Windshield Availability In The US?

[anand]

Given how common it is for the windshields to break the glass needs to be shipped in bulk and stocked in the US parts warehouse.

Historically speaking, it has been, and I'm sure it will continue to be in the future; however, it is accurate that the windshields themselves come from Europe initially

 

[TCMColorado]

Is it not reasonable to assume the Grenadier has near zero parts content from the US and hence with very limited exceptions all parts are coming from Europe or another overseas location. Some of these parts are shipped via container and stocked in the US others ship individually as needed from Europe and elsewhere.

 

[anand]

Is it not reasonable to assume the Grenadier has near zero parts content from the US and hence with very limited exceptions all parts are coming from Europe or another overseas location. Some of these parts are shipped via container and stocked in the US others ship individually as needed from Europe and elsewhere.

The vast majority of parts required in normal operations are stocked in a US parts warehouse; that parts warehouse, as with every other Euro manufacturer, is stocked with parts that come from a European warehouse.

If a dealer orders a part that is not stocked in the US warehouse, it comes from the parts warehouse in Belgium

 

[pmatusov]

My dealer fitted me with Exoshield which is kind of like a screen protector for your iPhone but fits on your front windscreen to prevent chips and cracks. They have been fitting it on Jeeps for quite a while with good success. It ran me $650. Seems like a good investment long term.

No idea if Exoshield is any better than XPEL, but the latter did not survive a 4-day trip to Colorado unscathed. We've only used windshield wipers less than 10 times in the entire trip, to brush off light snow - yet now the film has windshield pattern of tiny scratches that is very, very prominent with the sun into your face.

 

[HereinDaRockies]

Historically speaking, it has been, and I'm sure it will continue to be in the future; however, it is accurate that the windshields themselves come from Europe initially

Historically? What Ineos history?

 

[anand]

No idea if Exoshield is any better than XPEL, but the latter did not survive a 4-day trip to Colorado unscathed. We've only used windshield wipers less than 10 times in the entire trip, to brush off light snow - yet now the film has windshield pattern of tiny scratches that is very, very prominent with the sun into your face.

None of the local-to-me XPEL installers will install the windshield film for that very reason; there is one installer ~4hrs from me that has tested a lot of the windshield films, and none have lasted beyond the 12 month mark before needing to be replaced, in the end, they don't install any of them (although they carry many of the same brands for paint protection) because they haven't found one that lasts yet.

Historically? What Ineos history?

So that post was from October, and was referencing the fact that for the 11 months of sales leading up to that point, windshields are stocked at the US warehouse; and at this point most US dealers have them in stock. Although, speaking with one East coast dealer last week, they had 15 windshields on their shelves but were waiting on the seal strips

 

[SkiBum1]

No idea if Exoshield is any better than XPEL, but the latter did not survive a 4-day trip to Colorado unscathed. We've only used windshield wipers less than 10 times in the entire trip, to brush off light snow - yet now the film has windshield pattern of tiny scratches that is very, very prominent with the sun into your face.

That isn’t right. I am sure they will replace it under the film warranty. That makes no sense. Maybe that product is softer than mine or something. I have used the wipers a lot in snow and bad weather and took rock hits at least four times and nothing shows at all.

 

[pmatusov]

That isn’t right. I am sure they will replace it under the film warranty. That makes no sense. Maybe that product is softer than mine or something. I have used the wipers a lot in snow and bad weather and took rock hits at least four times and nothing shows at all.

Well... what can I say. At this point, it is only hideous when the ambient light hits it a certain way. I am sure it will be more visible later.

 

[Zimm]

Well... what can I say. At this point, it is only hideous when the ambient light hits it a certain way. I am sure it will be more visible later.

As soon as I get my new glass, I plan on putting a couple layer of helicopter tape on the bottom 2" and wrapping it over the exposed edge. I notice all the cracks start at the bottom, and both of mine were hits, one serious, and one almost non existent. I haven't seen anyone have a crack start in the middle or upper yet, so I'm going to focus on the bottom, and leave 95% of the screen clear of plastic cover that will degrade. I don't know the reason why, but It doesn't appear to me the entire windshield is failing, just the bottom. If I have finite resources for engineering and design, I focus on the known points of failure.

 

[anand]

As soon as I get my new glass, I plan on putting a couple layer of helicopter tape on the bottom 2" and wrapping it over the exposed edge. I notice all the cracks start at the bottom, and both of mine were hits, one serious, and one almost non existent. I haven't seen anyone have a crack start in the middle or upper yet, so I'm going to focus on the bottom, and leave 95% of the screen clear of plastic cover that will degrade. I don't know the reason why, but It doesn't appear to me the entire windshield is failing, just the bottom. If I have finite resources for engineering and design, I focus on the known points of failure.

For what it's worth; my first crack was dead in the middle (height wise) and on the driver's edge. It spread to within 2-3" of the passenger's edge within minutes of the hit.

My second crack was an impact on the passenger side about an inch down from the top of the glass (just to the "outside" of where the passenger sits)

Nothing is safe or sacred haha

 

[Zimm]

awesome...

well, i'm still going to focus on the leading edges and keep the rest usable. if i get a third crack, the car is unreliable and it's traded in.

 

[TCMColorado]

Frequently cracking windshields are purely a result of the vertical angle, not about the quality of the glass. I am a long time Jeep Wrangler owner and I have to replace the glass at least once a year for the same reason. It does make you much more aware of following too closely behind other vehicles.

 

[Wyoman]

EV manufacturers have a big incentive to develop better glass for windshields. A glass type that is lighter, stronger, and improved clarity will eventually be available for all autos. It will probably take way too long to become available for the Grenadier but I’m more excited about better windshield glass than self-driving cars. Insurance companies are also frustrated with the high cost of glass replacement but it’s a catch-22 because the safe driving technology (e.g. ADAS) that insurance companies like is integrated into the windshield. The bottom line is we will have to deal with breaking windshields for years but eventually a stronger class will be available. Below is a press release on Fusion5 glass that might be available in the future.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/corning-fusion5-glass-is-stronger-lighter-and-good-for-electric-and-autonomous-cars/

 

[airbrake60]

Has anyone in the US had their windshield replaced yet?

I took a good sized rock to the windshield the other day. It left a big divot. I filled it with repair epoxy within a couple of miles. It should hold for a while. I called my insurer. They automatically connected me to Safelite. Safelite automatically scheduled me for January 1, 2025. I tried calling Safelite but, apparently, they’ve fired all human beings from their customer service team and everything is handled online. I was unable to speak with anyone.

When I called my insurer back to ask for help they said that windshields are not available yet and then said, “I haven’t even heard of this vehicle”.
Does anyone have a windshield they’re not using? Dealers???

I broke the windshield when I was installing a wolfbox pro in my wife's truck. (dont ask) Yes, I know ... my buddies are still giving me a hard time. I had to spend almost 2700 to get it replaced at the dealership. Three weeks later we go to back the truck out of the garage and see a crack forming up from the bottom edge right in front of the steering wheel. Although I love this truck the lack of parts availability, service manuals, authorized service locations is probably going to be a deal breaker for me. I actually think the crack is a result of the windshield being installed outside when it was extremely cold out. I say that because we only drove it once after the windshield was put in and we never heard anything hit the windshield. That and the fact that there is no starburst, and the cracks starts from the edge of the glass. These trucks are beautiful, but like you I am starting think that I should have waited until they further along in the rollout here in the USA.

 

[C-Mack]

There could have been an almost imperceptibly small chip or imperfection on the edge of the replacement glass causing a stress riser the minute the glass encountered a temperature change or stresses as the vehicle body flexes. Having watched how glass repair shops handle glass and typically store them on their edges in various racks small chips could easily happen even with edge protection in place for shipment.

 

[anand]

Although I love this truck the lack of parts availability, service manuals, authorized service locations is probably going to be a deal breaker for me.

What parts have you not been able to get? Or do you mean running down to the local parts store to get things in general?

With new dealers opening almost monthly, the drive distance is definitely getting cut down for many folks... Being in NC, you're probably within 2 hours of the dealer, right?