A windshield is an important safety component in your car. If your car windshield needs replacement you should be very careful while selecting a new car windshield. There are many car glass brands that offer windshields for all makes and models. But all the car windscreens are not the same. Especially if you own a luxury car or any premium sports car, the selection of your car windshield brand is crucial for your safety.
There are two options available either you can opt for the original/OEM windshield or you can go for an aftermarket brand. Luxury car windshield has many specific characteristics that normal aftermarket windshields don’t have. So you should only opt for the OEM windshield part for replacement.
Let’s check out some special features of OEM windshields.
OEM Luxury car windshield has special color tints
As you know most car windshields are green in color. But Luxury and premium cars have different tints like grey, blue, brown, and some specific coatings. You can observe this kind of windshield in many premium cars like Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Range Rover Evoque, etc. These shades help to control the car cabin temperature without restricting light. Only Original (OEM) Mercedes-Benz windshields come with these tints. If you opt for an aftermarket brand, it will probably have only a green tint which you can usually see in low-end car models.
Luxury car windshield has Defrosting or heating elements for Wipers
Most of the premium car brands offer heating windshields for defrosting in winter and rainy seasons. You may have observed golden defogging lines in most of the car’s rear windshields. But luxury car manufacturers offer front car windshield with heating elements to defrost the car wipers during the snow. You can observe these heating elements at the lower side of the windshield where wipers are placed. All Mercedes-Benz car windshields have such defrosting elements. Aftermarket car windshields may have or may not have a defrosting element.
Fully Heated car windshields
Some premium car manufacturers also offer special windshields that have heating elements mesh available in the whole of the windshield. You can notice Jaguar Land Rover sports and luxury cars like Jaguar XF, XJL, and Range Rover Sports. Porsche sports coupe models like Porsche Carrera, and Porsche Panamera also have a heating element that is embedded in the complete windshield. These windshields avoid any type of mist or snow on the windshield and provide the best possible view.
But such Heating technologies are limited to the OEM car glass manufacturers only. Aftermarket brands don’t provide fully heated windshields. So while choosing a car windshield brand you must ensure that your car windshield has all the necessary characteristics as recommended by your car manufacturer.
Acoustic and soundproof windshields
Since there is a lot of noise in the ambient, to give you wonderful driving pleasure most of the premium car brands offer Acoustic windshields in their luxury and sports cars. If you look at your car windshield logo, you may notice Acoustic is mentioned in the logo itself or there is a marking in the shape of an ear. Most Audi car windshields have acoustic features. This feature decreases your car cabin noise level considerably.
Solar Windshield
Some luxury car windshield doesn’t have special tint or color, yet they manage to decrease the car cabin temperature using special coatings. These specially coated windshields are called Solar Windshields. A Solar windshield can decrease cabin temperature up to 2 degrees Celcius and hence increase car fuel efficiency by decreasing the use of car AC.
Integrated ADAS sensors
For basic car models, car windshields may only have rain and light sensors. But if you own a luxury car, your car windscreen can have many other mounted sensors, which support car’s ADAS system. These sensors can include lane-departure systems, lane-keeping camera systems, IR and Infrared forward-looking cameras, de-vapor sensors, etc. These sensor mounts are OEM products and are available with OEM manufacturers only. If you opt for an aftermarket windshield brand, chances are that your car technician has to use an old sensor mount. If he manually reuses older mounts there is a very high probability that these sensor brackets are not fixed correctly and can affect your car’s ADAS system. It can be fatal in an accident.
Quality Standards
Luxury car manufacturers have very stringent quality standards and every car part supplier needs to comply with these standards. Your car glass manufacturer needs to pass all these quality checks to become an OEM part supplier for these premium car manufacturers like Bentley, Lamborghini, Porsche or BMW. Any car windshield supplied to the car manufacturer needs to be thoroughly checked against required quality checkpoints before it can be fitted in your car. So for an OEM windshield that has your car brand logo, you can be assured of its quality and safety.
The same manufacturer offers different car windshield for the same car model
Yes, it may be confusing but it’s true. Two different windshields from the same supplier can have different characteristics. For example, PGW offers 2 different brands Solar Green and Sungate for Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Both fit well in the car but have different characteristics and features. PGW Sungate has a brown tint and is more effective to control heat than the PGW Solar Green. That’s why the Sungate windshield comes at almost twice the price of the Solar Green windshield. So, when you go for a windshield replacement it is very necessary that you choose the correct OEM part as per your car VIN number.
Expert Advice: If you own a luxury car or a premium sports car and need a car windshield replacement don’t use an aftermarket windshield brand. If your replacement car windshield doesn’t have your car brand logo it is not an OEM/Original part and you should avoid it for your own safety. You should ask your car manufacturer for your OEM windshield part number and use the same part for replacement.
Here at Auto Glass Masters we only use OEM / Original car windshields for replacement. We stock more than 1200 OEM luxury car windshields in our warehouse to fulfill customer requirements. For any additional information regarding the original luxury car windshield, call us at +91-9278783578.
Modern time is known for its rapid growth and advancements. Technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Digital technology has an impact in every walk of life. The automotive industry, in particular, has seen the most rapid growth in terms of new technologies. We are seeing new types of safety sensors and digital platforms added to the new cars. The automotive industry has adopted the latest technologies faster than any other industry. We are observing many cutting-edge technologies embedded into cars, even most of car manufacturers are working on semi-autonomous and even driverless cars.
In this era of technological advancement, the car windshield has traveled a long way with its own improvements. Since the first car windshield was built to protect the driver from dust and wind. Morden day car windscreens are technological marvels. The laminated sheet ensures that the car windshield will not collapse and make it a safety pillar in the car’s overall structural strength.
Conventional Car Windshield
For most of the 19th century, the car windshield has seen a lot of changes in its composition and design. The car windshield’s prime task was to provide a clear view of the horizon and provide safety from wind and dust. Initially, the car windshield is made up of tempered glass, which can protect the driver from wind and dust, but it shatters into pieces and is very dangerous in case of an accident. So, engineers develop a new technology where a PVB membrane is used to keep the shattered pieces together, this is the new laminated car windshield. These laminated layers keep the windshield together and provide support to the car roof in case of an accident. This innovation transformed the car windshield into a safety component.
Replacing a conventional windshield
For a conventional windshield, which many low-end car models still have, replacing a new windshield is not so difficult. It doesn’t have any other system attached to it except the wipers and mirror. Some car windshields like Maruti Swift and Maruti Ritz don’t even have a mirror bracket on the windshield. So any technician who has some experience in car windshield replacement can do the job. He may require adequate windshield removal tools and an adhesive gun. With the help of another person, he can easily remove the older windshield and replace it with a new windshield in less than an hour.
Modern Car Windshield
In the late 19th century, car designers and engineers started adding more and more safety devices in the car. Many of these are linked to the car windshield. Car windscreen has traveled a long journey of development and now it’s part of your car’s integrated safety suit, similar to a Fighter Jet, controlled by onboard computers and supported by a host of sensors and cameras.
As the safety of the occupant becomes the prime focus for car designers, many automated systems are developed. The automobile industry adopted these systems to keep the car safe. Light sensors helped to automate the function of headlights in low light intensity due to falling nights or bad weather. Rain sensors helped to automate the wiper functioning in case of rain and together these sensors decrease drivers’ tasks and hence improve driver concentration more on-road rather than engaging with wipers or lights.
But Rain/Light sensors are just basic updates and come with almost all modern car brands and models. If you look at more sophisticated car models or premium brands you will notice that these car windshields have a lot more sensors and antennas attached to them which provides a more secure environment for the car occupants.
Advanced Driver Assistance System
ADAS is a series of integrated sensors and cameras that work together with the onboard computer system to offer a better and more secure driving environment to the car occupant. Many critical components of the ADAS are connected or mounted to the car windshield. Some of these important components are Forward-looking Infra-Red Cameras, Automated Braking Systems, Lane-Keeping Systems, Pedestrian Safety Systems, etc. These ADAS sensors and cameras are attached to the car windshield.
Challenges in replacing modern car windshields
Due to the presence of many critical components on the car windscreen, it becomes very important that the technician who replaces your windshield must be well-trained and experienced. Car windshield replacement requires precise work and experience as even a slight error in replacing these sensors can be fatal in case of an accident.
As your car windscreen have different sensors and cameras attached to it, your windshield replacement company needs to remove these sensors carefully and then reinstall them precisely as per car manufacturers’ recommendations. Every car windshield replacement needs a sensor and camera recalibration to ensure that all sensors are working properly.
Expert Advice: For any car windshield replacement you should opt for a professional car glass company. It is very important that the technicians are well-trained and experienced and that they have the proper tools to deal with the mounted windshield sensors and cameras. You should never compromise on time or money while choosing a car windshield replacement expert. After all your safety must be your first priority. If you are looking for an expert team of car glass professionals who can cater to your all car glass-related needs visit your nearest Windshield Store workshop or call us at +91-9278783578.
Car windshield refitting inquiries are increasing day by day. Our customer care center receives many such calls every day. There are 2 prominent reasons why your car windshield may need refitting.
If your car windshield molding/trim is damaged
If there is water seepage through car windshield inside the cabin
Changing Windshield Molding/Trim
A car windshield molding can be damaged due to natural were and tear. Moldings are used to give firmness to the windshield while you are driving even on damaged roads. A damaged molding can also cause a rattling sound in the car’s windshield. If damaged molding becomes loose it can cause damage to the windshield. So, it is necessary that you go to a windshield replacement center and get the windshield refitted with new molding.
Water Seepage through the windshield
A car windshield is sealed with its frame by an adhesive, mainly polyurethane. If adhesive is not applied correctly by the technician, it may have some gaps or holes. Such holes or gaps can cause water seepage inside the car cabin in the rain or during a wash. If there is a water seepage inside the cabin through the windshield, we first need to locate where the issue is? For this, we use a soap-water test to find the actual leakage point. Once we find the leaking spot, we determine if it can be filled without removing the whole windshield. If the leakage is small, we try to fill it with polyurethane from inside the cabin. But, if there is a significant gap in the urethane layer, it may need to remove the windscreen and then refit again.
The most prominent reason for windshield refitting is poor car windshield installation, which results in water and air seepage in the cabin.
Three critical factors ensure that your car windshield will be properly installed and it will not leak.
Use a genuine car windshield brand
Use genuine windshield adhesive
Go to a trusted car glass replacement company
Car windshield brands
There are many car windshield brands available in the market. But, the quality of these brands is different, so as is their price. Every time a customer calls us for a car windshield replacement, we advise them to use OE quality products and not to compromise with quality for a few bucks. Still, we found many of them preferred aftermarket products to save total cost.
Aftermarket windshields may not have a proper fitting and can cause leakage or noise issues in the cabin. Some OEM brands are – Saint Gobain Sekurit, Guardian, Pilkington, Carlex, AGC Automotive, Fuyao, etc.
Windshield Adhesive
The most crucial component in car windshield replacement is adhesive or polyurethane. We always recommend a Genuine or OE approved sealant. It binds the car windshield with its frame. So, never compromise with its quality. If you use a low-quality adhesive, it may not hold your windshield correctly. It can cause water seepage during rain or washing. Windshield supports the airbag in case of an accident, and if your windshield has weak bonding strength, it can be fatal as airbags will not work correctly without support.
OEM car windshield adhesives brands – Sika, 3M, Dow, Henkel, Saint Gobain, etc.
Car windshield replacement company
Even if you use genuine items, you can’t guarantee quality replacement until you chose a good windshield replacement company. It is a significant factor as the technician who will replace your car glass, his training and experience count a lot. Any technician who is properly trained to replace car windshield for different car models and who have experience in dealing with the sensors and attachments, your car windshield has, can make a difference in a proper and a faulty replacement. Though the cost of labor in a reputed service center may be high than a shop near to your location, it is worthy it.
In most of cases where a car windshield leakage is reported, the most common factor is the local workshop. Such a service center doesn’t have adequate tools and expertise to do the job and hence charges very less compared to an expert service center. But, ultimately, if your car windshield replacement is not correct and you need a refit, it will cost you double.
In most of the cases where we replace a windshield, there is a story behind it. The story suggests that people are not fully aware of the facts regarding windshield chip or crack repair. We generally find that most of the cracks were initially small chips. People neglect them due to one or the other reason. And eventually, they land up for a windscreen replacement.
Windshield repair
Car windshield cracks are normal. Any stone or debris at a speed more than 70 km/hr can cause your car windshield crack. But there are lots of myths associated with windshield chip repair. Here are some of these myths:
A windshield chip repair takes time
Windscreen crack repair is costly
A crack can wait
A sticker can stop a crack from expanding
A repaired windshield is compromised
All companies are the same
All chips and cracks are the same
A windshield chip can be repaired at home
A windshield chip repair takes time
The most prominent myth is the time required to repair a crack. People are too busy to even google it. They keep on driving until the windscreen needs a replacement. Some think they need to leave the car for a day at the workshop as in case of replacement.
But the fact is a car windshield crack repair takes about 30 minutes. You don’t require to spare more than an hour for repair.
Windscreen crack repair is costly
People have another misconception regarding the cost of windshield repair. Your car dealership and most car glass replacement companies don’t use repair kits. They prefer to replace a windshield. As it is more profitable for them. So they often misguide the customer about the cost of the chip repair.
The fact is a small crack repair costs between ₹ 800 – ₹ 1500. This cost is far less than the cost of a new windscreen.
A crack can wait
People think that a small crack can wait, and it is ok to drive with a cracked windshield. You can find many drivers having small cracks in their car windshields. They are reluctant to drive to a workshop for a small chip repair. They often visit a windshield replacement company after the crack expands, and they feel visibility issues while driving.
The most common myth about a chip or crack is that it doesn’t expand soon, and we have time for a repair. In some cases, the customer says they feel that even if the crack expands a bit, it can be repaired.
But any crack which is larger than a rupee coin is not repairable. So, it is always wise to visit a windscreen repair shop as soon as possible.
Stickers can stop a crack from expanding
This is another myth that a sticker can stop a crack or chip from expanding. We are into car glass repair and replacement business since 2011 and can tell you that there is no such sticker available that can hold your windshield crack.
The glass is an amorphous solid, and crack can expand in any direction. Crack expands mainly due to stress. That can be due to extreme change in temperature or may be due to external force. The only thing that a sticker can do is, it can hide the crack so that your car windscreen looks nice.
A Repaired windshield is compromised
Some car owners think that a new windshield is safe than a repaired one. But it’s not true. If an expert repairs your windshield chip, the strength of the windshield is the same as the new one. The chemical or the resin used to repair a crack have the same properties as of the glass. Once it is treated as per the procedure, it has similar mechanical and optical features as the glass have. So repairing a chip or crack doesn’t compromise with the strength of the windscreen.
All companies are the same
You may have got your car windshield replacement at different workshops or even dealerships. But all these workshops are not the same as far as the standard of service and products are concerned. Even not all car replacement companies do windshield chip repair. Dealerships have no repair option for the front windscreen.
Car windshield repair is a specialized job, and only a few companies or workshops have tools and expertise to repair. Windshield Store has a repair-first policy, and we don’t advise you to go for a replacement if the chip or crack is repairable.
All chips and cracks are the same
You may have heard that a chip is a chip. But that’s not entirely true. There are different types of stone chip impacts on a windshield and all the chips are not even repairable. You should visit a car glass repair shop to know more about the types of crack that are repairable. Only cracks or chips smaller than a rupee coin can be repaired safely. Also, a chip or crack in front of the driver or close to an edge can’t be repaired due to safety concerns.
A windshield chip can be repaired at home
You may opt for a doorstep service as many car glass repair companies do offer such services. But repairing a chip or crack by yourself is not a good idea. Yes, there are many DIY windscreen repair kits available online. But it’s not about the kit. It’s mainly due to the expertise and skill required to repair a crack. Also, it is essential to know which crack is safe to repair. An expert repairer has the technical know-how and knows when not to repair a crack and go for a replacement. An expert knows the areas where repairing a minor crack can be dangerous, like directly in front of the driver. So, you should avoid using a DIY kit.
Windscreen crack repair is not only about to save money or time, but it is about to keep you safe.
A newly replaced car windshield needs more care in the first 48 hours than a regular windshield. You don’t want to do anything stupid that can cause your car’s windshield to leak. Your car windshield replacement company should inform you regarding the dos and don’ts after a new windshield installation. Here are a few things you should keep in mind:
Windshield replacement
Inspect your car correctly after the windshield installation
Take your invoice and warranty card
Don’t drive immediately after windshield replacement
Don’t drive on poorly maintained roads
Don’t drive fast
Don’t use pressure washing during the first 48 hours
Don’t slam the car door
Keep the retention tape for at least the first 24 hours
Keep a window open
Don’t cover your vehicle for the first 24 hours
Don’t use a sunshade or remove the dashboard mat for the first 24 hours
Inspect your car after a windshield installation
After the new windshield installation, you must take a close look at the windshield. There shouldn’t be any visible gap between the car windshield and its body. Also, you would be best if you were mindful of any fragments of the old windscreen on the seats or dashboard. Though technicians should ideally keep both these things in mind, its always better to be vigilant.
Take your
invoice and warranty card
You should not forget to collect your job invoice and warranty card. Sometimes there are some issues with the windshield installation that can’t be noticed by merely looking at it. In such a case, the warranty will help you. If you opt for the right quality car windshield, it should have a warranty for quality defects and workmanship as offered by Windshield Store. This warranty ensures that your money will not go in vain even if you were not able to find any fault right after the new windshield installation.
Don’t drive immediately after a new windshield replacement
Car windshield installation requires adhesive to bond the car windshield with its body. The first hour after windshield fitting is the most crucial as initially adhesive/polyurethane is all liquid. It requires at least an hour to cure enough that it has some bonding feature. You must be careful so that it gets cured sufficiently before you decide to move your car after replacement. If the adhesive is not settled properly, it can disturb the correct setting of your windshield, and that can be dangerous.
You should be mindful that the first 24-48 hours are crucial for adhesive curing. If the windshield gets disoriented while the adhesive is still curing, it can cause excess stress on some parts of the windshield while driving. This stress can cause windshield cracks in the future.
For at least the first 24 hours, you should avoid poorly maintained roads. You should not drive on roads that may be broken, have bumps, or may have deeper potholes. They can cause sudden jerks. Any such shake can cause your car windshield to dislocate from its correct position as the adhesive is not entirely cured in the first 24 hours. Such a jerk may become cause leakage issues or a whooshing sound.
Don’t drive
fast
Drive at an average speed is always the best idea. With a new windshield replacement, it is more significant. It’s mainly due to 2 reasons. First, avoid any jerk due to sudden braking. Secondly, high speed causes air pressure on the car windshield, and any stress is not suitable for a new car windshield.
Don’t use pressure washing during the first 48 hours
Another essential thing to avoid is washing after replacement. Car washes use chemicals to clean and polish. These chemicals can affect the polyurethane strength due to a chemical reaction as it is not cured correctly in the first 48 hours. If you want, you can wash your car at home with tap water or may clean it with a cloth after 24 hours of replacement. But for at least 48 hours, you should avoid automatic car wash, pressure wash, or jet wash. Jet wash cause stress on the windshield. It can also temper uncured adhesive. This can become a reason for water seepage through the windscreen during rains.
Don’t slam
the car door
While you have a new windshield in your car, you should avoid any air pressure that can build up inside the car. The windshield may be pushed upward by air pressure; it can lose the adhesive and weakens the waterproof seal that the glue is supposed to create for your car. Try and close the doors gently.
Don’t remove retention tapes for the first 24 hours
Windshield technicians use retention tapes on the car windshield to keep it in the correct position. It is always advised that you should keep these tapes till the adhesive cures properly and strengthen to retain the windshield with the car body. Once adhesive is cured, it has the strength to keep the windshield in position even in an accident. But till then these retention tapes support the windshield at its correct position. Retention tapes also help to keep the windshield molding in the right place until the urethane cures.
Keep the window
open
You should keep your car window open after a new windshield replacement. It helps to maintain correct air pressure inside the car cabin. If the car window is closed, the air pressure inside the car may get increased due to heating. It can cause stress on the windshield from the inside and can disorient a new windshield.
Don’t cover your car for the first 24 hours
Covering your car needs a lot of activity around your car windshield. Your car cover may get stuck in the windshield or wiper or molding while you are trying to place it properly. After a new windshield installation when your adhesive is still curing, it is not wise to move anything around the windshield. Especially if it can cause any movement in and around the windshield as it can cause damage to the adhesive seal and can cause more harm than benefit.
Don’t use a sunshade or remove the dashboard mat for the first 24 hours
Moving sunshade cause a lot of stress on and around the car roof, especially near the edges of the windshield, so it is always wise not to use sunshade for the first 24 hours after windshield replacement. It can cause upward stress on the windshield edge. Such popup stress can cause damage to the adhesive seal around the sunshade and cause leakage during rain. Similarly, you should avoid moving the dashboard mat as it is very near to the windshield edges. It is prevalent that while moving the mat or during cleaning, you may hit the windshield unintentionally.
Conclusion: Windshield replacement is costly, either you pay it out of your pocket or through your insurance. It would help if you were a bit mindful after the new windshield installation so that all this money will not go in vain. Following the above steps can help your windshield settle properly. Following these precautions after about 48 hours of installation, your new car windshield will have the same strength as your company-fitted windscreen.
Your Car windshield can get small chips and cracks due to any speeding stones or debris on a highway or during off-road driving. You may get worried about the crack and the cost of a new windshield replacement. But before you go for the replacement, you should call an expert to know if your windshield crack is repairable.
You can call Windshield Store to know how much it costs to repair a windshield crack or to inspect your windshield. Now let’s check how our technicians repair a crack in the car windshield.
Inspection
The most important aspect of windshield repair is the proper inspection of the crack. It is very important to determine whether the damage is safe to repair, the technicians need to be certain that if he repairs the crack, it will not compromise the safety of the occupant. There are certain checkpoints that need to be passed like the type of crack, extent of damage, location of the crack, etc.
Maintaining the temperature
If the technician finds that it is totally safe to repair a crack, he needs to prepare for repair. The first step is determining the temperature. For windshield repair the safe temperature range is between 10°C – 25°C. At high temperatures, the cracked windscreen tends to break during a drill as there will be thermal disorder in the glass molecules. 29°C is the highest recommend temperature where you can try for repair, but you should first try and decrease the windshield temperature using car AC.
Similarly, at low temperatures, the molecules tend to squeeze and due to the stress created due to contraction, the windshield can crack further during a drill, hence the area near the crack should be heated to get the desired temperature.
Crack Cleaning
Once the temperature is adequate for the repair, we are ready to clean the crack. There can be moisture, dirt, debris, or stone pieces inside the crack. To repair the crack it is necessary to clean all these. A drill is used to clean the crack and make a bull’s eye crack if it’s not already one. This is done to keep individual cracks and prevent them from further widening and spreading. The drill should be at 45° to avoid any kind of damage to the windshield near the crack. To prevent damage, a cover or protective drape is applied to your vehicle.
Cleaning the crack through Drill
Resign Filling
Windshield Store windshield chip repair method includes the revolutionary PRISM (pre-resin injection suspension method) technology and various techniques that involve injecting resins into the cracks with or without a vacuum. Before loading the specified amount of resin into the injector, the bridge is positioned so that the injector is directly above the crack. Then the bridge is secured in place and proceeded with operating the injector forces the resin into the crack. Alternately the pressure and vacuum controls of the injector is applied to suck out air from the crack and force resin in. After the crack has been completely filled, the bridge will be removed. The resin has similar optical properties to windshield glass.
Resin filling through injection
Curing
The resin used to repair a windshield is an anaerobic substance which means that, instead of air, it requires ultraviolet or UV light to dry and harden completely. The chipped area is sealed and the resin is cured by Ultra-Violet Light.
Curing through UV Rays
Resurfacing and Finishing
After the filler resin has finished curing, a sufficient amount of resurfacing resin will be applied directly to the repaired crack. This will be covered with a cellophane patch (usually supplied with the repair kit) and be cured using a UV lamp or direct sunlight. After the resurfacing resin has finished curing, the excess will be scraped off with a blade to level it out with the rest of your car windshield. Clean the area afterward with a glass cleaner.
Repair Windshield Crack
Once the windshield chip and crack area is repaired, the damaged area will not disappear completely. There will usually be a small mark in the damaged area and it resembles a small dried raindrop.
You may wonder is your repaired windshield as durable as a new one. But the windshield will be restored back to full strength and the chip will no longer be vulnerable to spreading. A windshield repair usually takes 30 minutes to complete.
