Windshield replacement - Safelite -- aftermarket vs OEM glass?

[Oldcarguy]

The Beaumont TX Safelite did a great job on a Crack repair for our R1T. The technician was really nice and took time to explain everything he was doing.

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[vlen1234]

Hello! Getting a new windshield for my '23 R1T through insurance and Safelite.

Safelite says they use aftermarket glass, but are able to do it now.

Any experience with Aftermarket vs OEM glass in these trucks?

(I already know they can't calibrate ADAS, so will be taking it into the SC for that)

Thanks for the help!

For my R1T 2022 edition, there was an availability issue with getting OEM replacement. The one ordered was obviously used probably from a wreck. The installer refused to install because of scratches. We ordered aftermarket. And was ok. But buyer beware, make sure you look from all angles, due to overseas manufacturing standards some have had clarity issues, like a prism if looking at an angle. Luckily mine is ok. Now, a one month wait for Rivian service to recalibrate.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

For my R1T 2022 edition, there was an availability issue with getting OEM replacement. The one ordered was obviously used probably from a wreck. The installer refused to install because of scratches. We ordered aftermarket. And was ok. But buyer beware, make sure you look from all angles, due to overseas manufacturing standards some have had clarity issues, like a prism if looking at an angle. Luckily mine is ok. Now, a one month wait for Rivian service to recalibrate.

So you got aftermarket? Take a picture of the brand logo please.

 

[WFR1S]

Just had this issue. Went with Safelite and OEM glass in Nevada. Safelite did have the option to do the calibration if I went into the shop (the tech came out on-site to replace the glass). I opted to have Rivian come out on-site as well ($80) to do the calibration as soon as Safelite was done.

My advice to anyone that has to have the glass replaced, go with the company that all they do is replace glass, every single day, 5-10 a day, they replace glass. If you take it to Rivian, they do all kinds of other general maintenance on the vehicle, and maybe a few glass replacements here and there. For me it's all about the reps. Also like another poster mentioned, to get it replaced with Rivian the original quote was $3,000 then for some reason it came down to $1,800. By that time I had already done the insurance claim.

 

[zymolysis]

Just had this issue. Went with Safelite and OEM glass in Nevada. Safelite did have the option to do the calibration if I went into the shop (the tech came out on-site to replace the glass). I opted to have Rivian come out on-site as well ($80) to do the calibration as soon as Safelite was done.

My advice to anyone that has to have the glass replaced, go with the company that all they do is replace glass, every single day, 5-10 a day, they replace glass. If you take it to Rivian, they do all kinds of other general maintenance on the vehicle, and maybe a few glass replacements here and there. For me it's all about the reps. Also like another poster mentioned, to get it replaced with Rivian the original quote was $3,000 then for some reason it came down to $1,800. By that time I had already done the insurance claim.

I shocked by the original $3000 quote. Most people have said that Rivian has charged about $1800 to replace and calibrate.
Did you drive it any after windshield replacement, but before calibration? If so, did you notice any difference, or any function that wouldn't work?

 

[zymolysis]

For my R1T 2022 edition, there was an availability issue with getting OEM replacement. The one ordered was obviously used probably from a wreck. The installer refused to install because of scratches. We ordered aftermarket. And was ok. But buyer beware, make sure you look from all angles, due to overseas manufacturing standards some have had clarity issues, like a prism if looking at an angle. Luckily mine is ok. Now, a one month wait for Rivian service to recalibrate.

Do you see any issues or any functions that don't work, during this period, while waiting for it to be recalibrated?

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

https://www.getexoshield.com/blog/oem-vs-aftermarket-windshield-replacement

This is a worthy read. No way aftermarket glass is better. Better in consumer cost for sure. But that cost reduction isn’t done through magic. Corners had to be cut somewhere, from raw materials to finished product. There is much speculation and little in fact finding. Knowing who manufactures Safelite’s OEE glass is a big step. Frankly amazed folks would choose it on a vehicle costing as much as the R1 without any curiosity on where it came from and who made it.

Factory windshield being prone to damage has more to do with its size, height and angle… plus, inconsistency in manufacturing—which is result of managing QC and quality of labor force. And we saw examples of faults with both in the documentary. But also bear in mind, any new manufacturing operation has initial teething problems. Rivian and Tesla both experienced problems.

 

[InTheMatrix]

Got mine replaced last year safelite told me the same thing and even said that Rivian may not even calibrate it because it’s not OEM, so I just went OEM didn’t want to take the chance.

 

[Grognard79]

My R1T is in the SC right now getting new glass. $1900. Safelight said they could not get glass for it and had to take it to the SC.

 

[WFR1S]

I shocked by the original $3000 quote. Most people have said that Rivian has charged about $1800 to replace and calibrate.
Did you drive it any after windshield replacement, but before calibration? If so, did you notice any difference, or any function that wouldn't work?

I had the Rivian tech overlapping the Safelite tech, they shook hands, so to your question, no, I wanted it calibrated immediately. That's really not something I wanted to take a chance with. Like I said, this particular Safelite would have done the calibration along with the replacement. I just felt better having Rivian do it anyway. Don't mind the $80 for the issue to be on Rivian should something happen down the road.

 

[ChadS]

I had the Rivian tech overlapping the Safelite tech, they shook hands, so to your question, no, I wanted it calibrated immediately. That's really not something I wanted to take a chance with. Like I said, this particular Safelite would have done the calibration along with the replacement. I just felt better having Rivian do it anyway. Don't mind the $80 for the issue to be on Rivian should something happen down the road.

I was going to do just this, had the mobile appointment scheduled out for a few weeks and then Rivian called to say they could not calibrate via mobile appointments. The inconsistency in Service Centers is frustrating.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Still no one providing hard info on Safelite glass?

Google Gemini isn't faultless, but it had this to say:

Safelite sources windshields from various leading manufacturers, including those that supply to vehicle manufacturers (OEM). Safelite also has a manufacturing facility and distribution centers, and a license agreement with AGC Automotive Americas to manufacture, distribute, and sell replacement windshields under the AP Technoglass brand, says Safelite. Some sources indicate that Fuyao is a major supplier of windshields to Safelite, and possibly even to OEM manufacturers

There is no escape perhaps. Like vandy1981 said, the "aftermarket" may very well be the same Fuyao glass, just without the Rivian logo. Such is the case with late model BMWs. And comparing glass on a new or late model car to something much older, there is something else to bear in mind. Glass is heavy. And as automakers seek to increase profit margin as well as fuel economy, there has been a trend to go with thinner glass. So the failure rate is not a Rivian exclusive.

 

[doit82]

FYI, I had safelite replace my windshield and noticed excessive wind noise afterwards. I am at the rivian service center in montreal today to have the calibration done and they informed me that it appears safelite installed the windshield crooked with a larger gap on one side leading to the wind noise i have been experiencing. So if you will need to do calibration at a service center anyway, it may be better to just have rivian do it. I know that is the route i will be going in the future.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Hello! Getting a new windshield for my '23 R1T through insurance and Safelite.

Safelite says they use aftermarket glass, but are able to do it now.

Any experience with Aftermarket vs OEM glass in these trucks?

(I already know they can't calibrate ADAS, so will be taking it into the SC for that)

Thanks for the help!

I read a previous article about a person being severely overcharged by Safelite for ADAS recalibration. I thought I read that it would reset on its own. Worse case take it to the SC.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

Still no one providing hard info on Safelite glass?

Google Gemini isn't faultless, but it had this to say:


There is no escape perhaps. Like vandy1981 said, the "aftermarket" may very well be the same Fuyao glass, just without the Rivian logo. Such is the case with late model BMWs. And comparing glass on a new or late model car to something much older, there is something else to bear in mind. Glass is heavy. And as automakers seek to increase profit margin as well as fuel economy, there has been a trend to go with thinner glass. So the failure rate is not a Rivian exclusive.

Sadly everything is becoming cheaper and thinner, including paint.

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