Windshield Crack

I replaced my windshield for about $600. I was not told that there was a different windshield available, but they (Safelight) wanted another $500 to "calibrate" the heads up display. I did not pay for the calibration. I can still see the hud.

 

My understanding is they play some games with the glass thickness in the HUD area so the HUD reflections from the first and second glass surfaces coincide at your eyes. When replaced with glass that is flat and parallel there, people have complained of the HUD double image because of the separate reflections off the two surfaces.

 

Apparently, 2017 Prius Prime Windshield is different from other year models? But I'm not seeing a different glass for HUD for 2017 PP. There seems to be different glass for other year models. The retail price difference is not as bad as MSRP. I had my windshield replaced on my 2017 PP Premium (no HUD) back in 2017 about 1 month after getting the car. It was fully covered by no deductible comprehensive policy of my insurance but I was told the cost of glass was around $800. The cost of front-facing camera calibration was ~$150. So with the labor of installation, we are talking well over $1K easily. No deductible glass coverage is a must for a PP.

Toyota Prius Prime Windshield - Guaranteed Genuine Toyota Parts

 

after you get a price from the dealer you might want to give safelite a call. safelite charges around $200 for the camera alignment and it's not techstream, but it works and takes an extra 20 to 30 minutes after the windshield install. disclaimer: I don't have HUD

 

I looked into Safelite windshields recently. They can supply aftermarket glass in either standard or HUD version. The camera calibration is extra as noted above. OEM glass is a lot extra.

Does the dealership do glass replacement, or do they farm it out to a glass shop, then just charge the customer, and the insurance, a lot more?

 

When I did mine (2017 PP Premium no HUD) back in 2017, there was no aftermarket glass available yet. And there was a nationwide shortage of the front glass for all Gen4 and PP. I had to call the Toyota HQ to get the case escalated to have the parts shipped directly from Japan to a local Toyota dealer where I purchased the car. The dealer subcontracted to a glass shop for the installation, but installation was done at the dealer site. Then the dealer did the camera calibration. The payment to the subcontracted glass shop was taken care of by the insurance claim directly by the shop. But the dealer would not process the insurance claim, so I had to pay for the calibration part to the dealer ~$150. I claimed reimbursement from the insurance company got my money back. The cost to me was zero since I had no deductible coverage.

I suspect the practice may differ by dealers and the insurance company.

 

I hadn't realized that the windshield glass would be different for HUD equipped models. Makes me even happier with my PP LE choice, and my mother's R4P SE choice.