[Peepers]

Hey Everyone,

It's time to change the windshield on my 2014 X3 (with rain sensors)
There's always the question of OEM vs Aftermarket glass and I'm 99% leaning towards OEM but the question I have is what else should I look out for? (i.e.: new trims, mouldings, clips, etc ....)

I'm not going through the dealer but rather with one of those "glass guys that shows up to you house" FYI - The price I was quoted $300CAD for Aftermarket and $900CAD for OEM

I know the dealer "would" supply all new clips, mouldings, clamps, etc ... but what should I look out for / confirm this "glass guy" is doing or supplying when swapping out my windshield - as I'm sure he'll try to cut corners

Any advice?
Thanks

[Opie55]

I have never had a windshield replaced by a mobile unit - I always drive to a glass shop since they can do them while you wait if you make an appointment. Most dealers don't replace windshields - they just have a favored glass shop do it. Cars with HUD and rain sensors often need calibration, so that is another reason I'd rather have shop do it. If I were you, I would look for online reviews for good shops, and/or call the dealer and ask where they take them. I've done both. Dealers don't replace the moldings - they pop right off. As for OEM glass, I would not pay for that and I'm OCD. Often shops use glass from the same company that supplies the maker. The shop will guarantee that your HUD and sensors will still work correctly, so I see no reason to pay hundreds more to get no practical value.

[Peepers]

Hi Opie55 , thanks for the tips. I completely forgot about the calibration piece.
I'm good friends with the parts manager at my local BMW dealership and he told me his dealership does not outsource windshield replacement and the quote was close to $3000 CAD lol

[bpwj76]

If your vehicle has a HUD, you need to go with OEM. I went with aftermarket, outsourced by the dealer, because it was available that day. I would have had to wait a week for the OEM and my dealer is 100 miles away. I regret not opting for the OEM and making another appointment, because now I have a slight halo around the HUD info that's displayed on the glass. Also, oncoming car's headlights have a halo around them.

[BMWZ4]

I went aftermarket on wife's 2018 X1 about two months ago and all is well. Price differential between OEM and the Pilkington glass was too great not to take the aftermarket version.

She has HUD, rain sensors etc and there was zero calibration needed, nor required. There is zero halo around the HUD display

Pilkington version was ~$450CAD installed. I went to the shop vs "driveway" job

[6MT_Addict]

Originally Posted by bpwj76

If your vehicle has a HUD, you need to go with OEM. I went with aftermarket, outsourced by the dealer, because it was available that day. I would have had to wait a week for the OEM and my dealer is 100 miles away. I regret not opting for the OEM and making another appointment, because now I have a slight halo around the HUD info that's displayed on the glass. Also, oncoming car's headlights have a halo around them.

Not necessarily. When I bought my X3 the windshield was cracked and a condition of the sale was that the dealer replace it.

They used non OEM glass, HUD works exactly like it did with the BMW factory glass. No halo or anything.

[Opie55]

I had our X3 replaced a few months ago with non-OEM glass and have zero issues with HUD or oncoming cars. The poster above just has some odd issue that he he should have insisted be resolved. But his experience is not a basis to say you must use OEM glass with HUD.

[HPR]

Living in Colorado where they "sand" the roads in winter with pea gravel, I replace a windshield about every 18 months. I use Safelite for replacement and have never had a problem. My HUD has always worked properly after new windshield installation. Calibration isn't needed if you only have a HUD. If you have the lane keeping option which uses a forward looking camera, calibration will need to be done.