Windshield Cracked? Here is what you need to know

[aboulfad]

Do you notice by any chance that your HUD display isn't straight anymore? After mine was replaced I had to adjust the setting so it's straight, I guess when done by hand it can be perfect?

[///M///]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

Do you notice by any chance that your HUD display isn't straight anymore? After mine was replaced I had to adjust the setting so it's straight, I guess when done by hand it can be perfect?

I'll check tonight. Didn't really pay attention when I left as it was raining pretty heavily.

[04cobra]

All I know is I had one rock hit my OEM glass and it splintered immediately. Had my glass guy replace it with what he considered the best glass on the market. Have had multiple rock pings on my new glass and don't even have a chip mark.

Long story short, I think the OEM BMW glass is garbage (same issue on my 335 and z4), and if you get a chip you should try hard to replace it with something other than OEM glass, because it is just going to chip and splinter again. I could take a sledge hammer to my mustangs glass from 2004 and it wouldn't even make a mark.

Multiple multiple multiple people on this forum has reported chips and cracks on OEM glass. I have never had a car chip and crack like I have had with every BMW I have ever owned.

Just my 2 cents.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by 04cobra

All I know is I had one rock hit my OEM glass and it splintered immediately. Had my glass guy replace it with what he considered the best glass on the market. Have had multiple rock pings on my new glass and don't even have a chip mark.

Long story short, I think the OEM BMW glass is garbage (same issue on my 335 and z4), and if you get a chip you should try hard to replace it with something other than OEM glass, because it is just going to chip and splinter again. I could take a sledge hammer to my mustangs glass from 2004 and it wouldn't even make a mark.

Multiple multiple multiple people on this forum has reported chips and cracks on OEM glass. I have never had a car chip and crack like I have had with every BMW I have ever owned.

Just my 2 cents.

Can you please share the name/Brand? It should have a stamp on the bottom corner (driver's side). Any issues with the HUD? Per what I found out they don't yet make an aftermarket one for the HUD Windshield.

[bd307]

Thanks for the useful thread. You are also saving people money which I guess to those folks in EU who can afford an M do not need to do so and would go to their "best and most reputable shop".

I love saving some hard earned $$

[Acree]

Thank you so much for this post and sharing the information with the community.

[sandjam]

Originally Posted by Bluex

Actually, i'm kind of glad to see this update.

I live in the area, and now I know a good reputable glass shop to get the replacement done if and when I need to.

There's value to this.

Me too and when I went to their website my BMW dealer was listed as one that uses them. Great to know.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by aboulfad

Do you notice by any chance that your HUD display isn't straight anymore? After mine was replaced I had to adjust the setting so it's straight, I guess when done by hand it can be perfect?

Just checked and it is straight. The settings are all in the center as well just as before.

[aboulfad]

Originally Posted by dsm918

...Just checked and it is straight. The settings are all in the center as well just as before.

Cool! I guess your installer was perfect! Mine wasn't so I had to adjust it.

[MaX PL]

Originally Posted by 04cobra

All I know is I had one rock hit my OEM glass and it splintered immediately. Had my glass guy replace it with what he considered the best glass on the market. Have had multiple rock pings on my new glass and don't even have a chip mark.

Long story short, I think the OEM BMW glass is garbage (same issue on my 335 and z4), and if you get a chip you should try hard to replace it with something other than OEM glass, because it is just going to chip and splinter again. I could take a sledge hammer to my mustangs glass from 2004 and it wouldn't even make a mark.

Multiple multiple multiple people on this forum has reported chips and cracks on OEM glass. I have never had a car chip and crack like I have had with every BMW I have ever owned.

Just my 2 cents.

yeh my windshield has dozens of chips after one year whilst older cars i drive have zero.

the OEM glass is pathetic.

[igagjan]

Highly recommending Joe. I've used his service twice. Mobile windshield fixing. You would be surprised what can he do. And to come to your place is free!!!

Here is the link to Yelp.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/joes-windshi..._source=ishare

Tip: location Los Angeles, CA
Call him for more info. Great guy!

[///M-Furby]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Okay all done and to say that I was satisfied with the quality of work would be a huge understatement. These guys blew me away with their professionalism and customer service. Key reason as to why I chose them in the first place over Safelite and the dealer was just how open and transparent the owner was about how he would be doing the work. He totally put my mind at ease and I was completely satisfied with the answers to my numerous OCD questions. Here are some highlights of their amazing customer service and quality of work:

1) He ordered all the required OEM parts from BMW and went by the book as far as replacing parts was concerned (see picture below in next post).

2) He had me come over and inspect the new windshield side by side with the broken one so I was able to do a comparison and quality check for what was going on my car. All numbers/brand/tinted portion, etc. matched the OEM glass 100% and there was absolutely no doubt in my mind this was the OEM glass.

3) He even provided me a copy of the invoice for parts he had ordered from BMW. <<<< Complete Transparency

4) He informed me that per BMW it was recommended to change the rain sensor so he included that as well as the side trim pieces even though mine were in good shape. This is where I could have saved money had I been paying out of pocket but since I was using my insurance he advised I might as well go with a new rain/light sensor.

5) He returned my trim pieces that came of the car and the rain sensor as well because it was still function and not damaged.

6) When performing the work he used blue tape to cover all body parts that meet the windshield (hood, A pillar, CF Roof)

7) When I dropped the car off I had casually mentioned to him that it sux that I will lose my vignettes that were my prized souvenirs from my amazing euro delivery last year. To my surprise he carefully transferred over the vignettes and the Munich emissions sticker to the new windshield. Who does that?

If any of you are anywhere near Philly, I would highly recommend this Glass shop. Absolutely amazing work

https://anthonyvolkglass.com/

If I had done this out of pocket, the total cost would have been around $975 and that is mainly due to the cost of the parts which is $800. The dealer quoted me $1785. Their cost on the parts would have been cheaper so they were charging well over 1k for labor I went through insurance as my deductible is $500 and this doesn't affect my premium so overall this came out pretty good.

For those who want to following parts were changed:

51-31-7-258-066 Windshield
51-31-7-258-053 Windshield Cover
51-31-7-258-187 Left Drip Molding
51-31-7-258-188 Right Drip Molding
61-35-9-387-621 Rain/Light Sensor

He mentioned to me that in newer BMW's the biggest challenge is cutting through the adhesive. It is called a high modulus non conductive adhesive and is apparently very firm and not easy to cut through so the installer has to be very patient when using the wire to cut it.

Here are some pictures of the old windshield. You can see it states HUD on it. You can also see that the brand (Pilkington) and numbering matches 100%.

while reading this i was hoping for two things. 1) this never happen to me, and 2) your guy is in philly.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by ///M-Furby

while reading this i was hoping for two things. 1) this never happen to me, and 2) your guy is in philly.

He is in west Chester which is close enough. But he can come to your house as well.

[///M-Furby]

Originally Posted by dsm918

He is in west Chester which is close enough. But he can come to your house as well.

i live downtown, and graduated from wcu. i already book marked his site, just in case

[wakdady]

as a person with proper automotive technician training, i'd trust autolite or safelite to replace the windshield in my Jetta. My M4? i'll have a real technician do the work.

[JTO24]

Originally Posted by ///M-Furby

while reading this i was hoping for two things. 1) this never happen to me, and 2) your guy is in philly.

Agreed! Thanks for the info, OP! Here's hoping I never have to use it

[G30 B58]

Good to know someone like this is close by in PHL. Thanks OP.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

You're exactly right. Comprehensive claims are different than collision claims, and insurance is there for a reason (...my comp deductible is $100!!!!). I've never had a comp claim affect my rates, and I've filed them with Allstate and State Farm.

Big thanks to you I changed my comprehensive deductible to $100 and it changed my 6 month premium by only $18 which is $36 per year. That is peanuts. We learn something new everyday. I had assumed it would be a huge bump but this is nothing. Can't thank you enough

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by dsm918

Big thanks to you I changed my comprehensive deductible to $100 and it changed my 6 month premium by only $18 which is $36 per year. That is peanuts. We learn something new everyday. I had assumed it would be a huge bump but this is nothing. Can't thank you enough

Glad that I could help.

[hecho.in.626]

I have a question for you guys. Something hit my windshield this morning. It left a circular crack. It's about 3 inches in diameter. I don't know what the object was. I spoke to safe lite and they said they cannot repair that and it needs to be replaced. They also said this type of damage doesn't usually spread or spider web.

If I get an aftermarket windshield, would my HUD, rain sensors and sensor near the rear view mirror all work the same?

Sorry if this has been covered already

[shivaswrath]

If you have HUD, you'll need an OEM glass.

[bdkinnh]

Yep - OEM glass only with a HUD. I had the windshield in my E60 replaced at the dealer for around $1,300.