JFOUR

Hi All!

My windshield has a crack growing across it and I was hoping to get some feedback on my windshield replacement.

I called the local glass company that my dealership recommended to me. I told them that I wanted to have the windshield replaced with the OEM glass. They told me that they would need to get the authorization from my insurance company and there may be an out of pocket cost to me. They also said they replace windshields all the time on Mercedes with their glass and have no problems at all.

Do you think I should front the extra money to get the MB windshield? Has anyone had their windshield replaced with an aftermarket? Does it look okay? Also, will I need to order a new 'Mercedes-Benz product' decal for the passenger side corner?

Sorry, I'm just really particular about my car, as are most of you. Thank you so much for your feedback!

Cheers,

Joe

RLE

Which brand of glass are they talkng about?

Sanjit

Mine was replaced here in the UK,I had to pay the £75 excess and the company(Autoglass) said it was an 100% original,identical to OEM screen,and look's perfect.

http://www.autoglass.co.uk/Our-quali...tee.193.0.html

sudhanshu3

i would get it done from the dealership itself. I read a thread over here in which a guy got his windshield replaced from outside and ended up loosing his warranty, here's how- the windshield replacement wasn't done right and had some sort of leak which somehow damaged the electronic system and the dealership void his warranty on that.

AskDrTodd

You could just go without a windshield, it's way easier to see, you don't have glare to contend with, and you get to feel the cool breeze in your hair!

wnunez89

I had my windshield replaced after i was in an accident my my MB dealer, had to pay my $500 deductable but there was $5000 worth in damages. it's as good as new now, but i dont have the MD decals you mentioned on the left passenger side now.

Carsy

Make sure the new one includes the rain sensor.

JFOUR

She didn't say what the brand name was. She said "our windshield".

Okay... I'm feeling better. They told me it would be 100% identical minus the MB logo.

Thats scary! I wonder if the glass was defective or the installer f'd up the job. I called the dealership first, they told me they sub contract all their glass work to this company. The service advisor told me they do a great job.

I wonder if they replaced your glass with aftermarket. Is there a MB logo on the glass?

I asked them about the sensors. She told me it comes equipped.

RLE

First of all, you said your dealer sent you to a place that does their glass work. This is commonly done since dealer techs do not possess the skills required to replace front or rear glass. My dealer in Seattle (for example) has been using a particular glass shop for decades which I have used multiple times with no problems.

As to the glass brand, MB uses glass from various manufacturers around the world. My C300's glass is all Pilkington and my previous car was all PPG.

If you just picked somebody out of the yellow pages to come to your house to install a windshield in the driveway, you might just have trouble.

If a windshield comes from the MB parts network, it's going to cost more because of the dealer markup and your insurance company will likely ask you to pay the difference. The glass may or may not have the MB trademark in it. BTW, the label inside the window at the lower right corner can be purchased at any dealer for a few dollars.

When I had my C300's windshield changed last year, the glass wholesaler was unable to source a W204 windshield so mine came from MB instead. Just the luck of the draw and the recommended installer put the MB label on at no charge. The final cost was $880 before my deductible.

Anyway, a windshield is a perishable part and this one won't be your last one.

JimPap

I've been through several windshields.

Don't bother with the decals until you get ready to sell or trade it.

Do stick with OEM glass. Unless you're a glass expert, it'd be hard to know which aftermarket glass is junk until its too late.

jimmythegreek

My buddys body shop uses PPG for all their glass. The MB windshields are notoriously weak, I had 2 chips in my last car. From what the glass guy says they PPG is better glass, and if the dealer sent you there they cant void the warranty its a referral. Once they order the glass teh rain sensor is automatic in the production. You cant get w204 glass without it. I ended up repairing my chip in last car but almost bit the bullet on replacement cause it was a lease but they had no probs as long as I re-leased another car....

Richie999

The expression OEM glass makes me chuckle.

JimPap

....and why may I ask does it makes you chuckle?

Interesting about the PPG comment. Given the number of windshields I've got through, I wouldn't mind trying an aftermarket if there was solid reason to believe that it was better. Any unexpected side effects such as clarity, color, etc.????

Sportstick

Perhaps he is being extremely specific, although accurate. "OE glass" (without the "M") would be more accurate for "Original Equipment glass", as in glass from the original supplier which MB also uses. Original Equipment Manufacturer glass is technically not correct, as MB is the vehicle "manufacturer", and they received the glass from a supplier, as we've discussed, and do not manufacture the glass themselves. However, for the purposes of our discussion, this is a very detailed distinction!

Richie999

Winner!

I spent a short 3 years in the construction industry where we were engaged with aluminum storefront systems (among other projects). Laminated glass is not made at every glass shop for sure. As a matter of fact, its not common for only a handful of glass shops to have the ability to temper glass and/or laminate glass. With that said, I always laugh when people think that their car manufacturer has an onsite glass "making" facility.

RickP330

I am ready for my third windshield as we speak. I went to the dealer, insurance covered 100% of it. The $800 figure sounds about right. I know the Pilkington "OE" (OEM, OE whatever, you get the point, I know it's outsourced) glass is the softest I have ever seen. I do all highway driving and it just gets frosted over in what seems like no time, my windshield wipers might last longer then the shield.... Any way I am sure MB does that by design, safety probably. Mine was actually done at the dealership, not by a guy that drives in.
RP

RLE

And yet my Pilkington OE windshield collected less sandblast damage than my previous PPGs in the period before a rock ended it's life.

What brand glass do the SA cars have, I wonder? My '08 is a Bremen car, of course.

JFOUR

Sorry guys... Guess I should brush up on my lingo. I inquired about replacing my windshield with the OEM, I guess I should have referred to Pilkington OEM, that’s the windshield that’s on my car that Mercedes installed at the factory that has their logo on it. Sorry about that. I've asked the glass company to quote me the price for Pilkington/Mercedes logo windshield for the heck of it. Since the dealership referred me to this company, I may be inclined to have 'their' windshield installed after my close inspection of it to make sure it meets my standards.

Thanks so much again for all your feedback. I reference this forum all the time, everyone here is so knowledgeable.

Cheers,
Joe

IGB

RickP330, how did you manage that? I was told I would have to pay the deductible (comprehensive)?

Can you please post an update (source/price) when all is said and done? Thanks!

RLE

If you choose zero deductible comprehensive (much more expensive) you can do this too.

Richie999

Lingo? No sir.

The public at large is uninformed while they think they are informed.

Glass is glass. It gets an ECE stamp or it doesn't.

Now who installs the glass is a whole other issue...

IGB

"RLE": Masterfully pointing out the obvious to the not so oblivious!

Richie999

Another misinformed perception.

A $0 comp ded. is not as expensive as most think. However, if you count on your insurer to maintain your windshield, count on your insurer maintaing their business without you.

RLE

OK, as to your first claim, give me some numbers vs possible claims in a given period. You can't, can you? And that's because costs vary by company, vehicle, area and who they are insuring.

And my company has told me that a windshield every other year or so is well under their radar and would have no effect on anything. Of course, if I had been gullible enough to buy insurance from, let's say, Geico, Progressive, Farmers, State Farm or The Hartford, then I'd be on thin ice 24/7.

wongster

i just got my windshield replaced not too long ago. i had to pay a $100 deductible. my insurance recommended auto glass i think it was. did a pretty good job except didn't put on my passenger side windshield wiper back correctly. it is not a oe windshield. i also had the windshield company give me another signature sticker for the bottom right. they will just charge it to the insurance company. one more thing is that now my auto headlight on sensor is a little delayed. not as sensitive as before. not that bad. i'll have my tech look at it next time