Another Windshield Q&A Thread...

[Riviot]

We've been beating this dead horse for quite a while; yes, Fuyao glass is trash; yes, it's annoying to get it repaired or replaced every few months (for some). But as I prepare for my 3rd (4th? I'm losing track) windshield, I thought it would be helpful to get experienced insight into a few things. This isn't a thread for venting, rather a place to clarify questions based on experience.

So, if you have experience with any of the below, please reply to them and share your insight!



1. Safelite replacement:
a. How did it go?
b. Did you still need to go to Rivian for calibration?
c. How did you file your claim with your insurer if you had glass and calibration separate?

2. Rivian replacement:
a. How did it go?
b. How long did you wait for the appointment?
c. How long did service take? (If the only item being completed)

3. Is exterior protection worth it? What's the life cycle look like for these?

4. If you use interior tint/protection, what do you use? How do you like it?



I'll start!
3. I had clear ceramic on my first windshield, it was NIGHT AND DAY difference in ambient temperature. Without it, I feel the sun burning me and heating the dash; it feels like a magnifier. With clear ceramic, I don't feel the UVs cooking me.

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[COdogman]

FUYAO!!!!!!

 

[Mr. Ham]

I got a rock chip at mile 200 in Illinois when I was picking up from the factory, and turned into a crack before my first charge.
I waited till 7k miles before I had the Portland Service Center replace it.
I'm over 20k miles now on this same Rivian glass #2.

2. Rivian replacement:
a. How did it go?
I think it went fine. Brand new window with no issues. They charged me $1,692.94. Sent the invoice to my insurance and they re-reimbursed me via check, minus the deductible.

b. How long did you wait for the appointment?
Typical appointment lead times. probably 2 months out. This was 3/27/24

c. How long did service take? (If the only item being completed)
Overnight service. They advised they wanted to ensure it was cured before I moved the Vehicle.

4. If you use interior tint/protection, what do you use? How do you like it?
I booked a ceramic tint the day I got the car back. I just used a local shop I think it was 3M, but I was sure to ask for the Ceramic tint. They didn't have 0%, so I went with the 50%, even if it may not be strictly legal in Oregon. 110% worth it. Something about this windshield would bake me like a ant in a magnifying glass, even if it wasn't hot out. It cost me $200.

 

[flush]

I've only replaced my windshield once.
Used a Rivian certified repair center - cost 2k, fully reimbursed by insurance, no questions asked.

Initially, i only had UV tint on the first windshield, now with the second, i went with Llumar Air 80 tint and added Exoshield on the outside. It's expensive but i'm pretty sure the Exoshield has paid itself off multiple times. I can see at least a half dozen rock "nicks" on the exterior exoshield. It's visible but not that annoying yet, at which I would just replace the exoshield film.

the hassle of getting windshield replaced outweighed the exoshield cost.

 

[Riviot]

It's expensive but i'm pretty sure the Exoshield has paid itself off multiple times.

Just how expensive? The fact the Exoshield would save the interior film from loss is what draws me.

 

[flush]

Just how expensive? The fact the Exoshield would save the interior film from loss is what draws me.

the exoshield is unrelated to the interior llumar air 80 tint. it's purely for windshield protection, about 700, prices in my area = not cheap.

 

[Riviot]

the exoshield is unrelated to the interior llumar air 80 tint. it's purely for windshield protection, about 700, prices in my area = not cheap.

I understand that. What I mean is if the Exoshield saves the windshield from a bad chip that would've led to cracking, and subsequent replacement, I don't lose the money spent on the interior layer.

 

[AYAYRON]

my wife's lexus has had a full length crack horizontal below the field of vision for 5 years, there's no way in hell I'd replace the rivian winshield just for a crack unless it was in the field of vision....some folks replacing it for a rock chip mutliple times have more ocd than I do for sure

 

[R1Thor]

3. Is exterior protection worth it? What's the life cycle look like for these?

I have STEK Dynoshield. My friendly neighborhood detailer is now offering Bray Windshield Skin, which I am planning to have them replace mine with within probably the next 6-12 months.

The good:
- I travel in areas notorious for road debris, and just general terribleness road-wise (all kinds of potholes, uneven surfaces, construction debris, farm debris, dirt, gravel, etc. I have had more screws in my tires and hitting my windscreens than I can count on one hand in a span of time that doesn't need more than 2 fingers).
- my previous vehicles ALL suffered multiples of cracked glass (full windscreen replacements), divots and dings (filled), and SO MUCH sandblasting any time you drove toward the sun, you got to enjoy some stargazing...

I had my windscreen protected since almost day 1 (I think I had it in within the second week of ownership to have the PPF+ceramic+window tint + windscreen protection installed).

- My windscreen has been PELTED by all kinds of things hitting my truck on the highway. I have ZERO (count em=0) divots, cracks, impacts, or anything I'd consider a defect to the glass itself.

The not as great:
- it's a PTFE/polymer sheet. It took a couple of weeks to be mostly optically bonded. That is: time in the sun 'curing.' Before that, there was notable distortion (nothing undrive-able, but enough to annoy me)

- Given it's a PTFE/polymer sheet, if you don't keep up on ITS ceramic coat, it'll start amassing grime significantly worse than your glass. In other words: keep it clean, reapply coat periodically.

- I was a dumdum and used a somewhat abrasive cleaner on it once. DON'T DO THIS. It's the only reason I'm thinking of having it replaced before the 3-year recommended replacement interval. Now I see scratches pretty well. It IS supposed to be a self-healing material, but I done boogered it. I suspect I could *improve* the optics if I took a heat gun to it, but given the risk /reward, I think I'll just bite the bullet and replace it sooner than I would've otherwise needed to.

ALL THAT said, even with the bad, I'm in no rush to replace it, and I do believe it's protected my truck.

Previous vehicles:
- 2008 Scion tC (full windscreen replacement)
- 2014 Subaru STi (2x glass epoxy fill due to divots...the first one was within 2 weeks of owning the car. That one hurt) and all the road rash (looked like glitter when sunlight hit it)
- 2018 Volvo V60 P* (1 glass epoxy fill and all the starburst)

The R1T does sit higher.
But it also has a more vertical windscreen.

Maybe I'm just lucky.

YMMV

 

[Riviot]

my wife's lexus has had a full length crack horizontal below the field of vision for 5 years, there's no way in hell I'd replace the rivian winshield just for a crack unless it was in the field of vision....some folks replacing it for a rock chip mutliple times have more ocd than I do for sure

And that's my issue, a crack growing daily into my field of vision. I can currently block it with the visor, but it's crawling south.

 

[Mr. Ham]

And that's my issue, a crack growing daily into my field of vision. I can currently block it with the visor, but it's crawling south.

Yea, I finally replaced because I wanted the Tint. foolish to tint a cracked window. But now I know it could go any day lol.

 

[SactownD]

Given the cost of recalibration, wondering if would be cheaper to forgo that and just put on the comma ai system? Has anyone given that a try?

 

[Riviot]

Given the cost of recalibration, wondering if would be cheaper to forgo that and just put on the comma ai system? Has anyone given that a try?

Don't be bringing that AI crap into this thread! Y'all have your threads, quit bleeding over.

 

[SactownD]

Seems relevant to me.

 

[Theresa]

We've been beating this dead horse for quite a while; yes, Fuyao glass is trash; yes, it's annoying to get it repaired or replaced every few months (for some). But as I prepare for my 3rd (4th? I'm losing track) windshield, I thought it would be helpful to get experienced insight into a few things. This isn't a thread for venting, rather a place to clarify questions based on experience.

So, if you have experience with any of the below, please reply to them and share your insight!



1. Safelite replacement:
a. How did it go?
b. Did you still need to go to Rivian for calibration?
c. How did you file your claim with your insurer if you had glass and calibration separate?

2. Rivian replacement:
a. How did it go?
b. How long did you wait for the appointment?
c. How long did service take? (If the only item being completed)

3. Is exterior protection worth it? What's the life cycle look like for these?

4. If you use interior tint/protection, what do you use? How do you like it?



I'll start!
3. I had clear ceramic on my first windshield, it was NIGHT AND DAY difference in ambient temperature. Without it, I feel the sun burning me and heating the dash; it feels like a magnifier. With clear ceramic, I don't feel the UVs cooking me.

This month on the move from CA to TX took a rock hit in New Mexico on driver side near the edge. By the time I got to Fort Worth it was cracked all the way across field of vision. Safelite in Corpus Christi told me they couldn’t do a Rivian yet because they can’t calibrate or get the windshield. A call to SC in San Antonio gave me an appointment two weeks out. R1S was in for five hours for windshield and they swapped out the 12 volt battery too. Cost was $1846, submitted invoice to Farmer’s and the check is in the mail for full amount minus deductible. I made it a year and a half, so hoping this windshield makes it even longer. Very happy with the service center in San Antonio, only wish there was one closer though!

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