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How Many Types of Windshield Glass Are There?

When your windshield is messed up beyond repair and you want to buy a new one, make an informed decision and contemplate all the options before buying. There are three types of windshield glass: Original Equipment Manufacturer or OEM, Aftermarket and Dealer windshield or auto glass.

OEM

The Original Equipment Manufacturer is one of the types of windshield glass that is made to the same blueprint as the dealer auto glass. That doesn’t mean it was made by the same distributor. The OEM windshields may be the same thickness, color and durability, shape and size as the original one. They are almost identical to the dealer’s windshield glass but they are not made by the same company that manufactured the ones for the dealer. That is so because Automobile companies often change their glass-manufacturing companies. That means the company that manufactured the windows for your 1992 Chevy didn’t necessarily manufacture the windows of the 1997 Chevy.

Get it? Here’s another example: If you need a new front window for your Honda Accord and the original one has been produced by AP Tech, then that is the one you’re going to get if you bought it from the dealer directly. But buying from an auto glass shop, you will get a windshield from another reliable Honda distributor like Pilkington. PPG and Pilkington make the same windshields, tailored to the same specifications, but because it wasn’t made by AP Tech, it is not considered as dealer’s windshield glass. That doesn’t make it any worse. A proof of that is if you return a leased vehicle with an OEM windshield, it will be accepted by the dealer. OEM is always a good choice unless you’re stickler for dealer’s manufactured products.

Aftermarket

These types of windshield glass are made by independent companies which do not contract the original car manufacturers. They also do not have the legal rights to produce an auto glass to the OEM or dealer’s specifications because by doing so they will have broken the copyright and licensing laws. One of the main aftermarket auto glass manufacturers is Safelite. They manufacture OEE or original equipment equivalent auto glasses. What you need to know about aftermarket glass is that it is one of the cheapest types and it is way cheaper than the dealer’s or OEM glass. Most of the time it will be with a different thickness and it will not be accepted when returning a leased vehicle because it is not the same as the original and also it doesn’t have the same guarantees.

Dealer

This is the original auto glass that you have on the car when you purchase it from an official dealership authorized by the auto manufacturer. Most of the time you will find the stamp of the vehicle’s make on these types of windshield glass.  

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This is how a professional works

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Car Detailing Fever

Car Detailing

Car detailing or as the British are saying, car valeting, is simply cleaning and polishing your vehicle and basically making it look like it’s new. This doesn’t mean just throwing some water on it and letting it dry. It’s a long and tiresome or enjoyable (depending on the relationship you have with the car) process which includes cleaning, restoring and finishing the exterior AND the interior of the car until it’s ready to pose for some pictures.

Detailing the exterior means what you think it means – thoroughly cleaning the visible exterior of the car including the tires, rims, spoilers, headlights, all the windows and the windshield. Detailing the interior, on the other hand requires the complete clean-up of the cabin of the car. Inside there are the carpet, vinyl, leather, plastic and glass surfaces sporting all kinds of stains, requiring all kinds of cleaning methods and tools to remove them. Car detailing is very important in the process of maintaining your car and making it look as good as new even when it has a few decades under its belt.

Exterior Car Detailing

When it comes to car detailing most people think about polishing the paint of the car. So let’s start with the exterior. Start at the beginning – the wheels! They are the main dirt and grime accumulators and when the cleaning product is applied, it needs to be left for a while as it takes time for it to penetrate the grease and all the other different kinds of nastiness festering on the wheels. Different kinds of surfaces require different kinds of cleaning products so you have to be prepared for anything. For example vinyl and rubber surfaces have their own product lines for polishing and protection, as well as the metal parts. Cleaning windows should be familiar territory for anybody but after-market tinted windows require special attention. Don’t forget the rearview mirrors! Car wash soap and water is the first step for cleaning the biggest part of the exterior. Dishwasher soap will damage the paint over time so make sure you find special car wash soap and even with that, don’t let it dry off, but wash it with a water hose. Dry the vehicle with a towel. Mr. Miyagi taught us not only karate, but how to clean the exterior of the car, namely, the WAX ON, WAX OFF method. Using that method, wax the car and then apply polish for a glossy look. Remember, the wax is only a protectant!

Interior Car Detailing

The interior could be a very tricky business with all the little inaccessible holes and surfaces that need to be cleaned. Start the car detailing by removing all the mats around the cabin and the trunk and basically remove everything that can be removed without breaking stuff. Then vacuum the inside of the vehicle and move the seats to reach all the dirt and food hiding places. Clean the carpet and the mats using designated products for each of them. Compressed air will help you remove accumulated dust on the dashboard and the doors and detailing brushes will do a good job on the air vents. Vacuuming and cleaning the seats is also important for interior car detailing and requires special cleaning products because there are various seat materials like vinyl and leather. The windows and mirrors on the inside also need to be cleaned. It is advisable to start with the interior so it doesn’t ruin the exterior polish or wax.

Other Tips

When it comes to professional car detailing, since it is already professional, the only thing you’re probably interested is the price, right? If we are talking about prices for car detailing, they range from 50 to 500 dollars depending on the extent of detailing you want or need and the condition as well as the size of the vehicle.

For example mini detailing a car would cost around 50 bucks, but it could go to 80 dollars if we’re talking a larger car or jeeps. That includes washing the vehicle, vacuuming the interior and some light cleaning around the dashboard, console and vents. Waxing is also in the 50 to 100 dollar price range. All kinds of custom detailing will set you back anything from 150 to 300 dollars. Complete interior or exterior detailing should be anywhere from around 200 to 300 dollars. Some detailing services include the parts under the hood. This service includes de-greasing and dressing the engine and should cost more than 300, but no more than 500 dollars. The complete car detailing service is less than 600 dollars.

The best way to choose your perfect car detailing service is to talk to the detailers and ask them questions about the service they are offering. Find out if they offer any warranties or if they use de-tailer clay. Ask them if they detail by hand and most importantly, if they offer car detailing packages.  If you take all this car detailing tips into consideration, the vehicle in your garage will have a great treatment and will shine well into its 40ties.  

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Winter is here: Don’t forget your wheels!