Went with Pilkington glass
#1
Went with Pilkington glass
When I purchased my 430 I noticed the chips and pitting and was able to get some additional money off the price. Called around and spoke to various auto glass shops, spoke with my insurance company, and decided to just pay for it myself after finding a 5 start rated company via Yelp.com
Anyway, $190.00 out the door.
Glass looked identical to OEM and included the rain sensor gel insert or whatever it was. Another big thing is it has less wind noise now I believe because of the weather stripping that now covers the top edge. I did not take a before pic but I am sure you can look at your own and see the difference. Could not be happier. Glass is clear as day. The tech said Pilkington is better then PPG or now PGW.
The glass from Lexus was about $1400 for parts alone. If you need your glass fixed I highly recommend Pilkington glass. Just goes to show how much of a ripoff it is to buy oem when it comes to windshields. My insurance company was trying to set me up with Safelite but I hear bad things about their glass. Even with my USAA discount it was $360. I watched the whole thing. They did a great job. Took about an hour.
Anyway, $190.00 out the door.
Glass looked identical to OEM and included the rain sensor gel insert or whatever it was. Another big thing is it has less wind noise now I believe because of the weather stripping that now covers the top edge. I did not take a before pic but I am sure you can look at your own and see the difference. Could not be happier. Glass is clear as day. The tech said Pilkington is better then PPG or now PGW.
The glass from Lexus was about $1400 for parts alone. If you need your glass fixed I highly recommend Pilkington glass. Just goes to show how much of a ripoff it is to buy oem when it comes to windshields. My insurance company was trying to set me up with Safelite but I hear bad things about their glass. Even with my USAA discount it was $360. I watched the whole thing. They did a great job. Took about an hour.
Last edited by Lavrishevo; 08-03-13 at 11:19 AM.
#2
Pole Position
iTrader: (1)
Clarification
Pilkington is a British Co.that bought out LOF(Libby Owens Ford) several years ago.PGW(Pittsburgh Glass Works) is an American Co.formerly known as PPG(Pittsburgh Plate Glass).Both Cos. are highly regarded in the car glass industry.I went with the PGW because it was highly reccommended by a well respected,professional collision specialist in my city.Also wanted to support American Jobs when possible.
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#8
I agree that the $1,400 or so for OEM is unreasonable. I know it's great glass, but even the best glass is going to need to be replaced eventually. You could replace nearly 8 windshields for the cost of a single OEM windshield.
Good to know your experience with Pilington, and idea where it's made? I'm definitely weary of any Chinese made glass.
My OEM windshield is badly pitted, I may go with Pilkington. My understanding is they're Toyota OEM for many applications.
Good to know your experience with Pilington, and idea where it's made? I'm definitely weary of any Chinese made glass.
My OEM windshield is badly pitted, I may go with Pilkington. My understanding is they're Toyota OEM for many applications.
Last edited by BradTank; 08-03-13 at 01:09 PM.
#9
Pilkington Group Limited is a multinational glass manufacturing company headquartered in St Helens, United Kingdom and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japan-based NSG Group. Prior to its acquisition by NSG in 2006 it was an independent company listed on the London Stock Exchange and for a time was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
I believe they supply glass for Mercedes.
I believe they supply glass for Mercedes.
#10
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
Pilkington Group Limited is a multinational glass manufacturing company headquartered in St Helens, United Kingdom and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Japan-based NSG Group. Prior to its acquisition by NSG in 2006 it was an independent company listed on the London Stock Exchange and for a time was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.
I believe they supply glass for Mercedes.
I believe they supply glass for Mercedes.
Yes,Safelite is crap.
Also what's with the blue tape?I've never seen that on an install before.
Last edited by Joeb427; 08-03-13 at 01:30 PM.
#11
Lexus Champion
When I purchased my 430 I noticed the chips and pitting and was able to get some additional money off the price. Called around and spoke to various auto glass shops, spoke with my insurance company, and decided to just pay for it myself after finding a 5 start rated company via Yelp.com
Anyway, $190.00 out the door.
Glass looked identical to OEM and included the rain sensor gel insert or whatever it was. Another big thing is it has less wind noise now I believe because of the weather stripping that now covers the top edge. I did not take a before pic but I am sure you can look at your own and see the difference. Could not be happier. Glass is clear as day. The tech said Pilkington is better then PPG or now PGW.
The glass from Lexus was about $1400 for parts alone. If you need your glass fixed I highly recommend Pilkington glass. Just goes to show how much of a ripoff it is to buy oem when it comes to windshields. My insurance company was trying to set me up with Safelite but I hear bad things about their glass. Even with my USAA discount it was $360. I watched the whole thing. They did a great job. Took about an hour.
Anyway, $190.00 out the door.
Glass looked identical to OEM and included the rain sensor gel insert or whatever it was. Another big thing is it has less wind noise now I believe because of the weather stripping that now covers the top edge. I did not take a before pic but I am sure you can look at your own and see the difference. Could not be happier. Glass is clear as day. The tech said Pilkington is better then PPG or now PGW.
The glass from Lexus was about $1400 for parts alone. If you need your glass fixed I highly recommend Pilkington glass. Just goes to show how much of a ripoff it is to buy oem when it comes to windshields. My insurance company was trying to set me up with Safelite but I hear bad things about their glass. Even with my USAA discount it was $360. I watched the whole thing. They did a great job. Took about an hour.
#12
Our prices our much better here in the South in general. Honestly, I bet wholesale on these windows are like $100.00 Pilkington is not made in China. It is made in Great Britain. Look them up. Blue tape is left on for 24 hours to help the windshield from moving. Just to be safe as it seals itself.
Last edited by Lavrishevo; 08-03-13 at 01:40 PM.
#13
The weather stripping on top is not oem you are correct. But it seals the window much better. I no longer have wind noise in that area while driving at higher speeds. That is the only weather stripping. There is no other stripping on the oem window just glue. The side pieces are not really weather stripping more like covers. I'll take the silence over a little fancy poorly designed strip.
#14
Lexus Champion
What gives with the ugly wide black band across the top of the car above the windshield in the 2nd photo? That is certainly not OEM. Also the small band across the top of the windshield is chrome in OEM. You may have gotten a decent windshield in a non OEM, but your installer used less than acceptable moulding in my opinion.
Last edited by jayclapp; 08-03-13 at 01:41 PM.
#15
I just took another look at my 04 UL with OEM glass and it doesn't look like your installation at all. It appears that your windshield is too tall and runs into the roof area and is consequently covered up by the addition wide black band at the top of the windshield. My chrome strip (the small one) lines up with the top of the vertical black strip on the side of the A pillar. The bottom of the chrome strip lines up with the top of the back plastic side strip.
As far as the window size goes, they were exactly the same. From the rain sensor section to the black dots on the windshield I could not tell a bit of difference.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...-10-cents.html
Last edited by Lavrishevo; 08-03-13 at 02:32 PM.