Windshield Replacement Advice?

[Greg9933]

Over the long and unusually brutal winter, my windshield took a beating. Not broken or cracked, but chipped beyond hope of help. Now that we are getting into sunny weather, it's like looking out through a hundred different prisms as all the chips distort the sunlight. The job cost is less than my deductible, so it's on me. The shop has confirmed the new glass has light sensor, rain sensor, and has the acoustic "soundscreen" layer, although it is not Ford glass. Shop has good reputation locally, any advice from anyone?

2015 PP, Platinum White

 

[krewat]

I've had a few windshields and door glass replacements over the past ten years done by Safelite. They are wavy, and it's obvious when you are standing off to the side looking at the reflection off the glass. My F250 windshield, it's obvious from inside the truck, looking through it, but only on the sides, not directly ahead.

Next time I get anything replaced, I'm going to fight for OEM glass as much as possible.

That's not to say the one you're going to get is bad in any way, just relaying my experiences with aftermarket replacements for Ford glass.

If I had to do it over again, especially the door glass, I'd go to a junkyard, find a good replacement, and do it myself.

I can't do windshields

 

[Lostneye]

For these cars I'd stick with the factory Soundscreen glass

 

[Majestic]

For these cars I'd stick with the factory Soundscreen glass

Yep. Ford charged me right under $500 to replace mine.

 

[Ahrmadillo]

i replaced mine not too long ago it cost $400 for the OEM replacement there is nothing wrong with aftermarket glass carlite did not invent acoustic glass so it really doesnt matter i went with OEM because its my car and i pay good money to have my car

 

[Greg9933]

Windshield install completed today. As near as I can tell........perfect!

 

[TXPony]

So what windshield did you end up going with? OEM or aftermarket?

 

[Greg9933]

Aftermarket, Cascade Auto Glass was the vendor. Could not have asked for a better job. Glass has none of the feared issues.

Greg9933

 

[TXPony]

Glad to hear that. Is that vendor a local auto glass installer in your area, or the name of the company you bought it from and installed on your own?

 

[reward44]

I had to have mine replaced recently due to a big rock impact. It was an insurance job so I asked the local glass repair that I wanted factory glass due to past issues with non factory ones I have had replaced in the past. When the tech showed up he had an aftermarket on from China. When I told him I had asked for a factory glass he said I don't blame you. He called the office and said he would be back the next day. I then asked him "off the record" is there a difference in the two and his only statement was ( I wouldn't put it in my car). So they came back the next day and installed the factory replacement screen.

The only issue I've had in the past was my wife's car had one replaced and it didn't take no time before I started seeing scratches from the wiper blades and it just didn't seem to hold up as well. Also it always seem to have some minor distortion in a couple of areas.

 

[TXPony]

Well okay then, it's settled. Only factory glass for me when the time comes, which is honestly not far off. Thanks for all the great input fellas!

 

[reward44]

Forgot to mention, when I asked the tech what was the main difference when he was there the first time, he opened the back of his van which had new and old windshields. He said tap on the China made one (with my fingernail) and then tap on an OE one that had been replaced. There was a very noticeable difference in sound. The two I tapped on was the China one he was going to install in my car and one that had been taken out of a f150. The OE glass just had a very deadening sound to it vs a normal glas tinging, hollow sound if that makes sense.

 

[Greg9933]

Reward44, what you are saying makes absolute sense and here is why. At some point in the model year progression, Ford began using "Soundscreen" glass in the windshield, and on some years (my 2015 for example) uses it in the front side windows. The "Soundscreen" designation means the glass has an acoustical layer sandwiched into the glass layers, thus the difference in sound. It is COMMON in the industry, especially on an insurance job, to simply spec standard glass and not the "Soundscreen" due to the cost savings.

In my particular case, where insurance was not a factor and I was paying it all on my own dime, I had to spec that the aftermarket glass had the acoustical layer. Since we are having this discussion, don't overlook the automatic high beam and windshield wiper sensors that have to be mounted behind the rear view mirror. A shop that is not aware of the high end features on the SHO may leave off the mounting provisions for those sensors if you don't mention it.

Greg9933