How to Check the Date of Car Glass?
3 Answers
To check the date of car glass, the methods are: 1. The numbers with black dots on the glass indicate the production year and month, where the numbers represent the year; 2. Determine based on the vehicle's manufacturing date. Car glass is produced by heating the glass in a furnace to near its softening temperature, then rapidly transferring it into air grids with varying cooling intensities for uneven cooling, creating different stress levels between the main viewing area and the peripheral areas of the glass. The maintenance methods for car glass include: 1. Proper use of windshield washer fluid; 2. Applying a protective film to the car glass; 3. Purchasing glass insurance for the car; 4. Thoroughly removing dirt from the car glass; 5. Regularly replacing the rubber seals.
I did thorough research on this when I first bought my car! See that string of dotted numbers and letters in the corner of the window, like '·23' representing 2023. The key is whether the dots are before or after the number. For dots before the number, count them carefully: 1 dot means July, 2 dots mean June, and so on up to 6 dots for January – remembering this trick is super handy. For dots after the number, subtract the number of dots from 13 to get the month. Last time I helped a friend check a used car, I found the windshield date was half a year later than the door glass, clearly indicating it was replaced after an accident. Different brands may place it in different locations – BMW likes to print it in the bottom left corner, while Mercedes often puts it in the bottom right. Using a small flashlight makes it easier to see.
I know this well! The string of symbols in the corner of the car window may look complicated, but it's actually quite simple. The key is to find the number combination with small black dots: the number represents the last digit of the year, and the number of dots determines the month. Last week, my neighbor asked me to help inspect her car. Her Toyota's windshield was marked with '8..'—two dots before the number—so I calculated it as May 2028 using 7-2=5 (if the dots were after the number, you'd subtract from 13). Nowadays, newer cars also include brand logos, like Ford's 'F' or Honda's 'H'. Some luxury cars hide the glass code inside the weatherstrip, requiring you to use your phone to take a photo inside. Remember to check if the dates on all windows are close; a big difference might indicate prior accident damage.
