Tonight I copped a large (about golf ball sized) rock or glob of hard road tar into my windshield at about 60mph/100kmh. It put a large spider web the size of a dinner plate in the glass, an inch above the wipers, dead center. Got flung at me by a car in front of me, out of some highway asphalt works

Since this windscreen is now toast, I have to get a new one fitted. Does anyone know if the aftermarket ones the glass companies use are good quality, same thickness, etc? Do all model years use the same screen +rubber, or did the part numbers ever change?

My insurance doesnt cover windscreen replacement, so this is out of my own pocket. Not interested in pulling a used one out of the parts car I have here, because its a bit sandblasted looking.

So I want to go in with my eyes open to the options/pitfalls, and hear from anyone who has gone through it before. Thanks

 

Also I should add, if/when I replace the broken windscreen, I'm considering applying this 'Clearplex' windscreen protection film to guard against further rock impacts.
Anyone have any experiences with the stuff?

 

Haven't tried it but if it work as well as my iPhone screen protector I'd say go for it

 

No idea about Australia, but over here you need to ask for oem when you get it replaced. Otherwise they fit a blue tinted screen. Stock FD's have bronze glass.

 

Thanks for the tips

Yeah, I think the aftermarket ones here are blue tinted glass as well.. Which I dont mind as much really.

Called 4 windscreen shops around my city today. Interesting results:

Shop #1 quoted $580.00
Shop #2 $440.00
Shop #3 $480.00 then haggled them down to $440.00
Shop #4 $350.00

All for the same brand (Pilkington glass) same part number, no differences.
Makes you wonder why one company quotes $580 when the next one offers the same thing for $350 straight up?

 

Can't remember exactly what I paid, but all those prices seem on the steepish side, although the lower one with installation might be closer to the ballpark.

You can get a heated windscreen for that top price.

Screen rubbers and inserts did change over the model years, I'd just go with what the installer uses unless a genuine only freak. Dunno what clearplex is, if it's the plastic peel-offs one of the windscreen sellers offer, won't protect against large impacts.