Windshield OEM BMW or OEM Mazda

I just had the windshield replaced on my CX-50 a two of weeks ago. A local shop handled the install but ordered the glass directly from Mazda. My family’s had bad experiences with aftermarket glass in the past, so that pushed me toward OEM; especially since my car’s less than a year old.

If you’re paying out of pocket, aftermarket could still be the more practical option. I went through my insurance, so it was fully covered, but the total bill came to about $1,700 and the glass took nearly four months to arrive.

The new windshield has the Mazda logo and the HUD seems just as I remember it without any ripple. Unfortunately I noticed some damage to the rain sensor, so am working with the dealership again to get that replaced. Luckily the windshield does not have to come off for that.

I called a local 3rd party shop and had them order the glass from BMW and then they installed in when it arrived from Germany about 2 weeks later. Saved me about $1500 vs. BMW of Austin asking $3200 installed (HUD, Driver Assist Camera, etc) including recalibration. Was ~$1700 all-in for OE glass and recal of the driver aides and HUD. Could have gotten it about $600 cheaper with 3rd party glass, but have heard horror stories about how cheap glass can mess up visibility of the HUD so stuck with OE BMW glass.

2018 BMW F30 318d: Fragile windshields? We’re on the 3rd one already. Oil filter housing was replaced at 125k km due to a cracked coolant passage. OEM unit was plastic and was replaced with a metal one. Wheel speed sensors have been replaced twice already.

My windshield cracked

Replaced the windshield twice in 3 years

The cx50 windshield sucks. I got a chip in the first month of owning it too.

I also had to replace mine after 1 year due to major cracks.

My windshield was cracked in multiple places within one year.

I got my CX50 in January and in June it cracked. I'm assuming these windshields are on the weaker side.