[Macabuca]

Hi all,

Unfortunately a rock hit the windshield the other day and now I need it replaced. I’m seeing that the replacement cost is about $4,000 via dealer. I didn’t want to go via Safelitw because I don’t think they know how to calibrate all the sensors after install. Anyone have experience with windshield replacement in this car and possibly your experience with Allstate insurance (did they give you a hard time with reimbursement and such….) ?

[yvnrg1981]

Originally Posted by KillaY85

Hi all,

Unfortunately a rock hit the windshield the other day and now I need it replaced. I’m seeing that the replacement cost is about $4,000 via dealer. I didn’t want to go via Safelitw because I don’t think they know how to calibrate all the sensors after install. Anyone have experience with windshield replacement in this car and possibly your experience with Allstate insurance (did they give you a hard time with reimbursement and such….) ?

Safelite has done my repairs multiple times...no issues with any sensors, I did have issue with some things not exactly aligning and after a quick phone call they came out again and replaced it again no charge.

[Macabuca]

Thanks for the info. Safe lite website also says $4000 to replace.

I see you are in Manalapan, me too! Small world!

[Savsearcher]

Originally Posted by yvnrg1981

Safelite has done my repairs multiple times...no issues with any sensors, I did have issue with some things not exactly aligning and after a quick phone call they came out again and replaced it again no charge.

Satellite replaced the windshield on my 2023 M3 and they did a great job, to include sensor calibration. The replacement was an OEM windshield. I was extremely nervous before they did it, but now that I've been through it, I wouldn't hesitate to use them for the windshield on my iX.

[Bornagain73]

I had this done with Progressive. No issues at all it was back in 2022 when this car was brand new and parts were scarce. Took a while to get the window in. But I paid the same

[thebishman]

Another vote for Safelite. They’ve now replaced 4 windshields in various cars for me over the last 8 years, and all results have been excellent. I always ask for an OEM glass which hasn’t been an issue as all of the cars had an HUD, and all sensors functioned perfectly afterwards.

Many dealerships do not replace glass even when you schedule it through them; it’s always outsourced. You just normally pay a lot more though.

[Tigershark321]

So just for the future, if you do have a leased iX from my understanding the windshield has to be very specific because the Heads up display reflection needs a special coating to be seen that is built into the glass. Or is the dealership playing a scare tactic to get you to do it through them?

[Pictor]

Originally Posted by Tigershark321

So just for the future, if you do have a leased iX from my understanding the windshield has to be very specific because the Heads up display reflection needs a special coating to be seen that is built into the glass. Or is the dealership playing a scare tactic to get you to do it through them?

The windshield is likely still OE even if you go to a third party. I've replaced HUD windshields by going to a local glass shop and the part was OE BMW.

I'm not happy to hear the cost since I was going to get mine replaced because of a few scratches in my line of sight but at $4000 I'll live with it. I think the retail cost of the glass from the dealer is $2100 and can be had for $1400 from getbmwparts.com which is a dealer in MD near DC.

[Macabuca]

…and don’t forget all the insulation and accompanying little pieces that go with a new windshield

[Pictor]

That's a lot of extra adhesive (and labor).

[thebishman]

Originally Posted by Tigershark321

So just for the future, if you do have a leased iX from my understanding the windshield has to be very specific because the Heads up display reflection needs a special coating to be seen that is built into the glass. Or is the dealership playing a scare tactic to get you to do it through them?

You do need a special glass when a vehicle has an HUD, but companies like Satellite have easy access to the OEM glass when you need it; as we would.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by Tigershark321

So just for the future, if you do have a leased iX from my understanding the windshield has to be very specific because the Heads up display reflection needs a special coating to be seen that is built into the glass. Or is the dealership playing a scare tactic to get you to do it through them?

HUD glass is very specifically made to prevent ghosting of the image on the glass. If you get a non HUD glass you will see it on the HUD as two images overlaid. So yes, HUD glass is important if you have HUD. Not to mention the UV coating on the OEM glass. Not sure there’s any aftermarket glass yet. And aftermarket glass isn’t always made to the same standard and can sometimes be uneven/wavy and really bother some customers.

[drk302]

Unfortunately we have a crack in the windshield of our 2023 iX50. Dealership gave us an estimate of $3300. I have not contacted Safelite. It seems they get a good rating based on the reports on this forum. I am a little "gun shy" of dealing with vendors outside of the dealership. I had a bad experience with Glass America on my X5. Question: Does Safelite replace with windshield with OEM BMW unit? Dealership quotes the part at $2210.44. What about all the other items such as sound insulation and other items? That is another $400+ in parts. The weather here in the midwest is brutally cold. Would you insist they replace the windshield indoors at a reasonable temperature? Naturally I am concerned about the calibration. I am a little surprised that Safelite is familiar with the iX systems as there cannot be many of them going through their system. Perhaps it is just a standard BMW repair. Thoughts? Thanks. Doc

[kschac]

I have a 2024 iX and also had a cracked windshield. My insurer is State Farm, with full glass coverage (no deductible). At their request, I took the iX to my local Safelite, which initially replaced the windshield with a non-OEM version. I did not know enough at the outset to insist on an OEM windshield.

When I picked the iX up, I immediately noticed the HUD was distorted and crooked beyond anything that could be fixed with the HUD adjustments in IDrive. It was totally unusable. The Safelite folks didn't disagree but told me State Farm would not pay for an OEM windshield. I took the iX over to my local State Farm agent, who agreed that the HUD was a mess and that an OEM windshield was necessary. I then spent the next few days on the phone with a variety of State Farm customer service reps and claims people. After at least 25 calls, they finally agreed to pay for an OEM windshield.

Safelite then did the work and the new windshield is perfect. So the short version is -- insist on an OEM BMW windshield. You may have to fight your insurer to get them to agree.

Safelite was excellent all around -- they do know windshields and their work in my case was very good. They also replaced the windshield on my 2019 X5 and the result was also good.

Good luck.

[thebishman]

I have replaced multiple windshields with Safelite, all with excellent results.

1: make an appointment to have the replacement performed at their site, which it probably needs to be anyway due to the myriad safety systems that need to be calibrated;

2: let them know upfront that you will only accept a BMW OEM replacement part(s);

3: Safelite will replace any/all parts besides the windshield that need replacing such as trim pieces, etc.; although trust but verify is a useful rule to live by;

4: lastly, the vast majority of dealerships do not replace windshields themselves, they ‘farm’ them out to specialised companies like Safelite.

[exxxviii]

Originally Posted by drk302

I am a little "gun shy" of dealing with vendors outside of the dealership. I had a bad experience with Glass America on my X5. Question: Does Safelite replace with windshield with OEM BMW unit?

Pretty high probability that your dealer will outsource the windshield installation to Safelite or someone similar. I would prefer Safelite.

With highly specialized windshields like the iX, most (all?) installers will use BMW glass. There are probably not 3rd party alternative glass sources for this car.

[NomoTesla]

With BMW having shipped the iX in quantities of tens of thousands, not hundreds of thousands or millions, I think it's a safe bet that there isn't going to be much, if any, upside to produce non-OEM glass. But I have no idea.

For several years after I bought my Tesla, the glass shop had to get OEM glass from Tesla because there were no other options.

[LuisBoston]

My windshield got a crack.

Insurance will NOT pay for OEM glass and only uses Safelite, but I can pay the difference.

The difference is $1434. On a lease, I am willing to just get the aftermarket. My dealer said only one company makes glass for the iX, so there's no difference except the logo.

I really don't want to spend $1434 if I don't have to.

What would you all do?

[Macabuca]

Originally Posted by LuisBoston

My windshield got a crack.

Insurance will NOT pay for OEM glass and only uses Safelite, but I can pay the difference.

The difference is $1434. On a lease, I am willing to just get the aftermarket. My dealer said only one company makes glass for the iX, so there's no difference except the logo.

I really don't want to spend $1434 if I don't have to.

What would you all do?

Can the dealer prove its only one company? If the glass is same, save the money. But what if its not…and you start getting errors and whatever…. ?

[kschac]

Originally Posted by LuisBoston

My windshield got a crack.

Insurance will NOT pay for OEM glass and only uses Safelite, but I can pay the difference.

The difference is $1434. On a lease, I am willing to just get the aftermarket. My dealer said only one company makes glass for the iX, so there's no difference except the logo.

I really don't want to spend $1434 if I don't have to.

What would you all do?

See my post above (#14). The non-OEM glass that Safelite first installed in my iX was horrible -- the HUD was distorted and unuseable. It took multiple calls from me and my State Farm agent to convince the claims people that non-OEM glass was not an appropriate replacement. Ultimately, they agreed and Safelite replaced the non-OEM glass with BMW glass, at no cost to me. The difference is night and day. So the idea that the BMW and non-OEM glass are the same except for the logo is BS.

My advice: fight for the OEM glass and the insurer, not you, should pay for it.

[MAMOHT]

Here is how Inhave done this (not on my iX)

Call insurance and schedule the replacement through Safelite.
Once Safelite gets the order you can call them and insist on having OEM glass.
Worked fine in my case and insurance paid for it.

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by LuisBoston

My windshield got a crack.

Insurance will NOT pay for OEM glass and only uses Safelite, but I can pay the difference.

The difference is $1434. On a lease, I am willing to just get the aftermarket. My dealer said only one company makes glass for the iX, so there's no difference except the logo.

I really don't want to spend $1434 if I don't have to.

What would you all do?

Basically if the much less expensive non-oem glass is meant to be used with the HUD, often times it isn't, it in theory should be fine. You need to remind your insurance that your car has the HUD and that the replacement glass needs to have an intermediate layer in it for the HUD to work properly. Have them confirm that and make it clear that if it doesn't work with the HUD it will not be accepted by you as it is not a suitable replacement. Odds are safelite will confirm that it won't work with the HUD and will have no alternative cheaper than the OEM glass.

The next thing is you need to get better insurance coverage.
Good luck!