{"id":546,"date":"2017-05-05T21:30:16","date_gmt":"2017-05-06T01:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/info.glass.com\/?p=546"},"modified":"2024-04-03T21:18:44","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T01:18:44","slug":"mercedes-glass-windshield-replacement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glass.com\/info\/mercedes-glass-windshield-replacement\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercedes Recommends Only OEM Windshield Replacements"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Recently, Mercedes Benz USA issued a statement in which it \u201cstrongly recommends\u201d that drivers who need to get a windshield replaced only use Mercedes Benz products. Why is that?<\/p>

The automaker says glass made by other companies does not meet the exacting specifications of Mercedes Benz glass, adding that aftermarket glass often does not contain the same technology. These include things such as as solar glass coatings, which provide protection from the sun’s rays and reduce heat levels inside the car. These also can optimize air-conditioning performance and improve fuel economy.<\/p>

Mercedes says aftermarket glass also might not be as quiet as its\u00a0Benz glass, either.<\/p>

OE vs. Aftermarket: So What’s the Difference?<\/strong><\/h2>

It’s important to know the difference between aftermarket glass and \u201coriginal equipment\u201d glass.<\/a> Glass that was made specifically for Mercedes Benz is called \u201coriginal equipment\u201d or OE glass.<\/p>

It was put in the vehicle by the car manufacturer during the manufacturing process.<\/p>

Aftermarket glass refers to glass that’s made for replacement purposes, usually by companies other than the one who first made the glass for the original car. It’s often less expensive than OE glass, but it might not be the same quality or fit as well.<\/p>

\u201cTo promote and maintain its rigorous standards of quality and safety, if a collision repair is necessary, MBUSA strongly recommends that all repairs be performed by a certified technician using only genuine Mercedes-Benz Parts,\u201d reads an excerpt from the company’s six-page statement.<\/p>

The Mercedes Benz position statement also provides guidance for recalibration<\/a> of on-board systems and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), such as cameras, rain sensors, antennas and heating elements.<\/p>

\u201cAftermarket glass often does not account for these complex electrical components and may interfere with your vehicle’s electronic systems, or cause these electronic systems to not function properly,\u201d the company said.<\/p>

ADAS systems are designed to increase driver safety, and while they were once considered futuristic, they’re becoming more mainstream.<\/p>

ADAS includes technology such as collision avoidance, surround view, lane-departure warning, cross traffic alert, park assist and heads-up displays, in which crucial vehicle data such as speed is \u00a0projected onto the windshield<\/a>. That way, the driver doesn’t have to look down as often.<\/p>

A few years ago, ADAS was seen as an upgrade for higher-end vehicles such as Mercedes<\/a> Benz (note the G-Wagon pictured below), but the technology is becoming standard in most makes and models. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requiring ADAS to be standard in newly manufactured vehicles; for example, by 2018, all new cars must have rear-view cameras.<\/p>

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One thing is for sure: Expect to pay more for using OE glass in a Mercedes windscreen replacement.<\/p>

Get an Estimate<\/a>\n<\/p>

Onboard Diagnostic Systems<\/span><\/h2>

The Mercedes Benz announcement also said that post-collision repair evaluations of model year 1996 vehicles with onboard diagnostics systems \u201c \u2026 should have these systems evaluated using an up-to-date \u2026 diagnostics computer.”<\/p>

So what exactly is an onboard diagnostic system?<\/p>

Onboard diagnostic systems allow the vehicle owner or repair technician to accurately diagnose any problems your vehicle might be having. The earliest versions were those red dashboard warning lights that would tell you to check your oil or remind you to disengage the emergency brake. Today, onboard diagnostics often involve computer chips and other high-tech touches, which allow the driver or a technician to rapidly identify and remedy malfunctions within the vehicle.<\/p>

\u201cPost-repair scanning and diagnosis of the vehicle is necessary to ensure that the vehicle’s safety and driver-assist systems are operable and fully functioning,\u201d according to Mercedes Benz statement. \u201cMany of the safety and driver-assist systems that may have been activated during a collision require vehicle calibration, normalization or coding. The post-repair scan will also help to ensure that a comprehensive repair has been performed.\u201d<\/p>

Mercedes provides a number of examples of when ADAS will need to be recalibrated include:<\/p>