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I posted this on my IG page, so this will be a double post (exposure) for some.
I had my windshield replaced this week, but we need to talk about the auto insurance companies.
My car is only 2 years old and Lexus / Toyota’s guidelines state OEM replacements only, but my insurance company strongly favored a OEE (Original Equipment Equivalent) windshield. If you were not aware, OEE windshields (by law) are not allowed to be of the same quality. In some instances, the glass can be up to 60% THINNER than your original! 😳
If your car is relatively modern (has cameras, rain sensing wipers, etc), then please insist on OEM if the damage is not repairable. If your insurance company will only pay the cost of a OEE replacement, then you may have to pay the difference in addition to your deductible. Pay the money and make sure the windshield has the manufacturer’s stamp on the lower left side. Don’t let them bully you into subpar replacements just so they can save money.
When my windshield cracked I took it to a body shop that was a listed as an authorized repair center from my insurance (GEICO). The shops words, not mine, were "OEM only for the Lexus" (they were Russian). In my case, it was the body shop's discretion whether or not I got OEM vs OEE, not GEICO's. The insurance company doesn't know anything about the car, so if the body shop can convince them to cover for it (which they always will), then you let them deal with it. They actually contracted out the actual repair itself to a glass repair company. I don't know if it was Safelite or not. All I know is that it was OEM (check for the Lexus logo) and got calibrated and all I paid was my comprehensive deductible.
I think it worked this way because I went through a body shop (I also needed some light scratches buffed out of my paint). I imagine it's a little different if you go directly through Safelite. They might not advocate as hard for restoring your car to original condition.
What mfg is the glass labeled as? I am not sure who makes the Lexus glass for this MY 3IS platform.
My Volvo is on its 4th windshield in 12 years. All the replacements were Fuyao glass. On that car, the quality is OK but not very strong against small chips. If you read a bit about Fuyao you will see a lot of conflicting things "it's fine" or "it was absolute trash" but the truth is that they are the largest auto glass supplier in the world. They are the producer for many OEMs. Mercedes-Benz and BMW have used them, including Toyota, though it depends on the model and platform year.
The difference is that the OEMs can provide a more stringent spec to Fuyao for their own glass. Even if all the different rebranded glass comes off the same line with the same materials (which isn't likely) then it will only be inspected and checked against OEM standards when the manufacturer wants it. So it is possible to get "OEM glass" that is identical in design but produced differently.
The safelite guys also mentioned that true OEM glass has to be ordered in because they generally won't stock it. Who wants to pay $3k for a windshield when their insurance won't pay? But they said there are some differences in road noise on glass with acoustic dampening layers, differences in sun/UV blocking, and optical quality especially around the perimeter of the glass that always come into play. They recommended Pilkington if you have some phobia of Fuyao, but there's really no way to judge FY quality since it varies from car to car.
DLPTony thanks for the data point. Do you have any specific complaints with the glass? It could be just as good as the original glass, or it could be a lot worse in any number of ways.
DLPTony thanks for the data point. Do you have any specific complaints with the glass? It could be just as good as the original glass, or it could be a lot worse in any number of ways.
Wow! This was a lot of great information!
I’ll look closer at the stamp on the windshield to see if the manufacturer is listed. I looked long enough to see Lexus’ stamp. (The shop ordered it from my home dealership which is about a mile up from them.)
To be honest, I did not have a specific complaint/experience with a non-OEM windshield. My contention, this is a brand new car, so why on earth would I not have the OEM installed? I went down a rabbit hole researching the OEE windshields and was horrified.
I’m the typical Lexus owner where isolation from the outside is super important. Since I rarely listen to the ML (the V8 is the preferred soundtrack), wind noise from subpar glass or poorly installed seals would be extra prevalent. So OEM was the only option for me.
Agreed. An errant stone cracked my windshield while on the New Jersey Turnpike. I went directly to my Lexus dealership's service center for the replacement and insisted OEM parts be used. Thankfully, my insurance company did not seem to mind.
Safelite wanted to do my windshield when it cracked, told them i was going to my nearby Lexus dealer, scheduled appt. Gave me a rental for the day. It was an OEM windshield with Lexus stamp and sticker on top left stating made in japan. Cost a little more but had insurance pay after the deductible. All is well in SoCal.
Last edited by Vindahawk4; 05-23-24 at 10:54 AM.
Reason: add pic
That’s awesome!! My local dealership doesn’t install windshields, so they’ll order them, but will have an approved installer finish the job. The guy who took care of mine has been the ‘Lexus Guy’ for the past 14 years.
EDIT: It’s crazy how similar the cracks spread. I’ve seen roughly the same pattern from other folks.
05-22-24, 03:20 PM
Windshield Replacement - My Experience
