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An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) windshield is a type of vehicle glass specifically produced by the same company that designed the original windshield for a specific car model. The “OEM” status signifies that the component matches the original part that was initially installed in the vehicle.   What is an OEM windshield OEM windshields conform exactly to the vehicle’s design, guaranteeing a perfect fit and retaining the original glass’s quality. They uphold the original dimensions, shape, tint, robustness, and any distinctive features such as defroster lines or antenna connections.   Purchasing an OEM windshield typically offers the highest standard of quality and vehicle compatibility, but it may come at a higher cost compared to aftermarket alternatives. Aftermarket windshields are produced by companies other than the original manufacturer and may not uphold the exact specifications or features of an OEM windshield. Nevertheless, they can offer a cost-effective solution when windshield replacement is needed, and the owner is not concerned about preserving the exact original specifications.   Quality and Safety Standards of OEM Windshields The distinguishing factors between OEM and aftermarket windshields lie in the fact that the former is manufactured to uphold strict quality and safety standards, replicating the original windshield that came with the vehicle.   Quality Assurance: OEM windshields are fabricated either by the car’s producer or entities licensed by the producer, ensuring the replacement windshield mirrors the quality of the original one. This quality is manifested in the glass’s durability, clearness, colour, and special features like tinting or heating elements.   Safety Assurance: OEM windshields comply with the safety guidelines outlined by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in the United States, which encompass elements like transparency, durability, and resilience.   These windshields are designed to:   Offer a transparent view for the driver, with the windshield not distorting the driver’s vision. This is governed by FMVSS’s regulations on light transmission and visibility. Exhibit strength and resilience to contribute to the overall structural stability of the vehicle. In numerous cars, the windshield assists in preventing the roof from collapsing during a rollover accident. They are also constructed to withstand impact and resist easy shattering. Cooperate with the vehicle’s airbag system. When an airbag is released, it can impact the windshield at a high speed. The windshield needs to be robust enough to absorb the impact and direct the airbag towards the passenger. Consistency and Compatibility: As OEM windshields are constructed in accordance with the exact specifics of a particular vehicle model, a consistent fit and function are guaranteed. This assures the vehicle’s various systems, such as automatic wipers or heads-up displays, interface seamlessly with the windshield.   Regulation and Certification: OEM manufacturers undergo regular audits and scrutiny by car manufacturers and relevant safety authorities, ensuring their continuous adherence to safety and quality standards. Opting for an OEM windshield guarantees a product that fulfills rigorous safety and quality standards, offering peace of mind that the replacement windshield mirrors the quality of the original one.   Why Do OEM Windshields Cost More? Upon noticing the price of OEM windshields, one might question the higher cost. The reasons are many.   Quality and Precision: OEM windshields are fabricated to precisely match the original equipment’s specifications. This encompasses the exact shape, size, durability, and any other features included in the original windshield. The high degree of precision, quality management, and proprietary technology often results in a higher cost.   Material: The materials employed in OEM windshields are typically superior to those used in aftermarket windshields. They often exhibit better transparency, durability, and might also be more impact resistant.   Licensing and Trademark: OEM manufacturers must acquire a license to produce windshields identical to the original. The cost of obtaining these licenses likely translates into higher prices for consumers.   Research and Development: Auto manufacturers invest substantially in research and development to ensure the windshields used in their vehicles meet high safety and performance standards. The cost of this R&D is often reflected in the price of OEM parts.   Compatibility and Integration: OEM windshields are designed to work flawlessly with a vehicle’s other systems, like advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). This high level of integration often demands advanced production methods, which can add to the cost.   Brand Premium: At times, you are also paying for the brand name associated with the OEM. While this is seen as a mark of reliability and quality, it can increase the cost. Despite the higher cost seeming like a drawback, many vehicle owners find value in the exact fit, superior quality, and peace of mind that come with installing an OEM windshield.   Takeaway The higher cost of an OEM windshield is a testament to its exceptional quality, perfect fit, and superior materials used in its construction. When contemplating a windshield replacement, these factors must be balanced against your budget to make the most suitable choice for your vehicle and safety.

Windshields are the front-line warriors of your car that hold your car’s structural integrity and save you from falling victim to road debris or extreme heat. But sometimes it cracks for various reasons, like temperature changes.   Driving with a cracked windshield is not recommended as it not only obstructs your view but also breaks if its windshield repair is put off for a longer time.    Read about the risks of driving with a cracked windshield, preventive measures, and what happens if mobile windshield repairs are ignored.   Understanding Windshield Cracks Extreme temperature changes impacts from rocks or other debris on the road, and manufacturing flaws can all cause a windscreen to crack. If a cracked windshield repair is overlooked, the crack may grow with time before finally reaching a point where a windshield repair is not an option anymore and a windshield replacement is done. A cracked windshield can spread due to the following reasons:   Fluctuations in temperature can cause the windshield to expand or contract. Water seeping in through gaps will weaken your windscreen. The water may freeze if the temperature drops low enough, which would widen the crack. The cracks may spread due to factors like vibrations caused while driving. If a crack is not correctly mended, it may spread or break completely. Any fluctuations in air pressure can cause cracks to expand. The air pressure might change while driving over a mountain or passing through a tunnel.   Risks of Driving with a Cracked Windshield A cracked windshield has the potential to threaten the safety of your car. If your windshield is cracked and needs to be repaired, it is advised to get it fixed immediately and not wait for the crack to grow. You take the following risks when you drive with a cracked windshield.    Your vision becomes clouded due to the cracks Due to a weakened structural integrity, your protection takes a hit Your car’s windshield contributes towards the effective deployment of airbags, however, a cracked windshield can chatter due to the force of the deployment, resulting in a malfunction and leaving you and other passengers vulnerable to injuries. A cracked windshield may shatter in the case of an accident or impact, and the flying glass pieces might cause serious injury. The cracked windshield will not be able to tolerate extreme impact if you meet with an accident.   Can a Cracked Windshield Break While Driving? What happens to a cracked windshield if you don’t make the required auto glass repairs? If there is a crack in your windshield that affects its integrity, there are situations when it could break. However, the chance of it collapsing onto your hood or into your car is low thanks to the strong urethane adhesives that hold windshields in place, preventing leaks, noise, and glass movement. Also, because the glass is laminated, the entire windshield is unlikely to split from the frame.   Preventive Measures and Solutions Prioritizing windshield repair is the best strategy to ensure your car’s safety and survival. However, you can opt for the following measures and solutions.   Avoid Temperature Shocks Glass expands in hot heat and contracts in the cold. If you direct a heating vent onto a chipped windshield in cold weather, the crack may expand rapidly. Then you’ll have no choice but to replace your windshield. To avoid this, park in the shade and don’t use the window defroster until the chip is healed.   Keep Your Car Dirt and Moisture-Free Cleaning the damaged area and adding a piece of transparent packaging tape, which is robust but won’t block your view, will help keep dirt and moisture out of the cracked windshield. Another short-term approach for shielding the chip from dirt is to apply superglue evenly throughout the crack and brush away any excess.   Drive Safely If you have a cracked windshield, you should drive at the appropriate speed and avoid potholes and bumpy roads. Keep your car with the utmost appreciation and close the doors very carefully to avoid vibrations from the slamming.   Conclusion A cracked windshield poses a significant threat to the driver as well as other passengers. The compromised structural integrity can sometimes lead to the windshield breaking if the car endures an impact. A cracked windshield repair must be done immediately to keep the crack from spreading and ensure safety.   Take care of your front-line warrior by avoiding driving at high speed and slamming the doors. Stay safe and drive responsibly with Autoglass America.

If you have bought a new car recently or even if you’ve just seen a car advertisement on TV, chances are you’ve come across the term ADAS. It stands for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. Sounds high-tech, doesn’t it? In simple words, ADAS refers to a bunch of features in your car that use technology to make driving safer and easier. Think of it as having a co-pilot in your car, assisting you as you drive. But just like everything else, ADAS comes with its own set of pros and cons. Let’s dive deep and explore them.   Pros of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Here are some pros of ADAS:   Safety Enhancement: At the heart of ADAS’s appeal is its potential to vastly improve road safety. These systems, equipped with an array of sensors, cameras, and sophisticated algorithms, constantly monitor the vehicle’s surroundings. Imagine you’re on a highway and a car ahead of you suddenly brakes. If you’re momentarily distracted, a collision might seem inevitable. However, features like automatic emergency braking can kick in, applying the brakes faster than humanly possible and potentially preventing a mishap. This kind of proactive safety measure can save countless lives and prevent numerous injuries, making our roads safer for everyone.   Combatting Driver Fatigue: Long journeys can be both monotonous and exhausting. The constant need to adjust speeds, maintain lane discipline, and be vigilant of other road users can tire even the most experienced drivers. Enter ADAS with features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance. The former can maintain a set speed while adjusting for the flow of traffic, while the latter ensures the vehicle doesn’t drift out of its lane unintentionally. This assists in reducing the mental and physical fatigue on drivers, allowing for a more relaxed and safer driving experience, especially on prolonged trips.   Elevated Driving Experience: The very act of driving has been transformed with the advent of ADAS. Consider the anxiety some drivers feel when attempting to park in a tight spot in a crowded city. Parking assist systems, now commonplace in many vehicles, offer real-time guidance, showing the best angles and approach to slide into a spot effortlessly. Beyond this, features such as blind-spot monitoring provide drivers with an augmented sense of their surroundings, bolstering confidence and ensuring safer lane changes and merges.   Environmental Efficiency: As ADAS continuеs to еvolvе, so doеs its potеntial impact on thе еnvironmеnt. Systеms likе adaptivе cruisе control or еfficiеnt routе guidancе can lеad to smoothеr driving and lеss frеquеnt abrupt stops or accеlеrations. This, in turn, can optimizе fuеl consumption or battеry usе in еlеctric vеhiclеs. By еnsuring that vеhiclеs opеratе at pеak еfficiеncy, ADAS can indirеctly contributе to rеducеd еmissions and a smallеr carbon footprint. Furthеrmorе, with traffic managеmеnt and optimal routе sеlеction, thеrе’s a potеntial for fеwеr congеstions, lеading to a collеctivе rеduction in city-widе еmissions and bеttеr air quality.   Cons of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Here are some cons of ADAS:   Risk of Over-reliance: One of the looming concerns with ADAS is the risk that drivers might start depending too heavily on these systems. There’s a subtle but crucial difference between using these systems as aids and viewing them as substitutes for attentive driving. When drivers start to overly trust their ADAS, believing it will always intervene correctly, it can foster complacency. This false sense of security might lead to reduced attention on the road, which in certain situations can be perilous.   Economic Implications: The technology behind ADAS doesn’t come cheap. While it’s becoming more accessible, integrating these systems can considerably hike up vehicle prices. Moreover, should these systems malfunction or get damaged, they can be notably expensive to repair given their complexity. This not only means a heftier initial investment for buyers but also potentially steeper maintenance costs down the line.   Technical Limitations and Learning Curve: No technology is infallible, and ADAS is no exception. These systems have limitations. For instance, sensors might not function optimally in heavy rain or if obscured by mud or snow. If drivers aren’t educated about these shortcomings, they might overestimate the system’s capabilities, leading to dangerous scenarios. Additionally, with each vehicle manufacturer offering their take on ADAS, there can be variance in system behavior and controls. For drivers switching between vehicles or first-time users, this presents a learning curve which, if not addressed, could be a source of confusion and potential misuse.   Interference with Traditional Driving Skills: There’s growing concern, especially among driving purists and educators, about ADAS potentially diluting fundamental driving skills. With systems taking over functions like parking or maintaining safe distances from other vehicles, new drivers might miss out on mastering these essential skills in their formative driving years. Over time, if an individual becomes accustomed to these assistive features and then finds themselves in a vehicle without them, they could be at a disadvantage, lacking the necessary skills or confidence to drive safely and effectively.   Takeaway Advancеd Drivеr Assistancе Systеms arе truly rеvolutionizing thе way wе drivе. Thеy’rе pushing thе boundariеs of what cars can do to hеlp makе roads safеr. Whilе thе advantagеs arе compеlling, it’s also еssеntial to bе awarе of thе drawbacks. If you’rе considеring a vеhiclе with ADAS, takе thе timе to familiarizе yoursеlf with its fеaturеs and usе thеm rеsponsibly.