Benefits of Windshield Repair
Cost Savings — A windshield repair is hundreds of dollars less than a replacement. A chip repair prevents a crack, and a crack repair prevents a replacement. Whether you have a chip or a crack, get it repaired as soon as possible.
Safety — Preserving the factory seal. If you are in an accident, the windshield is a major part of the airbag system and the roof support. Your best chance to avoid injury is with the factory seal intact.
Quality — Saving your windshield preserves the higher-quality Original Equipment Manufactured glass. OEM/OEE windshields have precise surface control with applied hydrophobic coatings so the wipers remove rain; are solar-optimized to block UV and reduce heat buildup in a parked car by as much as 45°F — and while driving, which reduces air-conditioner use and saves fuel; and have acoustic attenuation for a quieter ride by reducing road, tire, and wind noise.
Glass Quality: OEM/OEE vs. ARG
Many OE windshields have precise surface control so the wipers remove rain; are solar-optimized to block UV and reduce heat buildup in a parked car and while driving; and have acoustic attenuation for a quieter ride. Aftermarket ARG windshields can be missing some or all of these qualities — and none of this is disclosed.
Another difference between OEM and ARG glass is the level of residual stress around the perimeter, called the “weak spot,” which causes windshields to fracture more easily in that area and then crack — an edge crack. OEM windshields, by contract with the vehicle manufacturers, limit this stress. OEM glass is made more slowly, requiring more time and energy during the bending and annealing process to limit residual stress at the edge of the windshield; vehicle manufacturers require residual stress under 1,000 psi. ARG glass may be annealed faster with less time and energy, and with no contract limiting residual stress it can be higher — and edge-crack more easily.
Note: a windshield “from an OEM manufacturer” may NOT be an OEM windshield — it can be an aftermarket windshield from a company that also makes original windshields, with completely different specs, made in a different factory. This is sometimes used to mislead consumers into thinking they are getting OEM glass. Ensure your repair shop has verified the replacement glass against your VIN and can provide a dealer-equivalent part number to cross-reference the manufacturer and unique part ID. Express Auto Glass verifies every replacement part by VIN as standard practice.
See also: Repair vs. Replacement · Warranty · Windshield Features
Questions about glass quality for your vehicle? Call (760) 573-2217.