gatsbi

gosh, less than a month old and got a windshield crack.
it wasn't much of an impact from a little stone or dirt....
and left a small creator
It's too expensive to fix with OEM part...(and I was thinking of saving up some money for the A-specs body kits....)

Does the windshield on TL really weak or something??

subinf

From what I understand it has a sound deadening layer in it that some believe makes it not as strong as others. I have a crack in mine and am still debating whether or not to kick out the cash for the OEM or go with the less expensive aftermarket.

jmbnova

Doesnt your insurance cover the replacement window less your deductible? I just replaced my wifes Land Rover window. OEM glass was like 2600 bucks because it has the defroster lines integrated into the glass. Cost me my $50 deductible. Now supposedly, if the crack or ding is smaller than a dollar bill, they will repair the crack, not replace the window. They do this with some kind of compound that fills the ding and hardens. Worked for me on my first 05 TL when I got a big rock ding, but you could still see the ding in the glass.

bhelsdon

I had mine changed about 9 months ago. I put it thru my insurance so I just had to pay the deductable. Safelite auto glass is the company that my insurance company deals with. They put a windsheild that was not from Acura. It still said that it was acusticly tuned just like the original. I have noticed that this windsheild is a lot stronger than the original. I have been hit by several stones with this windshield that have not made any marks. With the original windshield even the smallest impact would leave a mark.

subinf

I'm going to call about my policy sometime this week. I have a 1k deductible so it dosent really do me any good to use insurance. My cowoker's insurance has one free windshield replacement every x amount of years, I dont know if he asked for that or if its a perk of his policy.

gatsbi

My insurance carrier is really weak; have to stick with it until July because of the bad driving records (high insurrance cost...)

yea, I've just called to get a quote for after market replacement to one of the bodyshops...
I'll ask about "Safelite" brand too I guess...

I've tried knocking on the windshield, and it sounds different from other glasses... I guess it really is weak, or at least made of different material for sound proofing...

How about just patching it for now? it's dime sized star shape. Wonder if they can make it less visible?

gatsbi

I've checked on patching vs after market, arround torrance, CA area.

Patching, says starts at $45.
Aftermarket replacement says cost $400 (including installation).

well, aftermarket, though cheaper than dealer, is still expensive compare to, say Camry (around$200), probably due to lesser demand...

Should I just patch it and wait for the aftermarket parts's price go down?
or should I just replace it with aftermarket?

Someone, bright-minded TL owners, tell me what I should do....

gatsbi

I've consulted my brother.
and he's saying the aftermarket one might not fit as good as the dealer one, and told me to get a dealer one...
What's your experience with aftermarket replacement if you have done it?

I guess I'll just do a paching during the lunch hour....

gatsbi

Patched it for $45
Looks alright, Not too much noticeible
It looks like a spec of dirt with a couple of micro fiber around it...
I guess I can live with that until it cracks further or get stoned one more time...

bhelsdon

When I had problems with my original windshield I had a windsheild person patch all of my stone chips. It cost about 35$ each time. The last chip I got was too big and I was warned that it still might spread. Sure enough on one hot summer day it did. I do have to say, every since I got the new windshield I have not had a problem since. I know it sounds redundant. but the new after market windshield seems to be stronger.than the original.

BTW the after market windshield looks and fits the same as the old one.

gatsbi

Oh, so I guess aftermarket ones are stronger and cheap after all.
Would you mind telling me the name or manufacturer of your aftermarket windshield?
Thanks!

bhelsdon

I will check in the morning. It has the brand name in the bottom left corner.

bhelsdon

this is what it says in the bottom left corner

Lamlsafe
APtech
m8341-asi
dot-376

hope this helps

gatsbi

Thanks!!

donzg

Just got mine replaced about a month ago through my insurance company. The cost of OEM vs Aftermarket for the TL was a $150 price difference. OEM was about $600.
My insurance covers glass with no deductible so I didn't pay anything out of pocket.

Bob289

Did anyone have Gieco? Havent check my policy but just wondering if anyone delt with them in the past about the windshield. Also is the aftermarket glass like the OEM in everyway but just stronger? or do you get more road noise?

Lister00169

I went through my insurance to replace my '05 TLs windshield (eSurance)

The dealership wanted to charge me $900 to replace it, so I went through the company my local Honda dealer uses to replace their windshields.

They used the exact same brand windshield that the Acura factory gets from a company called AP Tech.

Total cost to me was my deductible of $500 with no impact to my rate.

davenlei

The stock windshield is very weak. When I had mine repaired, the guy said it is the most brittle glass he has seen.

gatsbi

Hmm... I haven't hit since the fix on March and the fix is holding fine.

The aftermarket one I checked was $400 including install at the time from Torrance, CA area.

If I get hit more times (at least 2 or 3 more times), I guess I will replace with aftermarket...

BigB2k5

iTrader: (1)

Mine cracked a few months ago, but in my state its a law if you have insurance they have to replace it and are not allowed to charge you anything... So I got it replaced. Used OEM glass, and the company billed my insurance around $900 for glass and labor... ouch.. The thing is it does count as a claim, but my rate didnt change... I was afraid it was because my other TL I had last year in december got keyed and my insurance paid almost 4k to get the repair... But just got my updated policy, and no change...

Anyway I think the glass is weak. Mine had a dot the size of a pin head from a rock or something that hit it, and within a few hours was a crack, and within one day the entire window was cracked... IT is double layer though as the inside wasnt cracked and outside was. But still.. Oh well, guess they have a reason for everything. Maybe so it does break easy in case of accident.