is there any difference between these two? except price ???

aftermarket windshield = $200

oem windshield = $775 + tax.

and if u have cracked windshield which 1 would you go with ?

thanx~

 

I just had an replacement windsheild installed on my 1999 TL.

The installer gave me a choice between two aftermarket windshields. One was a "lower quality" glass that would run about $200 installed. He suggested that I pass on this option. The other option was a higher quality glass made by PPG that would run about $300. Both jobs include a $75 factory molding that is purchased from Acura.

He mentioned that the original factory glass, by itself, from Acura would run $400 to $500 and the total installed price would be close to the $775 number you were quoted. My installer said that, aside from the Acura label on the glass, there was no point to buying it. He said that the PPG glass is very high quality.

About two weeks ago I went with the more expensive of the aftermarket options and the job cost about $290 with tax.

I had this done about two weeks ago and the new windshield is beautiful. My original windshield has about a million micro-scratches and a couple of large rock impacts.

Bob

 

I had a windshield put in my '04 TL last year. I was told that the OEM glass has a sound proofing layer between the layers of glass to help keep the car quieter. Don't know it that is true of the others but I suspect that for such a dispcarity in price there must be some difference. Either way, I went for the OEM glass since insurance was covering it and they didn't balk. If I was paying out of pocket I may have thought differently of it.

You also have to watch for good optical quality. Cheap glass is cheap for a reason.

 

As a quick update, my new windshield is made by "AP Tech" and not PPG as I wrote above.

AP Tech apparently supplies OEM windshields for some Honda models such as the Element.

Bob

 

SpecialFX : thanx.. yea i know there must be somthing with cheap one.

Bob-F : i will ask the installer about ap tech. thanx.

and for oem glass.. is there any window wax ?? oem and after market glass look diff when it rains..

 

Yeah, acoustic tuning. But the '04 didn't have it. Only '05 and up, if I remember right.

But the aftermarket PPG glass comes with it, too.


I would actually recommend going with the OEM glass. On my brother's '05, I was told the PPG is no different from it, but it is. The curvature of the glass isn't finished as well and has pretty bad distortions. And this was the best aftermarket windshield you could buy.

 

i had all of my windows bashed in, and i had to get it replaced, for the front, i went with non OEM PPG glass, it's fine, been a lil over a year, and no cracks or scratches or stars.... seems fine, but on my rear windshield i got some after market glass, not sure of the brand, but the curvature of the glass near the bottom corners aren't great. When you look out the rear view mirror you can def. tell something is wrong with it, b/c it bends what u are seeing

 

As a follow-up, I checked out some Hondas and Acuras in a parking lot and a number of the windshields were made by AP Tech. In fact I saw a windshield on a third generation Acura TL with both the "AP Tech" and "Honda" labels. So it looks like AP Tech does make OEM glass for Honda. I didn't see any PPG labels but perhaps they make the glass under different names.

Bob