? I got a Safelite online quote for under $400, but the OEM Toyota Glass "part" itself is like $600 or more from Toyota Parts of Dallas (lists for over $1K!)?
Does anyone have any negatives about the quality of the Safelite glass? Is the OEM glass worth the extra scratch (when it will likely get chipped the first month and crack again in a year or so)?
I've already used Safelite to repair 3 rock chips/cracks (got 3 more chips after that, then the 7th one ended up causing an 18" crack after a day in the hot Texas sun
) and was satisfied with their techs, but swapping the windshield is a little different - especially with the heated glass element...
Grazie
Does anyone have any negatives about the quality of the Safelite glass? Is the OEM glass worth the extra scratch (when it will likely get chipped the first month and crack again in a year or so)?
I've already used Safelite to repair 3 rock chips/cracks (got 3 more chips after that, then the 7th one ended up causing an 18" crack after a day in the hot Texas sun
) and was satisfied with their techs, but swapping the windshield is a little different - especially with the heated glass element...Grazie
Jeremy556
New member
They don't, it's subcontracted to one of the handful of auto glass manufacturers and branded Toyota, just like most parts. Main difference is probably going to be in the masking pattern around the edges
Randyman...
New member
So "OEM Glass" is not officially OEM (not what came on the truck from Japan), but domestically manufactured to meet OEM standards and approved by Toyota?
Seems the thread 1E linked to suggests the OEM sourced glass is slightly better, but the safelite glass is certainly acceptable - sound about right? (regarding UtahSooner's post).
Just because Safelite techs are often used to install windshields at a Toyota dealership does not necessarily mean they aren't still using OEM sourced glass for dealer repairs, right? They likely use non-OEM glass to meet the "non-dealer" $400 quote (and still make a profit)?
Was just curious why Toyota Parts of Dallas has "OEM" glass for $650 or so (listed above $1,000!), but Safelite quoted an installed price for under $400.
Looks like I'll take a stab with Safelite's $400 glass, and cross my fingers...
Thanks for the info :cheers:
Seems the thread 1E linked to suggests the OEM sourced glass is slightly better, but the safelite glass is certainly acceptable - sound about right? (regarding UtahSooner's post).
Just because Safelite techs are often used to install windshields at a Toyota dealership does not necessarily mean they aren't still using OEM sourced glass for dealer repairs, right? They likely use non-OEM glass to meet the "non-dealer" $400 quote (and still make a profit)?
Was just curious why Toyota Parts of Dallas has "OEM" glass for $650 or so (listed above $1,000!), but Safelite quoted an installed price for under $400.
Looks like I'll take a stab with Safelite's $400 glass, and cross my fingers...
Thanks for the info :cheers:
Whiplash Willy
New member
The quality of the install is just as important, if not more, then the quality of the glass. Make sure your installer is atleast certified. Sadly there is no regulation on windshield installers, and a fair amount of them are sloppy, not well trained, and/or just don't care.
You can find certified installers here:
SafeWindshields.org? | Dedicated to providing information about proper auto glass replacements.
Also, here is a good report on improperly installed windshields.
Worry Over Windshields | Video - ABC News
You can find certified installers here:
SafeWindshields.org? | Dedicated to providing information about proper auto glass replacements.
Also, here is a good report on improperly installed windshields.
Worry Over Windshields | Video - ABC News
Randyman...
New member
I initially saw that Safelite claimed they had replaced something like 350 4Runner windshields in my area the past year or something. Of course, now I can't find that info!
The same Safelite tech did all 3 of my previous rock chip repairs, and seems like a competent tech. Even commented how much he liked my truck
Likely going in on Monday - Fingers crossed!
The same Safelite tech did all 3 of my previous rock chip repairs, and seems like a competent tech. Even commented how much he liked my truck
Likely going in on Monday - Fingers crossed!
Misterquad
New member
Safelite did my Tundra and I watched every step and I was very impressed on all counts. So, for my 4Runner I only considered Safelite for my windshield.
Back in the day, I had a windshield technician, working on the side, do my Roadrunner. He cracked the new windshield I supplied. So he found a pitted windshield from the junkyard that he installed. Unfortunately, I was broke and I had no recourse. I will never go to the low bidder again.
Safelite gave me a quote online, $494. That included $60 for the heated windshield, $25 for the housecall, $9 disposal and $25 in taxes.
I was tempted to skip the heated windshield because I am in San Antonio but I was not sure if that would trip a check engine light. Next time, I will unplug it and test it first.
Jeremy556
New member
It won't. Nothing to unplug and test, you either have the heating elements in the windshield glass, or you don't. It's a simple circuit, nothing is going to monitor the amp draw or impedance.
