FD windshields
 

we are doing a 20b project on a FD currently..just finished the body, engine and drivetrain are complete and tuned. Our body guy just needs to put new Glass in the windshield. He's telling us that there is no FD windshields oem or aftermarket left anywhere..like nowhere in the world! He's saying every Glass manufacturer no longer makes front Glass for the FD. In disbelief we have had multiple people looking and called multiple companies with no luck. Everyone is saying they've never seen this before for any make model car. The more we look the more it seems to be true. We just need Glass to finish this car!

Anybody experienced this or know where to get a new windshield? if not, don't crack a windshield boys, cuz apparently there's none left..forever.

I just put a new one in last year thru Apple Autoglass
$350 tax in .....

They can make them. A friend waited 2 months for his :(

There were very few left when I was looking for one last fall, I needed a brown glass and none of those left for sure, I ended up getting a blue one and according to the shop there were very few left in stock.

There's a grey one on eBay now if you can't find one anywhere else :)

nabbed up the grey one on ebay! Thanks for the input guys! Word to everyone....careful who and what you drive behind..keep those windows safe cuz apparently there's very few left out there!

I just had mine replaced last summer. My glass guy got it the next day, and installed for $250.

I initially expressed my concerns to him about the availability of it both then and in the future, and he said whenever a manufacture runs low on glass, they pull the mold and make another batch. He does work for a local exotic shop and some restoration shops, and told of all the obscure old cars that he could get glass for that was stocked and ready.



Edit: And these cars have it easy with availability. I had the windshield crack in my Elise last fall(I'm convinced there's a glass curse on me), and there is only one manufacture of the glass, you can only order it through a dealership, and the backorder ranges from a few weeks to 6 months depending on demand. And as would be expected, insanely expensive.

Mazdaspeed shows the FD windshield in stock for about $375.

I dont think we have to worry about availability issues for FD windshields just yet.

safelite is doing mine on thursday for $215

I had mine done a couple weeks ago for under $300. Also Safelite.

This is what I remember from a little over a year ago. I ended up with blue as well, but oh well. I also remember the factory windshield molding trim being about as hard to find as a ham sandwich in Baghdad.

Maybe you guys were doing something wrong. I got mine replaced last month and unless there was a rash of broken windshields, plenty were available. In blue and grey anyway. I used safelite

I got the last one in Ohio using safelite.

It might be location related, I talked to 2 local shops plus Safelite when I needed mine replace last October, the 2 shops were able to find blue/green glass while Safelite called me back said no glass available.

Yep, maybe a regional problem. ZE Power and I are both in the Midwest.

:pat:
lol definitely a more likely explanation

just checked safelite's site, 278 installed

Safelite installed mine in 30 mins on thursday. Guy had 20 years install experience and my rx7 was his first. Got the blue glass installed for $189. I'm in Oklahoma btw

Windshield molding replacement
 

Hi guys, greetings fromPortugal.
Can someone tell me if I need to remove the windshield to replace the molding,as I'm going to respray my '92FD3s? The same to the rear glass and molding...thanks!

Always better to remove the glass/molding/doors/hatch, etc., etc. if you're having a quality paint job done.

I had my rx-7 repainted twice, once when I first got it ($1,000 cheapo special) and then years later ($7,000 proper job) and the difference is noticeable when it's done "right".

Plus, you don't need to worry about some knucklehead spraying over your radiator and oil coolers...

To replace the molding you don't have to remove the windshield or rear window and this is detailed in the Mazda service manual (although body shops may want to convince you otherwise).

On the topic of windshields, does anyone have any suggestion on what can be done to strengthen the windshield?
I know this sounds weird but in the first two weeks with my FD I got about 4 rock chips. Its not the road I drive on... I drive my STI on the same road everyday and have not had a single rock chip.. Knock on wood.

I think the WS angle and hardness of the glass has something to do with it. I'd bet the higher front profile of your Subaru has played some interference as well.

Thanks for your reply... Maybe I misunderstood the service manual, as I only found the replacement of the windshield and the moldings. I was already planning in removing as many parts as possible to give a proper paint job, as it was painted with the previous owner, but a really bad job as I have so many parts oversprayed, like windshield bottle, expansion bottle, front harness, etc... lots of extra work because of an amateur paint job.
BTW, I'm having some difficult to get the front and rear moldings and clips... can you help me on this?
Regards,

You may want to try asking Ray
Crowe https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-gen-gene.../#post12062545

He's in the US, but as far as I know he ships internationally too.

Wait, I heard that the OEM ones are no longer available. At least, from when I called Ray a few years ago for.

I just checked and saw that their are 6 blue and 21 grey; I believe a few places might be out...

If anyone can't get a new OEM windshield let me know, I can source a few new windshields.

Just talked to Ray Crowe. Nothing from Mazda. Have to source locally. Ugh, I really need OEM blue front glass.

For the people asking me for windshields, please keep in mind that although the cost of the windshield is not much the shipping is very pricey. If you can have someone pick it up for you that would be ideal, or if you know of a cheaper alternative please let me know! Not trying to make a profit by shipping windshields.

How pricey is pricey? I need a new windshield and an OEM one with blue tint would be nice!

I don't wanna put you to work either, though! I mean if you're not making anything, that's kind of a risky thing to be responsible for shipping.
Make sure you make a little something for your troubles, and if you get a chance, PM me a price shipped to Santa Cruz California, 95062

Thanks

Thanks for the consideration, I might place a small "troubles" fee. I pm'd you the price.

I need a new windshield as well. I plan on calling safelite and trying to get them to do an OE for R1 gray tint. They had blue available when I called a few months ago.

Just got my windshield replaced by Safelite in Redwood City.

Just go online to the national website, go through the process of scheduling an appointment, and they show what is available for your car. They advertise blue, grey and bronze tints available for the FD. All of them have a blue "brow".

I ordered bronze. Looking at it, I think what I actually got is blue - in any case it is a deeper tint than the OEM glass. I don't care, since now I can see through it at night.

Are the one's people getting the OEM glass?

How about rear glass? Any trouble getting one of those?
Price?
The defroster doesn't work on mine (little heating strips got broken when I removed the shitty tint the original owner put on).


I had it quoted shortly after I'd purchased the car...so, 17 years or so ago, and it was only about $350, then.

From my understanding the ones from safelite are not OEM. I do think that they are fine though. In my opinion the OEM glass was not that great so I think its safe to say that the safelite glass will work out just fine.

I have not been able to find any OEM rear glass, best bet is to just purchase a entire rear hatch and hope the heating strips work.

Thanks, Moe.

The problem I've found with the cheaper glass (like what Safelite put on my 335) is that it seems MUCH more susceptible to micro chipping. I've done maybe 15-20k since mine was replaced and the damn windshield looks like a character from Twilight whenever the sun hangs low :cursing:

I'm assuming that it's due to different/cheaper creation processes and hardening. :(

Like others have said, plenty of FD replacement windshields available. I got a new one two years ago and happy with the fit and quality, so far.
Two things to look for: tint color, and mirror mount.
Mazda changed the mirrors in 1995.
Most of the glass companies said their windshield fit all FDs, but when I drove there they saw my mirror mount was different. Finally found a shop that cut my mount bracket off the old windshield and installed it on my new windshield.

I just got a quote for a rear glass, $467 installed.

^That actually doesn't sound horrible. Good time to get new weatherstripping too :icon_tup:

^
Yes, hopefully that weatherstrip is available.


Back when I first got the car, I noticed it had a leak in the weatherstripping, and so I took it to a windshield shop and they replaced it with a generic one, and suggested I get a genuine "some time".
My plan back then had been to replace the glass within a few months.
Well, as shit happens...that is now like...16 years ago, lol!

Yes should be available. I bought one from Ray last year. Pretty cheap too (unlike the front one)

^
Cool.
Thanks, armans.

I replaced mine in Australia last year when a rock hit it. Like $300 Aussie dollars and they had heaps in stock from memory. They also had new windshield rubbers, so I got one fitted.

This was just some local glass company. Called them, they replaced everything the next day. No shortage issues or anything.

A friend of mine also replaced his windshield in his FD back in August of this year (2016) and same thing- no hassles, plenty of spare screens ready to go.

So no idea why you can't get screens. Maybe you're in a bad area geographically, but if we can get them easily in remote regional areas of Australia, I'd say your issue is local to you.

Does anyone have pictures of the windshield mounted on the car, but with the weather stripping removed or not installed yet?
(I'm wanting to see how much of a gap there is around it.) Thx

[[ Edit: Nevermind, found this vid.. ]]

Where did you find a rear window? I have been trying to get a new rear window but mazda dont make them anymore and none of the windscreen companies here can get a new one