Automobile Guild

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If you ever need to have windshield replacement or any other auto glass installation, you’ll have to choose from three types of car glass. There’s dealer glass, original equipment manufactured (OEM) distributor glass and aftermarket glass.

Dealer glass is the most expensive type of car glass. This is what you get from the authorized car dealership of your automobile brand. It’s overpriced because it’s made by the exact same manufacturer that produced your vehicle’s original car glass and it usually bears the stamp of your car brand.

Original equipment manufactured distributor car glass means original equipment manufactured car glass. It’s identical to dealer glass and has exactly the same specifications, including thickness, color, durability, size and shape. The only difference is that it’s made by a different manufacturer.

There might be some unscrupulous OEM manufacturers, though. Be careful of claims that the glass is “from an OEM manufacturer”. Unless the glass itself is described as OEM glass, it may be substandard glass which just happened to be produced by an OEM manufacturer.

Aftermarket car glass, also called original equipment equivalent (OEE) car glass, is manufactured by companies who are not legally authorized to make car glass to the exact specifications copyrighted and licensed to car brands. Aftermarket car glass, therefore, has specifications different from your car’s original glass. This may include variations in thickness and quality. Of course, it doesn’t have the same guarantees as dealer glass or original equipment manufactured glass, and may have imperfect fit, leakage, optical distortion, low solar performance and wind noise.

In comparison, therefore, original equipment manufactured car glass is your best choice. It has all the qualities of dealer glass but at a much lower cost. In fact, original equipment manufactured car glass is made according to standards higher than those of the Department of Transportation.

It’s imperative that certified auto glass technicians work on your auto glass installation. They should be knowledgeable on the auto glass manufacturer’s specifications and instructions.

Aside from making sure that OEM car glass is used for your vehicle, you should also make sure that OEM auto glass parts and adhesives are used. This is for your utmost safety. With mobile windshield replacement, for example, you’re sometimes made to believe that your car is ready to be driven in a while. The issue is that inferior adhesives may not dry in time, leaving you unprotected in case of an accident. Even with the use of an OEM adhesive, you should check the safe drive away time indicated in the product. Furthermore, demand lifetime warranty on auto glass parts and workmanship.