I would almost "INSIST" on OEM glass; in particular glass that is used for the windshield. While to the uninformed consumer; all windshields may look-alike as all that you see with no pun intended, is "something that you look through".
In fact, this is one "replacement component" that your very life may one day depend upon.
Please consider the following facts when making your decision on OEM versus "aftermarket" windshields. Unlike an "aftermarket" front fender, a windshield is considered by Federal Law to be an automotive "safety component". With that said, OEM windshields are subject to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Act. Unfortunately, an awful lot of "overseas" sourced windshields fall short in meeting these federally mandated safety standards.
Please consider the following information for your review:
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard for that part. For windshields, the essence of these FMVSS are: • No. 205: Governs the manufacturing process of automotive glass and sets benchmarks for windshield manufacturing and light transmittance.
• No. 208: Refers to passive-restraint systems used in the vehicle, such as power shoulder harnesses and air bags that don’t require occupant choice. The windshield, when serving as a backboard for passenger side air-bag deployment, is a part of the passive-restraint system.
• No. 212: This standard governs windshield retention—a windshield’s ability to remain attached to the vehicle in a collision.
• No. 216: Often called the rollover test, this standard governs the amount of allowable roof crush a vehicle can withstand. As such, the windshield is part of the roof support system.
• No. 219: This standard, often called the intrusion or projectile standard, governs the way glass must prevent penetration of the vehicle compartment, and includes windshields.
Many aftermarket windshields that are sourced from overseas, particularly China have very poor fit from poor quality molds. This is never ever seen by the consumer as the windshield is installed with a heavy black mastic and then covered by the windshield molding trim pieces.
Many of these same "overseas" sourced windshields will sometimes also lose their optical clarity over time due to atmospheric ambient temperature changes which causes the delamination of the safetly film that is sanwiched between the two glass sheets as a result of the poor original molding process.
The windshield is more than a simple piece of glass that you look through. It is a very important structural "safety device"
that works in concert with the vehicles supplemental safety retraint system.
If your submitting an insurance comprehensive claim, absolutely "insist" on OEM replacement glass from
PPG.
For some great consumer information and video downloads that show a "proper installation versus improper" as well as the safety differences between OEM glass versus aftermarket; please reference this website: www.autoglassservice.com
