korchen

I apologize if this is a noob question...We need to replace our windshield due to a large crack and based on previous threads, I requested OEM (thinking it is dealer glass) to try and avoid issues. Our insurance company then told me that dealer glass and OEM glass are different...the price and Lexus logo. They authorized OEM over aftermarket, but not dealer glass. Confusing.

So is the OEM glass made by the same manufacturer to factory specs without the logo? Or is OEM considered to be "dealer" sold glass?

Thanks!

The G Man

Dealer use glass with the Lexus logo on it, but its made by someone else. OEM means the glass is made by that contractor without the Lexus logo on it. Some insurance companies will try to confuse you by saying that any glass that is made to the Lexus specs is consider oem glass. Insurance companies dont want to pay double the price for a windshield with a Lexus logo on it.
With that said, glass companies such as PPG or Pikington are the couple of the best aftermarket glass companies around, some may argue that they are actually better than some factory glass. They make factory glass for a lot of new car and they also make aftermarket glass for almost every car there is. Your best bet is to see if you can convience your insurance company to pay for a new windshield from the dealer, if you cannot, then ask your dealer where they sub out their glass work and go thru them directly, or find a good glass place that deals with PPG or Pikington windshields.

Orzel

iTrader: (1)

Having suffered through 3 windshields in our RX, the OEM type works just fine. If you have the auto wiper feature, make sure that the installer knows that they have to get a "kit" from Lexus to do a proper install around the wiper sensor. As I recall, the kit provides a couple of parts and a gel like fulid that is needed for the change.

There are a few threads about this already and just as a suggestion, you might want to try the search function for a lot more info about windshield replacements.

JS5Owner

I too had to replace the windshield on my 05 RX. I was able to have a PPG windshield installed for $185 - including the rain sensor. US Bank, who held my lease wanted to charge me over $2k! The aftermarket windshield looked JUST like the one with the LEXUS stamp.

pctsc430

JS5Owner: "including the rain sensor"...do you know if the installer had to get a kit from lexus, or that the 'rain sensor' part or whatever came with the PPG glass?
anything you can tell me about rain-sensor is much appreciated!

JS5Owner

The rain sensor aspect of the glass is the little black dots that are on the glass up by the rear view mirror. There is also a little bracket attatched to that area. The installer unclipped my mirror from the old glass. The brians of the sensor are in the base of the mirror. He installed the new glass with the bracket. Snapped on the old mirror and bingo!

So to answer your question. The glass came with all that he needed to put my rain sensing rear view mirror back in place.