Identifying Your Mercedes-Benz GLA Windshield Options
Determining which replacement windshield fits your GLA comes down to looking directly at the triangular cluster of electronics mounted behind the rearview mirror. Mercedes-Benz built the X156 platform—sold in North America from the 2015 model year through 2020 on both the GLA 250 and the AMG GLA 45—with three distinct driver-assistance glass configurations. While every variant shares green solar acoustic-laminated glass, a lower ceramic frit border, and an integrated VIN viewing window, the internal mounting hardware factory-bonded to the glass differs significantly.
You can identify which specific glass you need by inspecting the cutout window in the ceramic frit from outside the vehicle:
- Rain and Light Sensor Only: Base models feature a compact circular bracket that houses the humidity, condensation, and automatic headlamp sensor. This configuration requires a fresh 41 mm by 45 mm optical silicone gel pad to couple the sensor to the new glass without air bubbles.
- Mono Multifunction Camera: Vehicles equipped with basic forward collision warning or high-beam assist feature a single trapezoidal camera lens pointing forward through a dedicated clear aperture next to the round rain sensor.
- Stereo Dual Camera: Models ordered with the full Driver Assistance Package incorporate two side-by-side forward-facing camera apertures alongside the rain sensor to manage active steering and lane keeping systems.
Because the brackets are heat-fused to the inner laminate during manufacturing, a mono-camera windshield cannot accept dual-camera hardware, making an accurate visual check essential before ordering parts.
Roof Transitions and Surrounding Cowl Details
The upper and lower perimeters of the glass on the X156 require careful inspection because the surrounding body trim varies by factory option. On standard hardtop models, the top glass edge terminates directly against the painted steel roof line. If your GLA has the panoramic sliding sunroof, the windshield meets a gloss black polycarbonate front roof filler panel instead. Transport Canada issued safety recalls (2021-170 and 2023-673) regarding this specific front filler panel, as inadequate factory bonding could cause it to loosen, so ensuring that this trim sits firmly anchored above the glass header is critical during service.
I handle every replacement myself through a completely mobile service, traveling directly to your home driveway or work parking spot across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area to swap out your damaged glass. Unlike the closely related C117 CLA-Class which uses frameless door glass, this crossover features fully framed doors with standard rubber channel weatherstripping, meaning door glass alignment never interferes with the A-pillar mouldings during windshield work. Down below, the glass slides into a rigid plastic cowl grille that seals the wiper transmission mechanism and cabin air intake channels away from engine bay water runoff.
Factory Mercedes-Benz Part Number Cross-Reference
European catalogs group this glass family under the Eurocode base 5381, a structural profile shared with contemporary A-Class models. Dealer networks catalog several superseded part numbers depending on internal bracketry and production updates:
| Dealer Part Number | Bracket Configuration | Primary Model Trims |
|---|---|---|
| 156-670-01-01 | Rain/Light Sensor Only | GLA 250 (Base) |
| 156-670-04-00 / 156-670-04-00-64 | Mono Multifunction Camera | GLA 250, AMG GLA 45 |
| 156-670-05-00 / 156-670-05-00-64 | Stereo Dual Camera | GLA 250 4MATIC, AMG GLA 45 |
| 156-670-08-00-64 | Updated Multifunction Camera Array | 2018–2020 Facelift Models |
Does my replacement windshield include a heated wiper park area?
No. Mercedes-Benz did not equip the North American X156 GLA-Class with embedded heating elements or conductive wiper park defrosting grids in the lower glass frit. Defrosting along the bottom edge is managed entirely through the vehicle's standard HVAC blower ducts blowing air across the inner glass surface.
Can I reuse the existing rain sensor gel pad?
The original optical gel pad tears and collects dust upon removal from the old windshield. Installing the sensor against the replacement glass requires a brand new optical silicone pad measuring approximately 41 mm by 45 mm to ensure proper light refraction for the automatic wipers and headlamps.
