How to Check the Date on New Car Glass?
2 Answers
Method to check the date on new car glass: There is a code at the bottom left or right corner of the window glass. In the last or second-to-last row, there is a number and several small black dots. The number represents the production year of the glass, and the production date of the glass and the vehicle will not differ by more than 10 years. If the black dots are in front of the number, subtract the number of dots from 7; if the black dots are after the number, subtract the number of dots from 13. The result is the production month of the glass. Generally, the glass used by OEM suppliers is zero-inventory, meaning the glass is fully matched by the glass manufacturer before the vehicle rolls off the assembly line, so the production time of all the glass in the vehicle is basically the same. If they differ, it can be concluded that the glass was removed and reinstalled during the assembly process, indicating a reworked vehicle. Of course, this rework does not necessarily indicate a quality issue—it might just be a minor problem during production.
Reading the date on car glass actually has its tricks, which I learned from a veteran at the dealership. Look for the combination of small black dots and numbers in the corner of the window. The number represents the last digit of the year, and the dots represent the month. Dots before the number indicate the first half of the year, while dots after the number indicate the second half. Here are two examples: If you see '..8' with two dots before the number 8, it means May 2018 (7 minus 2 dots equals 5). If you see '8..' with two dots after the number, it means November 2018 (13 minus 2 equals 11). Note that the date on the windshield might differ from the side windows, so each piece of glass must be checked individually. Always compare it with the vehicle's manufacturing date on the factory plate. If the glass date is later than the manufacturing date, it's definitely been tampered with, and you should clarify this with the dealership. Some luxury cars use more complex letter codes, in which case referring to the brand manual is the most accurate approach.
