[itsstock02]

On the highway yesterday a rock or something came up and put a nice crack in the windshield. It cant be repaired due to where the crack is at (near the edge).

Ive been looking around and I see there are green windshelds, grey stripe, IR. How can I figure out what I have?

Im pretty sure I dont have a green strip at the top. Its hard to tell due to the windshield being tinted, but it looks grey to me. I do have rain sensing wipers, and auto-dimming rear view mirror.

[pgaplayerless]

repair places should be able to get u the right one by ur VIN

[sunny]

youre probably gonna go with aftermarket winshield.
factory replacement winshield does not have the tint on the top portion.
make sure the new one does not have any "wave" on them.
and be aware that aftermarket winshield's "button" can come off.
all I can say is good luck....

[Datsik]

I'm sure safelight would be able to do this for you no problem, and they will do it while your at work, etc. so it's not an inconvenience.

[JaysBlueE92]

pilkington is oem so I would try that for sure

[Blackhawk36]

Originally Posted by JaysBlueE92

pilkington is oem so I would try that for sure

Pilkington is what Safelite sells. Identical in every way except no BMW logo. Includes windshield wiper sensor.

[pgaplayerless]

Originally Posted by Blackhawk36

Pilkington is what Safelite sells. Identical in every way except no BMW logo. Includes windshield wiper sensor.

Saint Gobain Sekurit is another manufacturer of the windshields. They are OEM supplier for Audi so no problem there either.

[BMWinAZ]

I personally would do everything to avoid third party or aftermarket installers or goods on this issue. Your insurance has to accept your choice of repair shop. For this I would use the dealer, no matter what the insurance is trying to tell you. I went thru this a few years ago with a Mercedes and the dealer has a totally different protocol for windshield replacements than all these "glass monkeys". Contrary to what most of these "flying" glass shops tell you the car actually has to sit and cure for about 48 hours after install. In some models (x3) roof drainage can actually be compromised by an aftermarket install!

[pgaplayerless]

Originally Posted by BMWinAZ

I personally would do everything to avoid third party or aftermarket installers or goods on this issue. Your insurance has to accept your choice of repair shop. For this I would use the dealer, no matter what the insurance is trying to tell you. I went thru this a few years ago with a Mercedes and the dealer has a totally different protocol for windshield replacements than all these "glass monkeys". Contrary to what most of these "flying" glass shops tell you the car actually has to sit and cure for about 48 hours after install. In some models (x3) roof drainage can actually be compromised by an aftermarket install!

Contrary to what you might assume, most dealerships do not do windshield installs....they order Safelite, etc to come in to do the replacement.

Modern sealant adhesives are heat activated. They are heated up to 180-200*F and applied and few hours of rest is plenty

[wilbur_the_goose]

+1 The car does need to sit.

That was the way I chose my installer - he was the one that told me not to drive the car for at least 24 hours. Once he told me that, I knew I was in good hands, and he did a great job.

(Grand Sport Auto Body - Exton, PA)

[iknowitsfast]

I went on the safelite website and it quote me a bit under $700. My windshield isnt cracked but it looks like the previous owner went thru a construction site and I have hundreds/thousands of little 'speckles' all over it. Visibility isnt affected but its annoying.

[Blackhawk36]

You must have the "gold-coated" windshield. Safelite did mine for a little over $400.

[BMWinAZ]

Originally Posted by pgaplayerless

Contrary to what you might assume, most dealerships do not do windshield installs....they order Safelite, etc to come in to do the replacement.

Modern sealant adhesives are heat activated. They are heated up to 180-200*F and applied and few hours of rest is plenty

That is very likely true. However, in case of my old Mercedes C350 that particular MB dealership had several options, one was to have the OEM windshield installed by their technicians using MB protocol. This involved leaving the car with them for 48 hours.
Also, some of the panoramic sunroof leakage problems in the E83 X3 were traced back to clogged roof drains due to aftermarket windshield installs.
Furthermore, I have been told by windshield repair professionals (who were not replacing my windshield, so they had no monetary motive) that OEM windshields for most luxury car brands are better quality than your run of the mill replacements.
Lastly, I had a very bad experience a few years ago with my wife's old Honda CRV. A glass company pretty much destroyed the window and roof trim because they were not very knowledgeable regarding that specific car. Luckily, the insurance payed for the $1000 dealer trim replacement and windshield redo that was necessary. So that's why I stay away from the aftermarket windshield companies.

[pspressart]

Originally Posted by iknowitsfast

I went on the safelite website and it quote me a bit under $700. My windshield isnt cracked but it looks like the previous owner went thru a construction site and I have hundreds/thousands of little 'speckles' all over it. Visibility isnt affected but its annoying.

The OEM Pilkington glass is softer than many other windshield glasses. Those hundreds/thousands of little "speckles" probably accumulated from years of normal driving. It shows up especially when you are driving toward the sun. My first BMW was a '02 325xi, which I had for 11 1/2 years. After 3 - 4 years, the "speckles" accumulated.

Also, in those 11 1/2 years, I had my windshield replaced four times. The first two were at the dealership, and the replacement was OEM Pilkington. The last two were by Safelight. Both of the Safelight replacements were non-OEM glass, and for me were better, because the glass did not "speckle" like the OEM glass did.

[pgaplayerless]

Originally Posted by BMWinAZ

That is very likely true. However, in case of my old Mercedes C350 that particular MB dealership had several options, one was to have the OEM windshield installed by their technicians using MB protocol. This involved leaving the car with them for 48 hours.
Also, some of the panoramic sunroof leakage problems in the E83 X3 were traced back to clogged roof drains due to aftermarket windshield installs.
Furthermore, I have been told by windshield repair professionals (who were not replacing my windshield, so they had no monetary motive) that OEM windshields for most luxury car brands are better quality than your run of the mill replacements.
Lastly, I had a very bad experience a few years ago with my wife's old Honda CRV. A glass company pretty much destroyed the window and roof trim because they were not very knowledgeable regarding that specific car. Luckily, the insurance payed for the $1000 dealer trim replacement and windshield redo that was necessary. So that's why I stay away from the aftermarket windshield companies.

I don't believe there are that many non-OEM suppliers for windshields, specially for the lux cars.

For example, my 335i that i bought used already came with "non-OEM" windshield. It's made by Saint Gobain Sekurit. Saint Gobain is the OEM for Audis and is the "Genuine" Audi part for the 09-12 Audi A4s.

I'm sure Saint Gobain is the OEM supplier for other BMW models.

[Blackhawk36]

Originally Posted by pspressart

The OEM Pilkington glass is softer than many other windshield glasses. Those hundreds/thousands of little "speckles" probably accumulated from years of normal driving. It shows up especially when you are driving toward the sun. My first BMW was a '02 325xi, which I had for 11 1/2 years. After 3 - 4 years, the "speckles" accumulated.

Also, in those 11 1/2 years, I had my windshield replaced four times. The first two were at the dealership, and the replacement was OEM Pilkington. The last two were by Safelight. Both of the Safelight replacements were non-OEM glass, and for me were better, because the glass did not "speckle" like the OEM glass did.

I think I am going to throw the BS flag on Pilkington Glass being "softer." Can you provide a source?

[longnvu]

pilkington FTW

[Chris_506]

glASS masters FTW

[Romanian nightmare]

Originally Posted by Blackhawk36

Pilkington is what Safelite sells. Identical in every way except no BMW logo. Includes windshield wiper sensor.

This is what I had Safelite use on mine. Great workmanship and no problems with the rain sensor at all. Go with them!!

[rtlsnksteve]

I just had mine replaced by safelite last month for a little under $400. Pretty sure it must have been the pilkington one. The installer had no problem with the rain sensor and everything seems to be working great.

[pspressart]

Originally Posted by Blackhawk36

I think I am going to throw the BS flag on Pilkington Glass being "softer." Can you provide a source?

Here is one thread from another site which, among other things, talks about the pitting.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=807833

[Blackhawk36]

Originally Posted by pspressart

Here is one thread from another site which, among other things, talks about the pitting.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=807833

That clears it up, no pun intended. A couple of guys on a single thread complaining about a pitted windshield and it happens to be Pilkington. Not a single scientific analysis of hardness and the word "soft" is mentioned no where in the thread. Hardly enough to come to the conclusion that OE or OEM is not a good choice.