Factory or aftermarket windshield???
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Joined: Jun 2016
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Mercedes Benz E350 4MATIC 2010
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.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 17
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Mercedes Benz E350 4MATIC 2010
Thanks for the quick reply. That's a bit of a relief that it's not as much as I thought it would be. I thought I would have to put in another 500 at least. If it's that little I will definitely pay the difference for factory glass.
Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 172
Likes: 22
From: Outside Philadelphia
2011 E-350
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.
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.
Newbie
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 8
Likes: 1
E300
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 
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.
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.
Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 96
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2007 E63 AMG
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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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,107
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From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
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.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,107
Likes: 394
From: West Central Florida
2011 E550 P2 4M Sedan
FL law allows a free replacement under comprehensive coverage so you don't have to pay your deductible. But I don't think it requires OEM glass. The installer only works in my area so it must not be the law, just my policy I guess.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,583
Likes: 292
2019 E300
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.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 32
Likes: 6
From: NH
2012 E550 (W212)
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
-Adam
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 17
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Mercedes Benz E350 4MATIC 2010
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Mercedes Benz E350 4MATIC 2010
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
-Adam
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 695
From: Northwest Illinois
2014 E350 also restored: 1969 Camaro convertible SS 1957 Chevy Belair 2dr hardtop
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
Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 206
Likes: 38
From: Southern
2014 E-350
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!
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!
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,583
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2019 E300
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 :
- OEM brand without the logo (ie Mercedes windshield in the Sekurit brand made by Saint Gobain, but manufactured without the Tristar Mercedes logo). That is the only difference, but the price difference can be 100’s of dollars less. It is the same exact windshield by the same manufacturing plant just made without the Mercedes logo.
- OEE (Original Equipment Equivalent) brand – (an OEM windshield from a completely different manufacturer. Still OEM, but not the original manufacturer.) An example would be Pittsburgh Glass Works (PGW) or Pilkington brand windshields. These windshields would have their logos but it would still meet all the specifications of that original windshield. The benefit of a PGW or Pilkington brand is they are companies with high manufacturing output and provide windshields for large automakers like Toyota. Their OEM windshield price is typically the most competitive, all while still using all the same OEM processes, ensuring a high quality windshield.
- Aftermarket brand – the last option is to use an aftermarket manufacturer to supply the windshield. Most aftermarket manufacturers use a process called “reverse engineering” where they take an OEM windshield, create a mold and produce a replica. Because the quality can be compromised due to the utilization of a mold, results and fit may vary depending on manufacturer. (ie Safelite Auto Glass produces SGC brand). Safelite Auto Glass’ SGC brand is considered an aftermarket brand because they do not supply windshields at the OEM level for any manufacturer.
Last edited by The G Man; Jul 27, 2016 at 10:55 AM.
Member
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 206
Likes: 38
From: Southern
2014 E-350
They don't care...never had one questioned. However, I just recently had an aftermarket replacement put in mine and the installer was able to salvage my MB logo and place it perfectly...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
Likes: 800
2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
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.
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,283
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From: Central Coast, CA
2020 X7 xDrive40i, 2016 X3 sDrive28i
It greatly depends on the dealer you are returning the car to. Some will check every little detail including the brand of the glass, others just do a quick walk around and look for major damage/wear.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Chicagoland
2014 E350 4matic Sport
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.
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.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 865
Likes: 61
From: Bay Area
14 550 sedan
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.
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.
