2013 Escalade ESV Windshield Replacement

[CMoore711]

I need to get the windshield replaced on my 2013 Escalade ESV. I’ve maintained this vehicle very well over the years, following the severe maintenance schedule and always using OEM parts when available. It’s got 167K miles and I plan to push it to at least another 100K miles.

Am I crazy for considering a GM OEM windshield for replacement over the aftermarket route?

For those of you who have had your windshield replaced on your GMT900 SUV:

Did you go aftermarket or OEM?

If aftermarket;
Any issues with fitment, sealing properly, laying down flush and snug, causing any additional wind noise?

 

[petethepug]

I’ve always gone with OEM on all my vehicles because we carry a $250 deductible and comprehensive insurance. The dealers call in their own outside glass guys now. Definitely would for an ESV.

Call the dealer for their guy and get transferred to parts department to get the part #, availability and pricing of your glass. Don’t buy it though, let the installer break it on his time/dime.

The last windshield I had done was over $1k on the wifeys 07 Beetle vert. The glass is structural to the car so I pressed AAA for OEM. HA! Their discontinued.

Got lucky and found one made by PPG in CO and shipped to CA. At that time there was only questionable glass made in Asia by NoName companies.

If you’re pushing over 6’3” consider getting glass without the tinted strip across the top. That extra 3-4” of visibility on the horizon is mind blowing for driving comfort.

 

[swathdiver]

I'd do it too!

 

[intheburbs]

Jeep Wranglers eat windshields - they're flat and upright. As you can see in my sig, I have 3 of them. I believe I've done 7 (8?) windshield replacements. I have zero deductible glass coverage on them. And I actually have replaced the windshield in my Suburban, too. Always OEM. Leaky windshields are a pain in the ass.

 

[Noggles]

Safelite quoted me 500ish to do an OEM windshield in my truck last year. They are still available and I would definitely do it. I have seen aftermarket glass and they are terrible.

 

[CMoore711]

Had a family trip planned for our kid’s spring break and was going to be out of town for a week. I had some work done at a local body shop some time ago and there were some small details that needed to be wrapped up. Perfect time to leave the Caddy with them while I didn’t need it since we’re out of town. The body shop were also the ones who made the glass windshield shop recommendation and even went as far as telling me they don’t do any windshields in-house it’s all farmed out; But if I communicated with them directly I could save the mark up they’d normally add on if it was booked through the body shop.

Mel’s auto glass, not safelite.
Aftermarket = $535
OEM= $805

Opted for the OEM option and just told the glass place where my vehicle would be during what dates and the body shop will let them have access to replace windshield while in their shop.

Also, confirmed with the windshield shop that the wiper cowl, wiper arms, and wiper cowl end caps at the hood hinge locations all get removed for windshield replacement. So I bought all new GM OEM cowls and wiper arms because the labor’s included in the windshield replacement, might as well throw on new parts instead of reinstalling the old. I had been looking into this anyway since my 12 year old wiper cowl had developed about a 1/2” gap between itself and the windshield likely due to years of sun/heat.

Bad news: Got a call from the windshield shop saying that their tech broke the glass en route to the body shop to do the work. And the next available OEM windshield may not be in before we’re back in town from our family spring break trip. So much for killing 2 birds with one stone.

This further reinforces @petethepug comment about buying glass vs letting the windshield shop source the glass. Always let the shop source the glass and let them eat the cost of any mishap that may happen during transit or install.

 

[petethepug]

Oh buoy, didn’t want it to turn out like that. Brilliant idea to sub the glass guy over to the body shop for multiple jobs.

That’s a pretty good feeling being able know your $800 windshield got wasted and have it be just a bummer and some wasted time.

 

[91RS]

The OEM glass is much better quality, in my opinion. I’ve had a number of Pilkington windshields as every glass company I’ve used say they’re the best aftermarket glass. They get “sand blasted” much faster and the wipers skip across the glass (I only use true OEM wiper blades). I feel the optics are better and quality control is better
On the OEM as well. The Pilkington in my 08 is what made me decide to pony up for OEM glass in the 13 when I had all the paint done.

The windshield in my 08 will finally be going back to OEM after I got a big chip in it last week. The windshield with the rain sensor for the early trucks is discontinued, but I found one at a local-ish dealer and bought it. Much more expensive than it was in 2018 when I put the Pilkington in. I’m waiting on the install because 3M is coming out with a new version of Crystalline but already stopped making the old version and mounting guy doesn’t have any more 50%.

 

[CMoore711]

Glass shop ended up calling me Friday morning to let me know they go another new OEM windshield and would be replacing it first thing that morning.

Then it gets a bit interesting...

They call me back at 9am and said they're tech stopped in his tracks because the windshield on my ESV had a shaded band across the top and the new replacement OEM windshield they had did not. Wanted to know if I wanted to proceed. They were very confused by this (as was I) because the windshield they purchased was per my VIN#. I asked them to confirm the GM OEM Windshield part number they sourced and had and they confirmed GM PN# 20981593 which is what I had been finding online also. Furthermore, all the GM OEM part websites description for GM OEM Windshield 20981593 specifically state "GM, Cadillac, GM, Escalade, EXT GM with shade band..."

I went ahead and had them proceed and replace the windshield with GM OEM 20981593 as my plan was to get a "visor strip" tint re-installed by my local tint guy after the windshield replacement anyway. So not too big of a deal, and moving forward still allowed for the repairs to be finished before I got back from vacation.

I am the 2nd owner of our '13 Escalade ESV, we bought it in 2015 CPO w/ 22K miles on it and up until this incident I haven't had to have the windshield replaced. I suppose it's possible that the windshield on it previously at time of purchase was not OEM, but I swore it had the GM logo on the lower right hand corner on the passenger side. Or maybe GM has in fact changed how they're producing GM OEM Windshield 20981593 without updating the description?

The install went great and I had them install all new GM OEM Cowl and Wiper Arms that I was out only the cost in parts and no additional labor since removal and reinstall of these items was included in the windshield replacement install.

GM OEM wiper cowl PN# 25872303
GM OEM wiper arms 22918501 and 22917502
GM Wiper cowl end caps 25820729 and 25820730