[Eat.Sleep.Race]

I recently got my whole front end restored-- new headlights, hood, bumper painted etc.. My windshield has a lot of pitting, what is the cost of a new windshield. OEM or aftermarket. I have rain sensors and the car is a 335i sedan.

Anyone get it done recently?

[princelybug]

Same car as mine. I recently replaced my windshield with a Pilkington unit without the BMW logo. $300 installed.

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by princelybug

Same car as mine. I recently replaced my windshield with a Pilkington unit without the BMW logo. $300 installed.

WOW! not bad at all. Going to get one asap!

[paintballdude05]

Does anybody have a rough idea how much it is for a BMW windshield?

[NGEE]

Originally Posted by Eat.Sleep.Race

I recently got my whole front end restored-- new headlights, hood, bumper painted etc..

Jelly

[cotmfk]

Did you go with the OEM stuff or did you put M-sport or anything else on there?

[AGO 530]

I had one replaced in the summer at the dealer, In Toronto the dealer cost using a BMW windshield cost me $900 (paid less as I used my insurance). They did offer me an aftermarket windshield for $400 installed by a local glass shop.

[paintballdude05]

Originally Posted by AGO 530

I had one replaced in the summer at the dealer, In Toronto the dealer cost using a BMW windshield cost me $900 (paid less as I used my insurance). They did offer me an aftermarket windshield for $400 installed by a local glass shop.

Thanks, I've got glass coverage, but there's a $500 deductible. I want an OEM piece of glass which the insurance hopefully delivers on.

[AGO 530]

Originally Posted by paintballdude05

Thanks, I've got glass coverage, but there's a $500 deductible. I want an OEM piece of glass which the insurance hopefully delivers on.

Just a heads up, I had a slight issue as I think you might as well (I wanted OEM glass as well). Insurance typically covers OEM glass if the vehicle is not older than 2 years. I had my service advisor write a letter stating that higher end vehicles require OEM glass to prevent future problems (advice from my ins. broker) and it worked. I did allow my service advisor to road test my FBO car, which sealed the deal!!

[paintballdude05]

I'm with TD Insurance. When I gave them a call they said something similar to what you said, only newer cars get OEM windshields. However, she wasn't very clear on it all and didn't say they won't pay for an OEM one. I'm just wondering if it's worth the hassle of keeping glass coverage on the vehicle if it's already going to cost me $500 as a deductible to get a new one (which I guess is around $400 for an aftermarket one).

[bender rodriguez]

Originally Posted by paintballdude05

I'm with TD Insurance. When I gave them a call they said something similar to what you said, only newer cars get OEM windshields. However, she wasn't very clear on it all and didn't say they won't pay for an OEM one. I'm just wondering if it's worth the hassle of keeping glass coverage on the vehicle if it's already going to cost me $500 as a deductible to get a new one (which I guess is around $400 for an aftermarket one).

You can find a company that will do an OEM windshield. These windshield places thrive off of replacing windshields over silly things then getting insurance to pay for it. Never seen the free steak if they let you replace your windshield?

In the US their is no deductible for windshield replacement. Its law they have to replace it for free

[Welcome to NBA Jam]

Originally Posted by bender rodriguez

In the US their is no deductible for windshield replacement. Its law they have to replace it for free

That's not true for every state.

[MiniXP]

Originally Posted by bender rodriguez

In the US their is no deductible for windshield replacement. Its law they have to replace it for free

That is not true. Could be true in some areas, but I know the 2 states I have lived in it isn't true.

It is usually an option to have a $0 deductible for comprehensive when you get your insurance. I think it added $3 a month or less to my policy to have $0 comprehensive vs $500. This is what the windshield falls under.

[chepy24]

agree not true there is full glass comprehensive coverage so if you have a 500 deduct but with full glass there is no deduct for glass..... also they will not replace with OEM they will pay the lowest reasonable cost to replace it you would have to pay the difference

[GabeS]

plasti-dip it and you wont see the cracks....

[paintballdude05]

I've heard of the free steak in the states. Here, it's almost unheard of to have glass covered by your insurance since the deductible is so high. The last 3 windshields I had replaced (2 on 300M's and 1 on a F150) they all cost me less than $250 cash installed. I know the BMW is a bit different and I also want to keep an OEM piece of glass in it because of personal preferences.

[floydarogers]

Every insurance company has slightly different coverage for glass.

Usually glass coverage is linked to the Comprehensive coverage - that's what covers you for theft, break-ins, fires, flood, etc. A zero deductible on Comprehensive is usually quite expensive. Many insurance companies cover rock chip repair for free if you have comprehensive. Note that Comprehensive is not generally required by law in most states, as it has nothing to do with accidents.

Some companies have separate coverage for windshields. My insurance is a blend between comprehensive and separate. I have an add-on with $100 deductible for glass coverage, separate from comprehensive.

Pilkington and Securit are both OEM producers for BMW. Because of the specialty glass for cars with auto-interval wipers, auto-dimming mirrors and humidity sensor (did you know there's an hvac sensor to help it keep your windshield clear?), you're very likely to get one of their windows anyway.

[CoffeeBean]

All you gotta do is find someone who can get a Pilkington or whatever brand OEM windshield you have. It won't have the BMW logo, but it's the same exact thing. On the comprehensive insurance, I changed mine from $500 deduct to 0 and it only cost an extra $4/mo. My state doesn't require insurance to replace windshields at no cost so now I'm totally covered.

[bender rodriguez]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

Every insurance company has slightly different coverage for glass.

Usually glass coverage is linked to the Comprehensive coverage - that's what covers you for theft, break-ins, fires, flood, etc. A zero deductible on Comprehensive is usually quite expensive. Many insurance companies cover rock chip repair for free if you have comprehensive. Note that Comprehensive is not generally required by law in most states, as it has nothing to do with accidents.

Some companies have separate coverage for windshields. My insurance is a blend between comprehensive and separate. I have an add-on with $100 deductible for glass coverage, separate from comprehensive.

Pilkington and Securit are both OEM producers for BMW. Because of the specialty glass for cars with auto-interval wipers, auto-dimming mirrors and humidity sensor (did you know there's an hvac sensor to help it keep your windshield clear?), you're very likely to get one of their windows anyway.

Good to know that because of our auto wipers they can't screw us with Non OEM glass.

[m42stanle]

Originally Posted by Ross328i

It won't have the BMW logo, but it's the same exact thing.

Manufactured to same specs, but careful with the statement "same exact thing." You need to take a close look at the DOT number to get the full story. This is not just a case where a given factory spits out a batch of windshields with BMW logos one day and then another identical batch without logos the other (actually it may be the case if you live in Germany or France... probably not though, I would guess the non-logo is coming from Hanglas Poland or Czech).

For example I have a replacement "OEM" windshield with Saint-Gobain Sekurit logo which was put in last year and cost me less than CAD$400 installed. The dealer wanted CAD$2035 all-in for a windshield replacement with BMW logo. It looks like I got a great deal, but taking a close look DOT number for this glass is DOT772 which = "SAINT-GOBAIN HANGLAS SEKURIT (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD. SHANGHAI CHINA"

So windshield is technically OE with correct logo, but made by Hanglas. There are also some other cost cutting measures glass shops take like reusing the rain sensor (maybe they don't have the time or expertise to replace/recode) and in some cases using cheaper moldings and/or adhesives.

Not that I am knocking Chinese manufacturing, I think with more modern facilities they may be making great glass, perhaps even to better standards than some of the Euro facilities. I certainly have no complaints about quality of mine. However if you are a purist who thinks everything in your German car should come from within 200 km of the Fatherland, something to be aware of.

I don't have one in front of me but I would guess for those of you with the roundel logo glass it's either DOT27 ("SEKURIT SAINT-GOBAIN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH GERMANY") or Pilkington is DOT43 ("PPG INDUSTRIES GLASS S.A.") manufactured in France.

You have to make your own decision about whether the premium is worth it. I seem to go through a windshield every 2-3 yrs so I can't really justify the extra cost even through insurance, but point is not all of this extra cost from the dealer is "propeller tax."

[90c4]

Originally Posted by paintballdude05

...it's almost unheard of to have glass covered by your insurance since the deductible is so high...

Depends on the state. In Massachusetts, glass is free with comprehensive insurance and there's no deductible. When it gets pitted, you have it replaced. Easy as that.

[Eat.Sleep.Race]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

Did you go with the OEM stuff or did you put M-sport or anything else on there?

OEM LCI headlights, OEM BMW Perf. grills, Lux Angel Eyes, M3 rep front bumper, and whole front end resprayed. Looks brand new lol!!