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Mon Jan 25, 2016 9:30 am

vwwestyman wrote: I need a windshield and will probably just have to get a used one.
There are new (non-heated) windshields available. I posted the following in this thread some time ago:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=478178

Here's the info printed on the corner of the windshield that I purchased from a local glass place and installed myself. It was a good fit and I am very happy with it. I expect the last line is the model number.

[PPG logo]
SOLEX
DUPLATE
LAMINATED
8
DOT 563 AS1M852
1 2 8
10 8
FW 00201

These are $91.26 each for the glass only, from Speedy Glass in Santa Fe, New Mexico (priced today, 25 Jan 2016). You need to specify if you want the overall slight green tint, or the blue band of shading across the top. I prefer the former, as I am tall enough that the blue band interferes with my view.

Mon Jan 25, 2016 1:48 pm

Dang! I just picked up a decent used windshield yesterday! (A couple tiny chips of the type that they can fill easily.) Drove a couple hours to get it too.

I checked with the local place here, and all they could get was the one with the tint strip, so I went that route.

I guess if something goes wrong with this one, I'll call them. I wonder if they would ship?

Fri Feb 17, 2017 9:45 am

Does anyone know what switch VW used for these windshields? Were they the lighted pull type? Does anyone have a picture or a P/N? I want one of the windshields and would like a stock looking switch for my 79

Sat Feb 18, 2017 9:22 am

tuxking wrote: Does anyone know what switch VW used for these windshields? Were they the lighted pull type? Does anyone have a picture or a P/N? I want one of the windshields and would like a stock looking switch for my 79

So far as I am aware, "bay-window" VW Type 2s (1968~79 + later model-years from Mexico & Brazil up to 2012) were never available with factory-fitted electrically-heated front windscreens, so any dashboard switch that has been used, will probably have been any that was readily available.

I think the electrically-heated front windscreens first became available, as an after-market retro-fitment, sometime in the late-1990s and I was first aware of them when they were introduced by Beetles (UK) Ltd. in circa 1997, for the imported Brazilian built, "bay-window" VW Type 2s.

Sat Feb 18, 2017 9:43 am

Really and use a rear defrost switch or a dome light switch and get clever with the cap in the knob for a special picture.

Sat Feb 18, 2017 4:01 pm

Wait a second! How did you get one of those in New Jersey??

Sat Feb 18, 2017 4:25 pm

vwwestyman wrote: Wait a second! How did you get one of those in New Jersey??

Bus depot or justkampers sells them and ships them in. Like 400$ a piece with shipping.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 10:52 am

I still need a windshield and I'm seriously considering importing a few these, I'm working out the details with the manufacturer now.

The poor fitting Chinese bay bus windshields most are using currently are priced around $200, shipping around $140 and a foam packing fee of $45. $385ish delivered.

If I take responsibility for them arriving safely into the US and to your door, who would want one, what would you pay for it and who is serious enough to put money down? They are made in the UK and street legal everywhere in the world.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 11:47 am

I need a windshield, so if it were in that price range I would be interested for sure.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:23 pm

vwwestyman wrote: I need a windshield, so if it were in that price range I would be interested for sure.

It's made in the UK and heated, it's not going to cost what the poor fitting Chinese stuff costs.

Take into consideration, if you wanted to order one of the heated windshields direct, it would cost you $647.71 in shipping alone and $205.52 for the shield itself, this type of international shipping cannot be insured - if it arrives damaged, you're out $853.23 with no recourse.

If it works out, I am offering to take that risk myself and lower the cost from $850+ to significantly lower, but you're still going to have to pay to play. Again, I'm still working out the details or even IF it is possible, but it's looking like around $375-500 per windshield(depending on how many pre-orders) plus shipping and foam packing.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:44 pm

Sorry, I meant the $400 range you mentioned, not the range of the Chinese windshields.

Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:52 pm

Stuartzickefoose wrote: vwwestyman wrote: Wait a second! How did you get one of those in New Jersey??

Bus depot or justkampers sells them and ships them in. Like 400$ a piece with shipping.

tuxking doesn't have one in NJ, he was interested in purchasing one.

If I recall correctly, the last time I spoke to JK, they would not ship them to the US, however I did email them to see if anything changed.

Last I spoke to BD, they said this product wasn't for them, too much of a shipping risk, but I just called to see if anything changed and was promised a call back.

At this point, I'm led to believe no one in the US has these available to purchase.

Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:34 am

Quote: Last I spoke to BD, they said this product wasn't for them, too much of a shipping risk, but I just called to see if anything changed and was promised a call back. At this point, I'm led to believe no one in the US has these available to purchase.

I recognize the "cool factor" ("warm factor?") with these, which is why the thread gets resuscitated periodically. But shipping windshields individually is very risky IMO. The only reason we sell them at all (non-heated) is for people who live in remote areas and can't get one locally, and even then shipping costs almost as much as the windshield does. For the vast majority of Bus owners who need a windshield, your best bet is to call around to local auto glass specialists, which get bulk deliveries of windshield glass. Prices vary tremendously from one to the other but you'll probably get at least as good a price as mail-order, and they'll install it for you (making it their problem if it cracks during installation). The glass comes from PGW no matter where you buy it, and while it is now Chinese made I have never found it to have any fit issues. That isn't to say that installation won't be difficult - a Bus windshield is hard to wrestle with and I have seen pro's crack them and have to come back with another - but this was also the case before they started making them in China.

So I don't mean to rain on your parade here, but you do need to consider several factors. First there is the risk of it cracking in transit either to the US or from the US to you. Even if they're insured you still have to collect, and shipping insurance companies are notorious for finding excuses to deny damage claims no matter how well packed. (Ask me how I know.) It's worth noting that Just Kampers won't ship these at all, not even to the town next door; their website says "for collection only due to size and fragile nature of this product." Then there is the risk of installation. The JK website says these are a bit smaller than stock so installation can tricky. It's easy to crack a Bus windshield when installing it even if it's the stock size and you know what you're doing. Obviously the final purchaser would have to assume all risk of that, and the seller or group buy organizer would have to assume there are no "bad apples" in the crowd (however unlikely) who would crack one uncrating it or installing it and then claim it came that way. And of course if there was an actual defective one (cut wrong, wouldn't heat, etc.) there is no way to send it back for a refund. As they say on Shark Tank, "for all of these reasons, I'm out."

Tue Feb 21, 2017 10:13 am

Thank you for that lengthy explanation Ron, however it's leaving me a bit confused as I spoke with someone at your company yesterday and was about to share the exciting news that BD could get these on the next JK shipment (in a few months) for $350 for the glass, plus shipping. Is this no longer a possibility?

Tue Feb 21, 2017 11:49 am

so I haven't really read all of this thread, just the last page. BUT I would think that a windshield could be made to be heated pretty easily. Repairing the heat strips on the rear windshield is pretty straight forward, so you could do that. Or I know they sell heating elements that are clear that I think will fit any windshield. A little google searching and I think there is a solution. You could even hook it up to the same switch as the rear defroster.

Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:00 pm

LivinInnaVWBus wrote: Thank you for that lengthy explanation Ron, however it's leaving me a bit confused as I spoke with someone at your company yesterday and was about to share the exciting news that BD could get these on the next JK shipment (in a few months) for $350 for the glass, plus shipping. Is this no longer a possibility?

It's not. I'm sorry but I have to veto this one because its just not realistically possible. The person you spoke to quoted an estimated price for the item based on cost, and said shipping would have to be determined when it arrived here. But there is no way we could pack that item safely for shipping and the cost would be exorbitant if we did. My store manager just had a talk with the employee and told him he overstepped his authority. Sorry.

Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:04 pm

Busdepot wrote: LivinInnaVWBus wrote: Thank you for that lengthy explanation Ron, however it's leaving me a bit confused as I spoke with someone at your company yesterday and was about to share the exciting news that BD could get these on the next JK shipment (in a few months) for $350 for the glass, plus shipping. Is this no longer a possibility?

It's not. I'm sorry but I have to veto this one because its just not realistically possible. The person you spoke to quoted an estimated price for the item based on cost, and said shipping would have to be determined when it arrived here. But there is no way we could pack that item safely for shipping and the cost would be exorbitant if we did. My store manager just had a talk with the employee and told him he overstepped his authority. Sorry.

Understood. Again, thank you for the lengthy explanation. You guys have always been good to me and many, many others. Having a presence on the forum and valuable input makes it easy to spend money with BD.

Tue Feb 21, 2017 5:32 pm

"Thank you for your enquiry.
Unfortunately, as we cannot get insurance on glass, we do not ship it outside of the UK. We have the windscreens down as collection only as laminated screens tend to break easily.

Apologies we cannot help you with this.

Kind Regards
JK Sales Team"

Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:49 pm

Hey guys. I found a company willing to ship to the airport for about $320 plus any duty or import doc fees. Door to door was about $508 with all fees. I live in Jersey and I would just go pick mine up at the airport. Here is the contact information. Ricky Evans <sales@heatedwindscreen.com> Now I have one better. I have a photo of the windscreen switch. I have a bead on getting them but I am still waiting on the price.

Fri Feb 24, 2017 1:46 am

^^^^^Nice switch bezel

I'm still in for a buy
Portland OR