WINDSCREEN REPLACEMENT: AUTOGLASS: AFTERMARKET OR OEM?

[Skyrider]

Unfortunately, my front windscreen needs to be replaced due to a stone chip & subsequent cracking.

Autoglass is the provider preferred by my insurance company. An aftermarket windscreen will set me back £115, this being the excess on the policy. I have asked them to provide me with a price for an OEM (Pilkington?) screen so I can consider the options.

Autoglass tell me that the aftermarket screen is identical to the OEM one & that there is nothing to be gained by paying more for the OEM version. However, I have read some horror stories about aftermarket screens which cast doubt on this.

Does anyone have any first-hand experience with this, or any opinion on which way to go?

Thanks.

 

[Billybod]

I had to have a replacement windscreen in my van and the insurers used Autoglass. Shortly after, I had my 718 Spyder serviced and I asked for an outright sale price. During this conversation I mentioned that I had a replacement windscreen in my van and asked if an Autoglass one in my Spyder would make any difference to the valuation. I was told that the cost of a Porsche one (about £1250) would have to be fitted to maintain and eventually be covered by the warranty so the valuation would be less £1250……
Regards
Bill

 

[Scrounger]

If you plan on maintaining your warranty then you’ll need to fit an OEM windscreen. Your insurer should be fine with it but your excess may be a little more. I’ll fitting after market screens can be a lot more hassle than they’re worth if I’m honest.

 

[Skyrider]

I had to have a replacement windscreen in my van and the insurers used Autoglass. Shortly after, I had my 718 Spyder serviced and I asked for an outright sale price. During this conversation I mentioned that I had a replacement windscreen in my van and asked if an Autoglass one in my Spyder would make any difference to the valuation. I was told that the cost of a Porsche one (about £1250) would have to be fitted to maintain and eventually be covered by the warranty so the valuation would be less £1250……
Regards
Bill

Interesting point. I guess this is only an issue if you are selling the car back to Porsche, probably not an issue if selling privately.

You got off lightly with that quote: my dealer has just quoted me £2178 for such a replacement, clearly they are having a laugh!

 

[Skyrider]

If you plan on maintaining your warranty then you’ll need to fit an OEM windscreen. Your insurer should be fine with it but your excess may be a little more. I’ll fitting after market screens can be a lot more hassle than they’re worth if I’m honest.

Another good point, although, as it happens, my car is out of warranty. The insurer will only cough up £125 if I have the job done by Porsche (not going to happen, see above). Still waiting to hear from Autoglass about the price for the upgrade...

 

[Motorhead]

Anecdotally, a windscreen fitter once told me that in his experience Pilkinton screens are very good and that a lot of the replacement screens are of Chinese origin and often are ill-fitting and thinner than the original screen.

Jeff

 

[Skyrider]

Anecdotally, a windscreen fitter once told me that in his experience Pilkinton screens are very good and that a lot of the replacement screens are of Chinese origin and often are ill-fitting and thinner than the original screen.

Jeff

I've heard similar stories but can't know if they are true or not. As it happens, I previously had a windscreen replaced by Autoglass on my Nissan 350Z: the fitter turned up with the aftermarket screen but advised me not to have it, but to go for the OEM screen instead, due to previous issues with the aftermarket screen. I ended up forking out for the OEM screen, so maybe this is history repeating itself.

 

[MrDemon]

oem every time

 

[Skyrider]

oem every time

Regardless of the extra cost?

 

[Billybod]

My van aftermarket one came with the rear view mirror tab so a generic one as original wouldn’t be any use looking through solid bulkhead or solid rear doors! Proved to be useful after all as clipped on a dash cam to it.
As to OPC pricing, this was 4 months ago at Tewkesbury.
Regards
Bill

 

[Billybod]

“The insurer will only cough up £125 if I have the job done by Porsche”
That’s why those companies are cheaper than Porsche or say Manning….
Sometimes, as in a lot of things in life, you may not really get value for money by going cheap!
Regards
Bill

 

[Skyrider]

My van aftermarket one came with the rear view mirror tab so a generic one as original wouldn’t be any use looking through solid bulkhead or solid rear doors! Proved to be useful after all as clipped on a dash cam to it.
As to OPC pricing, this was 4 months ago at Tewkesbury.
Regards
Bill

Hmm, may have to have a word with your dealer!

Autoglass tell me that the aftermarket screen is identical to the OEM one in every way: spec & quality. I.e. same markings, same tint, rain sensitive etc. Just a different badge. Don't know what to believe.

 

[Skyrider]

“The insurer will only cough up £125 if I have the job done by Porsche”
That’s why those companies are cheaper than Porsche or say Manning….
Sometimes, as in a lot of things in life, you may not really get value for money by going cheap!
Regards
Bill

True, but these things are always a balance between cost & risk.

 

[Billybod]

Hmm, may have to have a word with your dealer!

Autoglass tell me that the aftermarket screen is identical to the OEM one in every way: spec & quality. I.e. same markings, same tint, rain sensitive etc. Just a different badge. Don't know what to believe.

I’d simply email to ask them why then doesn’t Porsche approve!

Just looked at my van one and it’s NordGlass with E20 in a circle.

Regards
Bill

 

[Skyrider]

I’d simply email to ask them why then doesn’t Porsche approve!

Just looked at my van one and it’s NordGlass with E20 in a circle.

Regards
Bill

Good point. Of course, there could be commercial considerations here, even if the screens are identical.

 

[Billybod]

Good point. Of course, there could be commercial considerations here, even if the screens are identical.

Oh yes! Because I’m VAT registered, I was expecting to pay the £60 excess for my van one but told I had to pay the VAT. No problems as expecting to pay £72 but ended up with paying £90 or thereabouts! I asked why and it’s because I had the pay the extra VAT to reflect what AutoGlass has to pay for the screen. I could work out the figures but as I was able to reclaim whatever they added, I never followed it up or worked out the cost from that of the pattern one compared to genuine.
Regards
Bill

 

[Skyrider]

Oh yes! Because I’m VAT registered, I was expecting to pay the £60 excess for my van one but told I had to pay the VAT. No problems as expecting to pay £72 but ended up with paying £90 or thereabouts! I asked why and it’s because I had the pay the extra VAT to reflect what AutoGlass has to pay for the screen. I could work out the figures but as I was able to reclaim whatever they added, I never followed it up or worked out the cost from that of the pattern one compared to genuine.
Regards
Bill

Interesting. Good you were able to reclaim it.

 

[Skyrider]

Interestingly, my local Porsche dealer has just told me that they can source either the Pilkington screen or a 'genuine' Porsche screen. Since my current (original) screen is a Pilkington screen, I'm now wondering why it isn't a Porsche screen, if such a thing exists. Have just found this related post: disregarding the poor experience, please see second to last para:

Cayman 718-S Windscreen Replacement - The Porsche (bad) Experience

Considering what can only be described as an abysmal service provided by Porsche and / or my local Porsche dealership (*********) over a replacement windscreen, I felt it is necessary to share my experience with other Porsche owners. It is fair to say that these days for most vehicles and...

www.porscheclubgb.com

 

[malarcy]

Interestingly, my local Porsche dealer has just told me that they can source either the Pilkington screen or a 'genuine' Porsche screen. Since my current (original) screen is a Pilkington screen, I'm now wondering why it isn't a Porsche screen, if such a thing exists. Have just found this related post: disregarding the poor experience, please see second to last para:

Cayman 718-S Windscreen Replacement - The Porsche (bad) Experience

Considering what can only be described as an abysmal service provided by Porsche and / or my local Porsche dealership (*********) over a replacement windscreen, I felt it is necessary to share my experience with other Porsche owners. It is fair to say that these days for most vehicles and...

www.porscheclubgb.com

Porsche OEM is Saint-Gobain, pretty sure the only other option for Porsche is Pilkington but I have never heard of one of those being supplied from the factory - but if you know it's original then I guess they have "moved on"

I think the common issues (assuming the right bits of tint/antenna/sensor/mirror fitment is matched) often arise from the use of generic "big roll of it in the van" seals rather than the genuine ones from Porsche.

 

[Skyrider]

Porsche OEM is Saint-Gobain, pretty sure the only other option for Porsche is Pilkington but I have never heard of one of those being supplied from the factory - but if you know it's original then I guess they have "moved on"

I think the common issues (assuming the right bits of tint/antenna/sensor/mirror fitment is matched) often arise from the use of generic "big roll of it in the van" seals rather than the genuine ones from Porsche.

Interesting, I'd not heard of Saint-Gobain, although I have since looked them up.

I have had the car from new, it still has all the original glass: the front & rear screens are Pilkington, the side glass is AGC Automotive.

Having failed to receive satisfactory responses from both my local Porsche Centre or Autoglass, I decide to obtain a second (third?) opinion: I contacted Paul at Glasstec who assures me that the chip is repairable, it does not need an entire screen replacement. I've decided to go with him, just waiting for a date for him to visit & work his magic...