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But I thought you said this windshield was original equipment?
Here’s a typical story for a consumer. A person has a brand new or leased vehicle and a piece of glass gets damaged. They call an auto glass company and the consumer is told that the OE is an original equipment equivalent replacement piece for their vehicle. But when the auto glass technician shows up to complete the replacement, the piece of glass doesn’t actually have the vehicle manufacturer’s OEM manufacturer logo.
OEM – Original parts installed by the vehicle manufacturer during assembly of your vehicle.
oee – Parts produced by third party companies for “aftermarket” installation.
What is OEM Auto Glass? (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
When a new vehicle is designed the automaker may use an existing windshield part from an older model vehicle, or they may create an entirely new windshield and part number. If the decision is made to manufacture an entirely new windshield, the automaker contracts a glass manufacturer to manufacture the part. Glass manufacturers and automakers create a unique mold and a unique molding/firing process to produce an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) windshield. The parts are installed when the vehicle is assembled at the vehicle manufacturers’ factory.
OEM parts are available for purchase through your local dealership or auto glass company. Be aware that OEM installation through a dealer will cost significantly more than choosing a third-party company for a replacement. OEM parts are usually more expensive than OE. In fact, the cost of the OEM can exceed 100%. Although Carlite (Ford) windshields are insanely cheap!
What is OEE or OE Auto Glass? (original equipment equivalent)
After a new vehicle arrives at a dealership and is sold to consumers, third-party glass manufacturers will actually acquire the OEM glass and reverse engineer a mold to manufacture their own. after market glass parts. This mold is created after digitizing the outline of the part. Companies then create a firing process to bend and shape the glass. OEE aftermarket parts are slightly different in shape, have slight differences in the bend of the glass, and may have higher distortion in the glass when viewed from a side angle. All of these differences can be minimal or dramatic, depending on the manufacturer. The cheaper the glass, the cheaper the construction.
remove manufacturer logo
Some auto glass installation companies remove the windshield manufacturer logo to fool consumers into thinking it is actually the OEM. Remember to never buy glass without a manufacturer’s product label. The label is usually about 1 square inch in size and is located in the lower areas of the windshield just above the painted black ceramic band. Manufacturer logos include information on where the glass was manufactured, and information for the Department of Transportation. It is illegal to remove the logo.
What are the main differences between OEM and OE.
1. Side View Clarity – All glass that has been bent during manufacturing has some distortion when viewed from a side angle. It can be described as waves or ripples. Aftermarket glass is pressed, molded, and fired slightly differently during manufacturing than the original process prescribed by the automaker. Differences in the manufacturing of the aftermarket process usually result in more distortion in the glass when viewed from a side angle. Sometimes it’s too much!
2. Security – Both types of glass meet all federal safety standards and also undergo testing at places like AMECA, the Automotive Manufacturers Equipment Compliance Agency Inc. Vehicle manufacturer original replacement equipment is based on this only similarity.
3. Thickness of glass – The federal government actually has a mandate on windshield thickness. Most windshields are 2–3 mm (millimeters) thick. OEE glass thickness can vary by a.01mm or more. This may result in the idea that the aftermarket is more affordable. While it is still just as secure and on par with the OEM, I find it is no different and may be more prone to breakage from impact with debris.
4. Black Ceramic Paint Design – Both types of glass will usually have the same exact paint design around the edges of the glass, although there are some unique OEM windshields out there. This black design only hides areas from view (ex: under the dashboard, behind the side pillars) and it protects the urethane glass adhesive from UV emitted by the sun. UV will degrade the adhesive resulting in falling or loosening of the glass. One of the few differences found in the paint band may be a vehicle manufacturer or vehicle model logo embedded in the design. An example is the Ford Mustang windshield. The OEM windshield includes a picture of the Mustang logo above the rear view mirror bracket in the third visor.
5. Manufacturer/Vehicle Manufacturer Logo – OEM windshields feature a logo that matches all other pieces of glass on your vehicle. It’s easiest to see if a piece of glass has been replaced before, or to confirm whether the auto glass company ordered the right glass for you. The logo will either have the vehicle manufacturer’s logo or the original seller’s logo.
6. rear view mirror bracket and sensor – Aftermarket windshields (OEE) use a different process to adhere the glass brackets to the glass. I find that their quality of adhesion and location is not as precise as the OEM parts. In fact, aftermarket distributors repeatedly drip glue onto the glass under the bracket which can stain the black ceramic band on the interior of the glass. When it comes to sensor components such as rain sensors, this problem is not as big. But on a BMW windshield, a mirror bracket not aligned correctly can hinder re-installation of the mirror’s plastic cover assembly that hides the sensor and bracket.
So which windshield should I choose, OEM or OE?
The biggest influence on your decision will be the budget. OEM parts almost always cost more. Most consumers choose OEE because they have no choice, everyone needs to save a few bucks. Don’t be afraid to choose aftermarket glass though because safety is mostly affected by the technician installing the windshield correctly, not the glass itself. But if you really love your vehicle and expect the best quality, then you should choose OEM. And if you’re leasing your vehicle, your dealer may have restrictions on what type of glass is acceptable when you return the vehicle. If you have aftermarket glass fitted then you may get added charges. Call your dealer for more details.
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