Windshield Calibration?

Couldn't find a thread so I figured I'd start my own.
Long story short. I have a choice between replacing windshield with shop that toyota recommended for $250 and returning to dealership to have them "recalibrate" windshield for an additional $250

OR

Use safelite and have them do the whole job including calibration and having insurance help out.

My question is is calibrating necessary?

The windshield only has heaters for the wipers and I'm guessing thermometer to readout in the dash. There is no safety assist or forward cameras.

My gut says no but I'm no expert.

 

I have no idea what your dealer means by “recalibration”. As far as I know, there is none. You do have the premium, I have an SR5 so there may be a difference but the only one I could think of would be the rear view mirror installation since it is powered correct? It should have the dimming feature. I personally would go with safelite.

 

Re-Calibration is only required for 4Runners with Toyota Safety sense (2020+).

Other than that all you need tell them is whether you have heater element at the bottom of the windshield & auto dimming mirror option.

<As per my experience changing my windshield at Safelite>

Updated post with my bill in 2017 replacing windshield;

 

Any windshield replacement will need to re-calibrate. DO IT with Safelite.

 

Curios, what is there to recalibrate on a windshield that doesn’t have any electronics hooked to it?

 

If you look there is a camera. Take a pic of your front windshield I will show you.

 

Pre 2020 has no camera..

 

Then no need to calibrate

 

On a side note I'm not too happy with Safelite windshield. OEM glass handled small chips on the road better than Safelite glass. If I break it again I would claim insurance and get OEM Toyota glass. (Just my opinion.)

 

^^ I don't' like both their glass and company. They are contracted with most insurance and that's how they always get customers from insurances. Their work is just shitty. But this is OP question about re-calibration I just stuck with Safetly calibration is cheaper. I don't mention about th4eir glass I just thought it was just off-topic.

If it's my car, I let a small glass companies do the work and have the dealer calibrated or have the dealer do the rest OEM windshield too.

For the camera, dealers never put after market, they just don't. Nothing is wrong with aftermarket they just re-use the heating element for the camera. Dealers don't like to do aftermarket for many reasons. So if you take it to the dealer they will put it on OEM.

 

Ok so thanks for all of the input. From what I have gathered because I have a 2016 5th gen that has the windshield heater and does not have a forward camera or the safety assist features that a calibration is not necessary. I'm going to use this information to talk to the glass shop since I already have an appt and make sure that I'm not getting swindled.

 

What a huge difference in price pre 2020 vs 2020+. Safelite quote was $900 for parts/labor for non OEM windshield or $1,200 for OEM windshield + another $300 for calibration for a 2020 4Runner. Didn't even bother getting a quote from the dealer..