For a 2003 LS430 the dealer wants $850 for OEM part, independant glass shop wants $300 for aftermarket part. Aftermarket claims completely compatible with antenna, heater, and rain sensor ready to go. Anyone done this? What should I look out for?
Find a dealer with a glass specialist on staff or with a working relationship with a good glass shop that's actually worked on an LS 430 before and knows what the heck they're doing. Buy the real Lexus glass. Aftermarket windshields are crap. I've never seen one - not one - that even approached OEM quality.
The windshield on my LS 430 was destroyed by a rock. I had it replaced by the body shop affiliated with the dealer that sold me the car. They did damage to the car that so far has cost me about $2800, more to go... still waiting for parts for upholstery repairs from the sealer they dripped on leather, wood, and switches. When I complained about the incredible state of the car on its return they just stiff-armed me. Turns out they sublet the job to some cheapass glass shop downtown where they'd never seen an LS in their lives.
The whole job had to be done over, plus all the extra repairs and cleanups.
Lexus "respectfully declined" to get involved.
At first they tried to charge me $1200 for the glass, but later brought that in line, about $700.
They used the wrong sealer, applied it unevenly, left an unsealed gap across the base of the glass, destroyed both A-pillar trims, installed weatherstripping wrong, damaged structure around the glass to where other parts could not be installed in alignment, ruined the chrome across the top of the windshield but reinstalled it anyhow, tried to re-use the rubber seal around the glass and left it so wrinkled you could see the problem from thirty feet away, left with wipers misaligned, and screwed up the rain-sensing wipers. They dripped sealant on one switch, one wood panel, and on the driver's seat. They forced bent parts back onto the car in a lame attempt to cover up the damage. Weatherstripping was so far misaligned that the edges of the glass were exposed.
Spend the money and get it done right the first time.
-- Pete
And yet my experience with my former 1999 Mercedes S320 was different. They charged me $350 for PPG glass...not OEM but a name brand nonetheless. They installed the rain sensor, etc. to perfection. I agree that it's hit and miss here, but I had a good experience and would not automatically rule out a good non-OEM glass/shop.
Is the dealership actually going to do the work too or sublet it? (Most sublet their glass work) = = if they do sublet, see if you can find out the name of the shop they sublet their glass work to. (Tip: The service writer may be unwilling to furnish this info, or might not know and/or wrongly assume the work is done in-house (because the glass shop sends over their own guy and does it at the dealer's location)... go into the parts dept and ask the parts dept mgr who they sublet glass jobs to). If you can get the name of the shop they sublet their glass work to, go there yourself and have them bid the job using their own (aftermarket) glass.
Fr>For a 2003 LS430 the dealer wants $850 for OEM part, independant glass shop
One thing that I found is the OEM glass has 'Lexus' engraved in the corner and the aftermarket doesn't. Small thing, but you can tell parts have been changed to non-OEM.
Pete,
That is really unfortunate of the issues you had with the windshield replacement. If that would happen to me, I would sue for the damages and additional "pain and suffering". I think no judge would contest to your claims if they saw how poorly the work was performed.
One advantage of Mass. auto insurance, is that glass replacement coverage is mandatory, and carries no deductible regardless of how much it costs to replace the glass. When my LS430 windshield caught a rock, I had the dealer replace it (insurance paid $900). They sublet it to a local glass specialist who worked frequently with the dealer and had many references from other Lexus work they'd done. The job was done in one day (with a free loaner from the dealer), and was done to perfection (I've had the replacement about 6 months now with no issues). My advice (assuming your insurance doesn't pay for the glass) is to get it done by someone that does it all the time. Windshields are part of the safety system of the car, and you really want it done right.
One thing I can't figure out is how they got the inspection sticker off the old windshield and onto the new without damaging it. I thought those things were "perma-glued" on?
You are right. That guy painted with too broad a brush. Go to a shop with a good reputation and you will get a good job done and pay a helluva lot less than what a Lexus store will charge. Remember, it's a Toyota, after all; it's not a hand-built multi-million dollar custom job. And yeah, I do own one and like it a lot.
Is the insignia really the only difference. I have been impressed how the windshield sheds water and doesn't seem to collect film or be associated with smearing by the wipers. I think has something to do with the coating on the glass during the manufacturing process. Not all windshields seem to behave the same in rainy weather.
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