There is no info in Spotter's Guide or Enthusiasts Guide about what colors were available for OEM windshield band (top of windshield).

I remember my first Fiero (84 SE) had a blue shade & my current (88 GT) has a cream shade.

Curiously, how many colors were there for OEM windshield shade band?

Any difference in quality between OEM windshield & aftermarket windshield?

Any info would be greatly appreciated. I tried to search the forum to non available.

Thanks

[This message has been edited by Fiero Vice (edited 02-06-2017).]

I doubt if GM had any control over that. The tint is in the butyl layer in the lamination done by the glass maker. They may have changed sources for windshields during production. On my car, I noticed that it started out blue-green and as the years go by it has changed to purple with a tinge of brown in there.

They all start out blue-ish but fade over time to a cream color. My 88 had the original windshield in it when I bought it and the band had faded to a lighter gold color. 10 years of working at a Buick dealership in the 90's I never saw a color other than blue for the shade.

Thanks, Gall757 & Seajai, for sharing your experiences.

I came across an opportunity to buy a new OEM windshield with blue-ish shade locally. Wonder if I would be better off getting aftermarket with grey shade. Hmm

Any suggestion?

Mine are blue. Unless the after market is significantly cheaper, I would get the OEM one.

I've owned my '87 SE for almost 20 years. I remember the tint band on top of the windshield used to be a blue-green color. Now it's faded to a pale bronze color.

The aftermarket windshields will probably also fade over time.

They all start off as Blue but UV light parked outside can cause other colors.
Every vendor can have different formulas for and methods to apply windshield tinting.

One I know of... Tint is applied to the plastic layer in a dye tank after windshield is made.
Another is tint is apply to the plastic layer before the windshield is bonded. (Similar to how "gels"/filters for theatre etc lights are made. watch second half.)
Both are why most has gradient tint stronger at the top.

Somewhere on the windshield is a small mark to show the "tint limit" AKA AS1 Line. Below the mark is clear glass. (FMVSS 205 S5.3 Shade Bands but full data is buried SAE docs.)
ETA--> Car Windshield Markings
Examples:

Note: Untinted windshield won't have this mark and may have problems when cops stops you for tint. The whole WS is AS1 glass and should be mark in same spot as logo etc.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 07-30-2017).]

Yeah, deep dark violet blue, then turn to a horrid nicotine color and eventually completely gone..

Useful info! Thanks, Theogre!

And thanks, Indyellowgt, for confirming what others have experienced.

quote Originally posted by Fiero Vice: So, if the tint wears out, can we put on a new tint in its place as long as we have that AS1 label on the windshield? I noticed in the state of Pennsylvania, it says no tint in front is permitted. Does that means we have to replace the windshield again? Pure nuts!

Most states make it illegal to tint windshields below the AS1 line. You can go to any tint shop and get them to put a band of tint above the AS1 line. You can also cover on the outside down to this line, with vinyl, and still be legal usually. Was a common style on imports in 90s/00s.

quote Originally posted by Fiero Vice: So, if the tint wears out, can we put on a new tint in its place as long as we have that AS1 label on the windshield? I noticed in the state of Pennsylvania, it says no tint in front is permitted. Does that means we have to replace the windshield again? Pure nuts!

Maybe in some states and others not.

Tint laws/rules vary by states and many PA rules/laws are copies of NHTSA FMVSS w/ minor changes to read as PA regs/laws like PA vehicle lighting while others have reference to FMVSS.

Note that State's DMV sites often do not have all data in them but Skim the rules/laws.
Two places to look for rules/regs/laws
state "codes" are state laws .
state's DOT regulations.
For most items DOT regs have teeth like laws but can charge w/o warning etc because bypass state legislation process. Like NHTSA controls FMVSS under Laws to make cars safe... Many States give DOT and others Regulating Powers w/o going to State House for approval for every change or add a reg.

In your case, Try www.pacode.com search under Title 67 Transportation. quick search for "glass tint" returned 28 matches but "sun screening" returned 39 matches and this... http://www.pacode.com/secur...ter175/s175.263.html

quote § 175.263. Sun screening location. (a) Windshields, side windows and side wings. A person may not operate, on a highway, a motor vehicle with a front windshield, side window or side wing that has been equipped with a sun screening device or other material which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle. This subchapter does not prohibit the use of products or materials along the top edge of the windshield if the products or materials are transparent and do not encroach upon the AS-1 portion of the windshield as provided by FMVSS No. 205 and if the devices or materials are not more than 3 inches from the top of the windshield.

So You could try using AS1 mark as a aftermarket tint limit but still might fail to pass PA Inspection or get stopped by cops anywhere. Light aftermarket tint should pass while heavy or opaque sun bands may not or get stopped by cops.

AS1 lines are not always on drivers side of OE or Replacement tinted windshields. Many are on Pas side of windshield.
Right AS1 pic above is pas side of Fiero PPG replacement glass.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 03-30-2017).]