At $495, is Gorilla Glass still worth the price?

[Tank43]

I live in South Carolina. The law requires our full coverage insurance to cover the cost of windshield replacement in case of road damage. I've had it done 5 to 6 times on multiple vehicles. Everything back to factory original. I have to pay the same insurance cost anyway, so the extra cost is irrelevant to me.

Sponsored

 

[Tank43]

I live in South Carolina. The law requires our full coverage insurance to cover the cost of windshield replacement in case of road damage. I've had it done 5 to 6 times on multiple vehicles. Everything back to factory original. I have to pay the same insurance cost anyway, so the extra cost is irrelevant to me.

I'm sure those costs are written into our insurance premiums as well.

 

[DBravo]

So, yesterday I just ordered a new Mojave with GG. It will be the third mojave I’ve owned if I take receipt of it. The first didn’t have GG, and I was fortunate to never have a glass issue before it was bought off of me. The second did have GG that I paid whatever the discounted price under invoice for which was probably near $175 and I never had any issues. So, I’m familiar enough with the idea of GG, but now at $495, I just don’t know? I should still be able to change my order today to remove it if I wanted to, but I thought I’d order it to be safe. However, I can’t help but feel a bit taken over the price increase. I’ll call my insurance agent to get his $.02’s, but I’d welcome some insightful thoughts from you experts.

GG wasn't on my 2020 overland when I took delivery off the dealer lot (new). I've considered it based on past experiences with jeeps I've owned. 3 Wrangler windshields in 6 years - all from rocks thrown up by tires or falling off dump trucks on the hwy then bouncing off cars in front of me. (I don't follow dump trucks). Even so, I already have multiple rock chips/strikes after 37k miles in 1-1/2 years. So far have had 2 bond/fill repairs. Considering GG even more as my issue is scratches and chips from impacts, not cracks. In my experience, I have had newly replaced windshields crack from what i was sure was improper installation/poor training. Same experience with windshield chip bonding. One guy shows up in a company van with all the tools and you can't even see the repair when finished. Next guy (same company, 6 months later) shows up in their own car with a little kit and it doesn't even look like it's been repaired, they did clean the glass tho ?

 

[PackMule]

Give your insurance agent a call. “Unlimited“ glass coverage for something like $2 a month On policy. Full OEM glass. All glass is covered.

In AZ, it’s the only way to roll. They come to us and replace.

Worth the phone call. GG not necessary.

More than already paid for itself with the # of times we’ve used it.

Ditto this. I live in Montana and have a fair amount of gravel slung at my windsheild. That being said, seems every time I cross the state line to AZ my windshield cracks :-(.

I've had to replace a couple standard windshields on my JK. and on my gladiator, the factory standard windshield took a rock and cracked a month after I got it (as soon as I arrived in AZ...)

My insurance has a $0 deductible on OEM windshield replacements, so my windshield guy got a GG one installed for $0 deductible, since Jeep offers the GG as "OEM".

Since then I've put probably 20k mi on the Glad with GG. Had some hard hits with rocks that have put some small chips on it, but no birds eyes, starbursts, or cracks. (knock on wood).

 

[Pedal Metal]

Yeah I just want to hear more about this journey.

So, in a really big nutshell I had an F150 super crew that was in a collision when I had someone run a stop sign through my lane of travel last June. Well, after the lagged repair time and the fact that my rig would from then on show as air bags deployed on car fax reports, I decided to think strategic about the market which was in short supply of trucks and dealers that would give me $1k more than I paid for that rig new not to mention my miles. So, it was a snap decision to test drive a Mojave as a backup option to another vehicle I was dealing on. Since it was a backup option, it was easy to be calm headed in the negotiation and continue to ask for what I thought I needed. After discounts, & rebates I was REAL happy with my deal. Almost a Gupton deal.

Still, it was so easy for me to strike the deal and I was pretty certain I could order one pretty similar, but with a few changes and make a few quid on the whole thing. So, visited with the sales mgr and I put in the order and everything went REAL smooth on that deal too which is my current rig. I new there were some risk, but without boring everyone, I’ll just say that I took steps of managing the contract language.

I had thought about trying it again, but the price increases had me at a pause. However, considering my hunches that it’s more likely than not that we‘re heading into even more price increases and shortages, I felt that I should try to pull the trigger one more time before waiting any longer. Again, I feel that I’ve managed my downside and have much more upside to look forward to and I’ve done it with zero risk as though I haven’t made a deposit, whatever I choose to do with my Jeep credit card will be refundable.

There certainly are no crystal balls or guarantees, but I’ve speculated with more money in my stock portfolio than the very limited (I say limited, because maybe there is something I missed, but I don’t think there is) risk play I’m making here.

 

[dcmdon]

I dunno, two big dings in factory glass in my first 8K miles, swapped in HGP Gorilla Glass, 18K later not a scratch. I think the HGP glass is worth it, I've no interest in the Mopar glass at this point.

Then you have gotten lucky.

The GG is on the inner layer. Not the outer layer. So a GG windshield is just as susceptible to small chips. Though the benefit is supposed to be that they don't grow into large cracks. I haven't bothered to read up on the how or why, but I do know for a fact that the outer layer is standard glass.

 

[JDChris]

It is extremely difficult in real world situations to know if it is worth it. Maybe lab tests could control the variables that would go into proper testing to be able to say that X% of time GG holds up better than regular glass.

Think about it. If Jeep A has GG and Jeep B doesn't, then Jeep A gets a crack in the windshield, did that really mean the GG wasn't worth it? You'd have to test with both Jeeps getting hit with the same projectile, at the same speed, at the same angle, under the same weather conditions, etc, to know if one holds up better. You'd have to run the test hundreds of times to get real scientific results. Anything less in anecdotal information.

With that said, I have GG in mine. Only 7 months and 7,000 miles of ownership and no issues yet. I've heard a couple good smacks from rocks on the highway in that time too.

 

[dcmdon]

It is extremely difficult in real world situations to know if it is worth it. Maybe lab tests could control the variables that would go into proper testing to be able to say that X% of time GG holds up better than regular glass.

Think about it. If Jeep A has GG and Jeep B doesn't, then Jeep A gets a crack in the windshield, did that really mean the GG wasn't worth it? You'd have to test with both Jeeps getting hit with the same projectile, at the same speed, at the same angle, under the same weather conditions, etc, to know if one holds up better. You'd have to run the test hundreds of times to get real scientific results. Anything less in anecdotal information.

With that said, I have GG in mine. Only 7 months and 7,000 miles of ownership and no issues yet. I've heard a couple good smacks from rocks on the highway in that time too.

You make a tremendous amount of sense.

When I got mine, it was an extra ~$165. So I didn't give it much thought.

For $495, I'd be thinking about.
1) how many windshield replacements can I get before my insurance goes up. (some states don't allow a rate bump for a windshield claim, I'm told)
2) what is my glass deductible.
3) Will or is the insurance company required to pay for another GG replacement?

At $95, it was a "what the hell, it might save me some hassle" amount of money.

At $195 sticker, it requires a bit more thought.

At nearly $500, its a real decision.

 

[Pedal Metal]

Wow, the broad consensus sorta justifies my self argument of whether I should or shouldn’t get it. Plus, I read at least one responder say that his insurance replaced his with GG since it’s listed as an OEM option. So, perhaps that’s the best option if ever made available.

In truth, I’m a bit against the purchase of it at this point at that price. One thought is that in spite of how much it may cost in the aftermarket place, I fear that there is only so much GG can do against a pebble hurled back at me by a tire traveling 70’ish mph while I’m driving approximately 70’ish mph for what would seem to be an impact of 140’ish mph. I realize I didn’t set up the perfect equation there, but that’s good enough for the farmer’s math that tends to get battered around on forums.

Perhaps the saddest part of this whole debate is that we’re largely left to speculate on this by ourselves without the aid of REAL METRICS and MEASURES by those who are selling the product to us. So, “JEEP”, if you’re reading this, it might be a reasonable thing for you to share some measurable benefits on such an option just in the spirit of selling a product based on its real benefits! My $.02’s.

 

[Gun Smoke Halo]

No loaner? Mine was fixed at my work.

Honestly it's such a minuscule little chip that I don't think much about it. My wife got from riding too close to the moving truck when we were moving. It's been one of the best bargaining chips I ever had... (?) I'll get it fixed before next snow season. By then my "bargaining chip" will have been thoroughly used up...?

 

[brianinca]

Quite possibly, but the aftermarket HGP also has a 2 yr breakage warranty. Mopar didn't have one on their JK GG replacement, not sure if the new one does.

Then you have gotten lucky.

The GG is on the inner layer. Not the outer layer. So a GG windshield is just as susceptible to small chips. Though the benefit is supposed to be that they don't grow into large cracks. I haven't bothered to read up on the how or why, but I do know for a fact that the outer layer is standard glass.

 

[@californiajeeping]

My 2020 killed 6 windshields in one year. I added gorilla glass under geico replacement my glass guy waived the cost. It lasted 8 months and 20k miles before it chipped.

I got my 2022 with the gorilla glass option.

a 6-1 ratio is hard to argue with.

the gorilla glass will chip if the edge is struck. Large rocks bounce right off the center for the most part.

 

[Papa mojo]

I just like the little gorilla head over in the corner. Not sure he is worth $495 though.

 

[Pedal Metal]

I just like the little gorilla head over in the corner. Not sure he is worth $495 though.

I love the gorilla head! I was just afraid that would be weird.

 

[Guntar]

OP et al., I just had mine replaced this past Thursday at Safelite. They said the GG is much better than OEM stuff. That is their opinion. I was talking to the glass installer about it. His father owned where he works now until Safelite bought his father out. He likes the glass much better. He also said it helps with road noise. Nothing official says that but that has been his experience.
Hope this adds to discussion.

Sponsored