windshield replacement by Safelite - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

DieselPaul · #16 05-13-2010, 09:52 AM

Safelite is who does/did (haven't been out there recently) dealer repairs for my dad, they seem to do a good job, as stated a crappy tech can ruin the best of companies.

Personally the only windshield I've ever had done was on the old E46 and that was $1,470 but the lease specified an OEM Pilkington Glass @ 1,250 installed by dealer labor.

winmutt · #17 05-13-2010, 09:56 AM

Safelite did my window, they broke it the first time and had to come back out to reinstall. No problems since then. Make sure you get the OEM seal, fairly certain can be found for a heck of a lot less than $160. They don't replace the moulding just the seal.

cirrusman · #18 05-13-2010, 10:50 AM

I worked for safelite back in '01. Good overall company; it's like everyone else, their techs are professional, but like all companies, they also have new hires who are learning the ropes, and if you get a new tech he might mess up. And they will obviously will not tell you if they're sending an experienced tech or not. But they do have standards to meet so they will get there as many times as it takes to do a good job and in the end it will look good even if they messed it up to start with. OE glass, well, they don't make glass for cars this vintage with the MB sign anymore. Pilkington is considered OE for these cars; however, If you ask for OE they will charge more for the same aftermarket glass and slap on a MB sign, and charge you $100 for that. Aftermarket glass is as good (or bad) as the OE, which, like everything in this life, can, or not, have a flaw. I'd go with aftermarket glass. They do have a lifetime warranty on their work provided there's no rust to begin with.

JHZR2 · #19 05-13-2010, 02:04 PM

There is a difference in my experience, between Chinese and Mexican glass, and the "OE" or at least "OE Equivalent" glass made by a major, preferably with the insignia.

Wavyness and poor optical quality occur otherwise...

funola · #20 06-11-2010, 09:59 AM

My windshield is finally done. Safelite sent one guy out to the house to do the job. He had a bad day, couldn't get the glass in (used the wrong method). Came back another day, used the right method and couldn't get the glass in. Third time, I went to their shop and waited and watched as they put the glass in with another new molding (the first new molding got pretty mangled up).

In the shop, even with a few hands helping, they still had difficulty getting the aluminum trims into the molding while wrapped around the glass before roping it it. The aluminum trims were popping out on them. They used pliers to squeeze the trims in and chewed it up slightly and some sections are a little wavy. They were straight, I bent them straight to match the contour of the glass before they started. They had 2 sets of aluminum trims to work with.

Anyway the glass is in and it looks good other than the trims not perfect. The leaks I've had with the old molding (by the drivers visor) is gone.

Safelite tells me I have a lifetime guarantee and there are any problems to bring it back.

I bought a moulding from ********** a while ago with the intent of fixing the leak myself. I still have the molding and will not need it anymore and it is for sale. Please PM me if you are interested.

winmutt · #21 06-11-2010, 02:58 PM

Pretty sure the metal goes in after the window is in place?

funola · #22 06-11-2010, 03:14 PM

[QUOTE=winmutt;2484942]Pretty sure the metal goes in after the window is in place?[/QUOTE

That was the cause of his first bad day.

79Mercy · #23 06-11-2010, 04:32 PM

Nope, the metal trim goes in the seal before the glass is in the car.

I replaced the front and rear windshield in my W115 myself. The front gave me no trouble at all, I used a FEBI seal. No leaks.

The rear was a bit harder, i couldn't find a OEM seal and the URO seal didn't fit. I found a FEBI seal and it went in pretty easy. No leaks either, so im happy.