Something new I learned today...

[SHO U UP]

I was chatting with a windshield replacement guy today about replacing my wife's BMW X5 side window. He asked if it was tempered or laminate glass? **** if I knew. I had never heard the term "laminate" in regards to a window. He said Bimmers normally have it to compensate for the road noise, etc. Its a "sandwich" of glass with laminate I guess in the middle. We searched my parking lot today so he could show me what it would look like.

Nothing there fit the profile so he showed me his van's window and we agreed on what tempered was. If the Bimmer had that, it would be cheap; if it had laminate I'm out a big loot of change for a replacement from the dealer. Told him I'd look when I got home and call him tomorrow.

I drive nearly 30 mins to get home. I'm at a stop light in my new SHO and it's 95 degrees out. I think for second, WHAT DOES THE SHO HAVE?!?! Sure 'nuff, f'n laminate glass. I bust out laughing in traffic and thought, GREAT! Watch mine have it and hers not and hope to **** I never damage mine. I finally get home and check, hers is tempered glass so I'm good to go on her window. Oh, and the rear windows in the 2010 SHOs are tempered glass too. So, if for some reason you have to break into your car, don't break the front ones guys. :laugh_ti:

 

[frosho]

Pretty much all windshields nowadays are made of laminated glass for safety reasons. If tempered glass is compromised, it shatters to a million pieces. Laminated glass doesn't, because the middle layer acts like glue and holds the broken pieces together. That's why windshields can get chipped or cracked and still stay in one piece for the most part. Most side and rear windows are tempered, though.

I think the SHO probably uses laminate on the side windows for it's sound deadening properties. I believe the windshield is a special type of laminate glass with even better soundproofing.

 

[SHO U UP]

Pretty much all windshields nowadays are made of laminated glass for safety reasons. If tempered glass is compromised, it shatters to a million pieces. Laminated glass doesn't, because the middle layer acts like glue and holds the broken pieces together. That's why windshields can get chipped or cracked and still stay in one piece for the most part. Most side and rear windows are tempered, though.

I think the SHO probably uses laminate on the side windows for it's sound deadening properties. I believe the windshield is a special type of laminate glass with even better soundproofing.

I knew the front windshield had the laminate in it (just never knew it was actually called that until today ) And I had never heard of the same stuff being used on side windows either. So I really learned a couple things then today. :laugh_ti:

 

[93rev2sev]

Windshields have been laminate since forever. I didn't know they'd been using it for side windows. But...it makes sence...

More secure, too. That would be hard to break into the car if all the windows were like that.

 

[frosho]

I've never heard of it on side windows either. That explains some of the SHO's heft, though. They must have gone crazy with sound deadening material all over the car.

 

[HotRodKid]

windshields , for the most part, have been laminate since cars existed. In fact, side windows used to be laminated also.

Tucker's special windshield feature was that if you had to you could kick it out ... i think

 

[wuzzzer]

Doesn't insurance cover things like that?

 

[IM Buddy8]

If every window is laminate it would be a total ***** to break in.. Don't get me wrong even a tempered window takes a sharp hard point at a good speed with alot of weight behind it to pop a tempered window. But laminate.. Jeez they literally can make cars impossible to break into with a nice laminate glass on every window. I've had my share of fun breaking windows and tempered is sooo cool looking and fun to break laminate is like a warzone..

 

[DJSHO91]

You are seeing more manufacturers going to laminated glass, in all positions, to help reduce exterior noise. Ford is even using it in their new Fiesta and Focus models. Some supercar manufactures, such as Porsche and Ferrari, will go back to laminated glass on their "super-light" performance models as a way to reduce weight.

 

[wchain]

Yup our front doors are the fancy 2 piece glass.

My 740i Sport had the same double pane glass that started to have the glue failure towards the end of ownership, and the edges of the glass had this nasty look all around the edges. And you cant change to regular tempered glass without changing the regulators and motors etc.

 

[NP SHO]

If every window is laminate it would be a total ***** to break in..

...or out of. couldn't this be viewed as a safety risk in the case of an emergency, like car under water? I appreciate the deadened road noise, but in the case of an emergency, i want my ass out of the car asap without having to wait for it to fill up with water to equalize pressure. just my .02...

 

[wchain]

...or out of. couldn't this be viewed as a safety risk in the case of an emergency, like car under water? I appreciate the deadened road noise, but in the case of an emergency, i want my ass out of the car asap without having to wait for it to fill up with water to equalize pressure. just my .02...

Most rear windows in cars are designed to be able to be kicked out easily for this reason.

 

[NP SHO]

I know, I was just going on the "What if they were ALL laminate" comment. All windows would be a very bad idea from a safety standpoint.

 

[SHO4]

The new Sound Screen windshield has such thick layer of laminate it is the cause of the
"Mirage" I posted about months ago. Since then 3 out 4 people at my dealer
(and several passengers ) saw the waves I was referring to but I've only been to dealer once since Nov and in order to get replacement approved I will have to schedule an appointment with the factory rep. It bothers me enough I probably will but what a PITA

 

[IM Buddy8]

I know, I was just going on the "What if they were ALL laminate" comment. All windows would be a very bad idea from a safety standpoint.

If your in water and the pressure is equalized.. Unless your the hulk you still will not be able to kick it out. If you have a hammer and a center punch or those glove box tools they sell for that reason than sure.. But if your gonna wait for pressure to equalize.. Why not just open the door?

Basically have two options when you are in water either open the door up right away before it even starts to sink. (As soon as car makes contact with water after impact) Or calmly wait till the cabin is full and gently open the door and swim out.

 

[SHOrod]

...or out of. couldn't this be viewed as a safety risk in the case of an emergency, like car under water? I appreciate the deadened road noise, but in the case of an emergency, i want my ass out of the car asap without having to wait for it to fill up with water to equalize pressure. just my .02...

Just make sure as you are headed for the lake that you roll your windows down. Or build a circuit to activate the "auto" feature of the windows when triggered by the G-sensor.

-Rod

 

[frosho]

If your in water and the pressure is equalized.. Unless your the hulk you still will not be able to kick it out. If you have a hammer and a center punch or those glove box tools they sell for that reason than sure.. But if your gonna wait for pressure to equalize.. Why not just open the door?

Basically have two options when you are in water either open the door up right away before it even starts to sink. (As soon as car makes contact with water after impact) Or calmly wait till the cabin is full and gently open the door and swim out.

Comprehension fail. He said he'd rather be able to break the window immediately instead of waiting to open the door. He's not saying you have to wait for the pressures to equalize in order to break the glass.

 

[OldSalt]

The two glass laminates are thinner than conventional windshield laminates and the vinyl acoustic absorbing material in the middle is thicker and the windshield has an equivelant of an SPF-157 for UV protection, and is lighter than the older versions.

 

[HotRodKid]

and the windshield has an equivelant of an SPF-157 for UV protection, and is lighter than the older versions.

so it blocks like 3% more uvb then spf-30 sunscreen?

call me when its SPF-1,000,000 and you can still see through it

 

[SHOTT6]

Roll down the front and rear windows about a 1/3 of the way. Then tap on it with a key or coin and you can hear the difference between the two glass types.