Windshield Replacement - Dealer or 3rd party?

[cbigger]

Guys,

My 2004 330Ci caught a rock and has a 9" crack in it now

It is, unfortunately, not able to be 'repaired' via the fill/seal method and must be replaced.

The dealer wants $1400+ to replace it.

Any of you had to replace an E46 windshield and have advice as to whether I should go to the dealer or just get it replaced through a 3rd party glass repair shop?

If I go 3rd party, does anyone have any specific shops local to the California Bay Area that they can recommend? And if you have had such work done, were you satisfied and was the price different significant or not.

My insurance has a $1000 deductible so if I can get it replaced (with appropriate quality of course) for less than that, then I can save myself a little dough.

Any thoughs or opinions or experience in this area would be appreciated!

Thanks guys!

 

[Big Daddy]

I would go 3rd party, they can still use BMW glass and the cost is loads less. I had one replaced on my roadster and it was under $600.00 using BMW glass.

 

[DrivingTopless]

My E46 convertible had its windshield replaced by Safelite (www.safelite.com) with BMW glass (had to make sure they special ordered it) and it was $825 incl tax. Safelite was recommended by both my insurance company and my BMW dealer and is a nationwide company.

Did you double check your insurance? A lot of times you get full glass coverage that requires no out of pocket expense regardless of deductible.

 

[deutsch100]

Without a doubt, use a 3rd party. A few years back, a rock hit the windshield on my E320 Benz, and having the glass replaced using a 3rd party was literally 1/2 the price of the dealership. They used the same glass too (Plinkington).

Good Luck!

 

[Maaz]

I have a 2003 325xi and got the glass replaced here in Pennsylvania for $211. It wasn't BMW glass, but the quality exceeded my expectations. I assume in your area, the cost would be higher than here. In any case, I wouldn't pay more than $600 or $700 for any windshield replacement.
Maaz

 

[Average Jae]

i had one last winter, and i took it to the dealer. it was more expensive, but my insurance co covered it. minus the $100 deduct.

my main concernt wasn't whether i got the bmw glass or not, it was how well they were gonna put it together. and i've been satisified with it, until i got a chip, which had to be filled.. ugh!

anyway the reason i went to the dealer was because they "cured" it over night, where as install from a back of a van windshield services just tape it on and ask you to take it off the day after. we did that with my parents' old lx470, and wind noise was horrible.

if there's a reputable shop in the area, i'd go to them. in my area, it happened to be the dealer, and it was $100 out of my pocket either way, i didn't care, as long as they covered it.

 

[330i and like it]

Replaced mine about a year ago for $270 in NC

 

[cbigger]

So after a delay of a few weeks, I ended up calling Safelite as DrivingTopless suggested (thanks!). As DT had already tipped me off, I asked them if I could get BMW glass. They said yes, but it would take a while longer. I ordered it. Two days later they called and said they had the glass and could install it any time. Wow, that wasn't much of a wait at all. I made an appointment to do it in their shop - they also offered mobile service but it seemed to me that maybe doing it in an indoor location rather than a parking lot might help the quality in some smal way.

Anyway, it turned out looking great. No difference from original and the installation looks excellent - no flaws that I can detect. Haven't had any big rain in the bay area since then (though there was a light rain yesterday - no problems), but so far, it seems rather perfect.

And the price? BMW Glass, installation, taxes, everything: $480. Can't beat that with a stick, considering the dealer wanted almost $1800 between parts and labor, so Safelite represented a significant savings - and (with almost a week of driving under my belt) it seems they did a fine job. No increased wind noise, looks perfect and the light rain/car wash didn't affect it at all.

Thanks everyone!

 

[sharkman330Xi]

what about if you have the "rain sensor" windshield???
Is that maybe why the dealer quoted you so much? or maybe they are just living up to their "stealer" reputation!

I have rain sensor and a few chips... it will need to be replaced.

Is the windshield the same or is it a different part?

On a VW I had, the dealer was given the car to replaced the windshield - it was a warranty - it cracked from the side inward, not from a stone... -
anyway, the dealer called in one of those "come to you" repair guys to do it!

I went for a high pressure car wash after and the water was pouring in from a vent at the bottom of the WS where they misplaced the plastic parts... careless workmanship, dealer quality from an independant!
idiots!

 

[cbigger]

Sharkman,

My BMW glass has all of the original elements, including provisions for the rain sensor. I am not sure of the part number, but I see absolutely no difference - it looks to be the exact same part.

I haven't yet went to a high-pressure car wash nor have experienced any heavy rain - so the complete jury isn't yet in - but so far, so good.

Plus they have a nationwide warranty so I feel pretty good about my chances IF a problem does develop at some point. I think with a nationwide reputable company like Safelite it is a little different than some random "joe".

We'll see

 

[sly]

Never go to your Dealer for anything other than mechanical work covered by warranty. The vast majority of Dealers will sub out work like a window replacement and then add a premium to your bill. Here's just one example of several I could provide: Last week I took my car to the Dealer to get an estimate on having a ding removed from my hood. Their estimate was $130. Then I took it directly to the Dent guy. His price was $75.

 

[adrean8j]

I will echo Sly on that one...here in Germany I went to the dealer to find out about repainting my front spoiler/bumper, the price was ~450-500euros...went directly to professional paint shop(co-located next to our local Volvo dealer...LOL) and they quoted me 250euros with a clearcoat.....