BMW has issued updated windshield replacement position statements requiring auto glass companies to use only BMW parts and calibration systems.
The statements, issued July 16, dictate that windshield replacements on all BMW or MINI vehicles must use original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and procedures at an OEM-approved facility.
BMW’s latest position statement says only OEM parts should be used for windshield replacements.
BMW owns MINI, a British brand best known for the Mini Cooper. The companies are the latest in a series of brands to publish similar position statements. General Motors, Volvo, Ford and Rivian are among the other automakers to require or strongly suggest using OEM parts.
The identical BMW and MINI papers say that neither brand approves the use of aftermarket or salvage windshields because “aftermarket glass can compromise structural integrity” and that there is no way to prove that salvaged windshields weren’t involved in a prior crash. The statements say that using OEM parts eliminates those concerns.
“BMW vehicles are subjected to rigorous crash tests by internal BMW departments, government agencies and additional crash assessment tests by independent organizations,” the carmaker’s statement says. “When repairs are required, the only way to guarantee that a vehicle will retain and fulfill all crash requirements following repairs is to follow BMW repair standards and use only new original equipment BMW parts.”
The automaker adds that its OEM parts utilize “enhanced acoustic dampening technologies” that aftermarket glass might not have.
Using OEM parts helps ensure that BMW vehicles’ advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) function properly, the statement continues. According to BMW, its adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking and heads-up displays all rely on windshield-mounted cameras or sensors.
“New [OEM] windshields are the only windshields that BMW has tested to ensure the functionality of [ADAS] systems,” the paper says. “ADAS relies on optical clarity and precise camera and sensor placements, which aftermarket glass may not support.”
Like many automakers, BMW requires that windshield-mounted cameras and sensors be recalibrated after a windshield replacement. The automaker specifies that technicians must use “only BMW ISTA software to ensure all systems operate correctly.”
Following BMW-specific procedures “is essential” to ensuring proper vehicle and ADAS performance, the paper says.
“In the event of a collision, windshields should be removed and installed by BMW-certified technicians at BMW [certified collision repair centers] or trained service technicians at BMW dealerships,” it says.
According to the position statement, following BMW procedures for proper adhesive handling “is essential to avoid health risks, including respiratory issues and allergic reactions.”
The MINI position paper includes the same information and stipulations as the BMW statement.
What a joke , no auto maker makes their own glass. FYG makes most of it oem.
I hope someone tells safelite this!!!!
No Aftermarket allowed but Fuyao is the OEM supplier for both Ford and BMW now??? Intresting how Fuyao is not good unless it carries the $1700 price tag and Logo! LOL