BMW Windshield Replacement

Pinecone · 03-17-2010, 05:24 PM

Dealer or SafeLite?

Or does it matter?

Got a crack eye level, driver's side on the E46 M3. And since it occurred on Sat, it has grown longer.

Thanks.

Terri Kennedy · 03-17-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinecone

Dealer or SafeLite?

Or does it matter?

Do you have the rain sensor? Way-back-when, if you did, you needed dealer glass. Not sure if the aftermarket has caught up yet.

Terri Kennedy · 03-17-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuka

Safelite can get OEM glass IIRC.

Ok. I wasn't sure if the aftermarkets were still trying to use their own glass.

I had the windshield replaced on my wagon less than a week before I left for Bimmerfest 2004. I'd gotten a chip in the original glass which developed into a full-blown crack before I could drill and glue it.

My BMW dealer didn't do their own glass work - they ordered the glass, gasket, and goop from BMW and had a car glass guy come to the dealership to install it. Due to wanting to make good on an earlier screwup, they only charged me the pass-thru labor from the glass guy and their cost on the glass - cost me about $250 total.

ZBB · 03-17-2010, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry Kennedy

Do you have the rain sensor? Way-back-when, if you did, you needed dealer glass. Not sure if the aftermarket has caught up yet.

I had my insurance company's vendor replace the windshield on my E39... They used aftermarket glass that didn't impact the rain sensor...

Nick M3 · 03-17-2010, 07:14 PM

Not safelite. Their people have an pretty uneven reputation.

I just had a Pilkington windshield put in my M3 last week by Virginia Auto Glass (that's the third windshield they've installed for me - sigh). Pilington makes the stock M3 glass, so the label is the only difference I can find. That and it's weirdly clean.

Rob · 03-17-2010, 08:00 PM

the dealer will probably call safelite. They won't have anyone that can do it on staff. You are better off with someone that does it every day anyway.

Pinecone · 03-17-2010, 08:17 PM

Since it will be less than my deductable, it doesn't matter who does it.

My insurance comapny uses Safelite. We have had a bunch of glass replaced by our local Safelite without issues.

Looking at RealOEM.com, they is the Climate Comfort and the plain green windshield. $576 versus $396 for the glass.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...82&hg=51&fg=05

What's the difference?

Nick, how much did your's cost?

SARAFIL · 03-17-2010, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

the dealer will probably call safelite. They won't have anyone that can do it on staff. You are better off with someone that does it every day anyway.

Actually, BMW did a big push on training dealer staff to do windshield repairs and installs in-house. I know that late last year my dealer started doing their own repairs and installs at BMW and MINI... they sent a few of the techs to BMW training and now do it in the service department.

Doesn't mean that they are all doing it, but there are probably more than you think doing it in-house these days.

Nick M3 · 03-17-2010, 08:44 PM

Mine was $313 installed, the Pilkington glass was $175.

rumatt · 03-18-2010, 12:30 AM

Whatever you do, stay away from lupinsea's guy

03-17-2010, 05:24 PM	#1
Pinecone Carmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,717	BMW Windshield Replacement Dealer or SafeLite? Or does it matter? Got a crack eye level, driver's side on the E46 M3. And since it occurred on Sat, it has grown longer. Thanks. __________________ Terry Carraway 2002 Topaz E46 M3 2000 Dakar M Roadster 1995 Alpine E36 M3 LTW 1990 Red/White Spec Racer

03-17-2010, 07:14 PM	#5
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,458	Not safelite. Their people have an pretty uneven reputation. I just had a Pilkington windshield put in my M3 last week by Virginia Auto Glass (that's the third windshield they've installed for me - sigh). Pilington makes the stock M3 glass, so the label is the only difference I can find. That and it's weirdly clean. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

03-17-2010, 08:17 PM	#7
Pinecone Carmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 2,717	Since it will be less than my deductable, it doesn't matter who does it. My insurance comapny uses Safelite. We have had a bunch of glass replaced by our local Safelite without issues. Looking at RealOEM.com, they is the Climate Comfort and the plain green windshield. $576 versus $396 for the glass. http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...82&hg=51&fg=05 What's the difference? Nick, how much did your's cost? __________________ Terry Carraway 2002 Topaz E46 M3 2000 Dakar M Roadster 1995 Alpine E36 M3 LTW 1990 Red/White Spec Racer

03-17-2010, 08:44 PM	#9
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,458	Mine was $313 installed, the Pilkington glass was $175. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Replaced the Windshield in my Jeep	lupinsea	Car Talk	32	01-14-2009 06:38 PM

03-17-2010, 08:00 PM	#6
Rob The user formerly known as rwg Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: Z4 Location: Vegas baby! Posts: 8,261	the dealer will probably call safelite. They won't have anyone that can do it on staff. You are better off with someone that does it every day anyway.

03-18-2010, 12:30 AM	#10
rumatt Mugwump Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3 Location: NY Posts: 17,475	Whatever you do, stay away from lupinsea's guy