Windshield replacement: what to look out for?

[MSegal at STSSystems.com]

Hi Pat,

I'm due for a windshield replacement myself.  A rock hit the window below
the wiper, and over the last few months, the crack has climbed up about a
third of my window and then stopped.  It wouldn't bother me so much, except
it's right in front of me, and just below my line of sight, so it's kind of
annoying in certain sunlight angles.

I understand Thicker is Better, but how do I know which one they're
installing?  Is the original Audi glass the Better one?  I would have
thought they're all the same, as they have to fit into the same window frame
with the same mouldings.  If one is thicker than the other, wouldn't that
affect the overall fit of the exterior mouldings?

BTW, my friend the mechanic quoted me about $450 for a Jobber window (no
mention about new mouldings), and the dealership quoted about $550-600,
including new exterior mouldings (These prices are in $ Canadian).  I was
always under the impression that the Original glass would be better than the
Jobber ones, as the only reason why you would go for the Jobber one was for
cheaper cost, and the only way to make it cheaper is to make it thinner.

Should I stick with the original Audi glass, or are the Jobbers the better
(thicker) ones?

Thanks.

Mitchell Segal
2001.5 A4 1.8TQ Sport


>Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 12:48:55 -0800
>From: Pat Korach <tm2 at zipcon.net>
>To: lee at wheelman.com
>Cc: quattro at audifans.com
>Subject: Re: Windshield replacement: what to look out for?
>
>Andrew
>
>There are two types of glass being installed (Good and BETTER).  BETTER is
thicker
>than Good and holds up to rocks better.
>
>Pat Korach
>Kirkland, WA
>
>Lee Levitt wrote:
>
> Andrew writes:
>
> > Most/all dealers just contract it out to local glass companies.
> > Most of them are pretty good. Mine is OEM glass, complete with the
> > 4 rings and even an Audi part# I think. Installed correctly, no
> > problem. I had mine done at the dealer while it was in for a
> > regular maintenance, but most shops will come to you. This is one
> > of those things you want done by someone who does them all day,
> > not by someone who read how in a book, and watched one last year.
> >
> > BTDT x 2.