Windshield Replacement

[raydog1]

While I have used Safelite before with no problems, I went with a small but highly-rated local company earlier this year to replace my windshield. Took care of me in 1 hour. They used this brand that appears to have all the advantages of the OEM glass. I didn't notice any difference in sound, heat, etc:

http://www.pilkingtonclearadvantage.com/Home/EZKoolUltra

EDIT: Should also mention they were on my Allstate's recommended list and I think I only paid around $200 out of pocket.

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[K4fxd]

When do you think it would it be ok for me to use my insurance?

You totally missed the point.

Have a good day.

 

[galaxy]

Does all the cowl trim and/or any interior trim need to come off for the swap?

 

[tom_sprecher]

Does all the cowl trim and/or any interior trim need to come off for the swap?

No. The only thing that comes out is the windshield.

 

[galaxy]

Thanks. If so, i was just gonna have it apart so the guy doesn't have to do it. I'd rather do it.

 

[sublime1996525]

I used Technaglass but they’ve been bought out by Safelite. They did a good job. $0 deductible for comprehensive and OEM windshield. Sounds like a small shop might be better.

 

[galaxy]

The factory glass from dealer is $405, and they sublet out-recommended a local, non chain shop. So I'll most likely give them a call and see what dealio we can work.

 

[Snakebyte]

You're right Dan.
When do you think it would it be ok for me to use my insurance?

This is going to be a lengthy answer which hopefully arms forum readers with information they can use to save themselves insurance pains down the road.

I agree with what others said about insurance rates and not shopping around. There are other factors as well, but as for windshield glass replacement....

Safelite (since several mentioned them) in our area will sell you a generic windshield for a competitive price generally. OEM glass replacement may not be so predictable. It can be like buying a replacement car part for a Cadillac when Chevrolet sells the exact part number. Historically I've had Caddie friends and neighbors that paid significantly more because they went to Cadillac for an exact same part Chevrolet had on their shelf. But then, with windshield replacement you'll find interesting twists as forum members mentioned earlier.​

​

For some companies, if I want an OEM glass, they are willing to increase their profit margin substantially. Why? Because I basically told them when I rejected generic, that cost is of little concern to me. Supply versus demand. Yes, there are cases where a generic is great choice (my later personal example). So when shopping, ask for price comparisons of generic AND the OEM glass. Then you'll be able to have apples-to-apples comparisons.​

​

A positive of using a well known glass replacement company may be that it has access to good training, has great processes, and that it religiously calibrates its own equipment to calibrate new technology on your vehicle. But then, mom and pop shops may perform wonderfully installing and calibrating technology as well. Thankfully we have viable alternatives. Friend and acquaintance ratings as well as internet reviews are important sources for your decisions as localities can vary.​

​

As mentioned by another member earlier in this thread, larger corporate organizations could be a little more challenged to provide consistent quality from technician to technician. Variations may be region to region. So again, check local reviews, and ask around with friends who have had windshields replaced successfully. Ask for a specific technician by name when learning of good ones. Side note: If your insurance agent is reputable, go ahead and ask them. A few agents I'd hesitate to ask. So build a relationship with a good agent.​

If you need to make a claim, make a claim for sure. Keep in mind that state statutes are different in how comprehensive claims are handled and accounted for. In states where the windshield replacement is "free" that doesn't necessarily mean it is "free".

Ask the price ahead of time. Why? Because if my windshield replacement is below a certain threshold, it doesn't count against my insurance, but above that threshold, it can impact my insurance, especially when shopping for new insurance at renewal.​

​

Also frequency of claims affect your insurance score. But again, if you need to make a claim that is why you purchased insurance.​

Another thing about insurance...again I emphasize, ensure you have a reputable agent that will shoot straight at the time of sale, and when losses unfortunately occur. Claims do occur. That's life.

​

An important word of caution: Each state has its unique statutes regarding reporting of losses. Talk to your insurance agent first to ensure you are dotting i's and crossing t's, not only with the state, but your insurance company.​

​

It sounds benign that when you first get on the phone with an insurance company, and they ask your name and policy number. But, it may not be so benign. Why? A zero dollar comprehensive claim payout is a claim, nonetheless.​

​

So let's say you have a rock-damaged windshield replaced with a generic one for $250 (like I did a few years back). There were administrative costs that Safelite and the insurer tack on to process insurance claims (they have to pay accounting-type folks for this extra work). In my case I would have been better paying out-of-pocket. Because I submitted a claim, the $250 quoted to me if I personally paid, ballooned an additional $100+ against my insurance record. Thankfully it was still under my $500 insurer's threshold to quality as a significant "ding" on my comp claim record. In hindsight I'd been better off eating the claim myself.​

​

As I said at the start, this would be long, but I hope this helps forum members approach insurance and claims, armed with a bit more understanding to make good short-term decisions to help with their long-term risk protection needs.

 

[Inthehighdesert]

The carriers(insurance) don‘t just write blank checks to any service provider. Its the same for mechanical, collision, and glass coverage. All operate off of market prices and estimates. There is going to be a range each carrier will pay for non oem and oem glass. The carriers also negotiate big discounts for themselves by steering repairs in certain directions. As they should. Most would be very surprised what the actual unit of glass costs a shop. Oem and non oem. Oem glass for example doesn’t usually come from the dealer, it simply goes through the dealer in some cases. Oem can be had from outside suppliers without issue as well. Glass repairs or installs by themselves account for very little in actual carrier cost. The glass business by nature is predicated on volume, especially the windshield side. I completely get your point, the only thing is price shopping isn’t really the issue. There only going to pay what the book allowances are. There will be some adjustment here and there at times obviously. On another note, insurance, I‘m in to utv’s. Now in that rates have skyrocketed(not mine thankfully) because dipshxts literally buy a new 40k utv and roll the thing in short order because they treat the thing like an expendable toy. Your post from earlier definitely fits the description though.

You totally missed the point.

Have a good day.

 

[JAJ]

Tips, advice, where from, what did you do, etc etc? Safelite?? Make sure they get the factory glass?

I'd go for the one that's tested by Ford to be safe at 180MPH.

 

[scd603]

This is going to be a lengthy answer which hopefully arms forum readers with information they can use to save themselves insurance pains down the road.

I agree with what others said about insurance rates and not shopping around. There are other factors as well, but as for windshield glass replacement....

Safelite (since several mentioned them) in our area will sell you a generic windshield for a competitive price generally. OEM glass replacement may not be so predictable. It can be like buying a replacement car part for a Cadillac when Chevrolet sells the exact part number. Historically I've had Caddie friends and neighbors that paid significantly more because they went to Cadillac for an exact same part Chevrolet had on their shelf. But then, with windshield replacement you'll find interesting twists as forum members mentioned earlier.​

​

For some companies, if I want an OEM glass, they are willing to increase their profit margin substantially. Why? Because I basically told them when I rejected generic, that cost is of little concern to me. Supply versus demand. Yes, there are cases where a generic is great choice (my later personal example). So when shopping, ask for price comparisons of generic AND the OEM glass. Then you'll be able to have apples-to-apples comparisons.​

​

A positive of using a well known glass replacement company may be that it has access to good training, has great processes, and that it religiously calibrates its own equipment to calibrate new technology on your vehicle. But then, mom and pop shops may perform wonderfully installing and calibrating technology as well. Thankfully we have viable alternatives. Friend and acquaintance ratings as well as internet reviews are important sources for your decisions as localities can vary.​

​

As mentioned by another member earlier in this thread, larger corporate organizations could be a little more challenged to provide consistent quality from technician to technician. Variations may be region to region. So again, check local reviews, and ask around with friends who have had windshields replaced successfully. Ask for a specific technician by name when learning of good ones. Side note: If your insurance agent is reputable, go ahead and ask them. A few agents I'd hesitate to ask. So build a relationship with a good agent.​

If you need to make a claim, make a claim for sure. Keep in mind that state statutes are different in how comprehensive claims are handled and accounted for. In states where the windshield replacement is "free" that doesn't necessarily mean it is "free".

Ask the price ahead of time. Why? Because if my windshield replacement is below a certain threshold, it doesn't count against my insurance, but above that threshold, it can impact my insurance, especially when shopping for new insurance at renewal.​

​

Also frequency of claims affect your insurance score. But again, if you need to make a claim that is why you purchased insurance.​

Another thing about insurance...again I emphasize, ensure you have a reputable agent that will shoot straight at the time of sale, and when losses unfortunately occur. Claims do occur. That's life.

​

An important word of caution: Each state has its unique statutes regarding reporting of losses. Talk to your insurance agent first to ensure you are dotting i's and crossing t's, not only with the state, but your insurance company.​

​

It sounds benign that when you first get on the phone with an insurance company, and they ask your name and policy number. But, it may not be so benign. Why? A zero dollar comprehensive claim payout is a claim, nonetheless.​

​

So let's say you have a rock-damaged windshield replaced with a generic one for $250 (like I did a few years back). There were administrative costs that Safelite and the insurer tack on to process insurance claims (they have to pay accounting-type folks for this extra work). In my case I would have been better paying out-of-pocket. Because I submitted a claim, the $250 quoted to me if I personally paid, ballooned an additional $100+ against my insurance record. Thankfully it was still under my $500 insurer's threshold to quality as a significant "ding" on my comp claim record. In hindsight I'd been better off eating the claim myself.​

​

As I said at the start, this would be long, but I hope this helps forum members approach insurance and claims, armed with a bit more understanding to make good short-term decisions to help with their long-term risk protection needs.

Note on insurance. It is a comprehensive claim which is not your fault and should not result in an increase in premium. However... My wife is very good at breaking windshields. 5 over the last 7 years. I went to switch from GEICO to Progressive and we were rejected due to these claims (we have no other claims or tickets). I'm paying for mine out of pocket going forward.

 

[DirtyTx210]

My buddy replaces windshields for a living did mine asked for oem. Charged me 300 bucks installed. He told me sound screen was for the wind noise.

 

[MexicanFiestaST]

Long post:

My local shop was sort of mom and pop, where I'd had glass replaced before(infrequently, but I've lived here over 32 years, so a few times). When my Mustang developed a crack, my insurance still recommended the same location, which had been bought out by Safelite. I went with them anyway.

I was very pleased with the overall service. When I showed up, before they started, they informed me that the glass the warehouse shipped was generic. "You have a Mustang, some folks care about this, some don't. What do you want to do? I can see if we can get OEM glass if you want". They looked it up, insurance still covered it, and my deductible was obviously identical. Few days later, before they start, they tell me again "The warehouse did ship the factory glass, but they did not include the(not quite the trim, but a black channel along the bottom). The warehouse ships the glass to the shop overnight, then you and we show up in the morning, and sometimes this happens. We'll ask them to ship another, and squeeze you in, since you've already been here twice". For my last visit, the automatic company email said 3pm, but they said "just come by at 8am, you can call first if you like to check on the glass, and we'll get you in well before 3pm. Really sorry about what the warehouse ships" Last time, before I drove over, I called them first thing in the morning(Safelite 1-800 folks gave me the local guy's cell phone #), they confirmed the glass was correct, the channel was on it, so I drove over, and they installed it, no issues.

The point of this long story has nothing to do with insurance; the point is that I was totally pleased with their customer service. They could have easily run me through the new company grinder, and I would have been shocked to pick up my car with non-OEM glass on it. Each time, I was the first appointment of the day, and each time, they let me walk out to the garage so that I could see for myself what was the problem was with the glass, and each time, they asked me what I wanted to do.

As others have mentioned, your experience with either mom and pop, or Safelite or other corporate entity may vary. These guys happened to be on top of it, and cared more about my car than 'wasting their time' having me in their shop three times. Just so we're clear on that, they did not install glass three times; they simply never started the work until the last time, when both of us were satisfied that the glass from the warehouse was what we wanted. Good luck.

 

[MAGS1]

Long post:

My local shop was sort of mom and pop, where I'd had glass replaced before(infrequently, but I've lived here over 32 years, so a few times). When my Mustang developed a crack, my insurance still recommended the same location, which had been bought out by Safelite. I went with them anyway.

I was very pleased with the overall service. When I showed up, before they started, they informed me that the glass the warehouse shipped was generic. "You have a Mustang, some folks care about this, some don't. What do you want to do? I can see if we can get OEM glass if you want". They looked it up, insurance still covered it, and my deductible was obviously identical. Few days later, before they start, they tell me again "The warehouse did ship the factory glass, but they did not include the(not quite the trim, but a black channel along the bottom). The warehouse ships the glass to the shop overnight, then you and we show up in the morning, and sometimes this happens. We'll ask them to ship another, and squeeze you in, since you've already been here twice". For my last visit, the automatic company email said 3pm, but they said "just come by at 8am, you can call first if you like to check on the glass, and we'll get you in well before 3pm. Really sorry about what the warehouse ships" Last time, before I drove over, I called them first thing in the morning(Safelite 1-800 folks gave me the local guy's cell phone #), they confirmed the glass was correct, the channel was on it, so I drove over, and they installed it, no issues.

The point of this long story has nothing to do with insurance; the point is that I was totally pleased with their customer service. They could have easily run me through the new company grinder, and I would have been shocked to pick up my car with non-OEM glass on it. Each time, I was the first appointment of the day, and each time, they let me walk out to the garage so that I could see for myself what was the problem was with the glass, and each time, they asked me what I wanted to do.

As others have mentioned, your experience with either mom and pop, or Safelite or other corporate entity may vary. These guys happened to be on top of it, and cared more about my car than 'wasting their time' having me in their shop three times. Just so we're clear on that, they did not install glass three times; they simply never started the work until the last time, when both of us were satisfied that the glass from the warehouse was what we wanted. Good luck.

Wish more places operate that way, glad you were taken care of the proper way

 

[galaxy]

Soooo, you guys stated the under hood cowling doesn’t have to be removed, but every video I watch shows them removing the cowling to get a seal out that runs along the bittom of the glass. What gives?

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