A rock hit the windshield on our way to AMVIV and we need new glass....

Unless a crack that is 5 inches long can be filled....

Thoughts?

 

Call your insurance company. I assume that you have comp coverage. This should be a non-chargeable incident. Pay the deductible and poof new glass. However, insurance companies, nearly all of them, use PPG or Safelite Autoglass for their outsourced work. Your insurance company should warranty the work as well. Other than the standard - Take it to Rasmussen and get aggressively assaulted in the hindquarters without consent. A few years ago when I got a huge rock in my windshield they said that the replacement glass was nearly $500, which is ridiculous for the most frequently replaced part on a car.

Oh, here’s an idea! Call JP and see if he will tell you who does their glass work. I know that when I got mine replaced they had someone come out and do it for them. It may cost less, as you won’t have to pay Rasmussen’s sublet fees.

 

Thanks Craig-

I think I made my comp deductible $500. It might be 250, but I'll have to look.

I'll bug JP, and follow some of your other suggestions as well.

Any other opinions?

 

We have a guy that does our store, and the mercedes store. He is an in house kinda guy and not sure if he does independant work. I'll check!

 

Never underestimate the value of business contacts. Safelite gave one of my employees here a decent deal on a replacement windshield - I think he gave him a typical business rate or something near it. It was convenient for him as theyd replace it here at our store, instead of having to take the car into a shop. Also, you can always play the 'price match' game with independant shops as most will probably be eager for your business.

 

All good points!

Any word, JP?

 

follow up question..

Do the independent shops do the rain sensing unit on the glass?

(No, I haven't fixed it yet...)

 

First guess is that they do. I think that it's nearly the exact same part, save the black trim along the edge to allow the sensor to work. There may be a two very small dimples in the glass, one for the "laser light" to enter the glass and one for the return sensor.

As we all know that light will reflect within glass, exactly like fiber optics but if water is on the glass (and fiber optics for that matter), it changes the reflective properties of the glasses surface. This allows some of the light to exit the glass. The sensor behind the rearview mirror monitors the amount of light returning from the output "laser." If there is less light returning to the sensor then is sent out, the wipers are activated.

So, in a way, the water on the windshield "sucks" the light out of the glass. Just one more way that rain sucks.

So I would think that the independent shop would be able to do the job. It can't be that hard, could it?

 

Yeap, no problem w- rain sensor, at least w- mine. Its a different shield but beyond that just a drop in replacement.

 

Well, I found out that my insurance covered all but $50 bucks.

I had some extra coverage through some discount, that reduced my deductible to $50 from $250.

Took it to Rasmussen to get the OEM glass. Cost? $475!

Since this was my first claim of any kind, ever, in my life, I think I'm still a good deal for my insurer. I figured that I've paid more than $20,000 over the years in premiums.

 

I had the inhouse guy at Rasmussen replace the glass in my 07. I picked up a rock chip shortly after purchase, that eventually formed a crack. Your quote sounds about the same as what I paid and I also have the rain sensor, in fact my insurance covered all but about 50 dollars of the bill. I have no deductable on my comp insurance, but they will only pay out based on a quote given by a glass company that's on "the list" hence me paying the difference, but I'm left with the feeling of confidence that the work was done correctly. I also had an issue of my rain sensor needing to be recalibrated after having been replaced.

for the Rasmussen glass guy!

 

FYI, you can call ODOT and tell them it was due to road construction, they will cover it. It takes about two-three weeks, and you have to get two estimates.