Pilkington or PPG/PGW Windshield?

MadeInJapan · Jun 28, 2016

Got back from the beach and was using a hose to rinse the salt and sand off of our '04 V70 and plink....windshield suddenly cracked in 2 places...one of the cracks goes straight across the windshield at eye level and is about 2 feet long... Very odd as I've done this every year but I suppose it was hot and the water from the hose was at least cool. In any case, I was trying to set up a windshield replacement and insurance will pay up to $314 which includes the rain sensor. I insisted on OEM/Pilkington glass as this is what came in our car, but apparently it's an arm and a leg and goes way beyond the $314 cost. Besides that, it will take them several days to source the glass. So, I did a little investigating and there are quite a few non-Volvo's that also came with Pilkingon and I found that many complain that it is soft, scratches easily and is apt to pit more easily than other glass. My option is PPG which is now PGW glass? This glass will be just under the $314 which the insurance company is willing to pay.

I'd like to know other Volvo owner's opinion on whether or not it is that important to stay with Pilkington or not and if they have an opinion of it vs. the other glass mentioned here.

Thanks in advance!

Mikeisftw · Jun 28, 2016

Pilkington especially if you have a rain sensor then, it's a no brainer. I don't have a rain sensor so it would be as relevant to someone like me but, if you do, you need the OEM glass.

This instance was on a newer car, but the story serves the same purpose. So, when I worked at Volvo we had this lady with a 2015.5 XC60, very good long time customer. Her glass was damaged so, she went ahead an got it replaced at some random place. The people there were idiots, really sad considering all they do is glass lol. They didn't put in the OE Saint-Gorbain stuff and the car was PISSED. The CitySafety was going crazy and slamming on the brakes automatically as she was driving randomly. She was refusing to replace it with the correct glass and kept having the issue because SHE put the wrong one in. She got really angry and decided to go to the other end of the dealership and buy a ****box BMW that had less power, room and none of the standard safety features. She told us was much less happy at BMW LOL

The Driver · Jun 28, 2016

I have PGW now as a replacement. Overall its fine but I hate the stupid logo in the center of the windshield, about 3000 miles and almost no pitting so thats one good thing.

MadeInJapan · Jun 28, 2016

I just found out that Safelite the company installing my windshield is going to be using APTECH glass.
The email I got from them stated that their company produces it.
Does anyone know about this glass? Is there a reason for me to be concerned?

80sGuy · Jul 4, 2016

MadeInJapan said:
I just found out that Safelite the company installing my windshield is going to be using APTECH glass.
The email I got from them stated that their company produces it.
Does anyone know about this glass? Is there a reason for me to be concerned?

Avoid Safelite by all means! Somehow Safelite lobbied the insurance commissions and launched 'Safelite Solutions'. They won the bidding contract to handle all claims for practically every insurance company - except for two which I can't recall. Their goal is to help insurance companies pay out as little to zero money as possible and also gives them FULL CONTROL of the glass-installation business therefore they are shoving their low-grade house brand glass/windshields down policyholders' throats. I went through hell with my insurance company last year when I couldn't talk directly to them anymore instead my calls would go directly to Safelite Solutions and they wanted to install some off-brand windshield on my '09 S40. It was a pain in the a$$ trying to get hold of my insurance company even though I called the number direct, when choosing claims for windshield it automatically gets routed to Safelite Solutions.

Long story short, I gave my insurance company hell stating that the only way for me to pay the $300 deductible is have an original Volvo-branded windshield installed otherwise otherwise I will end my 12-year-long loyal business with them, which they finally agreed. Now the original glass is another story. Although Volvo, I found out that they are no longer manufactured by Saint-Gobain (the original was made in Italy) and the new replacement is made in China by a company called Fu Yao Group. It fits and have all the proper logos but when i look care fully towards the edge by the a-pillar I can see a slight distortion. Pissed? Yes, very!
As a customer, you have the right to choose who and what brand of windshield to install. Most deductibles are more than enough to cover the work, in most cases insurance companies don't have to pay any difference, if any at all.

http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread.php?222028-Windshield&p=2605105&viewfull=1#post2605105

atikovi · Jul 4, 2016

MadeInJapan said:
I insisted on OEM/Pilkington glass as this is what came in our car,

On a 12 year old car, you don't have much say if it's on the insurance companies dime. The will insist in aftermarket glass usually made in China. Paid about $80 wholesale for the just the glass on a S40 and it looks the same as OEM.

MadeInJapan · Jul 4, 2016

80sGuy said:
Avoid Safelite by all means!

Well, too late! The APTECH glass went in and I saw the bill- yes, the insurance company saved a ton of money. However, the glass is nice- no distortions and it doesn't have a bunch of logos etched in- just one little corner that says AP TECH...
The installer was a stand up guy and we had some good conversations as he worked. I actually felt pretty good about the whole process and he did a great job!

80sGuy · Jul 4, 2016

^^So long as you're happy, that's all it counts. Keep an eye out on any abnormalities.

MadeInJapan · Jul 11, 2016

80sGuy said:
^^So long as you're happy, that's all it counts. Keep an eye out on any abnormalities.

It all looks good so far!! I will say though the little rubber triangular cowl pieces at the base of the windshield were dry rotten and there was no way to salvage them during the windshield repair. I found them on TASCA for cheap and then called FCPEuro who price matched them and got them out to me like in 2 days... They were easy to install and completed the repair!

Stefan N · Jul 11, 2016

I got a new windshield last week and did not ask for any special and got a Pilkington.

quietlymknnoise · Jul 11, 2016

Stefan you live in Sweden. We are limited by Corporate lobbying. Isn't Capitalism grand.

Pilkington or PPG/PGW Windshield?

MadeInJapan

Mikeisftw

The Driver

MadeInJapan

80sGuy

atikovi

MadeInJapan

80sGuy

MadeInJapan

Stefan N

quietlymknnoise

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