Good day!

I'm hoping someone can enlighten me, so I can give Safelight the correct info.

I have a cracked windshield on my 2015 F55, and I called to schedule an appointment to have it replaced.
Lady on the other end asked me which windshield I have; heated, rain sensor, headlight sensor..

I checked out the owners manual and messaged my salesman.

He tells me that US cars don't have the heated windshield. Okay..

Told me to look for the TWO sensors located inside the square black area at the top of the windshield. I only have one sensor, and it is inside a ROUND black area. (I know I have auto wipers, so it's a rain sensor).

Question is, do I also have a headlight sensor. I have no idea..

???

 

Your F55 should have auto headlights and wipers. Look at your headlight switch for an 'A' in what should be the 12 o'clock position.

As far as I know that sensor combines wipers and lights in one package. I've had mine replaced a couple of times, due to a leaking gel pack.


-Jim

 

http://www.bmwarchive.org/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

 

Thanks, Jim & Minnie! :-)

I do in fact have auto headlights.


Obviously, I'm getting lazy in my old age; I need to spend more time getting familiar with my own car, and not just driving it. lol!

 

Great I'm glad u got that all straightened out. Now for the bigger issue IMHO

SAFELITE ! My opinion is they suck. Please look at your wipers, cowling just below the wipers, and the 2 vertical moldings on the sides of the windshield. Then look at them after they are done make sure nothing is loose or hidden clips broken and not in place.

I have personally seen hundreds of water leaks created by them after glass replacement. No matter what they say don't drive the car for as long as feasibly possible Meaning they will say it's ok after 2 hrs. I would make arrangements for it to sit as long as possible overnight would be great.

Ur ins co has safelite do windshields because they pay them $40 an hour to put these windshields in. YOU GET WHAT THEY PAY FOR

The RAIN SENSOR must be replaced not reused. It will probably not work in a short while afterwards or not at all.

Not an alarmist. Just seen it tooooo many times.

Just my .02.

Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

 

From what I gathered after I got a big chip in my windshield aftermarket glass does not exist for 2014+ MINIs. So Safelight will not have a glass for it. I went to a auto repair shop who ordered all of the parts direct from a MINI dealership. Also The rain sensor will not need to be replaced but the place doing the repair will have to add a gel to it when putting it back on. Mine was replaced under warranty but the auto shop told me what they'd have to do. Hope this helps.

 

You may be right about no aftermarket glass for 2014+ MINIs; I don't know.
I told Safelight that I wanted original equipment glass and they are getting it from a MINI dealer.

I'll mention the gel to the installer; thanks!

 

No problem, good luck! (Also don't let them forget the molding for the top of the windshield. Don't let them reuse the one that is on it currently.)

 

Another great series of posts. Will certainly keep this info archived as I have wondered if those auto glass repair shops actually did try to use "similar" to OEM parts. Good to know folks are out there pushing for parts direct from dealer.

 

Yeah you have to be careful. I first asked a MINI dealership for a parts list that is needed to replace a windshield and they tried pushing a new rain sensor on me, which is not needed. That alone is $250.