Subaru Windshield and Auto Glass Replacement

On Subaru's website, EyeSight is described this way: every Subaru has dual-color cameras discreetly mounted near the rearview mirror that scan the road ahead, and on select models a third camera widens the view for pedestrians and cyclists. In the EyeSight owner's manual, the system works from images created by a stereo camera Subaru designed for it. Two cameras, side by side, behind your windshield.

Because the cameras read the world through the glass, Subaru's manual is blunt about it. It says not to install any film or an additional layer of glass on the windshield. It says if there are scratches or cracks on the windshield, contact a Subaru dealer. And it says to have the windshield replaced or repaired through a Subaru dealer, and not to install a windshield other than a genuine Subaru windshield, because the stereo camera may not detect objects accurately and EyeSight may not work properly. Subaru's own parts catalog lists windshields labeled for EyeSight-equipped vehicles, which fits the same message: the glass is a different part.

We want to be plain about that. Subaru says dealer and genuine glass. We are an independent mobile company, and we install OEM, OEE (original equipment equivalent) and aftermarket glass. You can ask us for OEM glass for your VIN, and if it is not available we have a fallback. If you want to follow Subaru's instructions to the letter, going through the dealer is the path the manual describes, and we will not pretend otherwise. What we can promise is a straight answer about what we would install and why.

On calibration, the manual lines up with how we work. Subaru's manual lists the repair or replacement of the camera or related parts among the times Lane Keep Assist may not be at its best, and tells you not to change the cameras' positions or modify the structures around them. We do not calibrate cameras. If your Subaru needs it after a windshield job, we refer you to the Subaru dealer. The reasons are practical: the dealer has the maker's equipment and access, third-party tools reach the vehicle's computer through a back door that has caused system problems, and the work wants a controlled indoor space.

Small chips are where a mobile visit helps. If a chip is clear of the camera area, an $85 chip repair, which covers up to 3 chips, can stop it spreading. If it is in front of the cameras, Subaru's manual says to contact a dealer for scratches or cracks, so we will tell you honestly what we think. Subaru door, quarter and back glass are also on our list, with a free estimate by vehicle.