Re: windshield pitting

["Gary G. Erickson" <erickson@teleport.com>]

Considering some of the prices that I'm seeing here, I need to throw my
$.02 in here.

A couple of years ago, some bonehead put a large crack in the front
window of my '85 GT while installing a set of Recaros.  (Yes, I'm the
bonehead in question; don't ask any more)

I started calling around to find out what a new windshield was going to
cost and was quoted prices ranging from $350-575 for replacement,
aftermarket glass.  If I wanted OEM, I needed to add another $150 to
that price.

Having driven cars with both replacement glass and OE, I decided to see
what I could track down in the OE department.  I've never been overly
thrilled with the quality and clarity of the replacement stuff.

I ended up talking to rep. at a chain (Safelite Auto Glass -- regional,
I think) and she informed me that they couldn't get the OE glass, but if
I could provide the glass, they would be happy to install it for $60
with an 18 month leak warranty.  (Yes, guaranteed to leak for at least
18 months!  <grin>  Actually, the work was excellent.)

So I called Linda at Carlsen.  For $275 she had an original Audi
windshield shipped directly to the glass company.  Two weeks later, I
was rolling away with a brand new, OE windshield for less than the
lowest price quoted for aftermarket.

There's only one caveat here: at least on the 4k/GT series, it's
normally recommended that you replace the windshield gasket at the same
time.  (Linda's price: $107)  The key here was that being a NW car, it
never really bakes in the sun and we were able to re-use the original
gasket.

I guess the short version of this story is the usual one for our
Audi's:  If you are willing to do a little legwork yourself and exercise
our "connections," you can get OE or better quality for the same price
as the cheap stuff.

later,

Gary

-- 
Gary G. Erickson         Secretary -- NW Quattro Club
 503-702-5789           mailto:erickson@teleport.com
   http://www.teleport.com/~erickson/pnwaudi.htm