Factory or aftermarket windshield???
I just purchased my car a couple weeks ago and got a giant crack in the windshield today. The windshield needs to be replaced. My insurance company will fully cover an aftermarket windshield. Is it worth it for me to consider paying the difference for a factory windshield? I am getting contradictory info between the insurance company and a glass company I contacted. The glass company said if I get an aftermarket windshield, it will mess with electrical systems and I should absolutely get a factory part. Insurance company says he aftermarket is just as good. Any recommendations will be appreciated.
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glass
I had mine replaced last year. Turned out the cost difference was $8 so, I just went with factory glass. I believe they had to order it through dealer though.
Good luck! |
Originally Posted by 75gasgas
(Post 6865859)
I had mine replaced last year. Turned out the cost difference was $8 so, I just went with factory glass. I believe they had to order it through dealer though.
Good luck! |
if its not that much of a difference, go for factory and have it replaced at the dealership for warranty purposes. goodluck mate!
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Do you have the "OEM" endorsement on your insurance policy? If not, I would strongly recommend adding it for this type of car. If your car is leased, the terms of the lease may require you to have it. With the OEM endorsement you will receive factory parts.
Insurance companies will almost always want to use aftermarket or rebuilt parts on these cars saying they are just as good. They may even say the aftermarket part is guaranteed for as long as you own the car. However, most repair shops will disagree and it usually becomes an issue at repair time. On the flip side of this is the possibility that the car may be deemed totaled sooner when the OEM endorsement applies as the cost to repair will no doubt be higher. |
I do not know about the cost of Mercedes in the USA but here in Kuwait, the aftermarket windshield is 40 KWD ($132 USD) and the dealer here quoted me 370 KWD ($1,223 USD) to get & install the factory windshield :eek:
I decided to go for the aftermarket windshield. Electrical systems in my car are working flawless, but when there is rain the wipers will not remove the water on my windshield as good as the factory windshield (it is still not worth paying $1,000 for it don't you think so?) Anyways I just wanted to inform you about my experience with the aftermarket windshield. |
OEM, you may end up paying the difference between what your insurance company is willing to pay for aftermarket vs OEM cost. This should probably be more apparent if you car is equipped with lane departure (single camera). More optioned cars with dual cameras on windshield may prove to be quite challenging to replace windshield as I found out because the shop may not have proper part number for it.
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Originally Posted by Arctic2010
(Post 6865840)
I just purchased my car a couple weeks ago and got a giant crack in the windshield today. The windshield needs to be replaced. My insurance company will fully cover an aftermarket windshield. Is it worth it for me to consider paying the difference for a factory windshield? I am getting contradictory info between the insurance company and a glass company I contacted. The glass company said if I get an aftermarket windshield, it will mess with electrical systems and I should absolutely get a factory part. Insurance company says he aftermarket is just as good. Any recommendations will be appreciated.
I need to check my policy to see if it has an OEM endorsement. My Honda got a new windshield a few months ago. Insurance (State Farm) didn't even wince when I said I want OEM. When the installer came, he was surprised I didn't have to pay OOP. So maybe I do have it or State Farm is different. |
Florida has a unique auto glass replacement law, so maybe that has something to do with it?
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Originally Posted by KEY08
(Post 6866433)
Florida has a unique auto glass replacement law, so maybe that has something to do with it?
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I would push for an OEM windshield if you cannot get a Mercedes windshield. Aftermarket windshield usually have quality and fitment problems. Make sure the installer knows their way after a Mercedes.
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I went through a similar thought process recently with my 2012 E550. My insurance company noted my request for factory/OEM replacement, and when the Safelite tech arrived to replace my windshield he shared the $400 price difference between the covered/free replacement and factory version. We looked over both factory and non-factory and aside from the labels I couldn't see any differences worth the $400 driver funded up charge for Mercedes part. The tech installed the standard glass and everything worked as expected. If I had a new car it might have been different, but a few months in and everything is tight.
-Adam |
Originally Posted by Youngd
(Post 6866223)
Do you have the "OEM" endorsement on your insurance policy? If not, I would strongly recommend adding it for this type of car. If your car is leased, the terms of the lease may require you to have it. With the OEM endorsement you will receive factory parts.
Insurance companies will almost always want to use aftermarket or rebuilt parts on these cars saying they are just as good. They may even say the aftermarket part is guaranteed for as long as you own the car. However, most repair shops will disagree and it usually becomes an issue at repair time. On the flip side of this is the possibility that the car may be deemed totaled sooner when the OEM endorsement applies as the cost to repair will no doubt be higher. |
Originally Posted by @dman
(Post 6868538)
I went through a similar thought process recently with my 2012 E550. My insurance company noted my request for factory/OEM replacement, and when the Safelite tech arrived to replace my windshield he shared the $400 price difference between the covered/free replacement and factory version. We looked over both factory and non-factory and aside from the labels I couldn't see any differences worth the $400 driver funded up charge for Mercedes part. The tech installed the standard glass and everything worked as expected. If I had a new car it might have been different, but a few months in and everything is tight.
-Adam |
The oem will say Mercedes benz on it. The aftermarket will not. I agree if the difference is minimal go with OEM if not get the aftermarket and then order a decal to etch Mercedes Benz in the glass. There was a place in New York that I got etching from for the 57 chevy I had.. Do not know if they are still in business but someone out there should be able to give you an etch decal
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We're going through this with our 2016 Escalade and 2014 E350 right now. Both have cracks. The Cadillac dealer here uses a local glass company for all of their windshield replacements. The glass guy said the OEM and aftermarkets can be virtually identical, even from the same glass factories in a lot of cases (because they set up shape/size/application and run all of their OEM and aftermarket windshields simultaneously). Then the appropriate markings are put on (for OEM it would be the Mercedes info).
Unfortunately, the Escalade has the heads up display and there isn't a high-quality aftermarket one available yet. They told me I should do OEM on the Escalade and aftermarket on the E350 because I won't know the difference on the Benz, other than the writing. I'm an OEM man personally, but windshields get chipped and cracked in this dirty Houston area all day long...I got three chips in one week! The Escalade only has 7K miles and already cracked. FML! |
My replacement windshield came with a MB decal to mimic the original.
My dealer didn't install windshields but recommended a body shop. So, is mine a MB part? |
Below are the 3 different type of windshields available beside the Mercedes windshield, I would use option one or two but not option three. I would not use the safelite SGC brand, the quality is one level below option 1 and 2. Unfortunately, most insurance companies try to push the owners to use the cheaper SGC brand :
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I thank you also - very thorough and informative.
Upon lease return to the MB dealership, are any windshield options acceptable other than an OEM exact replacement w/ MB logo? thx |
Originally Posted by HSCLA
(Post 7051853)
I thank you also - very thorough and informative.
Upon lease return to the MB dealership, are any windshield options acceptable other than an OEM exact replacement w/ MB logo? thx |
Original MB windshield stickers are available on eBay
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Original stickers you can get on eBay, but you can't get the built in emblem on an aftermarket one.
Not Mercedes, but our Optima Hybrid's passenger side window was cracked by a rock at like 5,000 miles (cracked because the Optima actually has acoustic, laminated front windows). We agreed to an aftermarket replacement. The aftermarket window was distorted. We complained, they replaced it again. Still distorted. More complaints, another replacement. Still distorted. Finally safelite ate the cost and replaced it with OEM. |
Originally Posted by HSCLA
(Post 7051853)
I thank you also - very thorough and informative.
Upon lease return to the MB dealership, are any windshield options acceptable other than an OEM exact replacement w/ MB logo? thx |
Unfortunately, a rock hit my windshield at some point in the day on New Year's Eve, I didn't even notice the crack right away since it was towards the bottom passenger side just to the right of where my radar detector is mounted. In fact, it was after my radar activated when I noticed a 4-5 in crack (another 3-4" going down towards the hood but not viewable from the inside). I went ahead and filed a claim with my insurance company and right away they recommended me to Safelite and other similar alternatives. After reading all the posts on here, I replied that I would only feel comfortable going with MB doing the install with OEM. Her reply was that I would have to pay out of pocket and then file for reimbursement. Which I am fine with, I will just need to call them back to confirm HOW MUCH will I be reimbursed. The good thing is I don't have a deductible on the glass repair.
I had to drop off my vehicle today for another issue with tears in my drivers seat. So I went ahead and requested a quote on the windshield replacement. I'll post an update on what they provide. At the end of the day, I just don't want to deal with any "potential" issues with non OEM glass, the lane assist /rain sensor connectivity, improper sealing or what have you. And yes I know Safelite and the others guarantee their work, but local reviews on these companies were mediocre at best. I'll just take my chances that MB gets this done the right way and hold them accountable. |
Originally Posted by PeaceMan
(Post 7348818)
Unfortunately, a rock hit my windshield at some point in the day on New Year's Eve, I didn't even notice the crack right away since it was towards the bottom passenger side just to the right of where my radar detector is mounted. In fact, it was after my radar activated when I noticed a 4-5 in crack (another 3-4" going down towards the hood but not viewable from the inside). I went ahead and filed a claim with my insurance company and right away they recommended me to Safelite and other similar alternatives. After reading all the posts on here, I replied that I would only feel comfortable going with MB doing the install with OEM. Her reply was that I would have to pay out of pocket and then file for reimbursement. Which I am fine with, I will just need to call them back to confirm HOW MUCH will I be reimbursed. The good thing is I don't have a deductible on the glass repair.
I had to drop off my vehicle today for another issue with tears in my drivers seat. So I went ahead and requested a quote on the windshield replacement. I'll post an update on what they provide. At the end of the day, I just don't want to deal with any "potential" issues with non OEM glass, the lane assist /rain sensor connectivity, improper sealing or what have you. And yes I know Safelite and the others guarantee their work, but local reviews on these companies were mediocre at best. I'll just take my chances that MB gets this done the right way and hold them accountable. |
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