Windshield Replacement

[gm_eng]

I was driving home from a trip last Thursday and was coming up behind a flatbed trailer when it ran over something and threw it up at my CTS. My wife and I both ducked as it hit the windshield. It looked like a huge bolt. It chipped the windshield and made a circular crack beneath the surface, about an inch in diameter, just left of the rearview mirror. Called the insurance company Friday and they suggested I try to repair it first instead of replacing it.

The repair guy came to the house Saturday. He filled in the chipped area, but couldn’t do anything about the crack. My wife and I couldn’t stand looking at it, especially on a new car. Called insurance company again Monday and made arrangements to have it replaced Wednesday. I elected to have it done at their shop, rather than having them do it in my parking lot at work or in my driveway. I wanted to make sure they had all the resources to do the best job that could be done.

My wife took it over to them yesterday. It only took about 40 minutes and looks as good as new. I was shocked at the price (wasn’t worried, have $0 deductible). I expected it to be expensive since it has the rain sensor in it. Glass was $102.51, installation kit was $7.27, and labor was $120.00. With tax it came to $237.00. Not bad.

It’s pouring rain today. It will be a good test to see if it leaks. At least I already know the rain sensing wipers work.

[mgm2003]

Wow, that's not a bad price for a full window replacement.

Window replacement is common in my area. I-95 is a mine field and windshields take a beating.

[lepidium93514]

Wow that's a great price. Good news for me, last windshield I replaced was on a Grand Prix with HUD, and it was $900 when it was all said and done.

[kjanks]

Awesome price man!

[Zymurgy]

Did you get a genuine GM windshield? That is an incredible price. I had to have the windshield replaced on my C6 (with HUD and OnStar) and the total bill was around $1,500.

[08CTS]

Wife's MDX windshield with no rain sensor, no HUD ran over $800, insurance paid

[greyghost04]

My kid's '97 Camry was $350!!!

[gm_eng]

I don't believe it is a GM OEM windshield. The repair guy that was over on Saturday said when they replace windshields they use an aftermarket supplier. He also said if I wanted to request a GM windshield, usually the insurance companies ask the owner to pay the difference. I wonder if the price was so low because the glass replacement company gives my insurance company a special rate. I bet if I went in on my own, the price wouldn't be that low. The windshield fits as good as the original, has the same amount of tint, and the rain sensor "dots" seem to be the same. Sure is better than looking through the old "bullet hole" crack.

[Bender]

Glad to hear you & your wife are safe (and that the windshield was inexpensive)!

[joependleton]

For those of you who do not carry full glass coverage please rethink this. The glass nowadays on all vehicles is crap. I have been thru 3-4 windshields over the last 8 years from rock damage, etc..It is not that expensive an add-on and is certainly worth it, with virtually no out of pocket for replacement. Just my .02













QUOTE=gm_eng;1478007]I was driving home from a trip last Thursday and was coming up behind a flatbed trailer when it ran over something and threw it up at my CTS. My wife and I both ducked as it hit the windshield. It looked like a huge bolt. It chipped the windshield and made a circular crack beneath the surface, about an inch in diameter, just left of the rearview mirror. Called the insurance company Friday and they suggested I try to repair it first instead of replacing it.

The repair guy came to the house Saturday. He filled in the chipped area, but couldn’t do anything about the crack. My wife and I couldn’t stand looking at it, especially on a new car. Called insurance company again Monday and made arrangements to have it replaced Wednesday. I elected to have it done at their shop, rather than having them do it in my parking lot at work or in my driveway. I wanted to make sure they had all the resources to do the best job that could be done.

My wife took it over to them yesterday. It only took about 40 minutes and looks as good as new. I was shocked at the price (wasn’t worried, have $0 deductible). I expected it to be expensive since it has the rain sensor in it. Glass was $102.51, installation kit was $7.27, and labor was $120.00. With tax it came to $237.00. Not bad.

It’s pouring rain today. It will be a good test to see if it leaks. At least I already know the rain sensing wipers work.[/quote]

[w5lx]

Originally Posted by gm_eng

I expected it to be expensive since it has the rain sensor in it. Glass was $102.51, installation kit was $7.27, and labor was $120.00. With tax it came to $237.00. Not bad.

That certainly was not factory glass they put in. The insurance company probably sent out someone like Satellite Auto Glass to replace it with a generic glass. It's definitely not up to the quality of factory glass but it will do the job.
I replaced the glass on my Lexus LS430. Satellite quoted a bit over $200 for the job. Lexus charged $1800 just for the windshield. With installation it came out to about $2000. I was told the factory glass is superior in clarity, UV filtering, strength, would work better with the rain sensor, etc., etc. Don't really know how much of that is B.S. but I insisted on factory glass because it was covered at 100%.

[cts2008lover]

You should go to the dealer and let them changed there if your insurance company pays it.
If you are paying, call Satellite and let them come to your parking lot and do it, it should be around $350~$500 max and they can install new one less than 30 min.

[Pyromaniac]

good thing it only hit ur windshield and not ur hood or any other part of ur car

[gm_eng]

After all this discussion about OEM versus aftermarket, I did a lot of research online about the differences. I decided I'd look very carefully at the new one to see if there werre any distortions in the glass, or a bad fit around the edges. I also found a list of all the DOT numbers that reflect which manufacturer made it. When I got out of work and went to the parking lot, the first thing I did was to look at the DOT etching to determine the manufacturer. So what do I see in the lower, right side of the glass? The letters "GM" in a big square. The glass is GM OEM glass, just like the original! I used to work as an engineer for an automotive aftermarket manufacturer. Now I remember it usually took six months to a year for aftermarket companies to tool up for replacement products. Maybe no one is tooled up yet for the 2008 CTS. I'm very happy it worked out the way it did.

[Ronster]

Cautious as I am I would also check out the GMAC lease (if you have one) - it requires factory or equivalent replacements and repairs which I assume includes glass esp. windshield. they can charge for sub-par repairs at lease end.
my $0.02.
rg