What's so special about '04-up Windshields?
 

Picked up another crack last Friday, crack ended up going top to bottom, exactly in the middle of the windshield by Saturday. Started calling around and can't hardly believe prices for 04-up windshield glass.

Talked to a couple shops that wanted $265-$400 to do the job; picked one up this afternoon at a warehouse glass co. for $120. Has the "third visor" but doesn't say "F150" in the middle. Did it in my driveway tonight in 55 minutes-haven't lost my touch!

Old glass came out in three pieces; after less than eight months, it was time to get rid of that one!

I got a crack too:rocker:

ive got a rock chip that is proceeding into a crack....by the fall i will try and get it replaced....its on the factory tint so you cant tell it right now from the outside.

yeah, but I was talking about windshields, Beavis!











:devil:
To clarify-most pickup windshields are in the $150 range retail installed, and $65-$85 out the door. The F150 glass is overpriced for the market, IMHO.

The 04 and up windshield is "special" because it has the 150 on it. Nobody else can include the 150 on theirs because of copyright infringement. That's why aftermarket tailgates do not have the name of the vehicle (Ford,Chevrolet, etc) on them when the OEM stamps the name on the OEM. A few years ago, the manufacturers got into imprinting their name on bumper covers so they couldn't be duplicated exactly. That way, Insurance Companies couldn't use them in insurance claims and had to buy OEM.

I have a chip in mine also, very small but by winter im sure my windshield will look like a road map.

Try replacing the back window like I had to...$1200 dollars. Thank god for insurance!:eek:

Which rear window did you have? :eek:

I've never had an F150 or Ranger windshield replaced that cheaply. :fyi: .. and that's going back to about 1990 when I had to have one replaced in a Ranger.

Of course mine have always been insurance claims and I'm sure they probably quadrupled the price for that.

I talked with 7 different shops, all of them gave me the option of whether I wanted the F150 imprint or not; same price either way. All 7 shops were after market, didn't even try to price a "factory" piece.

BTW, All three Ford dealers in my hometown use aftermarket glass companies.

Not disputing what you said re: insurance and tailgates, fenders, other body parts...but for glass it just ain't so.

In florida the insurance companys have to replace a windshield for free (no deductible) if you have full coverage. My windshield was just replace at almost $500.

I dunno what's so special about 'em. I had mine replaced with a Carlite last year, $341 installed. Carlite makes glass for the vast majority of OEMs, looking at mine I can't tell the difference between OEM and aftermarket. Has the F150 logo at the top, the Blue Oval logo at the bottom with a Carlite logo above it just like the original. FWIW, a Ford OEM replacement ordered and installed at my cost would have been like $450 for the exact same windshield.

On the rear window, I just picked up a power unit off ebay (oem still in the box) for about $300. Guy on there (bones enterprises) sells them pretty regularly and has been selling ford accessories and parts for a long time on ebay. comes with everything, window, switch, motor and the cables/tracks that open/close the window.

I lost a windshield defrosting it earlier this winter. I had mine replaced at a local automotive glass shop. I opted to get one with the third visor without the F150 logo. Paid $138.00 installed. I am sure it is a piece of crap but its working out so far.

Carlite is owned by Ford I believe.

Regards!:smoke: