Need New Windshield: OEM vs off-market?

Welp....I've got an appointment tomorrow with safelite to get my windshield replaced, hopefully they do a good job.
I'll report back with results. Wish me luck

 

I think the issue with safelite is you can get a guy that’s been doing it for 6 years, or the next time a guy who’s been doing it since last Friday.

 

Thanks for all the responses! This has been super helpful...

To recap: the dealer is $897 w/ OEM and install. Local shop will do it in my driveway for $300 using Benson and $747 using OEM. I may buy my taco at the end of lease in July, or upgrade to the Pro (tho seems extravagant). From everything I've read, it doesn't seem to impact that decision. While cost sensitive, after a few solid hours of researching TW and google, OEM seems safer for hit objects, impacts and potential roll, so I'll go for the OEM and have the local shop do it.

 

Okay so i got it replaced today, by safelite
Seemed perfect until i examined the headliner. It appears frayed at the edge now. Can you check your headliners and tell me if it looks like mine?

 

Yes, my headliner is just like yours. Mine was like that before Safelite replaced the windshield.

 

After seeing how fragile the stock Pilkington windshield was on my 2017, I went 3rd party with a local company who replaced it with PGW. It's been a year now and no cracks or chips and I can't tell the difference. Cost was $200

 

I ended up with Fuyao, is that a good glass?

 

I had my OEM Pilkington crack when the truck was a year old and it spread fast. Safelite (I’ve used them several times, no complaints) showed with a Fuyau and before installing it, the tech told me he’s had bad luck with the fit and if I wanted OEM, I was authorized but they’d have to order it and I’d have a wait. So I rolled the dice, and the fit was not great. I trust the tech that he tried, but the A pillar gasket on one side bulged visibly.

3 years later, no leaks, no wind noise, and I got a chip in the same place as the one in my OEM Pilkington, and it hasn’t spread for a year. And I don’t even notice the gasket bulge any more. But it’s still there.

 

Yeah true, @dman100 my OEM glass was crazy brittle, two chips in 6 months, one split within 2 weeks

 

I m an auto glass installer and I personally recommend pilkington for most toyota and lexus vehicle since the fitment is pretty spot on.

 

I'm about to do mine. Insurance won't cover OEM (even with deductible), and all others are just under my deductible, so basically insurance doesn't want to pay a dime. I'll be dropping them soon.

My selected shop has access to OEM, Fuyao, and Pilkington. What's your recommendation of these three?

 

I assume your truck is an 18 , which has the TSS camera on the windshield. From my knowledge, there's no aftermarket windshield available for it yet (at least in my area). Ask the shop you want to do to and see what they have. If they do have the pilkington for your truck, I would go for that. Dont forget to have your camera recalibrated, insurance company will cover the labor for recalibration.

 

Shop says for 490-something they'll do Pilkington and recalibrate my sensors. But I want my dang GoPro mount too!

 

Go for the pilkington then, I do believe they come with the go pro mount on the new windshield

 

USAA charges me $5 a month for glass coverage in AZ

 

I go through a lot of windshields. Every two years or so. Insurance company does it for free. But that's on my old 4Runner. Is there something special about my new 3rd gen Tacoma glass?

 

Nothing special for 16 and 17, only difference is they have the weatherstrip molded on the sides.

 

How much did clearplex cost?

 

Sorry for the delayed response! After reading everyone's posts I figured I may crack the windshield again, and after getting quoted $850+ for a stock windshield, I went w one of the highest rated places in the Bay Area where I live, and the guy came out and did it in my driveway in about an hour for $325 all-in, and it looks amazing and no issues. Like a rookie, I left a bag in my back seat and had a back window smashed at 9pm and the next day called the company and by 10am it was fixed for about $225, which to me was amazing. There was so much glass LOL.

 

Fuckin bay area…. theft is so high out there