Windsheild: OEM vs AM?

[Bird-Dog]

Anyone had occasion to look into windshield replacements?

I'm specifically interested in cost:value equation of OEM vs Aftermarket.

I've got a stone chip in mine, though manageable in size at the moment, and that's what will prompt me to pull the trigger on a replacement.

But, I've also got a good bit of speckling or pitting, so I would have eventually replaced it anyway. In direct sunlight you can see dozens, if not hundreds, of tiny flaws in the glass, I suspect it's the result of years of grit and small road debris kicked up on the highway. In addition to just being an annoyance, it makes nighttime glare worse. Anyone else notice this on theirs?

Funny thing about that stone chip, too. I was out on the Interstate in the middle of nowhere without another car in sight and no underpass nearby. A loud BAP came out of nowhere - never saw anything coming at me. It's as though it dropped straight out of the sky... and it hit really HARD and LOUD! I have a sneaking suspicion some fool playing with a .22 shot straight up in the air and it came down on me!

[johnrando]

There are a few threads on here about this. I think BMW glass is made by Pilkington (sp?). I think non-OEM is OK, but you need to make sure it has the right features for the rear view mirror, etc. I have heard that on verts, it makes a difference wrt structural integrity. That being said, I know quite a few people say go OEM but there is a big price difference, unless you can find a deal. Long run, I don't know that it's a huge difference.

[slater]

i'm just about the have mine replaced. i'm cool with aftermarket as long as it's good quality. a friend of mine who does body/paintwork is going to do it for me when i have some paintwork done, i trust he will use something decent. i'll report back on pricing.

peter

[NorCalZman]

Just from what I have heard from my buddies that work at BMW, I will only have my windshield replaced at BMW with BMW glass. It's a one time expense (probably), so why skimp/take a chance on quality?

[az3579]

ALWAYS OEM glass, IMO.
The aftermarket ones pit prematurely and are of generally worse quality. There's a reason they're cheaper.

I got aftermarket glass on my E30 and regretted it. It was almost as pitted within 6 months as my OEM glass was after 250k miles.

[slater]

mine has 110K miles and it is horrendous - almost unsafe at night. anything would be an improvement.

i have had decent experience with aftermarket glass in the past. of course, i rare keep a car for over a year, so... i guess that says a lot.

perhaps i may go OEM on this one.

peter

[KevinC]

OEM BMW glass is a bargain - our windshields are something like $400 at FULL retail. You can do better than that even. Aftermarket glass is often crapola.

This is a no-brainer on BMW's - stick with OEM.

[az3579]

OEM BMW glass is a bargain - our windshields are something like $400 at FULL retail. You can do better than that even. Aftermarket glass is often crapola.

This is a no-brainer on BMW's - stick with OEM.

I thought the rain sensor windshield is around $700's?

[slater]

where the heck is the windshield in realoem.com? can't find it anywhere!

[stephenkirsh]

I've gone after market on my Volvo, 325, 330. No regrets. Most I driven was 10-12,000 miles a year. Never had issues with non-OEM glass.