Windshield availability

[grannyknot]

I've read on this forum a number of times how long the wait is for windshields from BMW so I would like to share my experience to try and figure out what the problem is.
Three wks ago I cracked my windshield trying install a new trim piece around the outside edge, I ordered a new one from my local dealership, they said there was 2 Vancouver which is on the other side of the country from me and it would take 2 wks.
Two weeks later it had arrived but was broken in transit so the dealership ordered one from Germany, it took one week and I picked it up today.
I paid $875 CND
So BMW does have them and I'm trying to figure out why they are making British and European owners wait so long.
Could there be that much of a difference between North American and European Z4's?

 

[Mr Tidy]

That doesn't seem to make much sense given that all the E85/86s were built in Spartanburg SC. :?

Glad you managed to get one though.

 

[DMike]

And even though some parts, e.g. engines, were manufacured in Europe, the sticker on your windshield says the batch was made in US. Just guessing they have storages of spare parts on both continents, disregarding original manufacturing site.

 

[grannyknot]

That doesn't seem to make much sense given that all the E85/86s were built in Spartanburg SC. :?

Glad you managed to get one though.

Me too, I was prepared to wait a year.

And even though some parts, e.g. engines, were manufacured in Europe, the sticker on your windshield says the batch was made in US. Just guessing they have storages of spare parts on both continents, disregarding original manufacturing site.

That's interesting because my dealership said it came from Germany :idunno:
They certainly ordered it from Germany but maybe they just had it shipped up from Spartanburg SC.

 

[DMike]

That's interesting because my dealership said it came from Germany :idunno:
They certainly ordered it from Germany but maybe they just had it shipped up from Spartanburg SC.

I meant that when the US storages ran out of stock, the supply chain would refill from Europe. Here in Scandinavia we have one storage in Sweden, which refills from Germany.

 

[Beedub]

my local dealer is quoting a 5 week wait which is much better.... OP while your screen is new, find someone your side of the pond and do this.... your screen will be kept in as new condition. Not cheap but windscreen protection film is a no brainer where parts may or are difficult to get.

https://youtu.be/R3I3gLVKXKE

 

[grannyknot]

my local dealer is quoting a 5 week wait which is much better.... OP while your screen is new, find someone your side of the pond and do this.... your screen will be kept in as new condition. Not cheap but windscreen protection film is a no brainer where parts may or are difficult to get.

https://youtu.be/R3I3gLVKXKE

Oh yeah, that's in the works, I'm checking out a few places to see if maybe I should have it covered before installation so the outer edge trim piece will snap in on top of the covering to prevent any possible peeling up at the edge.
I've seen that vid before, he's great.

 

[Beedub]

my local dealer is quoting a 5 week wait which is much better.... OP while your screen is new, find someone your side of the pond and do this.... your screen will be kept in as new condition. Not cheap but windscreen protection film is a no brainer where parts may or are difficult to get.

https://youtu.be/R3I3gLVKXKE

Oh yeah, that's in the works, I'm checking out a few places to see if maybe I should have it covered before installation so the outer edge trim piece will snap in on top of the covering to prevent any possible peeling up at the edge.
I've seen that vid before, he's great.

Remember the film needs to be easily removeable once its service life is over, i assure you it WONT peel up, the adhesive on that stuff is insane! also totally agree R.E the guy in the video, hes fantastic....

 

[Griffo46]

my local dealer is quoting a 5 week wait which is much better.... OP while your screen is new, find someone your side of the pond and do this.... your screen will be kept in as new condition. Not cheap but windscreen protection film is a no brainer where parts may or are difficult to get.

https://youtu.be/R3I3gLVKXKE

Oh yeah, that's in the works, I'm checking out a few places to see if maybe I should have it covered before installation so the outer edge trim piece will snap in on top of the covering to prevent any possible peeling up at the edge.
I've seen that vid before, he's great.

Remember the film needs to be easily removeable once its service life is over, i assure you it WONT peel up, the adhesive on that stuff is insane! also totally agree R.E the guy in the video, hes fantastic....

Product looks great and the video was very interesting to watch, subscribed to your channel too.

 

[grannyknot]

my local dealer is quoting a 5 week wait which is much better.... OP while your screen is new, find someone your side of the pond and do this.... your screen will be kept in as new condition. Not cheap but windscreen protection film is a no brainer where parts may or are difficult to get.

https://youtu.be/R3I3gLVKXKE

Oh yeah, that's in the works, I'm checking out a few places to see if maybe I should have it covered before installation so the outer edge trim piece will snap in on top of the covering to prevent any possible peeling up at the edge.
I've seen that vid before, he's great.

Remember the film needs to be easily removeable once its service life is over, i assure you it WONT peel up, the adhesive on that stuff is insane! also totally agree R.E the guy in the video, hes fantastic....

Ah! just got it, you're him.
Thanks for the tip.

 

[Beedub]

Oh yeah, that's in the works, I'm checking out a few places to see if maybe I should have it covered before installation so the outer edge trim piece will snap in on top of the covering to prevent any possible peeling up at the edge.
I've seen that vid before, he's great.

Remember the film needs to be easily removeable once its service life is over, i assure you it WONT peel up, the adhesive on that stuff is insane! also totally agree R.E the guy in the video, hes fantastic....

Product looks great and the video was very interesting to watch, subscribed to your channel too.

Thanks very much

 

[Beedub]

Oh yeah, that's in the works, I'm checking out a few places to see if maybe I should have it covered before installation so the outer edge trim piece will snap in on top of the covering to prevent any possible peeling up at the edge.
I've seen that vid before, he's great.

Remember the film needs to be easily removeable once its service life is over, i assure you it WONT peel up, the adhesive on that stuff is insane! also totally agree R.E the guy in the video, hes fantastic....

Ah! just got it, you're him.
Thanks for the tip.

I am , lol. Thanks for the comments . I'm not great at YouTube but I certainly enjoy trying

 

[grannyknot]

Remember the film needs to be easily removeable once its service life is over, i assure you it WONT peel up, the adhesive on that stuff is insane! also totally agree R.E the guy in the video, hes fantastic....

Ah! just got it, you're him.
Thanks for the tip.

I am , lol. Thanks for the comments . I'm not great at YouTube but I certainly enjoy trying

Okay, so how long is the service life of windshield coatings?
I only drive the car on weekends and the rest of the time it is in my garage.

 

[Huz-z]

I just spoke to a local auto glass repair shop in Canada and they tell me that they have an original equipment equivalent in stock which is suitable for rain sensor equipped cars.

It’s $650 Canadian. I wonder if an OEM glass would be any better?

 

[grannyknot]

I just spoke to a local auto glass repair shop in Canada and they tell me that they have an original equipment equivalent in stock which is suitable for rain sensor equipped cars.

It’s $650 Canadian. I wonder if an OEM glass would be any better?

I've read a few times on this forum and Zpost that the aftermarket windshields don't fit as well and can leak.
My BMW windshield took 1 week to get to Toronto from Germany.

 

[Huz-z]

Thanks!

Way back when I was an undergrad I used to work at an auto glass shop and we installed lots of after market windshields. They never leaked unless they were improperly installed.

I’m mostly wondering how well the rain sensing function would work because that works way better on my 2006 Z4 than on my 2017 X5 and I don’t want to mess it up!

 

[Gummi]

There are OEM windscreens available in the UK. I ended up with damage from a truck carrying shingle in December last year which required a new screen. Autoglass were able to source two screens for me (the first installation wasn’t up to scratch) but it took 6 months for them to get stock.