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Windshield Replacement Aftermarket vs OEM Glass?

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mlevison

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Our windshield recently developed a crack longer than 24", likely due to be being parked outside on a very hot day.

Apple Auto Glass in Ottawa is offering a repair cost of $500 for the glass + $225 for sensor recalibration. They are using aftermarket glass from FYG.

Is there any reason to prefer Toyota considering it is more expensive?

Thanks
Mark
 
#3 ·
I had to look up the FYG brand. They're a Chinese manufacturer which would be a no go for me. They do make some OE windshields for GM, so maybe they're OK. I try to stick with Pilkington, (British manufacturer, Carlite, (also British) or Fuyao (Made in Dayton Ohio & a large OEM manufacturer.) I usually attempt to get OEM glass, but have had good luck with the 3 brands mentioned. I've had 6 windshields replaced over the past 25-30 years.
 
#4 ·
I just had my windshield replaced. Had to go with aftermarket because OEM wasn't available in the near future and I was up against needing a state inspection done. The windshield came with a lifetime warranty from breaking from stress or heat related. Obviously physical damage not covered.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
JLH said:
I had to look up the FYG brand. They're a Chinese manufacturer which would be a no go for me. They do make some OE windshields for GM, so maybe they're OK. I try to stick with Pilkington, (British manufacturer, Carlite, (also British) or Fuyao (Made in Dayton Ohio & a large OEM manufacturer.) I usually attempt to get OEM glass, but have had good luck with the 3 brands mentioned. I've had 6 windshields replaced over the past 25-30 years.
Click to expand...
This made me wonder, so I went to look it up. FYG is Fuyao: https://www.fygi.com/about

Hearing @RobertB and @Pattenp have had good luck with aftermarket glass, even with the Apple Auto Glass people.
 
#6 ·
The quality of the installation is far more important than the actual glass. A lot of glass shops cause extensive collateral damage when they remove the old windshield, finding a decent installer is the hardest part.

I live in the broken windshield capital of Canada, the average life expectancy of my windshields is about 9-12 months. Longest I had one last was about 18 months. The windshield in my new 2023 lasted 4 months.

I wouldn't bother with an OEM windshield, they're very hard to source and expensive. And it is only going to get broken again. The insurance premium here to cover the windshield is about $500 a year and no insurance company will pay for OEM glass. Most people remove the windshield from their insurance coverage.

The price you were quoted is a bit high for my location. I last paid $330CDN for the glass and $170CDN for the calibration.
 
#7 ·
As I found out on my Subaru (since sold) that aftermarket glass can be thinner that factory glass. After having the windshield replaced I noticed an increase in wind noise. At first I thought it was all in my head, but a comparison of the aftermarket windshield with a new car on the dealer lot confirmed that the aftermarket one was thinner.
 
#8 ·
mlevison said:
Is there any reason to prefer Toyota considering it is more expensive?
Click to expand...
Do you have windshield wiper deicers? (Heated strips at the bottom of the windshield where the wipers rest). If so, be careful of after market windshields; there are earlier reports on the forum of people with after market windshields and the wiper deicers over heating and cracking the glass.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
@Yuma Ultimately I will never know what cracked the windshield. It doesn't matter how it happened, I've got to replace it.

@FKHeath I've got a request in with Toyota to see what their total price is. FWIW Apple AutoGlass offer a lifetime warranty so I assume if the windshield heaters (that we rarely use) crack the windshield they will cover it.

@Mr. LargeCoffee Interesting

@cold What part of our great country is the broken windshield capital? Your comments on the quality of the installation tie in with comments I heard on: ATP 598: Three-Burner Stove — Accidental Tech Podcast late in the episode they discuss a repair to the side panel of a Rivan. It dovetails with your comments. You really want the people repairing on your car to put effort into quality.
 
#12 ·
mlevison said:
I've got a request in with Toyota to see what their total price is.
Click to expand...
I seriously doubt your local Toyota dealer does their own glass work, they will contract it out to a independent glass shop. Any type of warranty or complaint will be with the glass shop, not your dealer. If anything is damaged or goes wrong, your dealer will most likely deny any responsibility.

If you do go with your dealer make sure you know who is actually doing the work and who is responsible for any damage. I know from past experiences, this situation can go bad very quickly.
 
#13 ·
cold said:
Calgary. Instead of properly clearing the snow and ice during the winter, the city spreads a mix of salt brine and granite chips on the roads. Broken windshields, paint chips and lots of rust.
Click to expand...
Northern BC is worse. They use gravel in the winter.

Improving Traction on Winter Highways in B.C. | TranBC

Maintenance contractors often rely on a carefully prepared and sized mixture of gravel and crushed stone called winter abrasive to improve tire traction.
www.tranbc.ca www.tranbc.ca
 
#15 ·
I had to replace the tailgate glass as a result of an accident and the repair company (FIX Auto) initially used after-market glass. The glass distorted the image, whether via the rearview mirror or looking directly through from inside the vehicle. I complained to FIX and my insurance company and the glass was replaced with OEM. Now I will always specify OEM, along with quality installation.
 
#17 ·
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I'd doubt a crack developed on a 'hot day'. For impact protection, consider an external windshield protection film. Can also be used on sunroofs or panonightmaric roofs which tend to magnetically attract impacts that no one notices and always claims shattered 'all of sudden'.
 
#18 ·
I had a guy come to my house once to repair some chips in the windshield of my 2012 RAV4. We were talking, and I can’t remember his reasons, but he said to stick with OEM glass.

Different vehicle, different story…
While driving down the road years ago, a big nut (or something similar) fell off a flatbed work truck going in the opposite direction. It skipped off my hood and hit the windshield. I was blasted in the face with pulverized glass, with glass flying all the way to the rear of my SUV. Luckily only one piece went in my eye, and it fell out when I leaned forward and shook my head while blinking. I think my eyelash basically caught it. The only thing that kept the projectile from actually hitting me was the layer of plastic… the inner and outer glass was pulverized and gone, leaving a baseball sized crater inside and out. Get the best windshield you can… your face might thank you later.
 
#20 ·
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