windshield replace oem or not? Advice Please

[cbreze]

Searched using "windshield" and "windshield replacement" as key words and got 20 pages of nothing.
So just got back from a 3700 mile road trip. The 4R did excellent. 50 miles from home I hear a pop/crack and now I have a 8 inch long crack from the bottom center upwards.
13k miles on my SR5 and now I'm going to need some new glass already. On a positive note my trip was safe, no accidents. I like to keep things on the bright side.
My question is for anyone that has replaced a windshield , did you go OEM Toyota glass or something else. My insurance(Geico)does not cover me for OEM so I'd have to pick up the difference. Is non OEM not that great? I used it once in my Tacoma and it did fine. I'm also considering the implications of all the OEM stuff embedded in the windshield, wiper heater etc. Anyone who has gone without an OEM replacement did that cause any issue with the various windshield features?
With all the crap and rocks/gravel on the road where I live I'm strongly considering a more generic glass as I could get dinged again anytime. Had a friend who got dinged on his way home from the glass shop installation.:nono: Feedback please. TIA

 

[Jeremy556]

Had mine done a few months ago. I got aftermarket glass with the heating elements built in, which I think was like $120-$150 extra. Total cost was a little over $500, using Toyota's glass would have been $750.

 

[eddiebx]

Searched using "windshield" and "windshield replacement" as key words and got 20 pages of nothing.
So just got back from a 3700 mile road trip. The 4R did excellent. 50 miles from home I hear a pop/crack and now I have a 8 inch long crack from the bottom center upwards.
13k miles on my SR5 and now I'm going to need some new glass already. On a positive note my trip was safe, no accidents. I like to keep things on the bright side.
My question is for anyone that has replaced a windshield , did you go OEM Toyota glass or something else. My insurance(Geico)does not cover me for OEM so I'd have to pick up the difference. Is non OEM not that great? I used it once in my Tacoma and it did fine. I'm also considering the implications of all the OEM stuff embedded in the windshield, wiper heater etc. Anyone who has gone without an OEM replacement did that cause any issue with the various windshield features?
With all the crap and rocks/gravel on the road where I live I'm strongly considering a more generic glass as I could get dinged again anytime. Had a friend who got dinged on his way home from the glass shop installation.:nono: Feedback please. TIA

If you go aftermarket glass, look into trying to getting one made by either Pilkington or PPG, they are supposedly the higher quality "generic" windshields. Hard to say which one would be the better choice...if you do really have to go through windshields so often, perhaps it might just makes more sense to save a few bucks and get the generic one? Sorry to hear about the unfortunate luck, been there before and it sucks

 

[cbreze]

Thanks guys, I appreciate your input. I'm wondering if id ever have a need for the heating element .
In any case I'll be calling my insurance next week to see how much they'll do. Probably call my dealer also for a quote. Damn windshields are so vulnerable.

 

[doberman_baby]

Aftermarket is fine

Had mine replaced last year after a 3500km road trip too. Insurance did not cover OEM (or need to pay difference). Spoke to the dealer and they suggest aftermarket is good enough.
The aftermarket windshield has the same features as the OEM (i.e., the de-icer). The aftermarket guy told me that even Toyota does not make it's own windshields. He said that the manufacturers name is on the windshield (even though there is a Toyota name on it).

 

[krravi]

Had mine replaced last year after a 3500km road trip too. Insurance did not cover OEM (or need to pay difference). Spoke to the dealer and they suggest aftermarket is good enough.
The aftermarket windshield has the same features as the OEM (i.e., the de-icer). The aftermarket guy told me that even Toyota does not make it's own windshields. He said that the manufacturers name is on the windshield (even though there is a Toyota name on it).

Most probably made by ASAHI glass company. They are a top notch glass company.

Generic glass quality isn't that good. You see wave patterns in the glass which tells me they are not uniform. I am in the same boat though. But the OEM is expensive.

 

[krravi]

Had mine done a few months ago. I got aftermarket glass with the heating elements built in, which I think was like $120-$150 extra. Total cost was a little over $500, using Toyota's glass would have been $750.

You can get a better price online. But, Safelite will not replace the glass if you buy it yourself for liability reasons.

Need to find a instaler who will just install the glass.

Here is the glass for around $370

56101-35170 Genuine Toyota Glass Sub-Assembly, Wind