2/28/12
I am currently sitting at Safelite waiting for my windshield to be replaced and I'm crossing my fingers after just reading about the poor glass quality of Safelite glass. I know they make their own glass but I wasn't aware of the poor quality! Why didn't I look this up before I came here??? I really didn't know any better and I guess I should have chosen a company that either uses PPG or Pilkington glass. I know for the next time and as often as rocks hit my windshield, I'm sure it'll be sooner than later. I just hope the fit doesn't cause wind noise and the quality doesn't cause distortions like others have experienced. I'd leave except that they are almost done and I have already been here two days in a row because they broke both of the black plastic side panels that are on both sides of the windshield during my original appointment yesterday. They had to get replacements from the local BMW/Mini dealership so I am back here again today. I don't think this was really their fault since those pieces had never been removed and I could see how they could become brittle over the years but I am kicking myself right now for not taking a few minutes to research glass quality before starting all of this. I'll try not to judge and hope for the best until I am able to see the glass installed and I won't post this until I am able to view the glass for myself and drive around.

2/29/12
Well crossing my fingers didn't seem to work and it's a bummer because the people at my local Safelite shop were great to deal with and I have nothing but good things to say about the service I received but unfortunately their glass is just low quality! The installer did a good job but there is slight distortion in the windshield and although it isn't horrible, it's still there. It's best described as having to wear a cheap pair of sunglasses for an extended period of time vs wearing some Ray-Ban or Oakley glasses. Something just doesn't feel right and once I start shifting my head from side to side I am able to notice slight waviness. It becomes very noticeable near the edges of the windshield and although this is normal, the bad distortions start much farther away from the edge of the glass than the norm, this makes turning quite distracting and annoying! This stuff may not bother the average Joe out there who would never even notice this stuff but if you are on this forum you are most likely not the average Joe so I thought I'd share this so you don't find yourself in a similar situation.

I am now sitting in another windshield and glass repair shop for the third day in a row but I was much smarter. When I called for this appointment, the first question I had was what brand of glass they had for my Mini. They are currently installing PPG glass, this one is even made in the USA. They had me look through the glass before they started and so far so good. I've used this shop in the past with a different vehicle and I was very happy with their work and with the quality of the glass they used. I wish I had just come here first. Why didn't I? Safelite was closer to me and I was short on time but this has ended up costing me a lot more time than if I had just made the right choice the first time. I'll report back after the installation is complete and I have a chance to drive around.

I am happy to report that my windshield is all fixed and the quality meets my expectations. It's like the windshield isn't even there and I wish it would stay this way because it's so nice! We all know this won't be the case as rocks seems to love to find our hoods and windshields. This is how a new windshield should look!!! I'll be curious to see how it holds up compared to the factory glass. Thank you Sacramento Auto Glass & Mirror for a great install and for carrying high quality glass! If you are near the Sacramento, CA. area I highly recommend them. Thank you State Farm agent Alfredo at Brian Clark's office for working with me to get this done ASAP and for handling the mess with warranty and claims for me! Do your research people and remember that all glass is not created equal. Like many have said here in the past, go with either PPG (PGW) or Pilkington glass for your Mini's windshield.

 

I had Safelite change my glass...3 times. The first time it was like looking through drunk goggles, the second time it was like looking through snorkling goggles. This final time (this all happened a few years back and in the space of 3 days) i requested PPG glass or Toyota glass (it was for my Toyota) and was the best of all 3. Still not like OEM but not bad. Good people at Safelite but poor quality glass.

 

I didn't even want to deal with that considering I had already been there twice so I just went with a different company to remove the Safelite glass and install the PPG. I spent a total of 6 hours in three days sitting in windshield shops. Luckily I had my iPhone and NAM to keep me occupied!

 

You should see if your insurance has a OEM parts replacement option. I have that on my Farmers Auto policy and that also extends to my Glass Replacement coverage. Only paying $100 for OEM glass is very nice.

 

When I finally get mine done I am calling up the insurance company and telling them i am going to the body shop at the dealership and they can deal with the price of replacement. Florida will reimburse them for there money.

 

When I had to have mine replaced a few years ago I used PPG. It's great for not breaking but he OEM glass didn't get the pitting in it near as bad. My windshield is 3 years old and hard to see through if the sun is in front and high in the sky. Horrible, horrible pitting. While I would not go Safelite I probably will not use PPG again either. Going to stick with OEM from here on out.

 

Used Safelite 2 times already but I asked for OEM glass both times. Insurance covered it bot times at no charge to me.

 

Dealer installed PPG when I bought the car It was horrible. The optics were warped and actually made you dizzy.

They then switched to Pilkington. It is fine. Have had no problems,

 

I have read similar stories of this happening since PPG became PGW but luckily mine is great and I have no complaints so far. I also checed it out before it was installed just to be sure. The Next time I need a replacement maybe I'll try Pilkington so I can compare.

 

+1!

 

When I broke a rear side window out last year I went to an independent glass shop as my closest dealer is over 200 miles away.

I was told that there is no 3rd party glass made by anyone and all MINI glass was OEM and had to be ordered through BMW/MINI. The glass was drop shipped to the shop from a BMW warehouse in CA.

 

I had Safelite replace a windshield on a VW of mine a while back and was extremely disappointed. I had them come to my house and do it while I was at work (I was living w/ my parents at the time and borrowed a car), everything seemed fine for a couple of days but once I washed the car and started inspecting I saw lots of sloppiness. There was a missing wiper arm cap and some sloppy sealant all around, on top of that they didn't use oem glass like I asked but rather their own brand which caused distortions and just never got really clean (I realized this weeks later though, by that time I wasn't going to try to fight with them). So now I don't foresee myself using them again unless I have no other choice.

 

We used safelite on my wife's CRV. I was completely happy with the work of the guy who came out to do it, but you are all right, there's a section of the windshield that has some distortion to it. I don't drive it much and I don't think she's noticed it and it isn't too bad but I won't be letting them put that on my MINI when my crack gets big enough to replace it. I also am likely NOT spending the $900 I was quoted from MINI to get my windshield replaced either.

 

$900 ouch! This is why my comprehensive on my insurance is only $100. You won't believe how little your monthly payment goes up when reducing it from something like $500 down to $100!

 

One should also question the way the glass is installed. In an accident when the air bags deploy, the airbag's proper functioning depends upon the windshield staying in place. If the window frame is not properly cleaned, prepared, and primed, and if the wrong adhesive is used, and if it's not allowed to set completely before driving, then the window can simply pop out in an accident (purely from the deaccelleration forces) and then your air bags are nearly useless. I believe 20/20 did an expose' on this a while back.

 

Just to let you know, your recommendation to request PGW glass is of no value. I just had a windshield replaced with it last week at Safelite and the glass is like a fishbowl. HORRIBLY distorted. I think it has more to do with just random QC

 

A lot can happen in the 4.5 YEARS that have passed since the OP's post...