PeterUbers

Hi

please see photos

i want to do this under insurance -- will satellite do a good job consider the cameras for distronic and lane keeping or should I push for dealership replacement

read a few horror stories of cameras and proximity technology not working after windshield replacement

threeMBs

Dealer only.

thenew3

Most dealers (at least around here) just contract those satellite places to come out to their lot to do the repair/replacement.

You shouldn't worry as long as they replace it with original parts. The MB original windshield comes with all the sensors pre-attached, so the installer just has to disconnect a cable on the old one and reconnect to the new one.

Had this done on previous vehicle without any issues. Key is to make sure you have OEM parts coverage on your insurance and that they order the correct MB part.

threeMBs

But if replacement is not performed by the (or at the) dealer, in case there are related issues later, MB may not cover them. Its not a "regular" windshield of years past.

thenew3

That's why you make sure the installer guarantees their work so if there are issues and for any reason MB doesn't cover something, you get the installer to fix it.

Just as an example, on a previous vehicle (non-MB), the dealer wanted to charge nearly $2k for a new windshield, a 3rd party would do the same with original parts for $1300. Insurance would only pay the $1300 for the 3rd party.

I ended up going with the 3rd party, they guarantee their work for life. Turns out, they are also the same folks that would do the replacement if I had brought it to the dealer because they are the ones the dealer contract with to do glass work.

So if I had gone to the dealer, I would've had to pay $700 more out of pocket. going with the 3rd party, I just paid my $25 insurance deductible. Same OEM glass, same installer, same warranty. the installer says if the dealer ever refuses warranty work, then the installer will fix whatever issue the dealer doesn't like until it's accepted for warranty work. Even the service advisor at the dealer told me to go 3rd party and gave me the name of the 3rd party they use.

PeterUbers

Thanks guys

so the liberty people will reimburse me for re calibration or issues related to satellite replacing the windshield and the Benz dealer states they use satellite as well and they ordered (safelite) and oem windshield for me already as apparently my insurance covers oem only windshields

will update you all, thanks for excellent info

homeofstone

I had Satellite replace the windshield on an 2007 e350 and was satisfied with the job. The car had the sport package with blue tint windows and I had to wait a couple of days for the blue windshield to be delivered. The tech that did the job was very familiar with Mercedes and was very careful.

thefisch

thenew3 is spot on with the advice.

OP, be sure to update us on the result.

Arrie

So you have Liberty too as the insurance...


About 16 months ago I got a rock on my windshield on the black bottom area right in the middle and the thing cracked. The crack started to grow to the left just like yours. I tried to stop it with repair kit but after fighting it for two months went to have it replaced.


Asked two MB dealers. Neither one does the job themselves. One sends the car out to a glass shop, the other has the glass guy come in to their MB dealer shop.


Liberty recommended SafeLite but also said I can have it done at the dealer too if I want to. They said they guarantee the work for life.


Knowing how big and how long SafeLite has been in business I chose to go with them. They ordered the Glass that had the MB logo on the bottom corner and installed. No issues at all.


I asked for a quote from both dealers and the glass would have actually been about $100 less, which was a big surprise.


What happened after the windshield replacement I got a rock on the new one just 2 months later. Almost exactly the same spot and the crack starting to grow to the left again. I got the repair kit again and used it and this time the crack stopped growing. It has been like that for about a year now.


I asked for a quote to replace it at a dealer and this time they upped the quote for $150 as they said the calibration is needed for the lane keep camera. Well, did not have any issues without calibration when SafeLite did it but I guess calibration could be needed...

PeterUbers

Good info. Thanks Arrie

PeterUbers

Is this a big problem on the car fax? I would think windshield replacement would be a relative non issue compared to actual body damage in terms of car fax

Phoeny

May I ask if the crack happened while you were changing/moving the whiper?
Cause it happened twice to me in that specific spot...damn low quality glass!

belarus27

windshield cracked because of your wipers?? no way...how?

Phoeny

The first time I was using the wipers while driving on the highway,a small stone hit the baseline of the glass and cracked it; the second time my dad was changing the right whiper,after he removed the rubber the "arm" skipped from his hands and hit that specific spot...the result you can see it at the beginning of the topic.
I have to say the w212 model has a specific issue related to thin glass or angle of the windshield...4 windshields in 3 years...never happened before.

PeterUbers

In fact it did ... was cleaning the car and as the wiper came down it spun and flew off the arm and the metal arm served as a little hammer and snapped onto the glass

terrible design!!

it was a freak occurrence ... it's too bad the plastic cowl doesn't come up further to protect the glass from this happening

Phoeny

LOL! While reading your post,I could hear the sound of the metal onto the glass...at first I thought "I'm the only one in the world having issues with this windshield" then I found out in this forum that is pretty common after all.

pamiboy

While you are at it Peter, you may want to call and involve MBUSA as well. Who knows, ...considering your history they may offer you an S class AMG as replacement....

PeterUbers

lol!! Still amazed I got a trade assist and then cash buyback with no loss to me... AND the first trade assist car had an accident on the carfax

...I'll ask for a maybach s600

SEC1939

In Germany you hear the same "safelite" tune you do here just in German. Big global company I think they are good. I always had to do battle with my insurance co to get OEM glass vs after market china made glass. For sure on the front you want OEM glass, better temper better optical quality. Of course this is the one that typically gets broken. My 05 CDI at 225k had 4-5 windows.

PeterUbers

Update:

Went to safelite today and of course they had the wrong windshield... the call center operator that scheduled my appt said there are fifteen different w212 windshields and I asked her why don't you just call Benz with my vin and ask which model exactly to save time and a wasted trip to safelite. She says that they will just check it on install day and order the right part of it's the wrong one. I even offered to call Benz myself but no, that would make too much sense. So of course I get there today and wrong part. NOW they will take my vin and order the right part direct from Benz LOL

also the Safelite guy said the windshield I needed is heated in an area by the wipers -- this is news to me, anyone able to factcheck?

#firstworldproblems

pamiboy

May be he was referring to the heated wiper fluids.

konigstiger

Heated washer system, heat exchanger is located @ reservoir.

KEY08

I thought there actually was a heated windshield option. Did you check your data card?

konigstiger

Correct, defrost heater available in addition to heated washer system, may have to check EPC to confirm.

PeterUbers

Interesting will do a vin check thanks