Here's an update on my journey to fix the cracked windshield...

I called many dealerships. We are talking about at least $2000 labor and parts total. There's a quote from a dealership in LA that asks for $3000, which I think they are out of their mind. The windshield part alone shown above if you buy by yourself is ~$500. However, the dealership will charge $750 to $800 just for that part. I've got quotes where lots of accessory parts are needed, probably the seal etc. The camera calibration itself is ~$800 to $900, which is not cheap at all. With my car being 2.5 years old, paying $2000 for a full windshield replacement that if not done properly could result in water leak, I don't even know if I want to do the windshield replacement just for aesthetic purposes. We are not talking about $500 but $2000.

Anyhow, I've bought Rain X windshield repair kit, and for $12+ tax, it does wonder.

With the Rain X repair kit, the instruction contains two sets, one for bull eye and the other one for crack as a line. I've spent 2 hours in total apply the resin, cure, scrape off excess and touch up etc. I have to say the crack now looks more like a scratch. Very happy with this $12 fix. Project farm on YouTube did a video comparison that shows the resin is stronger than the glass. Based on his experiment, I really hope the structure integrity of the windshield is restored and the crack wouldn't extend anymore.

The crack did extend a bit every day just by sitting in the parking garage over night, so either way I need to use a windshield repair kit to stop the crack from extending. That also buys me time to contemplate if I should really replace the whole windshield.

Overall very happy with the how the windshield repair kit worked out. Excuse the dirty window as the photo was taken before I drove around to blow the scraped-off resin away.

By the way, for folks who said paying deductible only for a window replacement, which auto insurance do you use? Either my Geico insurance sucks, or your insurance is really good if they pay for everything for you to do a windshield replacement at the dealership for just a deductible.

I use Geico, in California, with $500 deductible comprehensive and the "adjuster" or customer service rep said Geico will pay only up to $1000 for reimbursement if I do the windshield replacement, such as at a Lexus dealership, anywhere aside from Safelite. With $1000 reimbursement, and after I pay the $500 deductible, I really only get $500 back from Geico. For $2000 replacement cost at a dealership, it means my out of pocket cost is $1500. If I use safelite, the cost would be very different. I pay ~$480 for the Lexus OEM window + $500 deductible, so a total of $1000 but it would be done by Safelite and most folks said stay away from them. Dealership is $500 more than Safelite. If I go the replacement, 100% doing at a dealership, but now I wonder do I have to replace the windshield?

The windwshield really only looks like a scratch now.

Let me know what you think.

 

Repair looks fine. Give it a couple weeks and if it still bothers you do the proper replacement.

I have GEICO too and also am in CA. I have glass coverage. When I went through this a couple months ago GEICO opened a glass claim, not a comprehensive claim. They recommended Safelite to me too, but by law we are allowed to go anywhere we want. I told them the shop I wanted to use. They generated a reference number and sent it to the shop. I go to the shop, do the repair, and pay them the $100 glass replacement deductible. That's how it worked.

The $1000 reimbursement if you go to the dealership sounds about right since insurers only cover up to the "reasonable" market rate. As a middle option, I would recommend that you look around for a reputable shop that will order you the OEM windshield and install it for the $100 deductible or whatever your replacement deductible is. They would insist with your insurance that OEM is absolutely necessary. It's hard to find a good shop like this but that would be the ideal scenario . As for calibration, you don't need to go to a Lexus dealership for that either. Any shop can do it.

 

iVtechV8 - Thanks for the update!! I can see why you wanted to try this as a first step rather than replace the windshield right away. While it is still visible, it is an improvement for sure and at least buys you a bit of time until you decide which way you want to proceed. I mean for 20$ and a bit of time, it makes sense. I am OCD and staring at a crack all day would annoy me (words I never imagined I would say (lol)) but at least it provides a bond and will hopefully prevent that crack from spreading (oups, I did it again). There is so much involved now when one has to replace a windshield, compared to the older days, and that is why I wish cars would become more analog and not have all these sensors and cameras built in everywhere! We wonder why Insurance cost has gotten so expensive.

Let us know how the repair holds over the next few weeks