I am reading a lot of posts about high mileage MINI's and the problems and issues associated with them. I am glad to see that aside from certain issues they seem to hold up well with high miles, but almost everyone who has offered a list of repairs includes a cracked windsheild. One guy is even on his 3rd windshield, what's up with that? Do they crack easily and if so, why?

Here in Florida your insurance pays 100% to repair/replace a cracked windshield, so it wouldn't really bother me a whole lot if it did crack, but why do they crack so much?

 

I too have had the problem with a past stress crack and nothing since adding the JCW strut brace.

Since the strut towers are located very close to the window, I wonder if anyone has determined a relationship between the bracing of the strut towers and windshield problems.

It would seem that stiffening the area would help to deter cracks.

Anyone have feedback on this?

Jim

 

A lot of people have reported the crack starting in the middle of the window at the base. It probably is due to the shape of the window, trying to bend around the curve a bit too sharply. If you have the window replaced with another genuine MINI windscreen, expect the same result. Most people who have one of the other manufacturers installed seem to not have problems (P&G and Pilkington come to mind). Our 2006 MCS, purchased from the dealer with 15,000 on it was on at least its second windscreen when we got it. It cracked shortly after getting it. Now have a Pilkington in with no issues yet. Also even though your insurance covers it, you may not want to. It counts as a claim even though it's only about $350 (what mine cost). I've been dropped because once because of having too many claims - 3 and two were $89 rock chips.