Windshields - Chinese (FYG), South African (SafeVue/Pilkington), something else ?
 

About a year ago I spent a long time sourcing a non-Chinese front windshield, SafeVue brand, made by Pilkington (DOT 122) that was made in South Africa.

I tried to get Original Equipment (OE) glass which are made to higher quality than OEM, but no one has it. In fact, OEM's have seperate plants for OE vs. OEM, and car manufactures have a HIGHER REJECT rate of contracted glass as well (I'll try and attach a PDF on this). Also, there is no current production of FD glass made except in China, that is being brought to the USA in any volume

Unfortunately, after a year, the South African Pilkington had a stress crack, and I know my installer is top notch (does all my Mercedes for the last 7-years), so I'm fairly confident it is NOT a an install issue.

Now I have choice again between Chinese glass from FUJIAN YANHUA GLASS (FYG)(DOT 459), which is an OE supplier to BMW.

However, that doesn't mean jack-sh*t on the quality of their OEM glass line.

My insurance company will pay for anything, but my installer will only warranty the FYG glass.

I checked out the FYG glass by taking a photo of a 4'x6' sewing pattern board that has a 1-inch square grid on it, from 15-feet away, and it looked similar to the South African glass. Note- it's a foldable board, so I couldn't keep it straight, but I could see if the lines are distorted.

In short, it was optically free from any perceptible distortion.

What I can't ascertain is either the build or material quality of the FYG compared to the SafeVue/Pilkington.

So, do I take ANOTHER risk with the the South African Pilkington, or go with the Chinese FYG glass ? And no, I'm not willing to pay $1K for glass from FEED or Japan, but I will pay $500 for OE Mazda glass made in Japan . . .

Also, what do the non-DOT markings on the Pilkington/SafeVue windshield mean, and why doesn't the Chinese FYG have them ?

Thanks,
:-) neil

I remember your thread from when you were looking...

Truthfully I can't help with your questions but I'm wondering if you have the photos from your "testing" and if you would be willing to post them.

Mods- I have some important PDF's that would be helpful with this, but they are more than the 100kb PDF attachment limit. Can you increase PDF size to 1MB ?

Upload them here and post links:

www.scribd.com

I had an FGY windshield installed in August. I have not been able to find any flaws in it. I would buy one again. The cost was $238 installed. This charge didn't include the molding, which I got from Mazda.

Thanks Adam!

Can you look at the DOT code/number, and tell us if it's the same ?

:-) neil

From the lower passenger side of the windshield, the numbers are the same as you have pictured above:

AS1 M848
DOT-459
FW 715

I had a new windshield put in earlier this year, i believe it was a pilkington, which i had googled and read good stuff about. so far seems great.... road/wind noise did not increase, as i had noticed in other cars with poor quality chinese glass.

Please post the DOT code number.

:-) neil

I will be following this thread to see what you choose. My car has the original 93 glass and although there are no major flaws there are 1000s of tiny ones. I have new molding and would like to replace the front and rear glass. Do you by chance know the options for the rear? I'd like to get glass without the defroster.

Sorry, I haven't checked availability on the rear hatch glass. It it ever goes bad, probably will do a polycarbonate.

FYI, both PPG & Pilkington now have CHINESE plants, so brand doesn't always equate quality any more. Even Sekurit Saint-Gobain isn't limited to Europe (now in Korea & Mexico). As such, you need to know which plant, and that's via the DOT code.

Even with say a USA, or European DOT code, NOTHING is going to manufactured and TESTED to be as strong, resiliant, pitting resistance, and optically clear, stress free, as the Original Equipment (OE, not OEM) Factory Glass.

Factory glass has contracted specs to adhere to. Replacement glass ONLY needs to meet Federal and DOT standards which are significantly lower quality specs.

Also, my installer has for the last 1.5-years has been rejecting PPG's from CHINA.

:-) neil

What happened Neil? Track event or out on the road?

So... Where would you suggest we look to find the quality OE Factory Glass?

I've not done ANY research on this yet, but I know I'm going to want/need to replace my windshield soon..

^ I wonder if they offer "bulletproof" shields as well... combined with that motorized license plate fold down unit I saw in another thread, one could turn their car into something more related to a "spy hunter" car :) .. just need some of that radar absorbing paint .. maybe Iran can start making some and export it instead of the oil we dont use :p

damn, now i silly!

when i scheduled the installer for my windshield he guaranteed me id get the pilkington, and i was working during the install, didnt check the glass.... went outside to check it just now, its the same FY stuff you posted above, lol!

so far no complaints with it, been in for about 8-9 months or so.

I've had the SafeVue for a couple of years now and it's been fine--no detectable flaws. My glass guy, who has like 30+ years of experience and handles several lines, thought it would meet scrutiny and that I'd be happy with product.

Is the SafeVue DOT Code 122 ?

:-) neil

Thanks for this thread Neil. Like others had mentioned, I have 10,000 little pits in mine that drive me crazy...especially at night. I always figured I'd catch a rock eventually and get it replaced then. But it's been over 8 yrs and I decided this fall I'd have it replaced over the winter while it's put up. I'll be following this closely.

What is the longevity of that product?

What is the scratch resistance?(IE how will it look a few years from now after it has been cleaned and the wipers have been going across it)


I will be following this thread as I, like others in this thread, have a "sandblasted" windshield.




John

I'm in the same boat. :) Been waiting patiently for a crack. Oddly enough every other car I currently own has had or needs a windshield replacement right now EXCEPT for the FD...

That is exactly why I replaced mine. Lots of little pit marks. No cracks. I just had enough !! Driving into the sun when it was low on the horizon was awful.

I'm interested in seeing the outcome of this thread too haha..I need a new windshield badly! Like everyone else I still have the original glass with 10,000 pits. I'm starting to think just buying a new OEM glass would be the way to go, but shipping will probably cost a fortune.

-Dan

Polycarbonate is usually a lot softer than glass, but tough to shatter.

I checked on the OEM glass - Mazdacomp lists this as No Longer Available. That's usually pretty final.

I tried to find an oem glass in Ohio and I couldn't find one I had to get a chinese glass which was still equally hard to find.