Should I Go With Factory/OEM Windshield Replacement or Aftermarket?

[costanza_penske]

Hello all,

I have a 2022 Bronco Sport Base model. Sustained a cracked windshield in January of this year from a rock on the highway and since I didn’t realize at the time how bad of a problem this is with these cars, did not have $0 glass coverage. Added it immediately after with my insurer, Progressive. Have been praying for another rock to hit the windshield since that time so I could use the insurance but it hasn’t happened yet and I’m getting tired of looking at the crack.

So now, I’m looking to replace the windshield. I recently took the vehicle into the Ford dealership to get several recalls taken care of and they gave me a couple different quotes for replacement. One is the factory glass which costs $1054 (plus tax) and an aftermarket windshield which would be $908.50 (plus tax). When this incident originally happened, I got quotes from a couple other places around me including Safelite and they were all over $1,000.

Is there really any difference between getting the factory glass instead of the aftermarket? I asked the guy at the dealer and he said “probably not a huge difference but with all the safety systems on the car and price not much difference would recommend the factory glass and then we have to recalibrate the car.”

Do any of you have any advice on how I should proceed here? Should I go with factory glass or aftermarket? Seems like guy at the dealer could be trying to upsell me on using the factory glass but I know nothing about this so I’m not sure. Is he B.S.ing me with the "recalibration" comment? Wouldn't they recalibrate the glass and sensors regardless of which glass I chose?? My insurance deductible is $750, so it doesn’t really make sense to go that route and risk my rates going up either. Would save me probably $500 but of course I would probably pay that over the course of a year anyway in increased premiums.

Would really appreciate any advice you guys could provide!

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[rocks]

OEM is always good but insurance companies will fight that. I wouldn't go Safelite. I'd go with Pilkington or PGW glass.

 

[Dude]

I had to make a similar decision so I researched the non-OEM glass but unfortunately was unable to find complete info. I did learn a lot about who makes the windshields for Bronco Sport and where they are made

I decided to go with the Ford OEM Windshield. And from Safelite since my insurance company seemed to want to go that direction and I’ve never had an issue with Safelite. They replaced the windshield in my garage while I watched - even got the windshield with the wires even though I don’t need heated glass

For what it’s worth I did ask the Safelite Tech about OEM vs non-OEM … he said as long as there’s no issue with calibration and the non-OEM is good quality there will be no issues - Safelite installs both

 

[Rockboz]

For my MINI, now on 3rd windshield in 12 years, I was told that non OEM was slightly thinner and more prone to another crack. The $ difference was not that much, but needed to wait an extra 3 days for delivery. In 2014 it was $460, in 2020 in was $512

 

[jkernitzki]

Non-OEM glass is commonly made from different compounds or formulas and somewhat less stringent standards than OEM, ending up with a windshield that is slightly “softer”, resulting in rapid pitting from dust, gravel, etc.

Here in AZ, the non-OEM glass I had barely lasted a year from pitting. OEM glass will easily last three.

I've also heard anecdotally about non-OEM glass interfering with factory sensors/cameras. I don't know if that's actually an issue, but I suppose it could be depending on how close to factory specs the aftermarket glass is made.

 

[Dude]

A lot of the non OEM windshields are made in China and there are issues with certain manufacturers (more than only China)

I researched where windshields are made for Bronco Sports - I cannot prove it but I suspect in some cases Bronco Sport OEM glass and non-OEM glass come out of the same manufacturing process different only in various logo’s and markings. Not in all cases of course and this paragraph is just an opinion - use as you wish

I don’t think general statements can be made for Bronco Sport glass based on examples for other vehicles, there’s been consolidation of manufacturing over time as well

Talk with the person at the shop you go with that does the buying for the windshield you decide on - they may not know much more if they order from a distributor but you may be able to glean info on the quality of the product they use

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Question: Insurance covers the replacement of the windshield, but do they cover recalibration of the lane assist camera? Or is that out of pocket?

 

[Dude]

Question: Insurance covers the replacement of the windshield, but do they cover recalibration of the lane assist camera? Or is that out of pocket?

My glass coverage insurance covered both the windshield and recalibration

I would assume glass coverage insurance has to cover a vehicle that needs recalibration when a windshield replacement requires it

 

[Stircrazy]

I would not go with OEM glass and most places won't have it, I know up here there are two different grades of aftermarket, one is the same thing if not better than oem and the second grade is a little lower, don't go with the lower one.

also one thing I have noticed with the factory glass is man does it crack and bullseye easy. I usually replace a windshield every year because of the roads I drive on and I have never had one as bad as my bronco in 13 years.

 

[Glamdring70]

If you use insurance, getting OEM will be a huge PITA. Even if you go to a Ford dealer, because most Ford dealers have a glass contractor come by and do the glass work. The last breakage we had was on a Jeep (rear lift glass) and we tried to get the OEM replacement. The glass tech just wanted a smooth job, because they also made getting the glass a huge deal. Even though the same company also worked repairs at the local CJD dealership! It would have been like $700 extra to get the OEM (beyond the glass insurance coverage). We told them to get an exact quote and let us know. Glass company went ahead and still ordered the non OEM part. Tech just showed up the next day out of the blue to do the work. Then they were mad at US about it (I could hear the foreman screaming at the tech on speakerphone about us). They made some excuse about it taking months to get the part and hey, the glass was right there in our driveway. So we decide to save the money, get it fixed right then instead of hassle. Tech takes out old window, does all the prep and then goes to set the glass in... uh oh, the wires for the defrosters aren't long enough to reach the reconfigured tabs on the aftermarket. I graciously get out my 12v connector kit and auto wires from the toolboxes; the tech makes up some extension leads and we get the thing buttoned up. In the end, the repair is fine. The glass after getting the tint reapplied looks like it belongs. It lacks the cute "Jeep" graphics that OEM has and the defroster lines are greater in number and differently laid out, and inside the paneling is our jury rig install. But it's all intact and functional. Yay for $0 deductible rider on mandatory insurance that didn't actually make a whole repair. What a racket.

 

[Dude]

If you use insurance, getting OEM will be a huge PITA

Yeah I can concur although my experience was somewhat less of a PITA

I was able to get the Ford OEM Glass for this reason:
“Non-OEM lacks the cute "Jeep" graphics that OEM has and the defroster lines are greater in number and differently laid out” … Because some insurance companies allow for maintaining the original look so as to not potentially impact value down the road (so to speak), I had googled the reasons and that was the one I successfully used

“uh oh, the wires for the defrosters aren't long enough to reach the reconfigured tabs on the aftermarket windshield”

Of course the OEM had no such issues

And there was no delay last summer to obtain Ford OEM glass

 

[CancunBadlands]

OEM for sure, better build quality

 

[MoFoCo]

I got a non-Ford windshield put on my Transit, figured "how different could it be?" and looking from an angle it has more waves than the Atlantic. Insisted on the Ford glass when my BS windshield got smacked by a rock.

The Ford laminated side glass is incredible stuff, some junkie hit it 5-6 times with a center punch on both front windows, cracked it but couldn't break in. Unfortunately I had to replace them with aftermarket as the OEM wasn't yet available.

 

[Bucko]

In all the windshields I have had to replace, they have been covered by the comp insurance coverage, due to that being a Florida insurance requirement. I have also been able to request and get OEM glass cost covered.

I have used Safelite, and no issues with them at all. I even had a cracked windshield on a Corvette I owned, and requested and got date coded glass covered by my insurance.

 

[CrashBend]

Hello all,

I have a 2022 Bronco Sport Base model. Sustained a cracked windshield in January of this year from a rock on the highway and since I didn’t realize at the time how bad of a problem this is with these cars, did not have $0 glass coverage. Added it immediately after with my insurer, Progressive. Have been praying for another rock to hit the windshield since that time so I could use the insurance but it hasn’t happened yet and I’m getting tired of looking at the crack.

So now, I’m looking to replace the windshield. I recently took the vehicle into the Ford dealership to get several recalls taken care of and they gave me a couple different quotes for replacement. One is the factory glass which costs $1054 (plus tax) and an aftermarket windshield which would be $908.50 (plus tax). When this incident originally happened, I got quotes from a couple other places around me including Safelite and they were all over $1,000.

Is there really any difference between getting the factory glass instead of the aftermarket? I asked the guy at the dealer and he said “probably not a huge difference but with all the safety systems on the car and price not much difference would recommend the factory glass and then we have to recalibrate the car.”

Do any of you have any advice on how I should proceed here? Should I go with factory glass or aftermarket? Seems like guy at the dealer could be trying to upsell me on using the factory glass but I know nothing about this so I’m not sure. Is he B.S.ing me with the "recalibration" comment? Wouldn't they recalibrate the glass and sensors regardless of which glass I chose?? My insurance deductible is $750, so it doesn’t really make sense to go that route and risk my rates going up either. Would save me probably $500 but of course I would probably pay that over the course of a year anyway in increased premiums.

Would really appreciate any advice you guys could provide!

I asked my local Ford dealer about the windshield on our Outer Banks. The service rep told me that they do not do replacements in their shop so I need to call an outside vendor.

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