Replacement Windshield in SoCal
 

Hey everyone,

I have a footlong hairline crack on my windshield (a rock chip expanding due to the heat) and was wondering if anyone has recommendations for a reputable place to get the glass replaced. Also, how much $$ should i be looking to dish out?

From my research, it looks as if we got shafted by the factory and we all have substandard glass (just like our paint... :iono:), so i would not mind aftermarket glass if it is of a higher quality.

Thanks soCal!

dr auto glass in arcadia.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/doctor-auto-glass-arcadia-2
It was only $150. But that was for a older car. Newer cars would be more expensive. Quality was a little less than stock, but it was also on a lexus. No complaints for a buck fiddy.
In and out in less than an hour. Give them a call, they should be able to give you a good price.
Let us know how much you end up paying. Good luck.

I work at a car dealership and most windshields can be had for around $80 installed, but the cheapest windshield replacements available for the FR-S so far are around $300 (in my experience, we've only replaced a handful so far). Try Corona AutoSpot, they do good work!

What dealership are you at Amir!?!

Auto Gallery in Corona!:burnrubber:

Try safelite. They are mobile where they can come to you or you go to them. Reasonable prices and all over the country. Fixed a few nicks in the glass and replaced a windshield on my toyota.

thanks for the link! i need to replace my gf's windshield and been wondering where we should go that's nearby to our house

I have heard a lot of negative things about safelite from this forum, with regards to replacing the entire windshield, so i am really hesitant about them. People have said their quality is below subpar and the glass is wavy/distorts vision. I would rather pay a little more and get a higher quality glass, even if i have to drive a little further to get it.

Thanks for the headsup. looks like they have a ton of good reviews. have contacted them for a quote on multiple types/brands of glass and will get back to you guys. Hopefully no one needs their services tho!

I understand. Sometimes you can't please everyone. i have never had any probs with safelite. Work was done on my toyota. Im sure there are places with better quality glass with reasonable or higher prices. You want the best, so do whats best for you and your ride.

If you are still in the market for a new windshield I own a family owned shop here In long beach we can go mobile for free any where in the oc/inland empire/LA county. Shop name is international auto glass you can find us on yelp. Windshield runs for about 345 installed Pilkington north American made glass. Let me know if you are interested. Thanks! Eddie-

Hey thanks for reaching out. I am definitely still interested. What is the word on the street about the quality of Pilkington glass? How is the quality in comparison to OEM? Would you put it on your own car? I read a post on the forum where one person recommended it but i have no further information on it. Also does it have a tint strip on the top?

Thanks!

Yeah no problem, Pilkington is excellent quality with no distortion like Chinese brand windshields and excellent oem fitment. I'd install it on my Fr-s if the day would ever come. There is an option for having a green tint on top of the windshield for the same price. We've been in business for 20 years and of course our work is lifetime so any problems such as leaking or air you can come back to us.
Let me know (:

Pilkington glass
 

Had my wind shield replaced at 3,500 miles
Two years ago cost of this was $445 at the time.
Makes sence the glass has gotten cheaper. Over all optical clairity of Pilkingtin is great however, glass seems soft lots of chips. And I don't follow closely to people on the road. O.em glass is $600 or so so at $325 it's an ok deal.
Toyota does indeed use Pilkingtin glass, however oversees it's NSG

Thanks for your response and unbiased insight.
Did you have it replaced with Pilkington on your 86, or was it some other car? Do you think the chips are because of the quality of roads where you drive? I drive mostly highways and dont deal with unpaved or poorly paved roads.

Pilkington glass
 

Actually replaced the glass
In my fr-s/86, celica and Venza
In that same year (really bad luck)
Well the celica was a restoration

I would say the road are not terribly hash
I just believe auto glass is softer than it used to me.
The FR.-S got a tiny chip in it one day by the afternoon the glass broke in half.
Same with the Venzas.

Where in North America is the Pilkington you provide produced?
What is the difference in quality between the Pilkington you guys provide (i am assuming Mexico) and the Pilkington which is made in the UK

Is pilkinton better than the oem? And what is pgw?

So i havent replaced my windsheild yet but i have received the following quotes from multiple places:

FYG - $300.00 installed (they come to you)
Pilkington - $320.00 installed (they come to you)

Did you call doctor auto glass?

My friend needed a windshield replacement too, called some auto glass shop and quoted us:


Five Star Auto Glass in Glendale : Pilkington (Mexico) $325 + tax installed or PGW w/ Blue tint for the same price
Dr. Auto Glass in Arcadia: Aftermarket (China brand) $280 installed
Vista Auto Glass in La Puente: FYG $280 + tax installed
Browns Mobile Auto Glass: Want us to order OEM at the dealership since our frs is 2015 and he will install it for $125
Toyota Puente Hills: OEM $690 + tax installed
Professional Auto Glass: Aftermarket $280 + tax cash only installed
Glass Surgeon: Pilkington (US) w/ lifetime warranty $450 + tax installed


We went and called Glass Surgeon, Julio the owner is really nice, he already had experience with FRS so installation is breeze for him but he takes his time (total installation is 1hour). We are really satisfied with the installation, it actually looks better now than before, we don't see anymore gap from the side, the glass is exactly like the OEM since its the OEE I believe. His also super detailed with the whole process, he make sure everything is perfect . He did some custom on the rubber at the sides to make it look better than the factory installation. We are 100% satisfied. He goes to your place for the installation.


Note: Reason we pick Pilkington (Previously known as LOF and NSG) is because the car is lease and you can only replace it with same manufacturer of the OEM glass and of course the Quality.

yup they are the ones who quoted me 320 for the Pilkington - i need to call them back and find out if its Pilkington made in the USA or in Mexico. Thanks for the contact info

Did you ever compare the Pilkington Mexico vs Pilkington USA glass? I am just wondering if it is worth the $150 premium to get the USA glass

Nah, to be honest I don't even know the comparison, the only thing that make us go and pay more is the quality of the labor and materials that they used. we watched the whole installation, the owner is so detailed and the installation is so clean.


Only thing we know when we are doing some research, is Pilkington US supplies 70% of glasses to car manufacturers such as BMW, Toyotas, Lexus and Etc. and of course they offer lifetime warranty.

Update:


We just noticed right now that there is like a popping/cracking sound coming from the driver side dashboard, I called the glass company that installed the windshield and told me to let the sealant cure for a week, good thing I got the lifetime warranty, im just wondering though on what is the cause of the noise, did some research and possible causes are height of the glass, also something to do with not using the spacer, I wonder what went wrong?

Thank you for this thread topic. I have had a crack in my windshield for nearly 6 months because I am very cautious about who touches my car and have not found a shop that I was willing to take a risk with. Most people that I know have had bad experiences and only had recommendations of where NOT to go, instead of where to go...kind of sad. There are so many places and most of them have pretty bad reviews/complaints. I never knew repairing/replacing auto glass was so difficult, but apparently so many people are cutting corners in one way or another in this business based on reviews. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread it was very useful info. Not sure where I am going to go yet...luckily my windshield crack is not in my field of vision...lol...yet :thumbsup:

Any updates with your windshield? Was it an install issue or was the glass defective? hope you got it resolved.

upon further assessment, the rattle noise is coming from the window switches (driver side) not from the dashboard or pillars.

Hey guys,

I got my windshield replaced this weekend, it came out to $325 with install (they were able to save my molding, otherwise it would have been an additional $50). I went to AD auto glass in Westminister and had a pretty good experience. I called in on a Friday to schedule a Saturday appointment; however, the distributor would not deliver on a Saturday. Ryan, who i believe is the owner, offered to send one of his guys to go pick up the glass so i could have it installed on Saturday.


I went with the Pilkington (made in Mexico) with a green tint; the shop said it is as close to OEM as it can be without being OEM. I have not noticed any distortion and the visibility of glass seems factory.

I washed my car after 2 whole days and fortunately did not have a leak; however I am noticing a slight increase in wind noise which, at the moment, i am attributing to a non-factory glass. Planning to go get it checked out for any minor leaks if the wind noise becomes unbearable.