The glass company did not recommend a repair because repairs are always visible contrary to the hype. My insurance agent at State Farm said they wouldn't cover a repair and recommended a full replacement. It had something to do with Florida statute that covers replacement, not repair.

 

Reading through this thread is reinforcing an idea I had.

Install a protective film on the windshield when the car is new and replace it every few years.

Even though I have zero deductible for glass repair, it sounds like a hassle and you can get a film with UV protection to save your dash as well as minimize heat.

$500 every few years seems reasonable.

If you keep your cars until they are substantially depreciated, you can then drop comprehensive coverage which includes the glass repair allowing you to recover the funds you spent on the film.

You save the time and hassle.

 

Hope it goes smoothly for you. I dropped off my car at Safelite for replacement last weekend. After few hours they called me that they couldn't do it because the glass was cracked during shipping. They didn't bother checking it after receiving it! So few more weeks for me to wait.

 

There's 3M Crystalline totally transparent film (over 200 layers in the film) on every glass surface on my car, including the windshields, the panoramic roof etc. It cuts out 100% (99.99%) of UVA and UVB from entering the cabin, which protects the interior and also the occupants. It also cuts out 97% of the Infrared (the heat we feel), which increases the effectiveness of the A/C, thus helping improve mileage, as a side-effect.

 

Protective film doesn't protect from rocks and other weighty items. It is good for things such as blowing debris such as sand. All of the glass on my car has factory UV and IR protection as part of the Acoustic Comfort Package (PAF).

 

I have the Acoustic Comfort package, which covers the front windshield and I believe the front windows. To my knowledge, it does not cover the rear windows, the rear windhshield or the regular moonroof or Panoramic roof. Should be easy to check for the lamination.

AFAIK, the acoustic package does nothing for the UV, even in the limited glass surfaces that it actually covers.

 

Check the etching on your glass. All of my windows including those in the rear have the same markings and are laminated.

 

How about your front windshield ? The rear windshield ? The glass on the roof (the regular moonroof or the Panoramic moon-roof like mine) ?

A while back, someone with a UV detection device checked my car’s interior, and there was 0% UV entering the car. But of course in addition to the Acoustic package, I also have the 3M Crystalline film which is designed to cut ALL UV out, in addition to 97% of the Infra-red.

Not sure if you have a way to do a quick check with an UV detector, and validate.

 

All of the glass in my car reflects UV and IR radiation. It was checked/demonstrated at the dealership along with a long list of checks prior to my acceptance of the factory ordered car. That was 8 years ago. The replacement windshield was checked for UV and IR radiation a few minutes ago (3pm et) by the installers at my request.

 

So unfortunately I noticed a long scratch on my windshield today. It’s not too deep but I could definitely feel it. ChatGPT seems to suggest the only way to get rid of it is replacement but it won’t cause safety concerns. I could see it when I drive but it’s not too bad at the moment.

What do you guys think? Should I replace it?

 

Hell yeah I’d replace it. But only with premium quality or oem.


actually on second thought, repair may be a better pathway of choice.

 

Look into cerium oxide glass renew products that might remove or significantly reduce the scratch.

 

If it's repairable I'd just repair it. I learned what else could go wrong during replacement, and I'm surprised I didn't update in this thread, so here is the story.

The repair was done at a local Safelite shop. After several visits (they installed one with lots of wavelets, they ordered one but it didn't arrive on the day of the appointment, they ordered one then the manager canceled it), replacement was done. The problem was that they couldn't calibrate Drive Assist system. So I sent my car to the dealership, and was told the DA system couldn't be calibrated because the rain sensor was damaged during removal (from the original windshield, or from the first replacement) or installation (to the first replacement or the second replacement). I was told that the DA related sensors were very sensitive to installation and could get damaged easily, but Safelite refused to take the responsibility, claiming they did things nicely. I had no idea so asked the service manager to talk to the Safelite manager directly, and over the phone they got angry at each other for the counterpart blaming him for the fault/denying the mistake they'd made, and then the service manager complained to me how many MB customers went to them to fix problems caused by Safelite, and Safelite manager complained to me the service manager at the dealership was totally a xxxx. It became very disgusting and out of control.

I had the problem solved with the help from BBB, finally, but it it was 5 months later, which was far beyond my expectation. I used DA a lot but not during those 5 months. I know Safelite shops vary and people receive excellent service (I did at another shop), and there are other workshops do excellent job. But it seems kind of risky since the sensors on W214 are very sensitive to installation and can go wrong easily.

And just FYI, I was suggested not to attach my radar detector to the rear-view mirror to avoid interfering the sensors because of the extra weight to the housing.

 

You would think these shops would do better with replacing glass! I assume other hi end cars have sophisticated glass and systems This is the second or third report of problems at safelite with installing the correct glass and calibrating sensors in the past year. Pretty neat you were able to get relief through the BBB, and I hope you posted a poor Google review to warn others.

 

Two things
One: less than a year of E450 - and i had two cracks on windshield. Replaced by Safelite (although a pain...). 30 years prior to that - Nothing with ANY other car. Is this a Merc thing? or an new E thing?
Two: Safelite got the glass wrong twice and never picks up the phone at the actual location...

 

There is a notion that repairing a small crack or winshield ding will make the damage invisible. It doesn't necessarily do that. The damage may be sealed to prevent the ding/crack from sealing, but you may still see it. Any glass repair shop will give you that warning.

 

Shop around. Safelite might can get you a replacement windshield. It might be aftermarket, but will meet all the specs of OEM. If going with a Mercedes dealer, shop around! A few years ago I drove to a smaller city 300 mile away, in a much less expensive state, and saved $2000 on the new windshield. It was worth the drive.