Original or aftermarket windshield?
If your vehicle is leased, check you lease agreement carefully as most require OEM windshield replacement. Failure to do so can result in an unexpected financial loss at turn-in. If this is your case, let your insurer know that they will need to reimburse you for the loss of value due to aftermarket glass replacement.
OEM glass is cheaper because it is not as good in several ways. The internet is rife with complaints of poor fit, noise (acoustic glass), glass that is wavy or not flat, failure of things like auto wipers, radar cruise control, heads-up displays, and often the aftermarket glass is more brittle and prone to chips and cracks. If you decide to hold your insurer's feet to the fire over OEM glass, do it in writing and express concerns of safety and potential legal action should the use of aftermarket glasst leads to possible injury of occupants down the road. Do this in writing so that there is a documented record of your concerns. Remember that the windshield provides a major portion of your vehicles structural integrity during a rollover and that the glass acts as the backing plate for the passenger airbag deployment. Glass is a significant safety element of your vehicle.
Some insurance companies now offer an OEM parts rider for their policies.
Why is OEM glass so much more costly than aftermarket glass? Several reasons. One is because it is slow annealed. This is a time consuming process that leads to strong glass that is virtually stress free and more chip and crack resistant. It also is made to OEM specs while aftermarket glass is made to measurements made from an existing OEM windshield. Most aftermarket glass does not fit as perfectly as OEM glass. Even though it is often made by the same glass manufacturer, it is made in a different plant.
For my money, I'd pay the extra $500 to provide the added safety to my family and passengers in my vehicle. I would discuss these concerns in writing with my insurer.
Ask yourself and your insurer this question. If aftermarket glass was just as good as OEM, why do automakers not use it in their new vehicles. If they could save around $500 a windshield, this would add up to tens of millions of dollars in higher profit. The answer is clear, aftermarket glass is simply not as good or as safe.
OEM glass is cheaper because it is not as good in several ways. The internet is rife with complaints of poor fit, noise (acoustic glass), glass that is wavy or not flat, failure of things like auto wipers, radar cruise control, heads-up displays, and often the aftermarket glass is more brittle and prone to chips and cracks. If you decide to hold your insurer's feet to the fire over OEM glass, do it in writing and express concerns of safety and potential legal action should the use of aftermarket glasst leads to possible injury of occupants down the road. Do this in writing so that there is a documented record of your concerns. Remember that the windshield provides a major portion of your vehicles structural integrity during a rollover and that the glass acts as the backing plate for the passenger airbag deployment. Glass is a significant safety element of your vehicle.
Some insurance companies now offer an OEM parts rider for their policies.
Why is OEM glass so much more costly than aftermarket glass? Several reasons. One is because it is slow annealed. This is a time consuming process that leads to strong glass that is virtually stress free and more chip and crack resistant. It also is made to OEM specs while aftermarket glass is made to measurements made from an existing OEM windshield. Most aftermarket glass does not fit as perfectly as OEM glass. Even though it is often made by the same glass manufacturer, it is made in a different plant.
For my money, I'd pay the extra $500 to provide the added safety to my family and passengers in my vehicle. I would discuss these concerns in writing with my insurer.
Ask yourself and your insurer this question. If aftermarket glass was just as good as OEM, why do automakers not use it in their new vehicles. If they could save around $500 a windshield, this would add up to tens of millions of dollars in higher profit. The answer is clear, aftermarket glass is simply not as good or as safe.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 3,283
Likes: 63
From: FL
Just a brief search picks up these informative links: Believe what you chose.
http://www.carwindshields.info/winds...something-else
http://news.carjunky.com/repair-tips...s-aag101.shtml
https://glassdoctor.com/jacksonville...big-difference
https://info.glass.com/oem-vs-aftermarket-glass/
https://www.agrrmag.com/digital/2010/NovDec2010.pdf
http://autoglasssecrets.com/auto-gla...rmarket-glass/
https://www.glass.net/auto-glass-inf...oee-auto-glass
https://info.glass.com/oem-aftermarket-windshield-adas-calibration/
https://www.agrrmag.com/digital/2010/NovDec2010.pdf
http://www.carwindshields.info/winds...something-else
http://news.carjunky.com/repair-tips...s-aag101.shtml
https://glassdoctor.com/jacksonville...big-difference
https://info.glass.com/oem-vs-aftermarket-glass/
https://www.agrrmag.com/digital/2010/NovDec2010.pdf
http://autoglasssecrets.com/auto-gla...rmarket-glass/
https://www.glass.net/auto-glass-inf...oee-auto-glass
https://info.glass.com/oem-aftermarket-windshield-adas-calibration/
https://www.agrrmag.com/digital/2010/NovDec2010.pdf
Last edited by jfelbab; Aug 22, 2018 at 05:57 PM.
Just a brief search picks up these informative links: Believe what you chose.
http://www.carwindshields.info/winds...something-else
http://news.carjunky.com/repair-tips...s-aag101.shtml
https://glassdoctor.com/jacksonville...big-difference
https://info.glass.com/oem-vs-aftermarket-glass/
https://www.agrrmag.com/digital/2010/NovDec2010.pdf
http://autoglasssecrets.com/auto-gla...rmarket-glass/
https://www.glass.net/auto-glass-inf...oee-auto-glass
https://info.glass.com/oem-aftermarket-windshield-adas-calibration/
https://www.agrrmag.com/digital/2010/NovDec2010.pdf
http://www.carwindshields.info/winds...something-else
http://news.carjunky.com/repair-tips...s-aag101.shtml
https://glassdoctor.com/jacksonville...big-difference
https://info.glass.com/oem-vs-aftermarket-glass/
https://www.agrrmag.com/digital/2010/NovDec2010.pdf
http://autoglasssecrets.com/auto-gla...rmarket-glass/
https://www.glass.net/auto-glass-inf...oee-auto-glass
https://info.glass.com/oem-aftermarket-windshield-adas-calibration/
https://www.agrrmag.com/digital/2010/NovDec2010.pdf
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,634
Likes: 254
From: CA
Absolutely not true. I have an 06 SC430 that had the windshield replaced about 2 years ago. Other than the Logo there is absolutely no difference at all with the replacement. I mean none. PGW is what was put in and is the same manufacturer that makes the glass for the NA made RXs. So, how is that better? Other than it makes you feel better to see the Lexus logo.
Driver
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: MINNESOTA
Got the windshield replaced today with pilkington aftermarket. Have not driven it yet. Some observation I had.
1. Glass may be a bit thinner but not much. Color is same.
2. 6 inch shade on top is lighter than what was in my original windshield.
3. Side rubber on all sides is different than what was on original windshield. Original windshield had better tight fitted rubber with no gap whatsoever. It also curved upwards. But aftermarket pilkington rubber is not that tight fit (it does fit well but not same as original one) or curve upwards. I hope this does not cause noise issues.
Other than above, I do not see anything different. I will update my observation after driving for next couple of days. if I see distortion or waviness, I will get it replaced with OE dealer glass.
Marking suggest it is DOT 177. So it could be from US or Mexico.
1. Glass may be a bit thinner but not much. Color is same.
2. 6 inch shade on top is lighter than what was in my original windshield.
3. Side rubber on all sides is different than what was on original windshield. Original windshield had better tight fitted rubber with no gap whatsoever. It also curved upwards. But aftermarket pilkington rubber is not that tight fit (it does fit well but not same as original one) or curve upwards. I hope this does not cause noise issues.
Other than above, I do not see anything different. I will update my observation after driving for next couple of days. if I see distortion or waviness, I will get it replaced with OE dealer glass.
Marking suggest it is DOT 177. So it could be from US or Mexico.
Last edited by allendsup2; Aug 23, 2018 at 10:17 AM.
Got the windshield replaced today with pilkington aftermarket. Have not driven it yet. Some observation I had.
1. Glass may be a bit thinner but not much. Color is same.
2. 6 inch shade on top is lighter than what was in my original windshield.
3. Side rubber on all sides is different than what was on original windshield. Original windshield had better tight fitted rubber with no gap whatsoever. It also curved upwards. But aftermarket pilkington rubber is not that tight fit (it does fit well but not same as original one) or curve upwards. I hope this does not cause noise issues.
Other than above, I do not see anything different. I will update my observation after driving for next couple of days. if I see distortion or waviness, I will get it replaced with OE dealer glass.
Marking suggest it is DOT 177. So it could be from US or Mexico.
1. Glass may be a bit thinner but not much. Color is same.
2. 6 inch shade on top is lighter than what was in my original windshield.
3. Side rubber on all sides is different than what was on original windshield. Original windshield had better tight fitted rubber with no gap whatsoever. It also curved upwards. But aftermarket pilkington rubber is not that tight fit (it does fit well but not same as original one) or curve upwards. I hope this does not cause noise issues.
Other than above, I do not see anything different. I will update my observation after driving for next couple of days. if I see distortion or waviness, I will get it replaced with OE dealer glass.
Marking suggest it is DOT 177. So it could be from US or Mexico.
Driver
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: MINNESOTA
The rubber is part of the installers choice and not the glass manufacturer. They try to match the configuration as best they can. If there are gaps it is most likely the rubber trim sealer not the glass itself. It may have been different even if you had gotten an OEM windshield. I watched SafeLite install one years ago and they have many different rolls of gasket in the van with them.
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That rubber was attached to the glass itself and I think it was from Pilkington. May be RX 350 glasses are like that and come with pre-attached rubber siding. I checked another Lexus RX 350 in parking lot and that had Lexus Pilkington glass (OEM as Lexus was also etched). That has rubber similar to mine but fit was better. In my case passenger and top portion are fine (almost same as that OE). Driver side I can see very little gap between rubber and car frame. Though i think that will not cause any issue if glass has glued properly to the body.
Driver
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: MINNESOTA
Interesting! I have seen a number of windshields installed and none of them had any rubber attached when the installer took it out of the van. Must be something new. The latest one I have seen is the 06 SC430 I had done a couple years back. It had nothing on it when it came out of the protection packaging.
Not sure if installer put the rubber in his shop and then brought it to me. He was supposed to pick the glass from pilkington warehouse and then come to me directly. So I thought glass came with pre-fitted molding.
Driver
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: MINNESOTA
Got the windshield replaced today with pilkington aftermarket. Have not driven it yet. Some observation I had.
1. Glass may be a bit thinner but not much. Color is same.
2. 6 inch shade on top is lighter than what was in my original windshield.
3. Side rubber on all sides is different than what was on original windshield. Original windshield had better tight fitted rubber with no gap whatsoever. It also curved upwards. But aftermarket pilkington rubber is not that tight fit (it does fit well but not same as original one) or curve upwards. I hope this does not cause noise issues.
Other than above, I do not see anything different. I will update my observation after driving for next couple of days. if I see distortion or waviness, I will get it replaced with OE dealer glass.
Marking suggest it is DOT 177. So it could be from US or Mexico.
1. Glass may be a bit thinner but not much. Color is same.
2. 6 inch shade on top is lighter than what was in my original windshield.
3. Side rubber on all sides is different than what was on original windshield. Original windshield had better tight fitted rubber with no gap whatsoever. It also curved upwards. But aftermarket pilkington rubber is not that tight fit (it does fit well but not same as original one) or curve upwards. I hope this does not cause noise issues.
Other than above, I do not see anything different. I will update my observation after driving for next couple of days. if I see distortion or waviness, I will get it replaced with OE dealer glass.
Marking suggest it is DOT 177. So it could be from US or Mexico.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 938
Likes: 71
From: California
We need somebody in the glass/windshield business to chime in on this topic. I'd like to know more about this huge difference in cost and what that represents? Glass itself, seals, different manufacturer, etc....
Driver
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
From: MINNESOTA
After market windshield is reverse engineered so it is close to factory glass but not same. They are cheap so I think it may have lesser quality control and sometimes bad ones also make it to market like the one I got. It does not mean that all aftermarket glass would be bad.
Dealer glass has lesser chances of distortion because of Quality control and exact factory specifications. But this also does not mean all dealer glass would be perfect.
Dealer glass would be better or equal to aftermarket so in the end, it is individual's call whether they want to spend extra money or not. Dealer glass is costlier because everyone wants to make profit. Dealership makes money out of it too.
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,634
Likes: 254
From: CA
One thing to keep in mind is if you have Lexus EXTENDED WARRANTY, you might want to replace with OEM glass.
Our 2013 LX570 had some issues with the auto rain sensor for the windshield wipers. The auto rain sensor just stopped working. But if I click the lever down another notch will activate the wippers. So it's not life and death situation. But still it's a feature nice to have working. Since we have a ZERO DEDUCTIBLE Lexus EXTENDED WARRANTY (the OEM WARRANTY is over), we brought it to the original Lexus dealership where we bought it from to fix it. The service advisor asked me THREE THREE separate times if my windshield is ORIGINAL!!! (first time in person, second time on the phone the next day, then again on the third day). I finally HAD to just TELL him to go to my LX570 and READ TO ME ON THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CORNER "WHAT DOES IT SAY?". He "shippishly said it says LEXUS". DUH!!! I also asked him to get his BEST LEXUS MASTER TECH to examine if that OEM windshield is indeed the ORIGINAL FACTORY WINDSHIELD!! BC WE HAD NOT CHANGED THE WINDSHIELD!!!
SO on the fourth day it all got fixed.
I guess if I had some AFTERMARKET windshield, then they might blame on the AFTERMARKET winfshwind and will not Honor the repair of the auto rain sensor!!!???
Our 2013 LX570 had some issues with the auto rain sensor for the windshield wipers. The auto rain sensor just stopped working. But if I click the lever down another notch will activate the wippers. So it's not life and death situation. But still it's a feature nice to have working. Since we have a ZERO DEDUCTIBLE Lexus EXTENDED WARRANTY (the OEM WARRANTY is over), we brought it to the original Lexus dealership where we bought it from to fix it. The service advisor asked me THREE THREE separate times if my windshield is ORIGINAL!!! (first time in person, second time on the phone the next day, then again on the third day). I finally HAD to just TELL him to go to my LX570 and READ TO ME ON THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CORNER "WHAT DOES IT SAY?". He "shippishly said it says LEXUS". DUH!!! I also asked him to get his BEST LEXUS MASTER TECH to examine if that OEM windshield is indeed the ORIGINAL FACTORY WINDSHIELD!! BC WE HAD NOT CHANGED THE WINDSHIELD!!!
SO on the fourth day it all got fixed.
I guess if I had some AFTERMARKET windshield, then they might blame on the AFTERMARKET winfshwind and will not Honor the repair of the auto rain sensor!!!???
In my case, aftermarket was from Pilkington and Dealer glass is also from Pilkington. Dealer glass had Lexus etched on it where after market did not. Same company but built in different factories as per DOT code. I think difference is quality control and specifications.
After market windshield is reverse engineered so it is close to factory glass but not same. They are cheap so I think it may have lesser quality control and sometimes bad ones also make it to market like the one I got. It does not mean that all aftermarket glass would be bad.
Dealer glass has lesser chances of distortion because of Quality control and exact factory specifications. But this also does not mean all dealer glass would be perfect.
Dealer glass would be better or equal to aftermarket so in the end, it is individual's call whether they want to spend extra money or not. Dealer glass is costlier because everyone wants to make profit. Dealership makes money out of it too.
After market windshield is reverse engineered so it is close to factory glass but not same. They are cheap so I think it may have lesser quality control and sometimes bad ones also make it to market like the one I got. It does not mean that all aftermarket glass would be bad.
Dealer glass has lesser chances of distortion because of Quality control and exact factory specifications. But this also does not mean all dealer glass would be perfect.
Dealer glass would be better or equal to aftermarket so in the end, it is individual's call whether they want to spend extra money or not. Dealer glass is costlier because everyone wants to make profit. Dealership makes money out of it too.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
From: CA
I can add my experience. Last year (Feb 2018), I had a chip in the windshield that soon became a crack and I had to replace the windshield. I replaced it with Lexus branded glass at the dealership. It was made by Pilkington and I had to pay the difference between the cost of branded glass and cost of generic glass that insurance covers. This year, almost exactly an year later, another incident caused the new windshield to crack. This time, I decided not to pay $650 from my pocket just to get a branded windshield. I cannot keep spending this kind of money every year. So I asked the insurance company to replace with non-branded glass. To my surprise, this time also, the replacement was Pilkington glass. There was no Lexus logo. Other than that, I could make out no difference. No extra road noise. If branded glass only lasts one year, I see no reason to pay $650 more every year just for the logo.
