Identifying the Correct Windshield for the MG Series Optima
Replacing the front glass on this car requires knowing exactly which year and trim you drive, because Kia altered the glass geometry and hardware halfway through the run. Cars built from mid-2006 through 2008 rely on NAGS catalog numbers FW02704, FW02705, or FW02706, whereas the facelifted 2009 and 2010 sedans take FW03058. The visual differences outside might seem minor, but the newer front-end redesign changed how the perimeter interfaces with the glass edge, meaning these two body styles cannot swap glass with each other.
Beyond the year split, you have to verify whether your car has the integrated windshield wiper park de-icer. Base LX models typically arrived with a standard solar green tint and a shaded blue or gray sun band across the top, while EX and SX trims often added heating elements embedded directly into the lower ceramic frit band. When sourcing your replacement, I rely exclusively on quality aftermarket glass manufactured by Pilkington, PGW, XYG, or FYG, making sure the lower frit pattern and electrical terminal points align precisely with your factory plug so your winter wiper defroster remains functional.
Hardware Details and Outer Trim Components
The windshield opening on this Optima relies on specific external trim pieces that behave differently than modern flush-mounted glass. Around the top and vertical sides, a dedicated three-sided push-in reveal moulding cushions and finishes the perimeter gap. If your existing rubber moulding has shrunk, cracked, or hardened from sun exposure, a fresh replacement trim matching the GGG 2646 V profile is necessary to prevent highway wind whistling.
At the bottom of the glass, the installation interacts directly with a split, two-piece plastic cowl screen. Kia secured this cowl assembly with delicate snap clips and perimeter screws tucked below the wiper pivots. The plastic along this lower windshield edge is notorious for becoming brittle over time. Pulling the tandem wiper arms requires care to protect the wiper linkage beneath, ensuring the plastic cowl re-seats flat against the bottom edge of the new glass without leaving gaps where debris and rainwater can wash into the cabin air intake.
Interior Clearances and Mirror Mounts
Working inside this cabin involves navigating safety components positioned right next to the glass line. The interior A-pillar garnish mouldings sit extremely tight against the windshield edge and conceal the curtain airbag harnesses. These interior pillars require careful release of their captive plastic clips to prevent puncturing the fabric or tugging on the safety wiring routed directly behind them.
The rearview mirror mount attached to the inner face of the windshield also depends on the factory options fitted to your car. Kia used different mounting footings depending on whether your Optima has a standard manual day/night flip mirror or the heavier auto-dimming rearview unit equipped with an internal compass. Getting the right glass part number ensures that the factory bracket pre-attached to the windshield matches your existing mirror base, allowing the rearview mirror and its wiring channel to slide directly into place without vibration.
