If windshield repair is not feasible any longer, you will have no choice but to agree to windshield replacement. To make the most of your windshield replacement, though, you should know about the various types of car glass used in auto glass installation. These are dealer car glass, original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass and aftermarket car glass, with each one having its own pros and cons.
The most expensive kind of car glass is dealer glass which is made available from authorized car dealerships. This means your dealer glass will depend on the brand of your vehicle. Dealer glass is made by the manufacturer of your vehicles own car glass and bears the stamp of the brand. It is actually your vehicles original car glass. Those who never want to veer away from anything original and branded will choose nothing else but dealer glass.
Similar in quality to dealer glass but much less expensive is original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass. It may not be made by the original manufacturer of your vehicles car glass but its manufacturers are authorized to produce car glass according to the exact specifications of dealer glass. That means they have the same durability, size, thickness, color and shape as dealer glass. Manufacturers of OEM distributor car glass are highly respected in the automotive industry and their products are highly regarded as being of the highest quality, which is why they are trusted by vehicle manufacturers. The most well known manufacturers of OEM distributor car glass include Pilkington, Carlite, Pittsburg Plate Glass (PPG), Safeguard/Mopar, Ford, AP Tech, Asahi, Sekurit, Triplex, Scanex, Sicursiv, Guardian and Crinamex. If you decide on using original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass, make sure you stick with the reputable brands.
The previous statement is a warning of sorts. After all, there also are sources who claim to be OEM distributor car glass manufacturers but also produce substandard car glass alongside their OEM glass. Do not trust labels that say “from an OEM manufacturer” unless the car glass is specifically labelled as original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor car glass.
The least expensive car glass is aftermarket car glass which is also referred to as original equipment equivalent (OEE) car glass. Its manufacturers are not legally authorized to make car glass according to the specifications copyrighted and licensed to vehicle brands. Aftermarket car glass, therefore, differs from dealer glass and OEM glass. It is also not covered by the same guarantees as dealer glass and OEM glass, and has been known to have a variety of problems including having a bad fit, leaks, visual distortions, poor solar performance and lack of protection against wind noise.
In comparing the three types of car glass, it is evident that original equipment manufactured car glass is the best option for consumers. You get all the benefits of dealer glass for much less dollars. In terms of quality, OEM glass exceeds even the standards of the US Department of Transportation. While the DOT calls for 80 percent windshield retention during frontal barrier crash tests, OEM glass provides a hundred percent.
When choosing OEM glass, also use OEM distributor car glass parts and adhesives for safety. In the case of mobile windshield replacement, for instance, low quality parts and adhesives are sometimes used. The prescribed drying time for the adhesive is also usually not observed, leaving the vehicle driver and passengers at risk with a windshield that is not properly fixed in place. Only professionally certified auto glass technicians will be knowledgeable enough on all standards that should be met in terms of products and techniques.
Whatever car glass you choose for auto glass installation in your windshield replacement, make sure all components and service providers pass the highest safety standards.