My GS has a pitted windshield and I would like to replace it.

BUT talking to the guy who did my fender last year (I replaced it because of poor bodywork before I got the car), and he showed me the one piece plastic piece that goes from the base of the windshield/hood to the trunk lid. He said they rarely get them off without breakage.

What is your experience? Do they break them and glue them back down without you knowing about it? Do they do a good job and don't break them?

They are $450 each on Sewell when they were open online. What should I look at doing?

 

Are you talking about the roof runners? The actual runner doesnt break, but if you carelessly pull them off its the clips that snap in that break, but with a little common sense, they come of rather easy. If I remember correctly, they're made of a somewhat thin metal with a heat shrunk plastic wrap, so theres more of a chance that they're gonna bend before breaking. Just need to not just pull straight up and pull, but pull up section at a time and pull from the part where it needs to separate, not from the end like if you're trying to take a slice of pizza and you keep pulling till the cheese stops stretching and snaps. You pull from where the cheese is sticking to to stop it from stretching. Make sense?

 

Oh and they're only $260

 

I guess my concern if I have a glass shop do it, they will send a fresh out monkey to do it and they will carelessly break them somehow. And of course, glue the snot out of it to cover up their mistake.

I have some rust at the corner of the window I need to work on too. So I am looking for an excuse to get them out of there to fix it too.

Sorta hard to follow. So you start pulling up vertical, but carefully along the length of the rail? Working it up as you go along right?

 

Exactly, use 2 hands, or rather your fingers. I believe its easier to start from the rear if I remember correctly, you dont have to deal with the hood in the way at the bottom.. Once you feel the first snap (feel it not hear it) you'll see how simple it is. Use your knuckles as leverage like how you peel an orange and you wont have to use scary force. Leverage is better cause if you just pull, you can lose control and then thats when you can damage something.

 

Just go to a local SafeLite Auto Glass.They really stand behind their work. They replaced my windshield five years ago and I have had zero problems since.

 

I pay $150 to have my windshield replaced. Had it done about 3 times in the past 12 years, just not worth the hassle to do you it yourself. Those are NYC prices, you just have to know where to look in your area.