Passat Windshield Question?

[BKmetz]

I have some nasty rock chips in my windshield. I have glass coverage with my insurance so getting the windshield replaced is the easy part.

I have talked to a few auto glass replacement shops. They and I are getting conflicting information what windshield I have and need. Their catalogs are showing I have a rain sensor. My car does not have a rain sensor. Are the windshields all the same regardless if the car has the rain sensor or not? I know the rain sensor is built into the rear-view mirror base.

While were discussing replacement glass, I'm very disappointed with the OEM VW/Guardian brand glass. It chips, pits, and scratches very easily (mine did anyway). I understand why VW picked Guardian as it's located in MI and supplies a lot of glass for GM. I'd like to use something better if available.

VW also uses St. Gobain Sekurit/Autover glass which is very tough glass. That's what my old B4s had. I'd pay extra to get Sekurit glass if it's available for my car. Very few area glass shops I've contacted have heard of Sekurit glass. Most carry PGW/PPG or Pilkington/LOF.

Any auto glass experts out there that can shed any light on auto glass brands and quality?

All input is welcome.

 

[IXLR8]

I have the same issues/questions. I agree, the glass on Passat is soft and cracks easy. The windshield in my Passat looks as bad after 80K miles as the one in my Golf did at 250K miles.

 

[atc98002]

I would say that last 5-6 VWs I've had have had soft windshields. They have all had fine scratches where the wiper blades reverse. Of course, for the right wiper that's pretty much in my line of sight. My Passat is about 17,000 miles now and they're showing up pretty well. My '11 Tiguan and '06 Jetta did the same. Can't remember on the '02 Jetta, but I think it did as well.

 

[inthewoods]

Just an FYI... make sure the installer leaves the gap between the dash and the glass.

When my windshield was replaced the installer let the glass rest on the dash and now it creeks!

 

[Dynodon]

My 2014 TDI windshield had lots of little sand pits as early as 15,000 miles. We did a lot of highway driving in those miles, and it hasn't gotten a lot worse since then. Now have about 25,000 miles but I would love to get a new clearer windshield since this one causes vision problems in the rain after dark.

 

[Ares]

The glass is soft. Mine scratched up scraping ice. Never had a windshield look so bad, especially after 40k. I'm waiting for a nice rock to end it's misery, hoping the replacement is better quality.

 

[20IndigoBlue02]

on my B6, the Saint Gobain (which is the parent company of Sekurit), glass is also "soft" which has a lot of little rock chips/pits from driving in the snow belt.

 

[compu_85]

Even though your car doesn't have a rain sensor, it has the mountings for one. So it needs the rain sensor windshield.

IMHO I'd go for a factory windshield only.

-J

 

[Rico567]

We've gotten one rock chip in two years on our Passat, and it was a fair hit. I've lost windshields from rocks that size, and it only gave it a bullseye, which was far from the driver's line of sight, and which Safelite fixed for nothing on our insurance. No other issues to report.

 

[kydsid]

The St Gobain will chip and crack just as easily as the OEM glass. It however has the benefit of being noise reducing glass. I have safelite put it in every time.

 

[inthewoods]

It however has the benefit of being noise reducing glass.

The Passat OEM glass is noise reducing too (at least per my installer)

 

[kydsid]

The Passat OEM glass is noise reducing too (at least per my installer)

Yes tou are right it is heat reducing glass which the oem is not. Thought of the wrong extra perk.

 

[kyledooley]

My windshield is crap. It pits very easily and I've lost two so far to stone chips and the third one has some battle damage also. We'll see how long it lasts. 85k miles right now. Though limited, i"m sure, this thread will have me looking at better aftermarket options.

 

[mrctdi]

My Passat windshield looks like it has been through a war. Cracked, chiped, and pitted from the highway miles. Maybe I will be able to use some of the goodwill money to get it fixed at the dealer.

What kind of prices are you all seeing for getting it replaced.

 

[IXLR8]

I was quoted $345 at a local independent shop, my car has the rain sensor which makes the job a little more expensive than those without.

 

[Fav40]

My windshield looks like crap @ 40k too.

Would love a better option when it's time to replace

 

[BKmetz]

Even though your car doesn't have a rain sensor, it has the mountings for one. So it needs the rain sensor windshield.

IMHO I'd go for a factory windshield only.

-J

Here is a photo of my windshield mirror mount. So I need a windshield with the plastic ring?

 

[compu_85]

The black is actually ceramic paint. The mirror mount is glued to it. The middle "clear" part has a plastic filler in it, whereas some cars have a rain sensor.

http://glassmagazine.com/article/auto/2012-volkswagen-passat-129278

-J

 

[VernK]

If you want to get technical, the black paint is properly called frit.

Yours
Vern

 

[Yankinwaoz]

I need to replace the windshield on my 2012. I have hole in it. The insurance paid for a patch, but I don't like it. I can still see the hole and crack.

I plan to use my $500 good will payment and VW credit for that.

So... has anyone replaced their windscreen? And if so, how much did it end up costing out the door?

 

[ben2mx]

I was under the impression that what I had was tree sap but by reading this thread it makes me realize I actually have sand\rock pits.

 

[BPofMD]

I have 0 deductible with my insurance (really isn't a big extra cost).... had my windshield replaced a month ago...cost me nothing. Great service too...they did it in my driveway. I do have the rain sensor too.... they came prepared to re-install it on the new windshield.

They did a fine job.... I have no regrets.

 

[BKmetz]

Tomorrow morning I will make arrangements to get my glass replaced. I'm going with a local shop who uses both PPG/PGW and Pilkington/LOF glass. I'll ask the installer which brand does he replaces the least. That seems the best way to ask which brand holds up the best.

 

[compu_85]

Ask if there is a version that's also sound insulating. It would be worth paying more for IMO.

-J

 

[BKmetz]

Will do!

Ask if there is a version that's also sound insulating. It would be worth paying more for IMO.

-J

 

[BKmetz]

After a few phone calls my glass claim was approved and the installer will order the glass tomorrow. I'll get my glass replaced on Wednesday next week. This was annoying as my insurance company recommends its preferred installer, my insurance agency recommends its preferred installer, and the local VW dealer recommends its preferred installer. None are local so I said no, I'm taking my car to who I want to use. I called two of them and one uses the same brands of glass the local guy uses, and the other couldn't name the brands of glass they use. The local guy is part of a national glass chain anyway (Glass Doctor). I did not consider Safelite as they use Guardian glass.

After talking to the installer about my concerns with the softness of the VW/OEM Guardian glass we decided on Pilkington/LOF glass as the best option. All Passat glass should be 'acoustic' glass as that is part of the VW/OEM specification.

I'll post again next week when the job is done.

 

[White Passat]

Pilkington/LOF not Safelite

After a few phone calls my glass claim was approved and the installer will order the glass tomorrow. I'll get my glass replaced on Wednesday next week. This was annoying as my insurance company recommends its preferred installer, my insurance agency recommends its preferred installer, and the local VW dealer recommends its preferred installer. None are local so I said no, I'm taking my car to who I want to use. I called two of them and one uses the same brands of glass the local guy uses, and the other couldn't name the brands of glass they use. The local guy is part of a national glass chain anyway (Glass Doctor). I did not consider Safelite as they use Guardian glass.

After talking to the installer about my concerns with the softness of the VW/OEM Guardian glass we decided on Pilkington/LOF glass as the best option. All Passat glass should be 'acoustic' glass as that is part of the VW/OEM specification.

I'll post again next week when the job is done.

I had a Pilkington installed after a brick bounced off the OEM windshield a couple of months ago. I had issues with the Safelite in-house XYG windshield in my Forester. The XYG was not acceptable because of optical defects. Cheap, made in China, not good.

 

[NHgranite]

Question: what makes the windshield have acoustic qualities?

 

[BKmetz]

Question: what makes the windshield have acoustic qualities?

Acoustic glass uses a special vinyl sound absorbing layer in the laminate. As that layer is so thin I wouldn't think it would make a difference, but I guess it does. These links explain it better than I can.

http://www.agc-automotive.com/english/products/sound.html

http://glassmagazine.com/article/auto/acoustic-windshields-the-quiet-revolution

 

[NHgranite]

Thanks.