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I called Safelite to schedule the windshield replacement for the rock chip that hit my windshield yesterday which caused a foot-long crack running horizontally along the passenger side area of windshield. I did my research on the whole procedure and everything and I know I have to make sure they replace the rain sensor properly and do a nice level application of gel for the rain sensor.
But what about the glass? I asked Safelite and they said they use what they call Original Equipment Equivalent glass in the standard price. It meets the DOT standards and is made by them. I asked them to price me for OEM glass anyways, so the OEM glass would be $619 installed and the OEE glass would be $440 installed.
To be honest, he couldn't give too many details so I went on the Interwebs and did some research. Some people reported that the OEE glass did have some waviness in the optics when looking at certain angles, which kinda scared me. Also read some reports where people said their rain sensor didn't work properly after having their windshield replaced with the OEE glass, but upon further research, it seems that the rain sensor just has to be installed carefully and properly.
I called my insurance company and he said they're good, they work with lots of insurance companies and they do good work.
Depends....
I have had junk Chinese glass from safelite...was wavy...have had a decent Mexican one if a different car....
Last time we needed a windshield, we used a different company...their main glass was saint-gobain, the mini OEM for most years....so ask around...there are mNy companies.
I've used Safelite for over a dozen windshields in the past 30 years and had ONE complaint. With their guarantee, that complaint meant they were back the next day and redid everything with all new parts again and told me if not yet happy just call again. "we'll come back until you are 100%."
My insurance routes glass claims directly to Safelite. I can choose to use anyone, but have never seen the need.
Thanks for the responses. So they did the job today using the OEE glass. I asked him if he was going to leave a layer of the old urethane and he said he usually scrapes it all off, but I said to leave a thin layer, and he said no problem.
I was hanging out in the garage just working from home while he was doing the job. He worked quite systematically and seemed to know what he was doing.
After he removed the windshield and was working with the old urethane, I double-checked that he was still leaving a thin layer, which he was and assured me that he knows exactly what I wanted him to do.
I asked him about the rain sensor and he showed it to me and that it was already built into the glass. The top molding was replaced entirely as it has to be, and the new molding must be aftermarket as well as it is noticeably more narrow than my original molding. This is a welcome change as I always felt the top windshield molding is a bit thick as far as the look.
The aftermarket glass looks pretty good but the tint strip all around is kind of thin. There is a black strip all around the edge of the windshield but I thought I remember my OEM windshield had like a 4" tinted glass at the top which the new windshield does not have. I sat inside the car and looked from different angles in different places and no waviness that I could see so I am happy about that.
He said it is ready to drive after one hour, but I am going to leave the car alone for at least 24 hours to really let the urethane set. I will just use my work vehicle tomorrow. Overall I am pretty happy.
Thanks for the responses. So they did the job today using the OEE glass. I asked him if he was going to leave a layer of the old urethane and he said he usually scrapes it all off, but I said to leave a thin layer, and he said no problem.
I was hanging out in the garage just working from home while he was doing the job. He worked quite systematically and seemed to know what he was doing.
After he removed the windshield and was working with the old urethane, I double-checked that he was still leaving a thin layer, which he was and assured me that he knows exactly what I wanted him to do.
I asked him about the rain sensor and he showed it to me and that it was already built into the glass. The top molding was replaced entirely as it has to be, and the new molding must be aftermarket as well as it is noticeably more narrow than my original molding. This is a welcome change as I always felt the top windshield molding is a bit thick as far as the look.
The aftermarket glass looks pretty good but the tint strip all around is kind of thin. There is a black strip all around the edge of the windshield but I thought I remember my OEM windshield had like a 4" tinted glass at the top which the new windshield does not have. I sat inside the car and looked from different angles in different places and no waviness that I could see so I am happy about that.
He said it is ready to drive after one hour, but I am going to leave the car alone for at least 24 hours to really let the urethane set. I will just use my work vehicle tomorrow. Overall I am pretty happy.
