Atlanta_man
New member
I just ran the safelite web estimate and it's (final, tax inclusive, disposal fee inclusive) $360 and change
Windshield Cracked, Suggestions:
- Thread starter DC runner
- Start date
boondoggle
Member
Interesting discussion.
I've got a long 10" crack in the shape of a W on the right side of my windshield. Caused by a chip way down below the dash where it's hard to see.
I hd the windshield replaced on my Jeep about 10 years ago when I lived in NYC and it developed a bad rust issue in the middle of the lower part of the windshield frame. The tech must have scratched the hell out of the windshield frame. Don't remember what company I used. 10 years, ya know.
Have been looking around online and have been getting quotes for around $185. Not sure I like the idea of spending $800 for an OEM WS though.
Did some more research and found some good info here:
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3736&page=2
Which led to this:
http://safewindshields.com/
And what appears to be more good info here:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-30919.html
I can get a Pilkington WS for $185 here:
http://www.speedyglass.com
I've got a long 10" crack in the shape of a W on the right side of my windshield. Caused by a chip way down below the dash where it's hard to see.
I hd the windshield replaced on my Jeep about 10 years ago when I lived in NYC and it developed a bad rust issue in the middle of the lower part of the windshield frame. The tech must have scratched the hell out of the windshield frame. Don't remember what company I used. 10 years, ya know.
Have been looking around online and have been getting quotes for around $185. Not sure I like the idea of spending $800 for an OEM WS though.
Did some more research and found some good info here:
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3736&page=2
Which led to this:
http://safewindshields.com/
And what appears to be more good info here:
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-30919.html
I can get a Pilkington WS for $185 here:
http://www.speedyglass.com
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All insurance is different per state. There is no "Federal" Insurance policy. Each state has their own laws and regulations regarding insurance.
For years you couldn't even by Geico in MA.
In MA glass is covered under comprehensive part of your policy. In NH you have to have a separate rider for glass. If you don't have the rider then you don't have glass.
The tech is SUPPOSE to put on a primer/sealer BEFORE they put the windshield. In fact that was the problem I had with the rust on my Pathfinder. The shop that replaced the windshield didn't put any primer/sealer down. Then 5+ years later...it was so rusted the new windshield shop wouldn't warranty it until I got it fixed.
I want to be clear, that one of the large issues is the relative obscurity of this issue. No one thinks about it and the companies hide information or lie. That is the issue.
Most of you have stated "It is just glass, who cares?" Well, I do. Because it isn't JUST glass, it is a persons safety. The past decade, there has been a actual effort to collect data on the impact of inferior aftermarket glass on vehicles (failure, harm, injury).
I was mad because I was being told lies. 1. Only 4 companies that make it. That is a huge, huge, huge lie. They tell this lie so you assume "quality" and don't dig deeper. If there are only 4 makers, then everyone is using the same glass. Toyota, Ford, Honda and safelite. It forces an assumption of quality.
If, however, you see there are close to 900 DOT registered glass makers, many in China, and you see that aftermarket glass makers are not required to do ANY testing and that we have an "honor" system for whether they even meet the week standards we have in place.
Then I have an issue.
Most of you have stated "It is just glass, who cares?" Well, I do. Because it isn't JUST glass, it is a persons safety. The past decade, there has been a actual effort to collect data on the impact of inferior aftermarket glass on vehicles (failure, harm, injury).
I was mad because I was being told lies. 1. Only 4 companies that make it. That is a huge, huge, huge lie. They tell this lie so you assume "quality" and don't dig deeper. If there are only 4 makers, then everyone is using the same glass. Toyota, Ford, Honda and safelite. It forces an assumption of quality.
If, however, you see there are close to 900 DOT registered glass makers, many in China, and you see that aftermarket glass makers are not required to do ANY testing and that we have an "honor" system for whether they even meet the week standards we have in place.
Then I have an issue.
As I said, you are putting way too much thought into this. There is no epidemic of dangerous windshields out there. If you need the peace of mind because there is a 'Toyota' logo on it, so be it. That doesn't make it any better or worse. Glass is glass. If you hit it with a rock it will break. Windshields are layered. There is a piece of plastic in between that will keep the glass from flying out. It is all the same. You seem hung up on the made in china fact. That means nothing. There is a ton of crap that is made in the US. If you don't want chinese glass because you are a patriot who only buys US, that is one thing, but thinking country of origin dictates quality is totally off base.
Are there only 4 manufacturers??? I think more..but not too many. How many are imported to the US?? Again not too many.
Toyota doesn't make their windshields (or any of their glass products). They use several different manufacturers. I'm sure to a specific standard that is set by Toyota. But that doesn't mean that ALL aftermarket window manufacturers make crap windows. PPG is one of the OEM manufacturers for Toyota (along with Nissan, Ford, GM...and the list goes on). And as I (and several others have stated)...if you have your local Toyota dealer replace the windshield.....they'll just farm it out to the local Glass repair shop. In fact most dealers don't even stock glass (far too costly).
What it comes down to is trust....Do you trust your Toyota dealership to put a quality windshield in your car?? Or do you trust the local glass shop to do it. I'd rather deal with a local glass shop who has a stellar reputation over the past 40 years then the Toyota dealer who's only been around since 1990.
Toyota doesn't make their windshields (or any of their glass products). They use several different manufacturers. I'm sure to a specific standard that is set by Toyota. But that doesn't mean that ALL aftermarket window manufacturers make crap windows. PPG is one of the OEM manufacturers for Toyota (along with Nissan, Ford, GM...and the list goes on). And as I (and several others have stated)...if you have your local Toyota dealer replace the windshield.....they'll just farm it out to the local Glass repair shop. In fact most dealers don't even stock glass (far too costly).
What it comes down to is trust....Do you trust your Toyota dealership to put a quality windshield in your car?? Or do you trust the local glass shop to do it. I'd rather deal with a local glass shop who has a stellar reputation over the past 40 years then the Toyota dealer who's only been around since 1990.
sonerick
New member
I had my windshield replaced by Safelite. They used PPG glass, and it is very high quality. At the time I lived in MA and had 0$ deductible glass coverage, which as mentioned above is mandated by that state.
Now I live in NH and glass coverage is a non-mandated rider on my policy.
FWIW, glass is an integral part of the safety of your vehicle in the event of a rollover. Proper installation here is key, not necessarily the origin of the glass itself. Cheap foreign glass tends to look like crap, and may distort the driver's view. I think that's the most important reason to ask for quality glass when getting a replacement.
Now I live in NH and glass coverage is a non-mandated rider on my policy.
FWIW, glass is an integral part of the safety of your vehicle in the event of a rollover. Proper installation here is key, not necessarily the origin of the glass itself. Cheap foreign glass tends to look like crap, and may distort the driver's view. I think that's the most important reason to ask for quality glass when getting a replacement.
Atlanta_man
New member
mine is full of tiny road sand sparkles but I've been afraid of the possibility of a wavy windshield so living with it
boondoggle
Member
For those who had their windshields replaced for $0 under there insurance due to state laws, when you moved to another state where it wasn't 'covered' did they show up as claims?
I was reading around and read some anecdotes where that happened. Just wondering if that's happened to any of you.
We don't have that law in CO, just curious.
I was reading around and read some anecdotes where that happened. Just wondering if that's happened to any of you.
We don't have that law in CO, just curious.
I had the most god-awful experience with Safe-lite. I wouldn't recommend them to my worst enemy but maybe the one I went to was just messed up.
dadigab
New member
Really glad to see you view this as a "personal safety" vs. "just glass". I can't believe this thread is now three pages, my insurance polices declarations is only four pages!
We can only stop China's cheap practices if we stop buying their cheap products. Japanese glass is only a stone's throw away!
superman3043
Senior Member
I haven't left the state since getting it, but I can tell you that it does show up as a claim because I've switched providers and it was there. Didn't affect my premium though because I'm in state. Don't know if it would affect it if I moved though. Hope that helps.
riceandpho
Elite Member
I had my windshield replace about a month ago, it was cheap, 175-190 i think, glass was from china, its called benson lamishield, seems fine for me. The left and right edges(dots) are 1/2 inch bigger than the original, thats the only thing i dont like.
And I'd be extremely surprised if your replacement auto glass was made in Japan. Glass is just too cheap and little profit to pay the shipping costs to bring it to the US. Glass from China might be cheap enough because their absurdly low labor costs. It's far cheaper to just buy from a plant in North America. And any Toyota/Honda/Hyundai/Nissan made here in the US will use glass made here in the US.
dadigab
New member
Sorry Mike guess I should have spelled that out a little more. Just Kidding, glass and stones see the irony.
sonerick
New member
When I lived in MA, I had my windshield replaced twice within span of a few months. Both times it showed up as a new claim on my policy and increased my insurance premium by a few bucks a month when I went to renew. I believe windshields in MA are covered under the comprehensive part of the insurance policy, and that's probably the reason why my premiums went up. FWIW, this was with Progressive.
It's been a couple of years since then, so those windshield replacements no longer show up as claims and therefore no longer affect my premiums (I think after 2 or 3 years Progressive drops them from your comprehensive claims history). When I moved to NH a couple of months ago I stayed with Progressive and my claims history stayed the same and the windshield claims remained "dropped."
