[nukezero]

I've had the car for over 8 months now and I've got to say, BMW has awesome paint (withstands against rock chips in the bumper) but the shittiest glass ever.

The windshield has nicks and picks from hwy speed driving. In fact, my 2005 Acura TSX with PPG honda windshield fared much better.

Why does BMW use shitty glass. The glass that is on there is Saint Gobain Sekurit and people say its the best of them all, but it's too soft still! It will get a nick that is not big enough to spider, but enough to annoy.

What are you guys using (aftermarket wise) and how has it held up against OEM?



This is a quote I just received from a local shop and this is what they are charging for replacement:

PGW brand with an original moulding it will be $475.00 plus tax (supposedly this is PPG, Japanese car companies use this as a supplier)
Pilkington brand with an original moulding it will be $495.00 plus tax (probably just as shitty?)
Original BMW glass with original moulding will be $695.00 plus tax (Shitty Sekurit brand)

Safelite (extremely popular) wants $298.99 + tax + molding for their "Safelite" brand (made-in-usa claim) and lifetime warranty... they said that is of identical quality


If the glass all sucks, then I rather buy Chinese windshields (FYG).... for $120 a pop or something... and just replace them every year... this is terrible.

[doggiedog]

I agree. I got a huge scratch from some brown rock that dropped off a trunk in front of me. Unfortunately, it is exactly right in my line of sight, eye high so I see it every time I drive.

[bsamoul]

It is pretty soft

[E90 87ss]

My glass sucks too, little chips everywhere, when the sun hits it just right you can see all of them. my 22 year old car with original glass doesn't have this problem... But then again new glass is probably safer...

[VTECaddict]

Mines has Pilkington glass and the windshield is pitted to hell.

[Alchem]

I agree my car has 2 nicks from rocks on the highway. The glass is way too soft. Luckily its on the passenger side so I didn't replace windshield yet. Every time a rock hits the windshield I get nervous about a nick.

And replacing the windshield is going to cost over $1000 because of the rain sensor.

[chromisdesigns]

Don't any of you who are complaining about rock chips and cracks carry comprehensive insurance? That's what it's for, among other things. When we got a crack in our old windshield, the agent didn't even have us take it in to look, they just said "take it wherever you want, have them call us, we'll pay the bill." Zero deductible, too. So we had our regular BMW shop do it with all OEM parts, insurance paid, done deal.

Yes, the glass is soft, and it will accumulate sand pits, etc. But sooner or later, you'll get a chip or crack, then get it replaced. Simple as that.

[undecided]

It's not all BMW glass, just the 3 series. The M5 I just got has no scratches like my 335 did.

[myfirstm]

paint is terrible...paint blemishes from anything from bird droppings to water spots...my 10yr old honda accord's paint holds up better than this paint.

[itsjappo]

after having my car for about a month and half, i find that the paint is not that great. mini rock chips easily takes it off. the glass sucks. i noticed it after 2 weeks of ownership. I was wondering what those blemishes on my windshield were and after washing the car, i found out it was rash from daily driving. i wonder if warranty will replace it. heh.

[John 070]

I agree, I had one repair done since it was on the pass side, but it's like a white pimple--definitely noticeable and not what you want in the driver's view.

I was thinking what's the use of replacing it if not cracked? It's only going to get the nicks again anyway.

And with the Chinese glass ($210 installed at my office), my Nissan got that about a year ago. It is exactly like OEM, and TO DATE, IT HAS NOT A SINGLE SCRATCH NOR CHIP.

What I don't understand is the rain sensor--does that get replaced, or does the tech have to reuse the old one? How is he going to line it up perfectly, as the rearview mirror depends upon that, and what if it starts acting up?

[John 070]

Originally Posted by chromisdesigns

Don't any of you who are complaining about rock chips and cracks carry comprehensive insurance? That's what it's for, among other things. When we got a crack in our old windshield, the agent didn't even have us take it in to look, they just said "take it wherever you want, have them call us, we'll pay the bill." Zero deductible, too. So we had our regular BMW shop do it with all OEM parts, insurance paid, done deal.

Yes, the glass is soft, and it will accumulate sand pits, etc. But sooner or later, you'll get a chip or crack, then get it replaced. Simple as that.

I think it depends on the state--I have a $200 deductible. I was considering dropping my comp/collision as I've never had a claim in my driving career--that's tons of money down the drain as I've had a car since age 19. My parents had never had comp/collision as they've never borrowed for a car. But for some reason, my mom put insurance on her 2005 Honda. She did get the glass replaced for free as the glass coverage was a $0 deductible.

My point is I believe that glass coverage is not available in all states, in which case it's under the comp and follows the comp deductible.

[Spydeputy]

glass in not the greatest, but there paint is almost always orange peel.

[Moko]

agree, my windshield got ding when I was cruising on the highway.
They should improve it for the F30 3-Series.

[BMWs4ever]

I think all glass that is being made today sucks. The glass is thinner then it was say 10 years ago so it's more prone to cracks when a stone hits it. This is being done in the name of making things lighter and cheaper so that you get better gas mileage and the glass company makes higher profits from using less glass.

[fdriller9]

Yupp. My family has had to replace every windshield in every BMW we've owned except my 330. My car has little specs all over but my dad has a few chips in his 745 and is getting it replaced as soon as it gets worse.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by BMWs4ever

I think all glass that is being made today sucks. The glass is thinner then it was say 10 years ago so it's more prone to cracks when a stone hits it. This is being done in the name of making things lighter and cheaper so that you get better gas mileage and the glass company makes higher profits from using less glass.

I doubt that it's because glass is thinner. There are alot more vehicles on the road today than there were 10 years ago. Meaning there is more use of the roadways which leads to more wear. This wear breaks up into small rocks which are thrown up on the windshield by rocks getting stuck in tires. Why would glass be that much thinner? Do you think the auto industry wants shattering glass to be a common accident? I can agree that some manufacturer's want to save weight but there are other places to look than weakening the glass by making it thinner...a component of the car that is in front of basically every vital organ of a passenger.

[JL330i_UT]

Originally Posted by nukezero

BMW has awesome paint (withstands against rock chips in the bumper) but the shittiest glass ever.

Im surprised you say the paint is awesome. In my experience its espically soft and prone to pitting and rock chips. Then again your car is 1 year old, mine is 11. It might be good now, but IMO in the long run its not so durable.

[wizardsway]

I have alot of chips also but since i live in Florida windshields are replaced and covered thru Insurance 100% and i plan on getting a original BMW windshield. mine is still under warranty.

[Alexander]

Originally Posted by doggiedog

I agree. I got a huge scratch from some brown rock that dropped off a trunk in front of me. Unfortunately, it is exactly right in my line of sight, eye high so I see it every time I drive.

Lol I have the same thing...

[Tuce]

Originally Posted by e92montego

paint is terrible...paint blemishes from anything from bird droppings to water spots...my 10yr old honda accord's paint holds up better than this paint.

+1

[ChaneRZ]

i got a chip on my passenger's side too.