Windshield Replacement - ADAS Recalibration Needed??

[B Miller]

I called Safelite for a new windshield to be installed. Cost was $400, Safelite emailed me That ADAS Recalibration is needed after install. Cost is now $850. Does that sound right to everyone else??

Brian

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[Brian_B]

I went through this a while back

Technically - yes, its required. If you are claiming this on insurance they should cover it. The camera is glued on the windshield and there are a lot of reasons it may not pick up just exactly like it did. Even if you just adjust ride height your “supposed” to recalibrate because it can adjust where the horizon sits on the camera image.

On some vehicles (not sure about Bronco), if you unplug the camera module it forces a recal.

That said - a lot of people get away without it.

 

[Ducati1098]

Like mentioned above, you’d probably be fine without it.
And regardless even if you wanted to have it done, $450 for a 15 minute procedure is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Brian_B]

And regardless even if you wanted to have it done, $450 for a 15 minute procedure is absolutely ridiculous.

My local shop charged (my insurance) about $400, took him about an hour and he was out driving around with it. Now, maybe he was just out joyriding, I don't know.

I've heard you can do it via FDRS, but I also heard it required some special "target" piece of cardboard or something?

 

[Ducati1098]

My local shop charged (my insurance) about $400, took him about an hour and he was out driving around with it. Now, maybe he was just out joyriding, I don't know.

I've heard you can do it via FDRS, but I also heard it required some special "target" piece of cardboard or something?

The special targets are only required for certain vehicles, Bronco not included.
The FDRS procedure literally takes 15 minutes.

 

[B Miller]

Update after calling around:

My Ford dealership would not replace the windshield. Called 2 glass companies, both were about $1000 including OEM glass and re-calibration. Ugh

 

[RagnarKon]

Once upon a time I thought I would be super smart and save some money by skipping the ADAS recalibration and just doing it myself. As @Ducati1098 said, it's fairly simple these days now that the targets are no longer needed on most vehicles. (Even with the targets, it was never particularly difficult, just tedious.)

None of the national chains were willing to do it, but I did find a local shop that was willing as long as I signed a warranty waiver since they considered it to be an incomplete installation. Sure, no problem, I trust that they'll adhere the class properly, and in the process, I'll save $500 or so.

Afterwards I went to submit my paperwork for my insurance claim, something I had done before without any issues on vehicles that didn't have any cameras. They denied my claim because the installation was considered to be incomplete.

Needless to say... no money was saved that day.

 

[orion]

The special targets are only required for certain vehicles, Bronco not included.
The FDRS procedure literally takes 15 minutes.

I'm about to have my windshield replaced, do they indeed need to drive it around to calibrate?

I ask, because no one drives my Bronco but me... lol! I'll chauffeur that mf'r around if it needs to be driven.

 

[Ducati1098]

I'm about to have my windshield replaced, do they indeed need to drive it around to calibrate?

I ask, because no one drives my Bronco but me... lol! I'll chauffeur that mf'r around if it needs to be driven.

lol yes. It will need to be driven

 

[BeachBroncoBabe]

Update after calling around:

My Ford dealership would not replace the windshield. Called 2 glass companies, both were about $1000 including OEM glass and re-calibration. Ugh

Wow $1000...heck they replace windshields at my work in the parking lot. Perhaps they see Bronco$$$$$ so they say it will cost $$$$$ to replace the windshield.

 

[Alassise]

1K should be for OEM windshield. Safelite replaced mine for about that with OEM. I was trying to get the dealer to do it, (to get points), but they also subcontract and the additional paperwork was tedious. So safellite took care of it with the proper calibration.

 

[flip]

If they aren't using factory glass I'd definitely ask what the policy is if you decline the calibration and find out later there's an issue with the aftermarket glass (yes, we've seen a fair number of vision system issues with aftermarket glass). Are you going to be on the hook for another replacement if you decline or is it on them including charges for diagnosing?

 

[mpeugeot]

If they aren't using factory glass I'd definitely ask what the policy is if you decline the calibration and find out later there's an issue with the aftermarket glass (yes, we've seen a fair number of vision system issues with aftermarket glass). Are you going to be on the hook for another replacement if you decline or is it on them including charges for diagnosing?

My local glass company has been awesome, if I remember correctly, it was $360ish to replace the windshield and no calibration problems (signed a waver for the calibration by them). I am on my 3rd windshield.

 

[vbrad26]

My local glass company has been awesome, if I remember correctly, it was $360ish to replace the windshield and no calibration problems (signed a waver for the calibration by them). I am on my 3rd windshield.

OEM glass? Or aftermarket?
I've personally never had a problem with aftermarket glass on my GTI (I've gone through about 3 and all were replaced by Safelite - but no technology in the GTI so it is just pop out and pop in).
After two years, finally got a little chip on the Bronco. I'm not even going to do anything about it right now, but just curious as to peoples experience with aftermarket.

 

[CBass]

I just went through this on my Raptor. My previous Bronco I opted for aftermarket glass and it turned into a nightmare. When I traded it in the sales guy I dealt with called and asked if I had issues with windshield replacement and told me they ended up just putting OEM glass in it because it was so messed up.

I will never deal with Safelite again after that. This time I found a local company that had great reviews. I spoke with the owner before I decided to go with them and talked specifically about recalibration. He said they have done over 50 Broncos and out of all of them, they only had to recalibrate 1 and it was due to aftermarket glass. They charge 300 bucks for recalibrating if it needs it, same price my dealership charges. I would make sure whoever you are going with understands how the Broncos work. I know OEM glass is more expensive but for me the it was worth it not having to deal with a bunch of issues later.

Good luck!

Edit: I also ordered the ExoShield Ultra kit to see if that helps. Just waiting for a couple nice days to install it.

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