Afternoon all.

After 156,000+ , I finally took a hit on the windshield and it cracked in a big circle.




I have USAA, and they use safelite...

Couple of notes (for USA customers only)

1. You MUST ask for OEM replacement glass.
2. Most insurances need to approve OEM glass.

Final note: safelite does not have E63s as an option..they have the E43 as the only option. That pulls up the incorrect part number. The E63s only had one option for the windshield...it has the RF/IR shielding. The E43 does not.



The installed glass has Carl Benz paw print, mb logo and most importantly, the rf "openings" exactly like what was put on in Germany.

Time to replace, 1:45 including revalibration of cameras.

 

Good to know, thank you. Here in CO, you're lucky to go a full year without needing a replacement, so I'm sure my time will come soon. Would you mind sharing the part number for the correct glass, for future reference?

 

I have not had to replace on my 213 yet, but my understanding from previous experience with my 205 is there should be variants of the windshield for with and without HUD. I also thought maybe the RF/IR elements and "openings" might only be for cars with DC2 "acoustic comfort package" which includes 569 Infrared glass on the build sheet, but maybe this is not the case.

 

If you have distronic, they have to use OEM glass, there is no other replacement. My insurance did not have an issue with this but it did need to be approved.

 

I've been through four, first one due to a chip at the end of my European Delivery Tour on the last night driving the car back to Sindelfign. The second one was due to a large rock striking the passenger side of the windshield on my cross country drive following the car arriving back in the States (there's a thread with pics on here somewhere). Not great luck starting life with the car but thankfully nothing hit the body.

The first replacement was done by Mercedes at the VPC in Baltimore before the car was delivered to me in the states and the second one by Allstate at a dealership in Dallas. After I got whacked by the rock I called the mothership by pressing one of the two buttons on the ceiling. Mercedes checked dealer inventory to find someone with the right windshield for my car's options, Distronic, sound reduction, heat reduction, etc. I was driving through Arkansas at the time and next closest dealer with the right parts at the time was in Dallas, thankfully right on my way to San Diego. They did a great job replacing the windshield and cleaning up all the glass inside the passenger cabin. The service guy told me the trick is get the repair started and then call the insurance company. They they can't try to send you to Safelite or other aftermarket once that's started. That and as noted above as I learned later, the aftermarket shops don't carry the right glass and also can't do the Distronic calibration that's necessary after the windshield replacement.

Initially I had purchased the Windshield Replacement protection plan from Mercedes and they did take care of one of the windshields, but by the time the last one rolled around the plan had expired - they didn't tell me there was a time limit on the insurance - three years I think. I would never buy the Mercedes windshield insurance again as Allstate has never given me grief about coverage and using the factory glass and in fact told me the dealer would have to do the replacement due to the Distronic alignment.

 

Btw

For those that are curious

The 18 E63s windshield, retail price (here in MN) is $1,600. Insurance covered it....

 

Is that with HID, sound, thermal, and Distronic?

 

according to dealer.

There is only one glass for the Edition 1 (yes to all that you mentioned) Other E63s might vary.

 

I have distronic and ACP and Progressive would not cover an OEM replacement. As of now everything still works correctly but I did think the heads up looked a little fuzzy after it was replaced but I was recently in a new E class and it looked similar.

 

Damn that's a crazy low price!

When I had my windshield replaced in Germany it was right around $3000. Thankfully USAA paid for it (minus my deductible).

Mike