Windshield replacement
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 124
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Texas
I had a rock fly off the tire of a (Amerigas) propane truck and hit my windshield and I made Several phone calls trying to find the best price. Man is there a range in prices there!! I think the cheapest was in the $150 range (installed with new gasket) to $800. OEM gasket probably is not a bad idea, I do know that if I did not specify, that the glass man would quote me a price reusing my old gasket ($20-$45 extra). However I called my insurance company and they offered to send my car to a glass shop to have the rock chip repaired with no charge or Penalty to me. My intentions were to file a claim against the propane company and let them pay the bill. Amerigas a place on a busy street and there backyard/filling station for the big trucks is all walnut size rocks and everytime one of them trucks pulls onto the street them rocks go to flying. when i was informed that it is considered road hazard I nevr took my car to get it fixed, it is real trivial anyways. If you got to pay out of pocket , just keep making phone calls. The cheapest guy was an hour away, but he even offered to come to my house and do it in the driveway for same price. Good luck!
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 151
Likes: 1
From: Dupont WA
I also need to replace my windshield due to a very long crack. Are there any glass shops that I should stay away from? Is there really a quality difference in glass? Anyone have experience with Speedy Auto Glass?
Rob
Rob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
I am also getting ready to do this and have learned the following: C4 windshield removal and installation is a very complicated job to do correctly. Many of the low priced replacement windshields such as Safelite are imported and will often have distortion or poor fit. When you get several quotes often the lower estimates from shops not familiar with C4 windshields will have left out weatherstrip replacement and or weatherstrip retainer resealing which is required and which you will be later advised about after you hire them to do the job. Result? The low price will end up the same or higher in the end. C4 windshield replacement will require removal of the weatherstrips and possibly the weatherstrip retainers as well in order to do the job correctly. I would shop for an experienced glass shop that knows for sure how to change a C4 windshield instead of a shop that dispatches a couple of installers who will get on-the-job training with your car. This is not your average windshield job.
