after market vs. oem

[ChampionCHIP,wsr]

been doing repair only for about 3 years and still wonder what is the difference between after market glass vs. original equip. w/s. seems to me after market do not repair the same, not sure if thats true or not. could just be in my mind. there is a cost diff. but i have to think that the standard for w/s got to be the same.

just wondering.
paul

[Brent Deines]

Did you read this topic? viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4172

I have never found that aftermarket glass repairs any different than OE glass, or even that one brand consistently repairs different than another, but certainly not all glass repairs the same. Other techs have their theories but so far I have not been able to identify a pattern that I can state with any confidence.

[t4k]

I think the cheaper replacement glass does not repair as well as the OE and the higher end glass manufacturers. I can definitely see a difference in the repairs.

[screenman]

I am intrigued, in what way can you see a difference?

[t4k]

The clarity of the glass is the first thing I can notice in the cheaper glass replacements. Subsequently, the repairs appear a bit milky (not as clear) compared to higher end OE and replacement glass. In the US a lot of the car lots use the cheapest glass they can find to replace the W/S in their used inventory. Because of this, I always check the brand of glass prior to a repair for expectations of repair and also for the possibility of a crack-out caused by an improper install of non conforming W/S not up to OE standards.

I hope this helped.....

[Brent Deines]

I'm not trying to start an argument here, but I've worked on a lot of aftermarket windshields and have never noticed a difference. Just about all manufacturers now make glass in China, but it still has their name branded on it. Can you really tell the difference between a PGW windshield that is made in China and a PGW made in the USA? Are the standards really different? Is the USA glass better? To the best of my knowledge all windshields sold in the USA have to meet the same standards, so any difference in standards has to be voluntary by the manufacturer. That is not to say that all windshields are created equal. As an installer I know that certain brands of glass fit certain models of vehicles better, but while a PGW windshield may be the best fit for one vehicle, a Pilkington or Guardian may be the best fit for other vehicles. As a rule of thumb if you replace brand for brand you will get a pretty good fit, but that is not true in all cases either.

I agree that used car lots try to find the lowest price possible, but so do most consumers. That does not necessarily equate to cheap glass. Some glass companies have enough purchasing power to offer high quality glass for a great price, and therefore can give their customers a great price. Very few glass companies will offer OE glass as no one wants to pay for it. They may match the brand of glass, but unless you insist on it and are willing to pay the extra cost you are not likely to get a windshield for your GM car that says GM on it. The windshield in my 2005 Chevy Tahoe is made by Guardian and says GM on it, but the windshield in my 2001 Chev Silverado is made by LOF in Canada and does not say GM on it. Both windshields are OE and were installed by the factory. Why do you suppose that is? My guess is that GM went with the lowest bidder, so I guess that would make both my OE windshields cheap glass.

As far as a milky color, what does cheap glass have to do with that? The only thing I have ever seen turn resin milky is moisture or some other form of contamination, and that can happen on any glass. If the glass is harder, softer, or made in a different country does not change the fact that it is glass, and glass should not be making your resin turn a milky color.

T4K, I'm not saying you are wrong, but where is your proof? Give me the brand and NAGS number for a couple of windshields that you feel are cheap and turn milky when you repair them. I'll see if I can't get my hands on them and do some testing. We will video the results to see if our repairs turn milky, but I'll bet a dollar to a dime they do not.

[t4k]

Brent - I have no intention of getting into an argument over this. This is my personal onion and I am entitled to it as you are to yours.

Have a Good Day.

[Brent Deines]

Agreed, but how about giving me a brand and a NAGS number? If I'm wrong I'll be the first to admit it as it would not be the first time I have learned something from another technician, but I think championchip and other forum members might like to know for sure and is seems like an easy thing to prove one way or another.

[t4k]

The next one I run across I'll be sure to get the information you have requested.

[Frank EU]

I have been in a number of windshield plants (man, that was good!) and from what we have seen there is that they both manufacture OEM and after market glass.
They just change the screen print, but the glass is the same and so is the process. Also; over a course of almost sixteen years I have not noticed any difference in the quality of our repairs, and if I did or do, it will be our own fault. As we all know there are too many variables while we are performing our work, ie; not one star break or bulls' eye will ever be the same which makes it very, very hard to compare. However; a good repair is a good repair, a bad repair is just what it is, no matter the circumstances.

But I give t4k one point; thinner glass may leave more scarring and may crack easier while you carry out the work.

When it comes to the quality of our work there is one exception, where we indeed are annoined by a low quality repair (in fact it is horrible but luckily not our fault) and I will come on to that in a different post shortly.