Ford windshield or quality aftermarket?
- Thread starter The Artillerist
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You might also try this:
I just did one of these repairs, it made an excellent invisible repair. Highly rated resin too.
I just did one of these repairs, it made an excellent invisible repair. Highly rated resin too.
Ford glass is LOF/Carlite most of the time, could vary for other countries.
For the same money I'd get ford glass for sure.
For the same money I'd get ford glass for sure.
I had my local agent request a frontal SoundScreen OEM windshield from my insurance company. They said one time only and that’s that.
I didn’t get into the specs like you, the initial research I did said the SoundScreen was special.
I’m special.
I wanted special.
I didn’t get into the specs like you, the initial research I did said the SoundScreen was special.
I’m special.
I wanted special.
They are made by Carlex/Carlite. This is how they shipped them to us, and still do to a lot of dealers, up until recently. This was actually not that bad compared to most we received. Thankfully we now get them dropped off by Mygrant glass who just leaves them in our windshield rack.
For a clean “bullet” crack like that one, I would definitely research a bit and attempt to repair it myself. I prefer the ones with a suction apparatus which attaches to the windshield and then pulls a vacuum, and then lets the sealant get pulled into the vacuumed area. I’ve had some last years. The kit should be about $20 dollars US. If it doesn’t work, you’ve gained experience at small cost. If it does, you’ve saved money.
In my experience, three years ago aftermarket windshields meant made in China. I pushed my insurance company for a Honda OEM windshield, which I received even for a 15 year old truck at the time. Go OEM if possible and use a real glass shop. Safelite sux.
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Anything by Safelite (They are imported crap)... I also saw a lease thing, that at the end of the lease, if Safelite was used, it would have to be replaced by OEM. I would suggest OEM or PPG at a minimum
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Shop I have gone to a couple times fixed impact ones the same way and has on a couple for me.
The one on my Accord has 2 small spikes and he said if he tries it will run all the way and let it go for now. It's been a while, not in my line of sight so just letting it ride.
I'll chime in here. I worked for a major OEM glass manufacturer for 18 years in QC. The major manufacturers like Pilkington, Fuyao, St. Gobain, PGW and AGC all make OEM windshields for a variety of new cars depending on whether or not they were awarded the contract. That means any of them are more than capable of making a quality product.
They also will make aftermarket glass for higher volume vehicles that they didn't get awarded the OE contracts for. These are manufactured using the same production lines and processes as the OEM parts. The only difference is that the tooling for the OEM glass is made based on the CAD data from the vehicle manufacturer, while generally, the aftermarket tooling is made by 3D scanning actual OE parts as they wouldn't have access to that data. The same glass manufacturer that makes OEM glass for let's say BMW, might also make aftermarket glass for Ford applications.
The "M" numbers referenced in the OP are specific to a particular glass supplier, thickness and type. So, a windshield from AGC with a M139 designation would be deciphered for example as a 5 mm laminated glass made by AGC. The identical part made by Fuyao would have a different M number. So that number is meaningless.
Right after I left the job, Fuyao took over a abandoned GM plant in Ohio and made a really modern glass factory. Even though they are a Chinese company, their products are made in the US. The only company that made aftermarket glass exclusively was Safelite.
The quality of the installation has way more to do with the integrity and sealing than the brand of glass. That is why I always favor repairing a chip if possible rather than cutting out of a windshield.
They also will make aftermarket glass for higher volume vehicles that they didn't get awarded the OE contracts for. These are manufactured using the same production lines and processes as the OEM parts. The only difference is that the tooling for the OEM glass is made based on the CAD data from the vehicle manufacturer, while generally, the aftermarket tooling is made by 3D scanning actual OE parts as they wouldn't have access to that data. The same glass manufacturer that makes OEM glass for let's say BMW, might also make aftermarket glass for Ford applications.
The "M" numbers referenced in the OP are specific to a particular glass supplier, thickness and type. So, a windshield from AGC with a M139 designation would be deciphered for example as a 5 mm laminated glass made by AGC. The identical part made by Fuyao would have a different M number. So that number is meaningless.
Right after I left the job, Fuyao took over a abandoned GM plant in Ohio and made a really modern glass factory. Even though they are a Chinese company, their products are made in the US. The only company that made aftermarket glass exclusively was Safelite.
The quality of the installation has way more to do with the integrity and sealing than the brand of glass. That is why I always favor repairing a chip if possible rather than cutting out of a windshield.
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AGC is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical and is a juggernaut in glass, if not still the largest glass company in the world. The OE windshield on my Honda is AGC as is the OE rear window on my Nissan. Both are perfect with zero distortion. Way better than the Vitro windshield on the Nissan. I don't know about their aftermarket division but if it’s anything like the AGC glass I’ve encountered, it could very well be better than the OE.
I had a Fuyao replacement in my Mazda and the quality was better than the original St. Gobain honestly.
Recent aftermarket Fuyao and AGC have been excellent IME. If you have ADAS, then it may be a different story.
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The windshield is a heated one (fine wire), so a repair would sever a connection and I’ll lose heating in the region
For that price, OEM. I have had the rear and front done by Safelite that used Fuyao and the difference in quality is notable (even with glass 'certified' for all the sensors and HUD.) The reflections off interior trims and glare from incoming headlights at night have increased. I didn't get OEM because insurance wanted an additional ~$1200 for OEM on top of my deductible.
PPG no longer makes glass outside of airplanes. They sold their architectural and automotive OEM glass to Vitro but their aftermarket business is part of LKQ under the PGW label. PGW is rebranded XYG glass, made in China. DOT562, to be avoided if possible.
Safelite no longer makes their own glass. It’s been a mix of Pilkington or FYG here. As much as Safelite is hated, I’d still trust them over many local dudes out of a van. The two recent replacements here were Pilkington. It was much better than the Safelite-branded one for one case, and equal to the Thai Asahi in another.
A little history regarding my old employer, Pilkington. They were founded in England and invented the float glass method of production in the 1930's which became and still is the industry standard. Pilkington, through its Triplex brand, was a major supplier for all the cars manufactured in the UK.
In the late 80's they bought a major stake in US based Libbey Owens Glass, which was founded around 1916. In 1928, Libbey-Owens was the first company to produce automotive laminated safety glass and won a contract to supply the Ford Motor Company with windshields for the Model A. Libbey-Owens merged with the Edward Ford Plate Glass Company in 1930 to form Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company.
While they were an early supplier to Ford Motor Co, Ford later created their own glass division, Carlite, which was spun off to Visteon and eventually stopped glass production. Prior to the late 60's, LOF had close to 100% of General Motors business for decades. Pilkington eventually bought 100% of Libbey-Owens-Ford and NSG, Nippon Sheet Glass, later acquired the company. Pilkington provides both OEM and aftermarket glass.
If you have time, look up how glass is manufactured. It is quite a fascinating process. I worked at one of the manufacturing plants in Michigan
In the late 80's they bought a major stake in US based Libbey Owens Glass, which was founded around 1916. In 1928, Libbey-Owens was the first company to produce automotive laminated safety glass and won a contract to supply the Ford Motor Company with windshields for the Model A. Libbey-Owens merged with the Edward Ford Plate Glass Company in 1930 to form Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company.
While they were an early supplier to Ford Motor Co, Ford later created their own glass division, Carlite, which was spun off to Visteon and eventually stopped glass production. Prior to the late 60's, LOF had close to 100% of General Motors business for decades. Pilkington eventually bought 100% of Libbey-Owens-Ford and NSG, Nippon Sheet Glass, later acquired the company. Pilkington provides both OEM and aftermarket glass.
If you have time, look up how glass is manufactured. It is quite a fascinating process. I worked at one of the manufacturing plants in Michigan
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