obturator

So I got a rock chip in March and Safe-lite came out to fix it under the windshield protection plan. Today, I noticed the there is a slight run from the repaired area. I called Safe-lite and they said the whole windshield needs to be replaced. An OEM one will cost me $644 out of pocket and an aftermarket one will be $0. Which one would you guys choose? Is the OEM one $644 better than an aftermarket?

JEFFOS69

iTrader: (1)

Oem - just went through this with a rock chip that instantly spread beyond repair.

AL13NV8D3R

I just had my windshield replaced a week ago and the invoice without labor was $1,900 for OEM glass that had the Lexus logo on it. It was an acoustic laminate uv glass.
My insurance wanted to install aftermarket oem spec pilkington glass on my GS and that would have cost only $650. I forced my insurance company to give me the OEM one with Lexus logo and eventually they gave in and gave me the green light. I got to choose my own shop and they did a great job. I only payed $500 for it because I had a $500 deductible. Insurance company had to stomach there portion which was $1700 including labor.

Are you sure that $644 price they quote you is real OEM? Or oem equivalent?

yardie876

Oem is almost always better than aftermarket. Have you spoken to a rep from your insurance company? You can sometimes push for them to install oem at no cost. This is especially true if you have a special windshield like the required for the HUD.

JEFFOS69

iTrader: (1)

I got my lexus oem replacement for 775 + 25 for the molding (just parts) from my dealer in Canada.

obturator

Lexus windshield coverage only covers $1000. Since I don't have HUD or lane assist, the OEM windshield was $1644.84. I'm on the fence on whether I should just pay for the OEM one. I know it is better than aftermarket....but whether it is $644 better is the question? Anyone have problems with aftermarket windshield?

BTW, thanks everyone for their responses....

AL13NV8D3R

You should aways get an OEM one with the manufactuerers logo on it because of my previous experiance. At one time I owned an Mercedes S550 and had windshield replaced by a OEM equivalent aftermarket one. There was alot of distortion that made it miserable to see clearly out the windshield, distortion more noticable when it rained. Had it replaced with True OEM one and all was good again.

SW17LS

I would keep fighting them about an OEM replacement, especially since their repair has caused you to need a new windshield.

In the end though, I would pay the $644 to have a real OEM windshield.

wgu8213

Agreed. I'd keep pushing it. If your local office won't budge, move up to corporate, to BBB, to state-level consumer protection agencies, to federal-level consumer protection agencies. All you have to do is detail what happened with dates, times, and pictures. Typically e-mail is good enough to get some government agency to at least send a letter to the offending business. It really doesn't take that much time. You can also try to find executive e-mails pretty easily online.

obturator

Their repair work didn't cause the cracking; a rock did. They tried to repair it by drilling a small hole in the crack and filling it with resin. This did not work apparently. Safe-lite agreed to replace the windshield. It's just that I have to pay an additional $644 if I want OEM glass. The coverage I got with Lexus when I purchased the vehicle only covers up to $1000. Should have read the fine print. I thought it would cover replacements or repairs in full.

AL13NV8D3R

So typical of lexus to offer window insurance for only $1000 when they know full well that there windows cost $2000+. Might as well not offer it at all. They offered that insurance to me too for additional $250 but I said NO. They also offered GAP insurance which cost about $700 and I said NO to that too. I bought GAP insurance through my auto policy for only $45 for six month policy and window coverage through same policy for another $28. Thats about $14 dollars extra a month! The only insurance you should ever buy at the dealership during a car purchase is if you want the FACTORY extended powertrain warrenty. And even then you can always negociate a lower price.

SW17LS

What about your insurance coverage through your insurance company?

Dave Mac

I think the OEM simply means to OEM specs - like it fits in the openning. None of the non-lexus-logo OEM windshields I have seen are the same as the original glass - tint too light, noise level too high, rain sensing doesn't work as well etc. Keep trying to work something out but it is getting harder to do so.

Dave Mac

SW17LS

Yeah theres aftermarket, OEM manufacturer and OEM labeled. You want OEM labeled. Insurance companies have tried to pawn off this idea of "OEM manufacturer" meaning "Its from Pilkington and they make OEM glass, it just doesn't say Lexus"...that glass is not the same.

I've never not been successful getting my insurance company to use OEM labeled glass. Its been a fight, but I've always won.

Dave Mac

I failed to win last time and got Pilkinton glass which I thought was the worst I ever had. I may have caved in a little early because I was about to enter the final year of my lease - your attitude about such things is different with a lease. But as I said, I noticed the difference right away and it was substantial.

Dave Mac