New Windshield Brands

[38kronik00]

Hello everyone,

I am in need of a windshield replacement. I am pretty sure it is the original windshield in the car right now and is so pitted that I cannot see when facing the sun. I got a quote from two separate, reputable places for a HUD coated windshield and labor. Both are basically the same (513.52 at one and 515 at the other) and they have different brands of windshields to install. One of them is Pittsburg Glass and I can't find anything about them on the interwebs and the other is Pilkington. Anyone have any knowledge on these and which will be the better of the two? Thank for the help!

[Archon]

Pittsburgh Glass has been around for a long time. At times, they provided windshields for GM. I don't know anything about the other company, but I'm not really up on glass companies.
http://www.ppg.com/en/ourcompany/Pages/ ... story.aspx

[2003 SSEi]

Pilkington is what is OEM on alot of the German brands such as Mercedes

[CMNTMXR57]

Pilkington is also used by GM too. Especially Holden's (My GTO has it, and I would stand to reckon that any of our G8 owners here, have it too), but lately I've seen it trickling into other GM vehicles. I guess from what I read up on it at one time, it is exceptionally strong, however, it's laminate layers aren't as smooth as say PPG. This affects any tint you put on it aftermarket, which since this is your windshield, this won't apply obviously, but still, just food for fodder.

I found out about the tinting issue after tinting my windows and my rear specifically isn't as optically smooth as I would like and my tinter said there is nothing he can do, it's in the laminate on the glass itself. It's not an issue looking at the tinted glass from the outside, just an issue looking out of it from the inside.

[gweg_b]

Yeah, I noticed the same thing on the rear glass of my G8. It just doesn't look as crisp from the inside looking out as it does on my LeSabre. I thought something was with the tint (or my eyes, haha). Well, that explains a lot then.

[38kronik00]

Hmm, the only tint on my windshield is the top piece that I have 5% on and that is just for looks from the outside as well as a sun shield so no big deal there. By strong do you mean chip/scratch resistant?

[CMNTMXR57]

I'm talking about the tint you add on aftermarket. Since the layers of laminate on either side of the glass aren't perfectly smooth/flat, it isn't 100% optically perfect. The tint in the upper area of the windshield is something else applied at the factory and you shouldn't notice any optical issues.

By strong, I mean it is structurally stronger than other brands (not that I can document that in any way). In your car, part of the body's rigidity also comes from the glass. the more flex it can have without breaking, as your vehicle moves down the road, the stronger it is. This also pays off in crashes in that it reduces the risk even more of not breaking once it shatters/spiders upon impact. Or another way of putting it, it has a higher force absorbancy rate. if that makes sense.

At the end of the day, I wouldn't sweat putting a Pilkington windshield in my car if that was what was available. It is a pretty common glass company now, big in the European cars, as I mentioned Holdens, and slowly filtering into U.S. vehicles. I seem to recall when I replaced the Monte's windshield, it was a Pilkington unit.

[cpilkington]

Pilkington Glass is a British glass company that is now global. I might be biased because my last name is Pilkington, but I have Pilkington glass in my Chevy Trailblazer and I have had a few windshields replaced over the years that were also Pilkington. No complaints. It's also nice to say, yeah it's mine...and it has my name on it.

[Jrs3800]

Also had to replace my windshield in my van with a Pilkington, No complaints either... Been 4 years iirc..

[myfirstbonnie]

I have had the Pittsburg for a couple years and pretty satisfied. Looks like the costs are going up, mine was around $380 done by Safelite.

[38kronik00]

I just got a quote from safelite, 300 bucks out the door.

[SSEiMan01]

Pilkington is on the G8s too. Good *shoot* actually, great glass. The laminated glass on the G8 is the main reason they have almost no wind noise at all. Especially when compared to a 00+, which has tons.

But I had Safelite do mine on the 01 like I told you on the phone. I'd go with them, they make their own windshields and the installers are great.

[2000Silverbullet]

I just had the windshield replaced on the Torrent. There were 6 different styles available for the Torrent/Equinox/Acadia. The GXP gets the top of the line acoustical glass at $500 plus labour
Bonneville HUD windshield was priced out at a whopping $950 plus labour

[38kronik00]

Yeahhh, I wouldn't do it for that price. There has got to be better. IS the 950 for accoustic dampening glass?

[00Beast]

That's Canadian prices. They charge out the a$$ up there. Either will be fine, I was told recently that PGW (Pittsburgh Glass) was bought by and is now PPG's line of glass. That's what's on all our cars that have had glass replaced.\

Also funny you mention the lamination layer, my buddy's 11 Altima has a really weird textured look on the passenger side of the windshield. Not sure what brand his is tho.

[Ken_W]

I had my SSEi windshield replaced six months ago for $380 at a small auto glass shop (included parts and labor). I got the good Pittsburgh (PGW) glass and the "good" seal (apparently there is a cheaper one).

I think $500+ is outrageous -- continue to shop around! I've had good luck going to the "poor side of town" where prices are generally lower for everything. In the more upscale suburbs they charge more because they can.

Ken_W

[Bugsi]

I have no experience with Pilkington, so I can't comment on it.

I have GREAT experience with PGW (Pittsburg; they ARE PPG) and I would totally get another one any time.

Stay far away from YBBG, which is the Foshen-Apex auto glass company of Hong Kong. A glass guy put one in my Bonneville and it could not be made to fit. (Despite that, he tried anyway, and made a complete mess of things.) They ultimately gave me a refund and I had a different shop put a PGW windshield in my Bonneville, which fit perfectly and is still in my car around five years later.