Which one is better? Is there a difference?

I thought I had seen a thread here about certain non-oem windshield not fitting right and what not, but I can't find it.

Safelight wants $246 for afteramarket, the oem I was quoted $849 and my insurance will buy Oem for $250.

I will pry go with the oem because its the same price unless there is some huge advantage to sticking with non-oem.

Thanks for the info.

-Ryan

 

Bump

 

Got quoted 185 +tax from safelite auto glass and that's if i drove to them. Hit up the PicknNPull places that sells windshields. A friend of mine got his redone for 125.

Another friend got quoted 189 including tax at safelite so ymmv.

Brand wise - I don't have personal experience with subarus.

Safelite has a lifetime warranty on material and workman's ship. meaning if the glass doesn't look alright then they will do it again.

Not trying to advertise for them so check out yelp.com for local places around you.

A few questions to ask
What product do you use?
Do you replace the molding around the windshield and is that included in the price?
do you have a lifetime warranty?
Cost of me coming to you versus you coming to my house?

Really, if you can wait, wait till it stops raining so the adhesive can dry appropriately.

 

Thanks for the advice

Bump

 

My original OEM windshield lasted almost four years, finally gave up the ghost with a big rock hit right in the center. Ever since then, ANY replacement windshield has lasted only 12-16 months, and they have been BADLY pitted, etched and cracked by the time I replaced them. I've gone with three different brands (I can't even find a brand logo on my current one) because my insurance just sends someone to the house at no cost to me (not even deductible), but I have yet to see any aftermarket windshield handle damage better than my Subaru OEM one did. No idea what the magic is there, but for some reason the factory one was the real deal, and these replacements have been low-quality garbage. My current one is only 10 months old and is so sandblasted (I do live in AZ) that it looks dirty even when perfectly clean; sand and dust have left tiny pits all over the surface, like a miniature moonscape - that NEVER happened with the OEM.

 

That is pretty much the constant story I have heard... I think imma just go oem so I don't have to deal with it

 

It's probably too late as you may have a new W/S now, but I discovered a
great brand. It wasn't on my Subie but on my Jeep Wrangler (like a vertical W/S)
and I live in the desert so lotsa sand and rocks.

The company's called Pilkington (AND this name HAS to be on the glass) they also
make some cheaper stuff but without their name on it.

It has been unbelievably resistant to small chips and has taken some really big hits.
My Jeep will be 10 yrs old this month and it had 1 OEM (2yrs) and 2 Pilkingtons
the current one still in great shape.

 

I will look into I have been procrastinating

 

You know what is odd, that IS the brand of my current windshield, the one that is totally sandblasted, pitted and looks dirty when it is clean, and failed to come with the tint stripe across the top... I must have gotten one made on Friday at 5:30, or I'm just pickier than you are...

 

what brand glass did you end up going with?

Just found a pretty huge crack in my windshield (never saw it .. right behind my rear view mirror and along my visor tint) and am leaning towards going to safelite. The only negative reviews I've found for their glass are at least a year or so old so not sure if they have gotten better.

 

My car had a Pilkington windshield when i got it. I dont know how long it had been on but I had it for 10k and it still looked good until it got hit by a piece of metal on the freeway. Now I have a PGW and there are alot of small chips already. Look into the pilkington

 

I'm telling you, like I said below, my Pilkington windshield looks a decade old after 14 months, sandblasted to hell and easily damaged by small rocks. I have three big chips, a star and countless small pits. With noon light on the windshield it looks totally dirty even after a thorough cleaning. Never again, for me. Safelite or OEM.

 

I have an aftermarket windshield, and I have no problems with it. No cracks. It's been like 2-3 years now. I think it's PPG glass but I'm not sure.

 

I have an aftermarket windwhield with about 6 years of use on it. It's super pock marked and has a terrible glitter effect when driving toward the sun.

If you go through your insurance company, make sure they can't jack your rates.

 

If insurance is paying, get OEM when possible.

I have an 06WRX (wagon) which some ******* decided to do a smash n grab on. The glass repair shop tried to put an after market front passenger window on and it didn't have good fit. Massive wind noise everywhere. They tried readjusting 3 times and finally (reluctantly) ordered the OEM glass which fit perfectly the try and have not had probs since.

Supposedly the 06 changed a little over the 02-05.

Get OEM, the right part number.