Subaru window replacement - Dealer or Elsewhere?

Front passenger window of an Outback was broken in SF last night while we were at a concert. Calling around the dealership is twice as much ~$400 while another place, Safelite, is about half and they will be using a subaru part. Called another place and he said he won't touch those windows due to the lack of a frame and later issues with wind leaks etc. and he suggested only going to the dealership for the repair.

Anyone have any experiences?

Thanks, the thieves got my tiny wallet from under the seat (couple credit cards) and my roommates nearly empty backpack, but passed over expensive sunglasses and CDs (not surprising) and they missed my iPod and checkbook in my bag they went through.

Glass is glass. The only difference is a factory logo. Chances are the dealer contracts it out too. Be sure you specify tint or not.

I've used Safelite on windows for Subarus before and they have been great with a lower estimate than other places. They also have a lifetime guarantee for their work covering installment (leaks or wind issues). They've also been very flexible and on time.

Don't bother with dealers. Super mark up.

Bummer about the break in. I feel your pain.

Thanks guys. Exactly what I wanted to hear!

Yeah -- do safelite. I've had the pleasure of replacement both the front windshield and back window on my outback in the last 2 months...safelite did both for cheaper than the dealership and with a lot less hassle.

The window smash & grab routine in SF sux and there's no logic to it. They stole a car radio worth maybe $20 from my old car. They stole a bunch of smelly bike gear in a backpack from my current car. The most unbelievable I saw was a guy who just smashed a car window, took the gps and then walked away, in broad daylight, on Polk on a Saturday in the middle of the day. There were only about 100 witnesses...and he cared not.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Adominable Snowman

The most unbelievable I saw was a guy who just smashed a car window, took the gps and then walked away, in broad daylight, on Polk on a Saturday in the middle of the day. There were only about 100 witnesses...and he cared not.

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While in Dublin a few years ago I saw a guy break a car window and steal a radio... in the front parking lot of a courthouse next to Kilmainham Gaol. Some people are just idiots.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wandering, not lost

While in Dublin a few years ago I saw a guy break a car window and steal a radio... in the front parking lot of a courthouse next to Kilmainham Gaol. Some people are just idiots.

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There's a fine line between "idiot" and "risk taker"

The subaru dealership here subs all work out to safelite. Interestingly though if I brought my car directly to safelite it was going to cost me $350 for a windshield. Through the dealership it was only $250. Same glass, they replaced all the seals everything.

But I have only used them for Windsheild.

Great Price
Work ordered over the internet
They show up with Van and perform work on site where car is located.

Clean profesional Reliable work

I fucking hate SF thieves. My Cherokee was broken into 3x in nine months in 2007. Fucking pieces of shit.

I used Safelite for a broken passenger window on my sube a couple years ago. It always had a ripple to it after the fix. Definitely looked different that the other windows. Wasn't horrible, but definitely bugged me a bit.
I'd ask them about glass quality and things like that.
You'll get a free can of glass cleaner though. That aught to be a plus!

Safelite absolutely sucks.

You have no idea.

But, without knowing your market, I would have no way of suggesting a better vendor.

There is less to fuck up on a door glass, but it can happen. But mostly the risk is that they leave glass rattling in the door or damage some of the clips or mechanism.

FYI, in general for any auto glass, do NOT do mobile if you can help it.
The work is always better done in a shop. Esp. in winter.

If you know anyone in the auto body business, ask them where they would take their own car for glass.
It will probably be a smaller shop where they guy has years of experience and gets paid $20 plus per hour instead of $14. It matters.

elsewhere

go to the East Bay and save $200. shouldn't cost more than $200 in Oakland or Berkeley.

Make sure they match the color of the glass ... some Subie glass is green and some is blue.

Also, it' smore expensive because of the way the glass is mounted to the bushings or whatever ... it's a bitch to adjust, so make sure you check all the alignment and up-down action and slam the door closed a few times to check for flex/noises BEFORE leaving the shop. I had mine done by some local place and they got it crooked at first and left a freaking socket (for a socket wrench) in my door frame, but fixed it once I pointed it out.

Thank you random AI bot, your timely advice will surely be a valuable asset to the original poster.

Given that this is TGR it is quite possible that the OP is still driving around with cardboard taped to the window, so the BOT advice might be quite timely.

Did the necro bumper get deleted?

Yep

I used to go to a wrecker in vancover that bought all the dead Subarus, when I got there the yard was deserted except for a pen with some junkyard dogs ( would you believe black Labs ?) 5 minutes later some sketchy looking guy with a case of beer under each arm shows up, I got a used front CV a used exhast system some other stuff over the years for WAY cheap.

Those old subarus with no frame are a pain in the ass to replace. But whatever you do, don’t go to Safelite. If you like your car that is.

that right there was no window frame but the sketchy guy had 2 or 3 doz dead subarus to take apart so he must have been pretty good at it