Toyota windshield

[kbach]

Yesterday I got a huge chip and small crack in my nearly pristine windshield in a construction zone on the hiway. Needless to say I was peeved. I am having NOVUS try to repair it and I hope they can because my insurance will pay for the repair but I don't have a glass replacement rider on my policy. (I didn't know there was such a thing until my agent said,"O, I have a replacement rider that only costs about 80$ a year".)

I love my toyota windshield, it appears to have some kind of "rain-x" type of coating that really sheds the rain and is easier to clean as well. If I have to replace my glass, does anyone know now much more I might have to pay at the dealer than from Safelite or Novus? Thanks.

 

[Millerad1651]

Dealer your looking at $400+ from what I remember. I just replaced my wife's and it was $170 installed. I'd go that route and just add the coating yourself.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I paid $140 for a front windshield in 2010. It was the brown glass and difficult to come by yet I still got it installed for only $140.. Call around.

 

[GergDees]

A lot of times the dealership won't have anyone trained to do windshields and they won't have all of the equipment to do them. At least that's how it's been at the dealerships I've worked for. What they will do is take your $400+, call in a local auto glass specialist company to replace it for $150, and pocket the difference as profit. I would call around for the best price, and let them know you've been calling around, so they will try to be competitive. Once it's installed, coat it in Aquapel so it will shed the rain like your old one.

 

[thor999]

Just paid $200 for mine three months ago.

 

[p nut]

From what I've noticed, OEM windshields seem thicker and of better quality (more chip/crack resistant) than aftermarket units. OEM units do cost more (no, most dealerships do not go through an aftermarket supplier. You should see a "Toyota" etching on the windshield). Whether this is worth it to you, I don't know.

For me, I have looked into getting OEM units, but they wanted $800. I've just gone with aftermarket units for $150. If OEM were more competitive, it'd be a no-brainer.

 

[BiggJerry]

Doesn't the OEM windshield have a rain propellant built into them ? Like the way the glass is cut. I remember reading this somewhere.
I'm sure aftermarket windshields do not have this option

 

[p nut]

Doesn't the OEM windshield have a rain propellant built into them ? Like the way the glass is cut. I remember reading this somewhere.
I'm sure aftermarket windshields do not have this option

Yes. The side windows do as well. Only on 01-02 4Runners, iirc.

 

[Royisme]

Yes. The side windows do as well. Only on 01-02 4Runners, iirc.

<s>I think it came standard 01-02, pretty sure my 2000 has it as an option... I'd have to dig up the window sticker again to be sure.</s> Hmm, just checked my sticker. Looks like I remembered wrong.

More here:

Additional amenities include full door trim with armrests, color-keyed instrument panel with a digital LCD odometer and dual trip meter, power rear window, tinted and UV protection-treated glass on the windshield and front and rear door windows, headlight-on warning chime, spring-back antenna, day/night rearview mirror, dual-fabric sunvisors with passenger vanity mirror, remote fuel door and hood releases, cigarette lighter, five entry/exit assist grips, <b>rain repellant glass on the front door windows</b>, intermittent mist cycle windshield wipers and a redesigned air conditioner panel with rotary switches.

From Toyota 4Runner History 2001

 

[kbach]

My Tundra has an aftermarket windshield and even with an ample dose of rain-x does not shed rain near as well as the 4runner(even though it doesn't really rain in Kansas anymore). On toyotapartsales.com the windshield is 723$ so I guess the dealer would be 800-1000. Probably no worth it. Novus is coming tomorrow to see if it is repairable or not.