OEM quality isn't what it used to be

[Ματθιας]

I was in the autoglass business in another life and know a bit about what is and isn't quality.

I don't like aftermarket glass as it usually has flaws like being out of bend and having distortions. Knowing this, I ask for and get OEM glass.

So I have a 1978 F150 with and got Ford OEM replacement Carlite glass. It was flawless. Then I asked for and got Carlite glass for my 1998 Crown Vic. Well they didn't have the original glass, as it had been superseded by a newer design. Not a big deal as the only difference is that the boarders have a different cosmetic dot matrix. Anyway, when I got in the car and looked I could see distortions where it curves into the A-pillar. Not happy.

I talked to the installer and he says it's just the way things are.

When I got home I looked up the DOT number code (manufacturer's code) that's on the bug. For those who don't know a bug is the writing on the glass that's about the size of a quarter (looks like a smashed bug - hence the name) and gives all the info about the glass including the manufacturer. It seems that Carlite isn't really Carlite but another manufacturer, in another country, who probably owns the Carlite name.

That explains the distortions.

All things being equal, even with the flaws, I'll still ask for OEM anything then settle for aftermarket.

 

[Maddog 521]

Now that's interesting, glad to know that.

 

[Ματθιας]

Here's an example of what a bug is and looks like.

The things I'm interested in;

PGW = Pittsburg Glass Works - formerly PPG. (aftermarket glass)

The DOT number = the factory in this case "563" is Shenzhen Automotive Glass Manufacturing

FW03183 is the actual part number.

FW prefix is Foreign windshield and DW prefix is Domestic windshield.

 

[S42N8]

Thanks! A timely post for me. Trying to get a window replaced and having issues with a certain chain that can’t manage to get the right glass. Having the dealer do it instead… a difference of about $150 + labor for OEM, but since I’ve already lost a days work at the chain, worth it to get the window replaced at the dealership. And they have better coffee, so there’s that. ️

 

[Ματθιας]

Thanks! A timely post for me. Trying to get a window replaced and having issues with a certain chain that can’t manage to get the right glass. Having the dealer do it instead… a difference of about $150 + labor for OEM, but since I’ve already lost a days work at the chain, worth it to get the window replaced at the dealership. And they have better coffee, so there’s that. ️

I used to be on the distribution side and can explain with some certainty of how it works at the dealership.

Most dealerships don't stock glass, they get it from the distributer. PGW, Migrant, and Pilkington are the big Dist. players. Everybody, including the distributors, have access to every manufacturers glass - even their competition - everybody knows everybody. They all feed from the same trough.

The dealer might have an in house glass guy, but probably contacts with a local shop to instal the glass. Hence the mark up.

-unsolicited word of advice, if you're getting tempered door glass fixed make sure the color matches the rest of the tempered glass - green tinted or privacy (dark tint) as different manufacturers have slightly different colors and may not match.

 

[LVSteve]

My '96 Firebird (bought used, low miles in '97) came with a distortion on the passenger side. I'm pretty sure it was the original factory glass.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

My advise is to keep your old vehicles going as long as possible, the new ones have priced them selves beyond belief and SUV's even more

 

[johngalt]

Another example:

A few years back the rear bumper on my Tahoe started to rust through, so it got added to the list of things to fix.

Since it is over 10 years old, there are no OEM parts left. The only option was a 3rd party made in China p.o.s. Within just a few years I can see rust specks showing through the chrome.

 

[venomballistics]

Fits the profile.
The 2011 Buick Regal is an Opel platform populated by Chinese parts.
It's no surprise that Ford's glass offshored

 

[Bald1]

I had the opposite happen to me back in the spring. My wife’s Audi Q7 needed brakes. I wanted to compare cost and quality of OEM vs aftermarket. Funny thing. There is no aftermarket rotors or pads. In fact the parts are difficult to get unless you go through dealer.

 

[Golddollar]

My advise is to keep your old vehicles going as long as possible, the new ones have priced them selves beyond belief and SUV's even more

My 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis (Batmobile #2) is still going great. I just sunk some money in it for repairs but it was the equivalent of 4 car payments instead of 60.

 

[chief38]

I am detailed oriented and notice these things. One of my friends bought a Lincoln MKS a few years ago and his original factory windshield which is still there is quite distorted on the sides. It is just so obvious that when he brought it back to the Dealer, he was told by the service dept. that they all come that way. Pretty sad!

I have noticed distortion on another factory windshield in my friends Land Rover. I would think that there is something just not right when the glass is being formed to the curve. Could be temperatures, cooling rates, - who knows.....

 

[SMSgt]

Even a foreign aftermarket window is better than a garbage bag and duct tape.

 

[Ματθιας]

I am detailed oriented and notice these things. One of my friends bought a Lincoln MKS a few years ago and his original factory windshield which is still there is quite distorted on the sides. It is just so obvious that when he brought it back to the Dealer, he was told by the service dept. that they all come that way. Pretty sad!

I have noticed distortion on another factory windshield in my friends Land Rover. I would think that there is something just not right when the glass is being formed to the curve. Could be temperatures, cooling rates, - who knows.....

The distortion is likely from the mold/mould being a bit out of spec.

The way it used to be is that when a factory mould was out it spec, it would be sold to the aftermarket manufacturers who'd keep using it until it was way out of spec. That's why some of the glass is out of bend or has other flaws. That's why I don't care for aftermarket glass.

The way the sales guy would sell his particular manufacturer's glass to the installation shop would be to take one of the windshields that was long and had a continuous curve, like a chevy van, and compare the different manufacturers products.

I've been out of the game for almost 15 years so I don't know if that's still being done that way