Windshield replacement, insurance...

[txp135]

I called my insurance(nationwide) for a claim on my cracked windshield.

The claim processor asked me where I would like to replace it. I gave her the nearest bmw dealer and would like OE replacement windshield. Then she disclosed to me that in that case, they would only cover up to $285 before deductible. In my case, that means the max they would pay is $35($250 deductible). This sounds pretty wrong don't you guys think?

I proceed to tell her that sounds really wrong because I paid insurance for a BMW, I should be able to get OE parts replacement. Then she said something along the line that if it costs more than $285 it has to be authorized blah blah blah. I asked her would it be so complicated if I go through one of their shop. She replied that I'd have to wait for them to order OE windshield, which I was fine with.

The company's name that is going to replace the windshield is SafeLite. Anyone has experience with them?

How will I able to tell that the windshield is OE?

I've heard that sometimes the trim around the windshield has to be replaced, this is why I prefer to go to the dealer instead.

[Michael999]

the trim around the windshield will break when you take it off, and its not cheap for a new one, alot of windscreen places will use a generic rubber one, it looks okay, just not original or as solid.
Id be making sure that both the glass AND trim get ordered.

[Ross]

Safelite is a bogus cheapo brand. Insist on OEM. Read your policy carefully, I'm guessing it's not spelled out.
Insurers have been in trouble of late over specifying cheesy crash parts, most of the better companies have backed off on doing it.
Stand your ground. They will try to get away with as much as they can.

[txp135]

Thank you guys. But how do I tell if the windshield and the trim are oe?

[Russell]

Safelight is known to use thin and optically "imperfect" products. Stay away from.
Also the OE trim can cost about $300 regardless of the windshield installed. It may or may not break when removed. There are also some sort of spacer clips/retainers that (I believe) position the windshield correctly and hold it above the body as the mastic/glue dries. Yes, the windshield is glued in.

When I had a OE windhshield installed the installer made a big deal of the clips and they did reuse the moldings. MY BMW dealer, with a body shop, has specific installers they use. I doubt if the local dealer does the windshileds themselves.

[Russell]

the windshield will have a BMW logo on it. Not sure about the trim.

[Zeuk in Oz]

Went through the same deal with my '88 E34 last year.

After much hassling with assessors etc, they approved a genuine BMW screen. The guy who fitted it was able to re-use the mouldings & clips.

In Oz, dealers are apparently no longer able to fit screens themselves - they told me they use the same company that fitted mine - O'Briens.

Interestingly went through the same process with my sister's '00 E240T the other day, but with a different insurance company. She needed a rainsensor screen but her insurance company would not cough for a genuine screen - insisted on a locally produced one. :(

[Derek A.]

State Farm does not pay for OEM glass anymore. I just had mine done with aftdrmarket glass. Insurance on my car is not that much - I can see State Farms point, as the value of the car decreases so would be their investment.

[Tiger]

Imperfect? How can you tell? I got Safelite windshield... how do you tell on optically imperfect windshield?

[Tiger]

OE windshield is made by Sigla... it wouls say Sigla on the windshield. If it is Safelite, it would say like a bunch of mumble jumbles on the square label. Alot of insurance does not pay for OE glass anymore. Most insurance use 89glass.com for their service.

Ask to see the windshield before you sign any paper.

Interesting though... a couple of years ago. I was shopping for windshield for my MB... Safelite was cheaper than 89glass and all others by nearly $80... now they are $105 more than all others. On your car... Safelite is $30 more than others.

[Ross]

State Farm are the biggest offenders. You'd think they would have learned from all the class action suits taken and won against them.
TXP, unless your policy specifically states that they will only pay for inferior goods then you are entitled to and they are required to restore you to your condition before the loss, this may mean a used BMW windshield but you are very likely entitled to OEM.
They may try to bully you as this tactic is often successful. It all depends on how hard you are willing to fight for what you have paid for. What the adjuster says doesn't mean jack ****. What is written in your policy is all that counts, a fact they will gleefully point out when it suits them.

[RallyD]

I have had a few windshields replaced by safelite.
Two were PPG, the third was CarLite (ford)

The BMW glass is softer and resists pitting and chipping from minor impacts. I know because on my 525 (Sekurit) taken some serious hits with no damage and the 530 is loaded with pits and now has a crack in the aftermarket glass. Also on the 530 the trim was not able to be reattached properly, I do believe that the Sekurit glass had provisions for the trim where the aftermarket glass did not. Aftermarket install leaks a little.
My suggestion is to get Sekurit glass.

saw this post also when I noticed the crack : http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-197147.html

[JD525IA]

State Farm does not pay for OEM glass anymore. I just had mine done with aftdrmarket glass. Insurance on my car is not that much - I can see State Farms point, as the value of the car decreases so would be their investment.


that does not use OEM glass is Farmers Insurance. I have been thru 3 windshield in the last 5 years. In Arizona, due to all the construction and the rocky terrain, full coverage on you car means FREE glass. My State Farm agent explained it to me when a company refused to put in OEM glass for me. They tried to say that they would not be completely compensated by my insurer, but they were wrong. I sent them packing.

After a couple of deadly incidences of cheap glass killing the driver, all insurance companies with the exception of Farmer Insurance, switched back to only OEM windshields. This was years ago and has not changed since. With State Farm, I just get the new windshield and then they send the bill to the agent. No approval needed. So easy!!

As for your investment of your car decreasing, do you pay less insurance as the years go by? Hell no.


Don't let them screw ya!!!!!

[henryw525i]

Went through the same deal with my '88 E34 last year.

After much hassling with assessors etc, they approved a genuine BMW screen. The guy who fitted it was able to re-use the mouldings & clips.

In Oz, dealers are apparently no longer able to fit screens themselves - they told me they use the same company that fitted mine - O'Briens.

Interestingly went through the same process with my sister's '00 E240T the other day, but with a different insurance company. She needed a rainsensor screen but her insurance company would not cough for a genuine screen - insisted on a locally produced one. :(

I have busted two windscreens. First one was replaced by stealer, OEM...not a good fit...it leaked..I had to fix it myself with some black silicon. It was covered fully by insurance.

Second windscreen...insurance wouldnt cover OEM. I was too busy to argue and sent it to O'briens. The windscreen frame was starting to rust slightly...so they were v.nice and put some rust killer on it. And did a much better fit than the stealer. The windscreen fits Australian Standards...which is pretty high. But the water doesnt come off as good as it used to on the OEM one.

Much of a muchness

[rreimund]

Timely post...
I just had my windshield replaced by my insurer (Allstate) on Saturday. I'm in the US, so ymmv as I know some of the commentors are in NZ or Australia. I had the autoglass shop call me after my insurance agent faxed them my claims information. I asked him if they used OEM glass and he said that it would depend on what their glass distributor had available, etc. I told him I preferred OEM. He got me Sekurit glass which is the same company that made my original windshield, though this one is not officially BMW branded. That said the quality should be the same. In my case my insurance covered it with zero deductible (Full glass coverage) but even then the cost was about $300 for parts and labor. They were able to reuse the molding, and I think they installed new clips. Nevertheless the fit looks fine, though I can't wash the car for a week until it all cures, so I'll let you know after I wash the car or it rains around here if there are any leaks. But so far it appears to be a good job.

Definitely take it to an autoglass specialist. The dealer usually farms it out to someone else. I'd call your local dealer and try and find out who they use - that way you know it's someone who's familiar with BMWs and the clips/moldings, etc.


EDIT:
Oh, and per RallyD's bimmerfest link.. mine also is technically branded Saint-Gobain Sekurit..

I think Saint-Gobain must have bought out or merged with Sekurit at some point between the E34's manufacturer date and today. Another interesting thing is that my windshield was made in Colombia. A friend of mine commented on how Colombia is now looking at accessing vertical markets - they have the cocaine, and now they want to produce the glass on which to cut the cocaine on.. (Any Colombian's please forgive the joke - my friend who made it is Colombian himself. :D )

[xspeedy]

Guys, he said that Safelite was going to swap the glass, but not with a Safelite brand glass. They'll use PPG or Pilkington, which are fine. From what I have heard, Pilk is a BMW OEM.

I had mine swapped by Safelite/PPG, and it is fine.

[Tiger]

When I bought my MB, it had Pilkington glass... only a few years old and already chipped badly along with nasty bulleye.

[Russell]

That is the rep from googling. I have no personal knowledge. Just wanted to make people know of the rep. Judge for yourself.

[txp135]

Thanks guys, insurance refused to do OE so I asked Safelite to check the brand of the replacement for me and it is Saint-Gobain Sekurit. I also told the CS on the phone that a lot of these trims break during replacement.

The guy stopped by and of course, he couldn't remove the trims and keep them together. He asked if it's okay that he replaces it with generic trims. I told him I don't know for sure because I heard that people have problems with wind noise and leakage. I said he can put the trim in but if I have any problems, he's going to have to come back.

He said he just did a 94' 325 this morning and if the trim fits, he'll use that. The trim on my car is metallic on top while the 3series is soft plastic. If it doesn't fit then he'll see if my insurance will authorize oe trim replacement. But he said they probably won't authorize it and I might have to pay for the trim. Please advise because I'm already paying $250 deductible and I heard that the trim is going to be a couple hundreds.

[Evan]

OE BMW windshield trim is $250

are you going to have to pay for it?

[txp135]

hmm, I called the dealer and they quote $45.11. That's my question, do I have to pay for it?

[Ross]

Did you read your policy? Don't let them bully into something you don't want.
If they are chicken **** on this sort of claim look out if you ever have some real damage.
What is the company so we all know to avoid them.

[txp135]

Thanks guys. It turns out that Safe-lite contacted the insurance about OE trim and they ponied up approx $250 more. It just got done and looks beautiful. However, the installer didn't know what to do with the clips so he took them off and glued the molding on. He said that's how it's done with everything else and he should have no problems getting the trim off if the windshield needs replacement again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this won't cause any problems.

[Tiger]

So what brand is that windshield? What did it say on it?

[xspeedy]

Thanks guys. It turns out that Safe-lite contacted the insurance about OE trim and they ponied up approx $250 more. It just got done and looks beautiful. However, the installer didn't know what to do with the clips so he took them off and glued the molding on. He said that's how it's done with everything else and he should have no problems getting the trim off if the windshield needs replacement again. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this won't cause any problems.

Didn't use the trim clips? So basically, he used a mess of glue to put the trim in. Take it back and have Safelite redo it the right way. And since the trim is now caked with glue, have them order new trim and clips.

[txp135]

the windshield is saint-gobain sekurit. What does the trim clips do btw?

[Ross]

Agreed. %*&^$ amateurs! No, make that hackers, he knew what he was doing.
The wind may also have no trouble getting the trim off.