While coming back from our first trip in our 2012 Countryman on the 101 freeway, we hit a dip in the road. The windshield cracked from the lower left corner about a 8" long crack, no rock impact at all. We stoped by Bob Smith on the way home, they looked at the crack and said it was a stress crack. They ordered a replacement, it came in within two days. The new windshield was also cracked in the box. So a new one was ordered. A few days later it came in and was installed. It looks like new, and car is fine.
I hope we don't have this problem again. The dealer said they have had a couple of these windshields crack in the past.
FYI, we got around 30 MPG on cruise @ 70 MPH.
Ron

 

You sound like you have my kind of luck.

 

I have noticed the CM's windshield is very fragile. I have the heated windshield and the first stone that ever hit it caused a 1" crack, that was about a month ago. Today I noticed some new deep chips in the windshield right in the driver's field of vision though I don't recall seeing them happen. Car is 2 months old. Though it could be just bad luck with my CM, I've never had a windshield crack in the past and the only chips I ever had before happened when I was driving behind a sand loaded truck in the middle of a storm.

 

I've noticed excessive chips in my windshield also. I bought my Countryman in November.

 

On my hardtop it was bought used but at 8500 miles the window was badly pitted and had a nickel sized chip. Had the window replaced and treated with bullet proof. 6 months later get hit with another rock but the damage was minimal. Theres about 1/4 of an inch crack that was sealed by safelite and you can barely see it. Other than that the window looks new. So I think bullet proof is working.

I think these cars with the window pitch and softer glass will experience more window damage than the average car.

 

Well, I'm glad I keep a zero deductible on glass coverage then!

 

Me too

Zero deduct comprehensive doesnt cost much more a month and has already paid for an 800 dollar replacement window and two rock chip sealings total. Ive never had to worry about rock chips on the window until this car.

 

+1

 

5500 Miles lots of chips!

 

This is an old story for Minis of all types. It has more to do with the more upright angle of the windshield than anything else, in my opinion. My 2005 does have some small chips but otherwise I have been lucky.

 

I don't know if it's the angle or not but I haven't had any rocks hit mine.. I don't follow close but that alone won't stop a rock. I think I'm more lucky than anything. On the other hand, my wife eats windshields. Last car was a 2001 Mazda Tribute (3 rock chips and 2 window replacements in a 10 year period). Her current car is a 2011 Nissan Juke (2 chips repaired so for). These cars are higher set than the Mini and would think they'd not get chipped as often whereas the Mini sets lower which I would think would allow for more rocks to chip the window. Nothing really makes sense to me. I just think it's the draw of luck.

 

Softer Glass?

 

Yeah, I've seen several posts where people have said the glass is softer than say a PPG window.

In a way you just have to choose what battles you fight. You can get a protective film for the glass or a product like Bullet Proof but ultimately you will get hit by a rock sooner or later. Just cross your fingers that it isn't that bad

 

Making sure you've got good insurance coverage to replace the glass soundsl ike a good idea. Those of us with the cold weather package & heated windsheild elements are likely in for a real surprise at the replacement costs.

 

Had mine since May, and so far, no chips, but it is a little pitted...my husband's '10 Jeep Wrangler has gone thru a few windshields, though. Where we live, there's blowing sand from time to time, which pits the paint sometimes too...and that brilliant roadwork where they let YOU pack in the new tar and gravel. So annoying!

 

More debris hit the windshield on Minis than other vehicles because of the rake angle. Most other vehicles have less of angle and debris glance off or get carried away by the aerodynamics before they can hit the glass.

 

Mine cracked the other day in the same way. Took a on ramp with a dip and a sharp curve at a rather high speed and it cracked from the bottom left corner. Now its growing across the windshield.
Dealer is going to replace.

 

If the glass was softer there would be fewer stress cracks, but more pitting. I have seen no real data to indicate that MINI glass is softer or harder than normal.

 

You're commenting on something that happened 5 months ago lol. I never said there was data to show this but it was after spending hours in various threads seeing the real world experience other drivers had. A MINI is definitely prone to stress cracks, cracks from rock impacts, and pitting.

Other people have had better experiences with other brands of glass is what my original comment said.

 

Mine went today. Stress crack bottom right corner heading north about 8 inches. calling dealer tomorrow.

 

I came back from a business trip last week and the windshield had cracked while the car was sitting at the airport. Not sure if it was a stress ark or if the damage started off with snow melt debris being thrown at the windshield. Waiting til summer to replace it.