GPS antenna is inside the dash above the nav unit.
Windshield Ugh...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 336
Likes: 115
Windshield Ugh...
Noticed a crack in my windshield today. Starts at the very bottom and snakes up and to the right about 10 inches. It isn't going to fix itself so I'll need to find someone to take care of it. This car has Onstar - which I don't use and would rather lose the Onstar wart on the inside of the glass. What I don't know is if the factory GPS antenna is part of the Onstar wart, is even part of the windshield or is somewhere else on the car. Can anybody enlighten me?
Also, the HUD. Will I lose much HUD visibility if I install non-HUD glass? I'm often really bothered by the dash glare from the extra reflectivity inside the windshield.
Also, the HUD. Will I lose much HUD visibility if I install non-HUD glass? I'm often really bothered by the dash glare from the extra reflectivity inside the windshield.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,447
Likes: 371
From: Maryville TN
St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
GM thinks otherwise. If GM would read this forum they would learn that they could save hundreds of dollars per car by not using a special windshield!
Tom
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 565
From: Mesquite NV
Noticed a crack in my windshield today. Starts at the very bottom and snakes up and to the right about 10 inches. It isn't going to fix itself so I'll need to find someone to take care of it. This car has Onstar - which I don't use and would rather lose the Onstar wart on the inside of the glass. What I don't know is if the factory GPS antenna is part of the Onstar wart, is even part of the windshield or is somewhere else on the car. Can anybody enlighten me?
Also, the HUD. Will I lose much HUD visibility if I install non-HUD glass? I'm often really bothered by the dash glare from the extra reflectivity inside the windshield.
Also, the HUD. Will I lose much HUD visibility if I install non-HUD glass? I'm often really bothered by the dash glare from the extra reflectivity inside the windshield.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 336
Likes: 115
Hmm... It seems I can choose to give up *some* glare irritation in exchange for *some* HUD image irritation... It's going to be a hard call. Maybe I'll find someone in my local club with HUD and standard windshield.
Last edited by ProCycle; Oct 12, 2017 at 08:46 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 30,427
Likes: 1,609
From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
I am not sure when you are planning on getting it replaced, but I am having a non OnStar, non HUD windshield put in my HUD equipped car in the spring. Winter is almost here, so no point in doing it now, but I will post up a review of the visibility when I get it done.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 336
Likes: 115
After doing a bunch of googling and reading I now understand the windshield situation better. First I was under the impression that the HUD unit is more reflective on the inner surface. Apparently, that is an incorrect assumption on my part. The real difference between HUD and non-Hud windshields has to do with the plastic layer between the outer and inner glass. On a HUD windscreen the plastic layer is slightly wedge shaped making the 2 reflected images (one from each layer of glass) line up at the angle of view. When they don't line up you get a second 'ghost' image offset by a fraction of an inch from the main image. Non-HUD windshields can have some variation in the plastic layer which explains somewhat why some folks report perfect HUD images and others don't.
Anyway, from my current understanding a non-HUD windshield won't decrease the glare off the dash so no real reason (other than some cost difference) to go non-HUD.
Anyway, from my current understanding a non-HUD windshield won't decrease the glare off the dash so no real reason (other than some cost difference) to go non-HUD.
Last edited by ProCycle; Oct 12, 2017 at 10:23 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
After doing a bunch of googling and reading I now understand the windshield situation better. First I was under the impression that the HUD unit is more reflective on the inner surface. Apparently, that is an incorrect assumption on my part. The real difference between HUD and non-Hud windshields has to do with the plastic layer between the outer and inner glass. On a HUD windscreen the plastic layer is slightly wedge shaped making the 2 reflected images (one from each layer of glass) line up at the angle of view. When they don't line up you get a second 'ghost' image offset by a fraction of an inch from the main image. Non-HUD windshields can have some variation in the plastic layer which explains somewhat why some folks report perfect HUD images and others don't.
Anyway, from my current understanding a non-HUD windshield won't decrease the glare off the dash so no real reason (other than some cost difference) to go non-HUD.
Anyway, from my current understanding a non-HUD windshield won't decrease the glare off the dash so no real reason (other than some cost difference) to go non-HUD.
but ... and old definition ...
For the 100th time ... the only difference will be in the refractive index, the image will not be blury , it will just be not be as bright ... but then again dont we have a brightness control on our HUD units ?
I will set up a HUD and A non HUD windshield in a blind test and I guarantee that none of the "experts" could tell a difference
Now please lets not disappoint me , please start the debate on having to use an OEM verses an AP TECH OE Glass ........
Dave
Last edited by Dcasole; Oct 12, 2017 at 10:57 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
I am not sure when you are planning on getting it replaced, but I am having a non OnStar, non HUD windshield put in my HUD equipped car in the spring. Winter is almost here, so no point in doing it now, but I will post up a review of the visibility when I get it done.
you will save a ton of money and have the same piece of glass
Just make sure it's a Pilkington or an AP TECH Brand .....
Dave
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 30,427
Likes: 1,609
From: Outside the Quick Stop N.J.
We type your name and you appear. 
I will be calling you in the spring when I am ready to get it done, sadly the driving days are almost over up here.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Yes, the HUD will still work, but it may be a slightly blurry. I know of two people who replaced theirs with non-HUD; both are a little blurry and not as bright. Both owners say they have gotten used to it and can live with it. I've seen both and, personally, I would find it irritating.
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
email me when you are ready
Dave
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 8,672
Likes: 2,726
From: Atlanta GA
Dave Casole
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 336
Likes: 115
Well, I haven't seen it 100 times... I'm just trying to understand the windshield well enough to make a good decision. Maybe you could elaborate? (for the 101st time?)
Last edited by ProCycle; Oct 12, 2017 at 11:19 PM.