My windscreen has a decent crack through it which will no doubt mean replacement. I called up a known windscreens group and also called up Lexus to get a price to replace the windscreen. Insurance will cover it, however I know insurance always goes the cheaper option rather than the dealers ridiculous prices. I will submit both quotes to them tomorrow and see which one they want me to go.

The windscreens group that I got a quote from and advised it would be $800 supplied and fitted. This is taking into account, my car being a sports luxury (nav and all options here in Australia) so rain sensors etc. etc. Lexus on the other hand would slug the insurance company for $2160. That's almost a 3 times mark up on the windscreens group.

Most likely the insurance company will push me through the windscreens group, but are there any things I need to be wary off with replacing it with essentially a non-OEM window, but a window built with the specification provided by the manufacturer (i.e. Lexus)?

 

The windshield replacement is aftermarket. There are no original Lexus windshield replacements as far as I know.

Go find the most reliable glass company and you should be fine. Make sure they install the rain sensor correctly.

Good luck.

 

I got a Toyota OE windshield with rain sensing when I replaced my windshield last summer

 

got quoted 450 installed in canada

you do need to make sure before they touch the car that the price includes the rain sensor and the heater strip along the bottom to be fully functional after the replacement, get it in writing to protect yourself.

 

450 is cheap, OE Lexus windshield made by Toyota cost US$1600+ and tax. I was lucky I had auto glass insurance on my policy that a $100 deductible was all they ask for.

 

I'm just glad that I have unlimited glass breakage on my car. Means no excess (deductible). However the insurance company will always go with the cheaper of the 2 options. It gets replaced tomorrow morning. Every day the crack is growing longer and longer. It's currently on a horizontal direction towards the passenger side (in the above picture going to the right).