Windshield Replacement?
 

So I came out to the car after work yesterday and saw this:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-o...102_164541.jpg

On the way to work, it got a little longer...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g...103_092048.jpg

Now... what's the best way to go about getting this replaced? OEM through the dealer, or 3rd party such as Safelite/etc.?

OEM all the way. Although my opinion may not count as much, I used Safelite to replace the windshield on my 2010 Accord and the damn thing has a crease in it right in the line of sight of the driver. This makes straight lines appear wiggly and makes my windshield wipers skip every. damn. time.

I have heard, however, that if you request it, Safelite will oblige and install OEM glass.

Safelite is a franchise, so it can be EXTREMELY hit or miss. I've used them twice, once to replace a windshield, in which they fucked up and chipped the paint on the roof of my car. The second time was for a repair of a small crack, and it turned out fine.

I will say though that their customer service was top notch in handling the paint repair, they let me choose the shop of my choice and paid out the cost for repairs quickly and without any hassle.

Personally, in my area, I stick with a local body shop to do replacements from now on.

Depending on the dealer, they might just call Safelite anyway.

Also, if there is an aftermarket replacement available then Safelite will use it by default, and that glass is usually complete garbage (yes, even worse than the OEM windshield). However, with our car being so new, there likely isn't a cheap aftermarket one available yet.

I knew I forgot something. Yeah, Safelite isn't just a national chain that's owned/managed by 1 dude. They're all separate, so their service is going to depend heavily on the people who work at that specific shop.

That being said, because of this thread I have called Safelite customer service to let them know of my dissatisfaction with my windshield and they are going to replace it free of charge. I also requested they use OEM Honda glass instead of the AGC glass the shop installed, but the nice lady on the phone said they would have to run that by my insurance first (since it was covered/paid for by insurance).

For shits and giggles, I started a quote on the safelite site

http://i.imgur.com/WZAkzt2.jpg

There were 2 options for the windshield:

Windshield green tint/green shade solar, with third visor band
and
Windshield solar, with third visor band green tint

Ooof...

Happened to me i have glass coverage on my insurance. Called them up to report it and they exclusively use safelite. I reqested OEM glass and they approved it since my car is under 2 years old. It took an extra couple weeks to get but turned out fine.

I used Safelite to repair my windshield and I was very satisfied with their service. I believe that first crack was repairable until you drove it.

I swear these windshields are made of unicorn farts. I'm on my second one and it already has 2 cracks.

Is the replacement OEM or otherwise?

OEM as far as I know. They said they ordered it from Totota.

Well that's our issue, they are made by a Tata subsidiary!

I've got a decent sized chip in mine, wasn't a very hard hit from a stone either. My old Jetta took way bigger rocks without chipping at all.

I just had mine replaced while it was at the body shop. I's not a OEM windsheild but it is of very quality. I will check and see if there is a manufacture name on it.
They said their cost was dirt cheap. Much better than the previous $600 quote from safelite and the dealer.

When I go to replace my windshield in the summer, it sure as hell isn't going to be OEM.

The car may as well be a Subaru, and every single Subaru I see has a cracked windshield. Inferior glass, or design flaw? Not sure, but I'm sure there are other higher quality aftermarket windshields out there. (ie. PPG)