Well, I went down a rats nest trying to figure out what to do about my windshield replacement. Lots of companies buying each other out and manufacturing glass all over the world. You have to do an analysis of the industry to get a clear picture of who makes what where. Even Japanese-company Asahi Glass partnered with American-company Safelite to make some of their windshields. The bottom line is they all are trying to lower the cost of making parts and in the process lowering the quality of parts available.
Here's my situation. My current windshield has the "Lexus - Asahi" stamp and it looks original to 2003 because the rest of the windows have the same stamp. Windshield has two fresh new cracks (about 1" each) and an older smaller crack (1/4"), so 3 total that I could see. Glass is Lexus, but it's cracked and old. My current options:
- Fix the cracks and hope the glass doesn't fully break during the repair process. I got a quote to fix the 3 cracks for $70 at my own risk.
- Mom and pop shop #1: $225 out the door for a new rain sensing PGW glass.
- Mom and pop shop #2: $215 out the door for a new rain sensing PGW glass. Could not get Pilkington glass for GX470 from Pilkington.
- AAA Insurance Preferred All Star Glass Shop: $377 for a new rain sensing PGW glass. Could not find anyone that had Pilkington glass.
- Mom and pop shop #3: $175 for Chinese-made Fuyao rain sensing windshield; $275 for USA-made Fuyao rain sensing glass.
All use the 3rd party rain sensing pad. Not sure what that means, but
@Bluetribal had to get the Lexus rain sensing pad. How much was it by the way and Lexus part #?
Another option would be to buy Lexus OEM glass #56111-60512-8N for like $550 including tax and the Lexus rain sensor (Longo Lexus), and have someone install it for like $50. That would be like $600.
My insurance, Auto Club of So Cal (AAA), won't budge for Lexus glass. They were quick to outsource the job to their Lynx middle man who then quickly hired a 3rd party All Star Glass to do the job. They both call me everyday to settle the claim and to replace the windshield.
Since my deductible is $500, I'm paying for most of the repair anyways. I have to fight to get like $100 from my insurance and that's going to a mom and pop shop that's not in their network.
Aghhh, this is what happens when I have too much time to think about what to do.