[VDubdad]

Hi everyone,
I wanted to share my experience with windshield replacement for my 2019 Atlas SEL 4Motion. On a recent road trip our windshield took a major hit from a rock and spidered immediately.
After researching online what it would take because of all of the technology-I have three quotes: 1) Insurance (Safelite), 2) Pacific Volkswagen (El Segundo) and 3) Timmons VW (Long Beach)

I’m upset at my insurance company (more
myself because I didn’t check my coverage) - they are only offering to pay $984 (minus my deductible) - Safelite’s quote for $584 for glass and Install + $300 for Camera calibration.

Since I want OEM Glass I started contacting local VW Dealers:
Pacific VW - quoted me $630 for glass, added a $60 seal, $250 for install and $2160 for calibration. After questioning the amount for calibration they brought it down to $1600. Basically $2450 total.

Timmons VW: has a sale on the glass $504, $950 for install and calibration. $1500-1600 out the door. I’m going to call tomorrow to ask for the breakdown.

I’m leaning toward Timmons -OEM glass, it’s a third party installer as always and the calibration seems more reasonable.

Has anyone had experience replacing their windshield that has the lane assist and Adaptive Cruise control. I’m not sure if I even need the calibration but everyone I’ve found online says it needs to be done. I’m open to other’s experiences and insite!
Thanks!

 

[camaroz1985]

Just had mine replaced a couple weeks ago at the local dealer (PA). Was 495 for glass, 499 for recalibration (on SEL-P). Seems like a lot of markup on your recalibration quotes, and I think even mine at $499 was more than it should be because I was quoted $399 for recalibration/alignment when buying new tires. Looks like there is a lot of wiggle room in there.

 

[VDubdad]

Just had mine replaced a couple weeks ago at the local dealer (PA). Was 495 for glass, 499 for recalibration (on SEL-P). Seems like a lot of markup on your recalibration quotes, and I think even mine at $499 was more than it should be because I was quoted $399 for recalibration/alignment when buying new tires. Looks like there is a lot of wiggle room in there.

Thanks! I guess it’s the So. Cal markup. I’ve called more dealerships today and $720-775 is the norm for just calibration. I wonder if the system needs calibration. Why the dealer can’t test before dumbfounds me.

 

[2018 SoCal Atlas Owner]

Thanks! I guess it’s the So. Cal markup. I’ve called more dealerships today and $720-775 is the norm for just calibration. I wonder if the system needs calibration. Why the dealer can’t test before dumbfounds me.

Yep, good ole' SoCal. 2019 Atlas SEL Premium just a cople of weeks new. (Less than 450 miles!) Took a rock to the windshield that didn't crack the windshield til the first time I opened and closed the door. Couldn't be fixed and had to be replaced. OEM Windshield $611.00 . . . that plus other misc parts added up to $849.00. Sublet for install was $170.00 for total replacement cost of $1083.71.Alignment came to $775.00 so the total cost was $1933.53 with tax etc. Was all done at my dealership even though the insurance company wanted me to go with a Quicky Glass Repair place or something along those lines. Insisted on haveing it done by my dealership and they finally agreed and I only had to pay my $150.00 Deductable. (Insisted on having it done at the dealership incase there was a problem down the road and I wanted to make sure it was covered by VW so I wouldn't have to worry about having to deal with Quicky Glass Repair!)

Good luck with your repair!

 

[VDubdad]

Yep, good ole' SoCal. 2019 Atlas SEL Premium just a cople of weeks new. (Less than 450 miles!) Took a rock to the windshield that didn't crack the windshield til the first time I opened and closed the door. Couldn't be fixed and had to be replaced. OEM Windshield $611.00 . . . that plus other misc parts added up to $849.00. Sublet for install was $170.00 for total replacement cost of $1083.71.Alignment came to $775.00 so the total cost was $1933.53 with tax etc. Was all done at my dealership even though the insurance company wanted me to go with a Quicky Glass Repair place or something along those lines. Insisted on haveing it done by my dealership and they finally agreed and I only had to pay my $150.00 Deductable. (Insisted on having it done at the dealership incase there was a problem down the road and I wanted to make sure it was covered by VW so I wouldn't have to worry about having to deal with Quicky Glass Repair!)

Good luck with your repair!

You’re fortunate to have good insurance. My deductible is $500 and they are making me pay the difference between Safelite and the dealer. Luckily, I found the windshield for $504 online (another issue - dealers won’t price match VW’s online pricing even though it’s associated with their parts dept). Across town I found the windshield listed for $454.
I’m bitting the bullet the Wednesday and headed to a dealer. I just feel better knowing it’s a certified dealer who is calibrating and I have researched their sub contract installer (Glass-Man).
I’ll let everyone know how it goes. I’m going to try to watch/video the process if I can. Nothing better to do during lock-down!

 

[untergeek]

I've had mine replaced 2x in my 2019 SEL-P. The first was a fluke—we had caught a rock in the worst possible place less than a week after we bought the Atlas. The second was about 8 months later. Both times we had Safelite come to our home to do the replacement. With insurance, the deductible came to around $500 each time.

Safelite advised us to get the sensor recalibrated. We did not do so either time, and the lane assist has continued to work flawlessly.

 

[VDubdad]

Update: I found yet another dealer and different pricing. Going to the dealer I purchased the Atlas From Puente Hills VW. They are going to replace the windshield (3rd party) with OEM glass. Glass is $548 (including tax).
They will test the system prior to recalibrating!
If they have to recalibrate they will
Charge $825 (install and calibration).

 

[camaroz1985]

I feel for you guys. Ours was $1053 all said and done, paid for it and was completely reimbursed by our insurance company.

We aren't even sure how ours was cracked. We hadn't driven it for a while in the Covid times and when we took it out of the garage one hot day there was a spider web crack across the passenger side of the windshield. Wife was upset about "damage" on here new car, and we were willing to pay to have it replaced (or whatever our deductible was), but it was completely covered.

 

[VDubdad]

 

[VDubdad]

I’m sharing this because it’s so hard to decide on safety features.
I ended up at Puente Hills VW and my service provider is George. Very helpful and supportive of avoiding unnecessary expenses. The glass installers came from Alex’s Auto Glass (David and Gustavo). They told me in all of their experiences they never heard of anyone needing calibration. Their process is to turn everything off. This, the computers do not recognize anything was disconnected. Once they replace the windshield they re-connect everything the same way. Of course if something is off the vehicle computer will tell you.
Out the door: OEM Windshied: $504 + tax = $548, Sub-Installer: $180. $728 out the door. Waiting for everything to dry. I have already started it up and nothing is blinking or any alarms.
I’ll reply again tomorrow after a good test drive.
Thank you to everyone who replied or read this chain.

 

[Barry T]

What do they calibrate anyway? I thought the only windshield calibration was for the intermittent wipers. I thought all the other toys were from a radar unit behind the VW logo on the front of the vehicle.

 

[tc1uscg]

Glad that here in Michigan, lots of cracked windshields happen (thanks to the $hitty roads that just crumble at the mention of cold/freeze/snow). Anyway, last time I got a WS replaced was my 09 Jeep Liberty. Cost me nothing and that seems to be the norm as windshields have some special coverage I guess. But I have ZERO deductible on my VW (2019 Atlas SEL P) with AAA. I'm sure they would cover everything. But I called "my guy" at the stealership. She said if they have the WS replaced by a 3rd party who specializes in of course, windshield replacements. Didn't ask for a cost. HE said they would check it for free but if my system needs "re-calibration", it's $350 and insurance covers it (he did ask who I had so he said AAA will pay for it). So, for me, cost would be ZERO. Nice to know. But I hope I don't have to deal with this. I did put a bug/rock deflector on my Atlas so hoping it will help avoid cracking my windshield. My 2 cents. This is my 2nd VW from my dealer (Vyletel Volkswagen Buick GMC) and all I can say is THEY ROCK. They were OUTSTANDING dealing with selling back our 2013 Passat TDi and got our return business. Their service team go out of their way to take care of you, don't blow smoke up your ass and will do what needs to be done to take care of you. I'm not a spokes person for VW but the dealership itself (rather it's GM which I despise) or VW, going to miss them when I move down south in a few years.

 

[VDubdad]

What do they calibrate anyway? I thought the only windshield calibration was for the intermittent wipers. I thought all the other toys were from a radar unit behind the VW logo on the front of the vehicle.

The dealerships are saying the entire system works together with the camera that is behind the rear view mirror. I’ve read different windshield replacement articles that say if the glass isn’t set perfectly ~ the angle could throw it off. That is why I went with OEM glass.
I wish we had a VW mechanic on this forum who under anonymity could tell us if calibration is needed.
I finally drove it home after waiting for it to set. Didn’t take it on the freeway but got up over 40mph for the lane departure system to kick in. Everything seems fine and working.
Tomorrow I’ll take it on the freeway to test the adaptive cruise control. I’m getting the feeling the “calibration” is free money.
I felt much better after talking with the installers.
I am also thankful to Puente Hills VW Service for not pressuring me one way or the other. They gave me my 6ft to watch the removal and installation & test it for myself.

 

[Barry T]

Does this mean that if you have a dirty windshield the tech options won't work? Think about it, you are merely calibrating the transparency of the windshield. What would this have to do with anything else other than the intermittent wipers? Save your money.

 

[scott46travel]

I have a 2019 Atlas SE 4-Motion with Tech. I had Safelite replace windshield and recalibrate. Total cost: $793 which included $250 for recalibration. All but $250 covered by insurance. Adaptive Cruise works fine.

 

[tc1uscg]

I have a 2019 Atlas SE 4-Motion with Tech. I had Safelite replace windshield and recalibrate. Total cost: $793 which included $250 for recalibration. All but $250 covered by insurance. Adaptive Cruise works fine.

Not looking to point fingers but would be nice if people would say who they have insurance with. I had State Farm for a long time. Home, cars, etc. But I had a Escort 9500ix stolen out of one of my cars and they won't cover it. Said they don't cover "devices" used to detect speed measuring "devices". Say what? Ofcourse the CSR doesn't make the rules, they just read them out of a book. Said "people who use them to speed so they won't cover them". Ok, I asked, "So, people with radar detectors speed, so you don't cover those devices, but you write policies for people who drive Corvettes, Mustangs and Camaros and so on, right?" She pauses, and said, "I see your point but yest, we cover those cars". Needless to say, I ended up over time moving ALL my cars (5 at the time) to USAA. Then over to AAA later on. One would think recalibration is a SAFETY feature and would be covered. Thats like smashing up the front of the car and not covering your head lights or turn indicators. IMO..

 

[camaroz1985]

Not looking to point fingers but would be nice if people would say who they have insurance with. I had State Farm for a long time. Home, cars, etc. But I had a Escort 9500ix stolen out of one of my cars and they won't cover it. Said they don't cover "devices" used to detect speed measuring "devices". Say what? Ofcourse the CSR doesn't make the rules, they just read them out of a book. Said "people who use them to speed so they won't cover them". Ok, I asked, "So, people with radar detectors speed, so you don't cover those devices, but you write policies for people who drive Corvettes, Mustangs and Camaros and so on, right?" She pauses, and said, "I see your point but yest, we cover those cars". Needless to say, I ended up over time moving ALL my cars (5 at the time) to USAA. Then over to AAA later on. One would think recalibration is a SAFETY feature and would be covered. Thats like smashing up the front of the car and not covering your head lights or turn indicators. IMO..

May just be a deductible that coincidentally the same as the recalibration? Recalibration was completely covered by insurance for us (State Farm).

 

[Upnorthgirl]

I am having my windshield replaced tomorrow on my 2019 VW Atlas SEL Premium by an independent glass company that was recommended by my VW dealership. The glass company and my insurance company both said I need to re-calibrate but when I called the dealership they said no I don't. They said all of the sensors are in the bumper not the windshield. Does anyone agree with this? I have to believe the service dept at the dealership is correct but after reading all of the comments I am a little concerned.

 

[KarstGeo]

I am having my windshield replaced tomorrow on my 2019 VW Atlas SEL Premium by an independent glass company that was recommended by my VW dealership. The glass company and my insurance company both said I need to re-calibrate but when I called the dealership they said no I don't. They said all of the sensors are in the bumper not the windshield. Does anyone agree with this? I have to believe the service dept at the dealership is correct but after reading all of the comments I am a little concerned.

There is a rain sensor that is close to your rearview mirror AND a camera - that camera is the drama.

 

[Barry T]

Up north girl, finally a dealership that knows what they are talking about. However, if the insurance company wants to have a recalibration on your window sensor, let them do it, but I doubt it will make any difference.
This is my first VW and probably my last. I like the car but the service (dealership) knowledge leaves a lot of doubt about competency.