OEM Windshield Replacement
The factory windshield is lighter than aftermarket replacement units. The inner and outer panels of Honda windshields are customarily 2.0 millimeters thick. The NSX’s inner glass has been reduced to 1.8 millimeters, saving 1.36 pounds. It is made by Asahi.
Fixing Windshield Cracks & Chips
[KS – 2000/8/21] If you get a crack/chip in the windshield, they can often be repaired instead of replacing the entire windshield. I’ve had several of these repaired by my local Novus representative. They’re not totally invisible now, but they’re not going to get any worse, and you really have to look close to notice them at all.
More information on the Novus system is at http://www.novuswsr.com/glass-wind.html or you can call them at 1-800-77-NOVUS for the name of the dealer near you.
Many insurance companies will waive the deductible for a windshield repair. However, given the low cost involved (under $100) it’s up to you whether or not to even bother with insurance.
Also if you have more than one chip (or know someone else needing a repair) you can save by having them do several on the same visit. Yes, my local Novus guy makes house calls.
[RCH – 2000/8/30] It depends on your insurance company and coverage you have. It also depends on the location and size of the crack. (i.e., does it block your view?)
My policy with Farmers Insurance is $500 deductible and windshield damage is considered OTC (other than collision) loss. So, it’s not much of help.
I used a kit I bought at Wal-Mart to patch a 1/4-inch bullet shaped crack on my MBZ windshield. The result isn’t all that bad. Well, at least not too bad for my recently "personalized" MBZ, courtesy of the Wal-Mart shoppers. $#!+
Anyway, I wouldn’t recommend spot-fix on NSX because it just doesn’t look right. Even if it’s done by professionals, you can probably see the marks even from 10 feet away.
So, if your insurance covers windshield repair/replacement, go ahead and get a new one installed.
[MAH – 2000/8/30] Just call your insurance up and they’ll take care of it. They did both my NSX and M3 for free. Cost them 50 each. No questions asked, no claim filed, no hike in premium. They even schedule it for you. REAL easy. And I almost went and got it done on my own! 🙂 On mine, you can still tell that there was a ding on the window but its now VERY extremely small. And now there’s no danger of the windshield going kaboom on me while driving!
[DC – 2000/8/30] The insurance company will most likely push for a fix unless it is directly in your line of sight (at least with state farm). The line of sight thing is because it causes a distortion even when fixed.
Third Party Windshield Replacement
[DHA – 98/12/8] My 91 picked up a rock @ 100 MPH + on the way to NSXPO97 in Denver. Waited until I returned to Cincinnati before having it replaced. Insurance coverage required a $100.00 deductible. Insurance firm had a shop they did business with in the area. Talked to the manager of the shop. Told him of what type of car, that I was very particular about the car and what would he suggest to make sure the repair would result in everyone being happy.
He strongly encouraged the windshield be replaced in their shop; on site parking lot fixes are not the best environment for such "fine" autos. Great, we seem to be thinking on the same terms. Thanked him for his advice, again stated I was a little nutty about the NSX. He said he understands and assures me they can make me happy.
So, then said something like, "I know you can do the job and glad my insurance company recommended you. When can we schedule this so your best technician can do the job?" The manager said he has a tech who collects cars and he would be the best man for the job.
Took several days to get the glass and the molding. (Make sure they know they will need NEW molding.) I removed the wipers before they did the surgery. Figured I’d give them all the free space for the job. The tech even checked the glass the day before the install very carefully. Said some of them are optically distorted … and "we can’t have that." Nor did he want to do the job twice.
The finished product was as new. Except the glass was free of 25,000 miles of usage. Wow … what a difference. So much more clear. When I asked about the cost of the glass, they said, "just about $800.00". Yikes!!!
Here are some suggestions:
- Take off the windshield wipers for the glass tech
- Take the NSX to their shop: better install tools, more people to help; it's heavy
- Call the install shop you select and ask for their best installer
- Get the top rubber gasket or have the installer get it
- Get a copy of the Service Bulletin about the shrinking gasket so the installer understands how to install correctly
- Check the new glass for optical distortion BEFORE the install (the first one that was targeted for my situation was not what I wanted)
- Do not wash car for 1 week after installation
- Leave the windows slightly open for about 1 week as the adhesive cures ... it stinks
[MN – 99/6/21] Some big pickup truck slung a big rock and cracked my windshield right in the center last Friday. So I pull into the glass shop that does all of Los Gatos Acura’s glass work, and they are ready to start the job. So I say, "Are you replacing the windshield with an OEM part?" So the guy goes back in the shop to look at the shield, then goes out to my car and looks at it, comes back in and says, "No, but hey, glass is glass, and they’re all made the same". So I say, "Well, I worked for two years in a glass shop in a previous life, and it’s my understanding that "SafeLite" glass is thinner, and cracks easier", to which he replies, "Oh! Yeah well, sure, SafeLite makes their own glass and it’s not too good but everybody else… blah blah blah…", so I said, "Hey, get an OEM windshield and then call me. And make sure you get the proper top molding from Acura too." So now we’re waiting, because the stupid insurance company wants to perform an exhaustive, non-dealership search before they concede to calling the dealer. So I just called the dealer, they don’t have either in stock, will take a couple of days. So we’ll see…
[AT – 99/7/15] You can go for an aftermarket glass which should be a perfect match if you get a quality product from PPG or Libbey Owens/Ford. They make OEM glass for most of the big three in this country and also a huge number of other cars for the aftermarket trade. My wife’s Integra glass has been broken so many times from stone damage during her commutes and we’ve used glass from PPG. It fitted perfectly and was optically up to specs. No aesthetic difference whatsoever. No leaks or other problems except stone debri from too many trucks on the road.
[JJN – 99/7/15] I had a 91 Integra and opted for the $150 aftermarket replacement over the $400 Acura one. I was relatively happy with the aftermarket one, but it was not quite as good as the Acura one. The shape did not seem exactly right and it aesthetically seemed to have something missing, not sure what it was, color, clarity?
What Are The Markings On Automotive Glass?
[PFS – 99/6/2] Some info from a friend who manages a glass company: The "E" mark simply means that the glass is ISO 9002 and EEC approved for sale in Europe. That’s it! Chryslers and Fords made for export have these when sold (Neons, Cougars, etc). Sekurit (the trademark of France’s Saint Gobain Group) is the primary supplier to Ferrari. SIV (Societe Italiana di Vitres- Italian Glass Company-part of the UK’s Pilkington Group) is another supplier. Sekurit, Sigla (German subsidiary of Pilkington), and USA’s PPG (the same PPG from CART Indy Cars) are suppliers to Audi, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and BMW in Germany. APTech (US subsidiary of Asahi Glass of Japan) supplies the M-class SUV made in the USA. Ford (aka "Visteon"/Carlite) and Daimler-Chrysler are the only two automakers that fabricate autoglass in the world.
The manufacturer of the glass (regardless of the trademark) is listed in the logo. The number that follows "DOT-" is the code tht tells who made it.