Appears I’m a little late on this topic, but I’ll comment anyways…it might help the next person.
A couple months ago I finally decided to replace my shrinking upper windshield molding. I ordered both the molding and the fastner that the molding snaps into. The installation was a major pain, and I actually gave up half way through. Why? Because I couldn’t get a third of the molding to snap into the fastner no matter how hard I tried. Therefore I took it to the closest windshield repair shop I found on yahoo.com. I figured they should have enough experience to easily install a windshield molding. (major mistake!)
Stopped by the shop and they said they could install it for $25. Fine…go for it! I leave the car there the rest of the afternoon and pick it up after work. The molding looked horrible, not only did it kind of have a ripple to it, the fastner part that hugs the roof was rather high, not flush with the roof. Looked like dirt would accumulate under the extra lipage. (is that a word?) He said, if he knew how hard it would be he would have charged me 3X as much. He admitted he wasn’t happy with the work. I asked him to seal the extra lipage down to prevent dirt accumulation…which he did and caused another problem by leaving a cement like glue on my paint. Anyway….needless to say, I left extremely disappointed. I didn’t want him to touch my car anymore.
Two days later I take a rock in the windshield and crack emerges. Dammit, what bad luck…I just spent over $100 (molding, fastner, and labor) getting the molding fixed and now I have to pay for it again. (actually a $250 deductible with insurance)
This time I go to the Acura dealer because I want it done right, yet I find out State Farm won’t pay the full amount if it’s done there. (Acura won’t give them a damn discount) Acura then tells me they don’t actually do the work, an outside windshield guy comes in and does it himself. I, wanting an experienced person to do the install, ask for the guys name and number. Acura actually complied, and I call the guy to set up an appointment. He mentions that it will take a certain period of time to get the parts through Acura, and I say, call Tracy at Gunn Acura in Texas and he can get them quicker and cheaper. The windshield guy complied and was shocked that with his discount he pays more to Acura then what Tracy charges.
Anyway…to make a long story a little shorter…the work was done very well by the “professional” with OEM parts. The other guy (1st time around) scared the hell out of me.