There are other threads on which I could have attached this, but the title of those threads made no mention of windshields, so I decided to start a windshield thread

While crossing Humpback Mountain on the Blue Ridge Parkway two weeks ago, there was a very loud 'crack' sound that my wife and I thought might have been a bullet striking our car. But then we saw a crack coming up from the bottom center of our windshield. As there was no other traffic around, and we were only doing 35 MPH, we assumed it was just a defective windshield, so after the trip, took the car to our Nissan dealer. By then, the crack had gone halfway up the windshield, made a 'U' turn and began going back down.

But the Nissan dealer found an impact 'star' BELOW the resting point of the windshield wiper, barely above the cowl (hood), where a rock had struck at some point in the past. We don't remember having ever had a rock hit us, but . . . This 'star' was not visible from inside the car because this windshield extends way below the level of the dash. Our dealer gave us the name of the company/person they use to replace windshields.

So we took the car to our insurance agent, who set up a claim (under 'comprehensive'; no effect on rates). My insurance company (State Farm) has sort of a 'dummy' corp (Lynx Glass) set up to handle all glass claims. We were required to get on a three-way phone conversation between Lynx, the windshield replacement company and me in order to finalize the details. Our State farm agent said this three-way call was required.

I insisted that the replacement windshield be the same Nissan Carlex AST DOT 467 M225 as the OEM windshield. Both Lynx and the windshield replacement company told me (then I remembered my Nissan dealer having told me the same thing) that Nissan Carlex windshields are made by Carlite, and that they make the same windshield under both the 'Carlex' name for use at the Nissan plant, and 'Carlite' for use as aftermarket replacements. They also said they sometimes use the 'Carlex' windshields as aftermarket replacements, in which case, the word 'Nissan' is etched out.

The replacement windshield company showed up on the appointed day, and the replacement took about 45 minutes. The replacement glass was in fact a 'Carlex' with the same numbers as my OEM glass, but with the word 'Nissan' etched out. My wife and I watched closely, as this operation has the potential to do damage to the car if the workers lean against the car with tools in their pocket. They are also working with a urethane adhesive that you don't want on your paint or upholstery (freeing the lower portion of the old windshield is done from inside the car, as well as removing and reattaching the rear view mirror). We were told to not drive the car for three hours while the adhesive set.

We have checked out the work closely, and driven the car, and found no problems. We will be taking the garden hose to it next week, and plan to let it sit out in the next rain (sadly, our last rain was in late May, and our temperatures have been blistering).

The invoice shows the windshield costing $425.75, but I have a feeling this is an 'insurance company set' price, and lower prices might be found. The labor was $100 (two men were actually on our property for almost an hour), the trip charge (from 30 miles away) was $29, etc, so the total bill was $555.55, of which State Farm paid all but our $200 deductable.

I realize this is too wordy, but wanted to get everything in, in case someone else has to get this done.


EDIT - For those who may have trouble finding the info data/specs on the windshield, - it is in the lower corner on the driver side. Just slide a piece of white paper onto the top of the dash in that area, and the info becomes very easy to read.

 

Thanks for the info , I will make sure I check this thread out if anything ever arises.

 

Excellent! I got two small chips on my first 100+ mile outing on my Max and now my Z! My friend at work recently purchased a new IS 350 and the dealer had a Proline Windshield Skin installed. I did some research and the videos are impressive, I think when I eventually replace my windshields I'm going to have this added. On the proline site make sure you watch the 20/20 video and the center punch section.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKASR-KTQgM

http://www.prolinestyling.com/windsh...kin/index.html

http://prolinestyling.com/index-2.html

 

I had my dealer put the diamondkote on my windshield (I don't know if the Americans have that down there?) I have to say it has worked wonders. Many quarter sized rocks have hit my windshield and just bounced off, seat might have had a little stain on it but the windshield was good.

 

I had a pebble/stone hit my windshield on the LIE, didnt notice till next day when crack spread. I had same issue, geico insisted they used carlex glass which was oem without nissan etch, went to safelite to get it done, sure enuff it was carlex. no problems and it has been pouring past couple of wks in NY.

Get geico insurance, they use safelite glass.

Call Geico @ 1-800-342-9070 for your free quote, use promo code 111484 (new customers only), Tell them Joe sent you or tell them Joe from Maxima Car club sent you, hopefully u can save up to 15% or more by switching.

 

I just added an 'EDIT' to the bottom of my thread-starting post explaining how to easily find and read the identification/specs on the windshield.


Also, as many here already know, if your windshield is hit by a rock, and you can see the 'impact star', but no crack has yet formed, there are glass specialists who can fix this 'impact star' so it will not spread, and the windshield does not have to be replaced.