Auto glass....talk to me (e36)

[slammin.e28]

So, the snow was kind enough to break the windshield on my M3. YAY.

Not really. While I was out Roving, being master of the frozen white stuff, it was getting me back by putting a 1' long crack across my windscreen.

So, one to quotes to put in the glass.

Place that does them for where I work wants like $250.

Safelight wants like $279.

Dealer, for just the glass, is $300.

Now, to my question, I already know the place we get glass from at work doesn't use OE glass. Safelight states on their site OEM, or OEE glass. I asked them what brand glass (Saint Gobain is OEM) but they continued to tell me about their training and use of OEE glass and their lifetime warranty, etc, etc.

From searching, I don't want Pilkington (sp?) glass. I've read that aftermarket glass is thinner, won't seal right, etc. I know they have a lifetime warranty, but leaks aren't just affecting the glass, it's about water getting into places and rust, electrics, etc.

Pretty sure insurance won't cover it, I've got comp with $500 deduct thru State Farm. They told me to price shit out and call them, and even suggested OEM glass for such a "high end car".

Anyone know what brand Safelight uses?
Am I over thinking this?
Am I correct in wanting the little roundel in the bottom, left of my windscreen?

[brianao34]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271918

You might have seen this, just found it.

If only more cars had windshields like the e30...literally a 15min job as you probably know.

[chadthestampede]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=271918

You might have seen this, just found it.

If only more cars had windshields like the e30...literally a 15min job as you probably know.

Not if the PO window welds it in. Pain in my ass.

[slammin.e28]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=271918

You might have seen this, just found it.

If only more cars had windshields like the e30...literally a 15min job as you probably know.

Nope, hadn't seen that thread. Mainly just ones complaining about Pilkington, lol.

Mine is Saint Gobain but it's original and pitted to hell. Throws light everywhere at night. Pretty terrible.

[dannyyisntt]

Use plexi or Saran wrap

[slammin.e28]

Could just get some of these and take the glass out altogether.




Waht, shit, back OT pls.

[chadthestampede]

For what it's worth, I was very happy with the Safelight glass on my old prizm. Never had an issue with it.

[blunttech]

Im on my 3rd windshield in my 02 All OE BMW and all shit. Little tiny pebbles chip it. I have 44k on this thing ...mostly all highway going to shows. Get whatever glass you want and dont worry about it
My point is OE glass isnt any better. Its terribly soft or easy to chip in my opinion

[agent]

Whatever you end up doing just be sure it isn't Chinese glass. Inferior quality and fitment issues can make you wish you'd dropped the extra coin.

[Lodsin]

On my old car it took a whopper sized rock on the highway to chip my original glass, I was ecstatic due to the pitting on it. Safelite glass lasted about a year before a rock the size of a housefly chipped it. After you get it replaced see about getting glass coverage.

[slammin.e28]

Whatever you end up doing just be sure it isn't Chinese glass. Inferior quality and fitment issues can make you wish you'd dropped the extra coin.

That's what I'm afraid of. I'm gonna maybe go to the Safelight place next time I'm in Cville and ask some questions.

I had them do a windshield in my e46 years ago (I broke the original one doing something stupid) and the Safelight glass got cracked at the shop when the tech laid the scan tool in the bottom left corner. Spider webbed all the way across. The glass they put in it has no name on it, but that happened when I was naive.

[Herr Faust Schinken]

That's what I'm afraid of. I'm gonna maybe go to the Safelight place next time I'm in Cville and ask some questions.

I had them do a windshield in my e46 years ago (I broke the original one doing something stupid) and the Safelight glass got cracked at the shop when the tech laid the scan tool in the bottom left corner. Spider webbed all the way across. The glass they put in it has no name on it, but that happened when I was naive.

Report back with Info I need to replace my windshield I'm considering having safelight do it but I'm worried about the quality of glass they use

[CarsSuck]

Im on my 3rd windshield in my 02 All OE BMW and all shit. Little tiny pebbles chip it. I have 44k on this thing ...mostly all highway going to shows. Get whatever glass you want and dont worry about it
My point is OE glass isnt any better. Its terribly soft or easy to chip in my opinion

I have had a similar experience with PPG glass. I can't speak much about its hardness, but its wavy as shit. Not the quality I was expecting. Insurance paid for the whole thing, so not much use in whining about a free windshield.

[E30_Pare]

Me & my pops are auto glass installers. Aftermarket vs oem for generic foreign/domestic windshields/cars doesn't really matter they generally all fit the same. I don't really see a difference between the two besides price & name. Even "premium" glass now a days is made in the same places as the aftermarket stuff.

Only time you have to worry about after market glass is with side windows. This is where fitment can some times be a real issue. Chinese brands like XYG tend to fit like garbage & may cause problems when rolling up or window seals. When that's the case usually the whole batch would fit like garbage.

So really if I were you I'd save a couple bucks & get an aftermarket glass. I wouldn't worry about the glass as much as the installer. This is where you'll have the most problems. Especially if the installer is lazy or inexperienced. You wouldn't want one of these guys to work on your e36. I can't tell you how many times we've had to fix hack jobs & leaks. A windshield leak on an e36 could cause some electrical issues. Ask me how I know

If you want to see the physical difference of windshields get out of your car look through the driver/pass window at the windshield. At an angle you'll see waves. Typically true oem quality glass will have less waves as its slightly more refined in the making process. Aftermarket glass will always be very wavy

[matthugie]

I went through 3 windshields in my e36. First was OEM that I managed to break myself being a dumbass (tilted the hood up a bit too far during removal, pinched the bottom corners). Replaced by Safelite, within two weeks took a good sized rock near a corner. It took a couple weeks to go from chip to crack, but given the size of the rock and location I don't think any windshield would have survived long-term. Third was also Safelite, but a few weeks after that one went in car was hit on the driver's side at ~50, right at front edge of the door. Glass was still intact after that.

Cliffs: I had no quality control issues with Safelite glass on my e36.