Windshield Replaced - PGW Soundmaster

[table5511]

So something got my windshield. I think it was a piece of a firework still hot and melted into the glass and caused it to flower, but I could be wrong. Maybe its just a small black rock that was stuck in there.

In any event, thankfully in Kentucky glass has no deductible (as long as you carry comp coverage on your vehicle). After researching good glass companies, it looks like Carlite, PGW or Pilkington are three good glass manufacturers who also manufacture glass for new vehicles (oem providers).

I used Glass America since they are on board with CASPA, AGRSS, NGA, SIKA and NGA and keep up with their certifications. i.e. they use gloves, proper primers and adhesives, and utilize only windshield glass that is oem equivalent. (unlike Safelite).

So far, looks good, I can't tell any differences from a visual standpoint other than the brand stamping, which has nothing to do with the manufacturing of the glass itself. Yes its looks better to have "oem" brand stamping, but such is life.

Will post an update after I've driven around with it awhile.







NEW PGW GLASS --------------------

 

[table5511]

So after a close inspection of this glass, it looks like it's a no go. Although supposedly PGW is a "OEM" supplier, this glass is deffinately not "OEM" quality and is certainly not an equivelant piece of glass. Sitting in the driver seat, it looks like i'm wearing prescription glasses with varying levels of blurriness depending on where I look. Glass has all sorts of issues. At this point, I will put my foot down on a piece of factory glass from Mazda, since their attempt at using alternative glass was unsuccessful in putting the vehicle back to pre-loss condition. I don't mind playing that game, not at all. Just have to to the leg work to keep the gameboard moving.

 

[DDDonkey]

What is the price difference between OEM and aftermarket glass?

 

[table5511]

Rain sensor and sound filter about 860list plus labor vs 500 installed alternative glass.

 

[table5511]

UPDATE: I pointed out the waves in the glass to my wife this morning in the garage, and told her how distorted it appeared. She told me I was nuts.
So I got a phone call from the wife this afternoon telling me that she is getting motion sickness, dizzy and having naseau from trying to drive and focus looking out of the windshield; it was messing up her vision due to blurry spots, clear spots, distorted spots, etc. She apologized for calling me nuts (about this specific item only)
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Long story short, my insurance co. finally conceeded to new oem glass ordered from Mazda around 430pm today.
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excerpt from long story - about 4 hours spent on the phone between Safelite Glass Unit (subsidiary of insurance company), Insurance Company, Safelite Executive Service (call center who resolves problems), and actual glass installation company. Talked to at least 15 different individuals.
At the end of the day, I was FINALLY able to throw some coal into the boiler of the actual insurance company claims department and start talking to them and not talk to their "Safelite Glass Unit" any more. Once their claims department finally got involved, it simply went from rep, to manager who approved oem glass. But it was quite a fight.
They wanted to try another glass manufacturer. I told them thanks but no thanks. I was agreeable to play the "game" of "lets pretend this crappy glass is actually going to work out well." Once I strongly stated my position to the rep that they had already dug out my windshield and put one in, and now are going to do it again, I certainly was not going to entertain a third candidate should the second unit be sub-standard as well.
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That is when he decided to talk to his manager.
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Now, being in the insurance business myself, as an adjuster, I only expect my customers to play the game once. One try, and if it doesn't work out, well then it doesn't work out.
I was a little annoyed that they tried and failed, and wanted to keep trying. But in the end, I remained calm, placed several calls to each division/unit, and had many people talking amongst themselves to the point that their became sufficient energy to power the proverbial "light bulb" at which point they realized it really did need to fall back to the insurance company.
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Lets just hope there are no issues with the installation of the new oem glass.

 

[S197GT]

i've got two repairs on our OE glass now and have been wondering about replacement but the price is pretty high for OE glass. i've never had to replace a windshield before so this post has been very informative. if i ever do it i'll take a bunch of pics of the oem windshield so i can compare and contrast to the replacement.

hope the OEM glass install goes well.

we had a nissan versa (bought new) for a few years that had distortion low in the windshield. i never saw that before in a vehicle. mentioned it on the test drive. we got used to it.

 

[table5511]

I read a very interesting article and it looks like pgw has been doing a lot of cost cutting internally and making their glass cheaper as well.

 

[table5511]

http://trenches.agrrmag.com/a-fall-from-grace/

 

[table5511]

Update: Still waiting on the Mazda windshield, however, while at the wildlife center today, the crappy PGW windshield decided it doesn't like to sit in the sun. Thankfully it was very near falling off but hadn't fallen off yet when I got in the car, and I was able to disconnect the mirror before it fell. What junk!!!