We have had some discussion on this before. My windshield was destroyed by some rocks yesterday. Not just chinks--big holes and cracks. I think the rocks were from the tire of a non-commercial vehicle, so I am not even going that route for reimbursement. I filed a claim with Farmer's ins. and they were extremely nice and even asked if I wanted OEM, to which I answered, of course. She then gave me a reference # and sent me to their preferred shop in the area and told me I would only be responsible for the $100 deductable. The glass company ordered the glass

I get to the glass shop, and they tried to put some off-brand glass in the car, and said the insurance company had called them and said not to put the OEM in the car because it was older than 2000. Called Farmer's back, and they wanted me to pay $215 for the difference in the price of the two windshields if I wanted the OEM. They had already authorized the OEM, but tried to reneg.

I won't bore you with the details of how I ultimately got them to pay for the OEM glass , but beware when you get your windshield replaced. The glass shop told me that no aftermarket company would be able to match the shading of the other OEM glass in the car. Also, I have had several dealer friends tell me that one thing they look for when they take a mercedes trade is the original glass (I guess they use this as a selling point, but even if it isn't a true indicator of value for the car, if the market will bear it....)

Please, bore me with the details. I'm going through the exact same thing with Progressive right now. My windshield has already been replace once, a couple years ago. They put OEM glass in it, with the Mercedes Star, but it was made by PPG while the original was made by Sekurit. This time around I tried to get Sekurit, and even offered to pay the difference, but was told it is not available in this country. So you probably got a PPG. I've been waiting 3 weeks now for this glass person to schedule the replacement.

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Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Rick, my side windows are Sekurit, but the original "starred" windshield is PPG on my particular car. The delivery sheet indicates this was the windshield that came new. I don't know what I will end up with ultimately, but the original OEM Mercedes replacement was on the order ticket and the glass arrives Friday. What they were trying to give me wasn't even PPG, and had a bluish haze to it, and no "shading" between the sun-visors behind the rear-view. It totally didn't match the other glass in the car, color wise.

As for the details, I never speak to an insurance company without recording the conversation. They always announce that they do the same, but you would have to supboena their tapes (if they didn't destroy them) to get a copy. The woman gave me an authorization # for the OEM glass which I immediately passed on to their preferred installation company, which placed the order for the glass before the insurance company tried to reneg. She had the VIN # when she gave me the authorization. She probably only later noticed the car was five years old and tried to get out of the OEM replacement. They claim that they don't put oem glass in cars that are more than two years old if there is a cheaper alternative, but it isn't specified in the contract (at least mine). My glass contract just referrs to a replacement and a deductable. Replacements should be suitable. In this case, they wanted to put this stupid blue-tinted glass in my black car that has tan interior and grey windows. That was not suitable. They just gave up, I guess.

Read your glass contract, and if it doesn't specify that they reserve the option to put crap in an older car, I think you win. Also, you may want to call progressive and pose the question, "How old does a car have to be for you guys automatically not to recommend replacing the glass with OEM?"

Get that and you have them because their decision will be arbitrary and in bad faith if they give you a cheap replacement with out this spelled out in your contract. Good luck. I will let you know what I end up with.

Thanks, I'll check my contract. BTW, Florida law requires glass replacement with no deductible, so I'm already money ahead there.

And didn't you buy that car used? Maybe the windshield was already replaced once before you got it, which would explain the PPG.

__________________
Rick Miley
2014 Tesla Model S
2018 Tesla Model 3
2017 Nissan LEAF
Former MB: 99 E300, 86 190E 2.3, 87 300E, 80 240D, 82 204D Euro
Chain Elongation References

Delivery sheet indicates Goodyear tires and PPG windshield.

SC where I used to live has no deductable either, not so here!