Rock Chip Drivers Door Window

[Dean2]

Living in Alberta rock chips on the windshield are VERY common, and we have a ton of chip repair places because of that. In the past I have completely lost side windows to large rocks tossed out of semi dually wheels. A couple of days ago I actually got a spider chip in the drivers door side window. First one ever.

The weather is quite cold so I wanted to get it chip repaired before the legs spread or the whole window let go and left me with a big opening at highway speeds. I was surprised to find out that only about half of the places that do chip repairs will work on a side window one. The ones that won't do it didn't really have a good explanation of why not.

We were travelling from Edmonton to Grande Prairie and caught the rock less than an hour out, so we got lucky and found a place in Valleyview, about 2 1/2 hours from where we caught the rock, that would take us in right away. We didn't have to wait around to get it fixed.

I checked in case the chip repair doesn't hold and, much to my surprise the replacement window is only $285 from the Dealer, they have one in stock, 90 available overnight and an hour to install it. That is WAY cheaper than I expected..

 

[Daw14]

Hate to hear of trouble on the road , however good deal on finding a place to take care of the issue so quickly.
I would have guessed $450. Especially up there.

 

[RamDiver]

Living in Alberta rock chips on the windshield are VERY common, and we have a ton of chip repair places because of that. In the past I have completely lost side windows to large rocks tossed out of semi dually wheels. A couple of days ago I actually got a spider chip in the drivers door side window. First one ever.

The weather is quite cold so I wanted to get it chip repaired before the legs spread or the whole window let go and left me with a big opening at highway speeds. I was surprised to find out that only about half of the places that do chip repairs will work on a side window one. The ones that won't do it didn't really have a good explanation of why not.

We were travelling from Edmonton to Grande Prairie and caught the rock less than an hour out, so we got lucky and found a place in Valleyview, about 2 1/2 hours from where we caught the rock, that would take us in right away. We didn't have to wait around to get it fixed.

I checked in case the chip repair doesn't hold and, much to my surprise the replacement window is only $285 from the Dealer, they have one in stock, 90 available overnight and an hour to install it. That is WAY cheaper than I expected..

What was the repair cost?

That's great to know the side window glass can be purchased up here without selling a body part. Thanks for posting.

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[Dean2]

Dealer quoted an hour to install, so basically $200 plus the glass. The non-OEM guys like Windshield Surgeon, quoted $410, all in including tax. At that price, they really are not enough cheaper to make it worthwhile to use aftermarket glass.

 

[RamDiver]

Dealer quoted an hour to install, so basically $200 plus the glass. The non-OEM guys like Windshield Surgeon, quoted $410, all in including tax. At that price, they really are not enough cheaper to make it worthwhile to use aftermarket glass.

Wow, your local dealerships only charge $85/hour?

I'm pretty sure ours are charging $120/hour or more.

I wasn't clear when I was asking about the repair costs. I was curious about the cost to repair the spider fracture and how that compares to the glass replacement cost. And do they provide a warranty on repairing the fracture?

I tend to avoid the larger 400 series highways out here whenever possible, but sometimes it makes more sense than driving on the backroads. Suicidal creatures at dusk and large snow dumps sometimes make the bigger highways safer, especially at night.

I just learn to ignore the brainless clingons hanging onto my bumper.

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[Dean2]

@RamDiver

The rock chip repair was $49.88 all in. Here chip repair ranges from $40 to $70 for the first chip and typically 50% for each additional one on the same trip, depending on who you go to. The drive-up, tent in the parking lot guys charge more for the convenience of no appointment or wait. Most places warranty the fix, but it is limited to a refund of the fix cost if it doesn't hold. That seems fair to me as I end up no worse off than before they tried to fix it.

Not sure where you get the $85 an hour Dealer shop time thing. I said the Dealer quoted one hour for the install, $200, plus the cost of glass, so $485 all in. That is $200/ hour, but there are still shops in the $125 an hour range. The glass shop did not break down the cost of glass versus install so the $410 price from window Surgeons does not tell me their hourly shop rate.

Hope that helps clarify things.

 

[RamDiver]

@RamDiver

The rock chip repair was $60 all in. Here chip repair ranges from $40 to $70 for the first chip and typically 50% for each additional one on the same trip, depending on who you go to. The drive-up, tent in the parking lot guys charge more for the convenience of no appointment or wait. Most places warranty the fix, but it is limited to a refund of the fix cost if it doesn't hold. That seems fair to me as I end up no worse off than before they tried to fix it.

Not sure where you get the $85 an hour Dealer shop time thing. I said the Dealer quoted one hour for the install, $200, plus the cost of glass, so $485 all in. That is $200/ hour, but there are still shops in the $125 an hour range. The glass shop did not break down the cost of glass versus install so the $410 price from window Surgeons does not tell me their hourly shop rate.

Hope that helps clarify things.

Yes, I completely misunderstood. Thanks for the clarification.

Those repair prices look quite reasonable and definitely worth the gamble.

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