I took a rock this winter and need to replace my windshield. Here's my question: do I handle the trim myself rather than letting the glass shop do it? Everyone talks about how fragile that trim is, I'd be ... upset ... if they break stuff.

 

So fragile that you will probably break it anyway I don’t think I have ever successfully salvaged one from the 3 D2s I have owned.

Edit: I am referring to the A pillar molding. The cowl comes out easy just be careful of the tabs to go under the windshield.

 

Well that's awesome news, thank you.

Which pieces do I need to remove to be save (as possible)?

 

100% yes on a D2

My last windshield replacement on my prior D2.. I removed the A-pillars, and windshield cowl (and wiper arms) myself. Safeline or equivalent will break all 3 pieces! The good news is that sometimes if they break them, they're on the hook to replace.

Make sure they use a new rubber upper windshield molding too. Genuine LR is I believe still avail. About $60-100 bucks.

 

I’ve had my P38 windshield replaced twice. Both times I R&R’d all the trim myself. The poor window tech isn’t given enough time to do the job right (unless he’s done a number of vehicles like yours). I would highly recommend accessing it yourself.

 

That is my plan if I can get the cowl out I plan do some repairs on the cowl

 

I second that ^^^. I went in thinking I'd rather break all this stuff myself, knowing that at least I tried, rather than let someone else do it and not know that they even gave a ****. I called Progressive over and over about replacing my cracked windshield and every time they told me that someone would get back to me when they had it all set up. 4 months later a car guy I met referred me to an independent glass company (Anthony Volk Glass, Westchester, PA) who said sure, bring us the truck in two weeks and we'll get the glass and work with your ins co to do the job that day. I told them the branch broke the cowl and the driver's A pillar in addition to the glass, but that I already had a new passenger A pillar. They said ok, they'd deal with getting the other stuff as well. I also said I would bring them the car ready to cut the old windshield out (trim removed), and would be happy to reinstall all three pieces if they could provide the other two which were damaged.

I showed up and was surprised to see McLarens and Bentleys in their shop, also getting their windshields replaced for whatever reason. They had the new driver's side A pillar and cowl on the bench and proceeded to cut the old glass out. This wrecks the top seal but they we aware and had a new one. IIRC they broke off the rear view and glued it back on once the new glass was in The guy explained that heated Disco glass is only available from JLR and the reason Progressive was ghosting me was because they didn't want to pony up for the factory glass, but couldn't find an aftermarket equivalent. In the end Volk handled everything and even gave me a break on the deductible because I was willing to install all the trim myself. They also let me watch the removal process and gave me a length of "piano wire" so I could cut the perfectly good heated windshield out of one of my parts trucks.

Depending on what feedback you get from your insurance company, my advice would be to seek out a high end auto glass repair place/body shop and ask if they'll work with you. If they'll get the parts and deal directly with your insurance company this will save a lot of hassle dickering over parts. My premiums did go up about $50/yr for the two Discos on that policy but I'm not complaining. The job was all inclusive and done with the right parts, the glass alone was about $1,200, and the top trim, cowl and drivers A pillar were another $500+.

As for removing the existing cowl, there are four equally spaced J hooks on the backside that slip under the lower edge of the glass. You have to remove all the wiper arm trim bits and rotate the cowl down and towards the radiator to get it off the hooks. If you try to pry the cowl without the rotation the J hooks will break off and then the cowl won't seal to the replacement windshield.

 

@ahab I assume you mean rotate the front of the cowl down?

 

Well, with the back of the cowl against the glass I was assuming there was no other way to do it. However a better way to say it is to say "rotate the bottom away from the truck", and provide a photo of the fragile clips which always break.

 

So, the clips are at the top, under the edge of the glass?
Are there good videos on how to remove the trim pieces? RAVE has nothing on those.