2000 V70XC - I HATE replacement windshield glass

v70XCSteve · Post by **v70XCSteve** » 30 Jun 2015, 09:54

I've had several replacement windshields in many cars, over the years. They always seem to be wavy and somewhat distorted, particularly when you look across the glass (such as looking toward the right side of the road when driving). Those replacement windshields also seem to chip and pit quickly (softer / more brittle than original windshield). Last time, I went with one of the big-name auto-glass replacement companies, who promised me they use "factory glass". Apparently, cheap glass is made in a "factory" somewhere, cuz that's what I got. Volvo dealers in my area don't replace windshields (I called them all).

I have a 2' crack from the bottom to about 3inches from the top, directly in front of the passenger's seat. This crack propagates from a spiderweb crack near the passenger's windshield wiper. I looked into systems to fill the crack, but this one is long, the equipment is expensive, there's no guarantee it will completely disappear and allow me to get my inspection sticker, and I don't really have time to learn and perfect the process.

Any recommendations on a glass vendor that has good quality glass?

Post by **JRL** » 30 Jun 2015, 09:59

I've used Safelite glass for years on Volvos and they're just fine!
Have one on my wife's V70R now and it hasn't pitted like Euro glass always does.
And you can't repair a crack, just rock shots etc.

v70XCSteve · Post by **v70XCSteve** » 30 Jun 2015, 11:47

Thanks JRL!
I will give Safelite a try. Haven't used them before but I can recite their jingle.

I looked into kits for repairing cracks, and found a handfull of products and companies, such as a kit from Rain-X and a site called CrackEraser.com that primarily sells equipment to use as a business for repairing cracks up to 24". Their DIY kit is $85 with a 90min tutorial video on YouTube. YouTube has other videos for systems to repair cracks, but they all look very technique oriented and somewhat sketchy ("flexing" the windshield to allow the resin to get into the crack, as you trace the crack with an injector held to the windshield on sliding suction cups...), so I'm opting for replacement since my insurance will buy me a new windshield.

Someone just told me that the glass repair companies will use Volvo glass if requested, which they get from the dealer - although the dealers I talked to didn't mention this. May be an option - I'll find out.

Thanks again,
Steve

http://www.crackeraser.com/
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Rain-X-Windsh ... t/34163599

Post by **jreed** » 01 Jul 2015, 04:52

I had great luck a year ago at my local glass shop. I requested "OEM" glass for the replacement and they found Pilkington, which was the same brand as the original windshield. It is holding up well, with no ripples.

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=63718

Post by **JimBee** » 21 Jul 2015, 20:41

I have a windshield and side rear window both made by Pilkington. I researched it, that is the company that supplies the OEM Volvo glass, so it's trustworthy.

A few years ago, before I heard about Pilkington (from jreed maybe?) I had to replace a windshield. Provider told me it was an OEM, later discovered it wasn't, though it seems okay, so far. A few phone calls later, and whether true or not, I was convinced that most glass, including PPG, is made in China and doesn't have the temper of original glass. No surprise there, I guess.
Safelite provided my side window. They actually had a Volvo brand one in stock.
Allstate covered both of my replacements with no deductible.

Post by **cn90** » 21 Jul 2015, 20:58

Pilkington is OEM.

Post by **j-dawg** » 21 Jul 2015, 23:14

I got mine done at Safelite. No complaints after two years.

Adler · Post by **Adler** » 22 Jul 2015, 09:57

I've got Safelite scheduled to replace my windshield this Friday so I'll let you know how it goes. The top seal of mine has been leaking whenever we get heavy rain and ends up dripping down through the map light switches. That and the bullseye I got last week right above the steering wheel drove me to get a replacement. I worry that the top trim will be messed up since I had peeled it out to jam a bunch of silicone in there in hopes of sealing rain out. Put new trim on but the clips were brittle and broken so I used more adhesive silicone to secure it... :/

Adler · Post by **Adler** » 24 Jul 2015, 16:23

Well the safelite guy was done in an hour and it was a really nice day out too. Six hours later and it is pouring buckets right now so I hope that adhesive cured fast!

But man, I've never had such clean and clear glass before. The drive home from work was like the view on a motorcycle.

Post by **Roger_850T** » 29 Oct 2017, 20:40

I've had Pilkington glass before, with no issues.

Whenever I have needed to replace glass, I have usually had a choice of standard or OEM (or was it Factory?) I have always paid extra for the OEM and not been disappointed. The other choice I have sometimes had is "with or without the tint strip" - the tinted stripe across the top. It came with it originally, so I usually get that, too.

It *is* really nice to drive with a brand new windshield!

Roger