My Acura RDX 2007 Windshield needs to be replaced. I want to be able to verify that the replacement windshield is OEM.

I found lots of good information online, and particularly here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/k-049-cracked-windshield-oem-replacement-w-o-acura-logo-817643/

Basically there are 3 types of glasses:

1. Dealership Glass - State Farm says they will not pay for the "Acura" brand name, and that is the only difference between Dealership Glass and OEM Glass.

2. OEM Glass - State Farm says they will pay for OEM Glass.

3. Aftermarket Glass - State Farm agent said there are all kinds of glasses including those being made in China and to stay away this kind of stuff because they are not made to OEM spec.

I am good to go with OEM glass. The current windshield that I have, and which needs to be replaced is "AP Tech".

The picture of my current windshield is attached.

The repair guy says, your glass has "AP Tech" on it, and by definition for your current windshield to be replaced with an OEM glass, it has to be replaced with an "AP Tech" OEM Glass. But he is saying he is unable to get this AP Tech glass. So he is recommending I go with PPG (now PGW) or Pilkington Glass instead. So my question to him was - how do I verify that what he is going to put - whether PPG or Pilkington is indeed to the OEM spec.

He is saying there is no documentation that comes with the glass that says that the AP Tech or PPG or Pilkington Glass has been made to OEM specs.

I called another repair shop and the guy said he had never heard of "AP Tech".

Further my understanding is that just because a glass has "AP Tech" on it, that does not mean it is to OEM spec, and that "AP Tech" while it makes OEM Glass, it can also make aftermarket glass that is not to OEM spec.

Bottomline question I have is - even if the guy puts AP Tech, or PGW (Old PPG) or Pilkington Glass, and while I want to trust that the guy will put OEM spec glass, how can I verify that indeed an OEM spec glass has been put?

Thank you.

 

^^IF you can get the AP tech glass without the "Acura" stamp, all of the numbers on the "label" are the same as the factory glass and considered aftermarket OEM.

now theoretically the aftermarket glass (PPG) should be OEM spec'd just as the AP tech glass is without the Acura stamp.

if you want peace of mind, then find an installer that can get the AP tech glass. I've had to replace the windshield on my TL and i specifically requested the AP tech glass without the "Honda" stamp on it. They were able to get it no questions asked. and yes, the thread you posted was quite informative in helping insure that i get the windshield replacement i wanted for my car. PPG is a good company and they used to actually provide the glass for Honda a number of years ago.

perhaps someone with experience with PPG glass on their RDX can chime in.

 

They simply don't want to be bothered getting AP Tech. They want to sell from their stock or regular supplier, and both of these guys have business relationships with suppliers other than AP Tech -- they are vying for Installer of the Month and the free Disneyworld trip.

Find an installer that will get you the AP Tech glass with the identical safety markings. Or order the Acura glass and pay the difference yourself.

 

You may find some useful info here:
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=682343

 

In case any one is curious to know what happened eventually - with some patience and persistence I was able to get the OEM windshield with all the exact specs as shown on the image attached to my original post.

The only thing missing is 'Acura' from the new Windshield. Even that is kind of visible if I look at the Windshield from a particular angle. According to the guy who installed the Windshield, and he is a good knowledgeable guy, the place where the windshield is manufactured, they ship to the Acura Dealer, and for those windshields that are not shipped to the Acura Dealer, the 'Acura' has to be erased, and that is reason it is kind of barely visible from a particular angle.

 

Pilkington is just as good. When my 2001 BMW "BMW" windshield was replaced, it was with a Pilkington which is OEM without the "BMW" symbol. Same as Mercedes which is supplied by Pilkington.