Less than a month after getting my MINI it already has growing crack in the windshield from a rock impact.

This seems to happen every year or two with whatever car I have, still kind of irritating that so soon.

I just got quotes from two dealers for replacing the windshield, and they are asking almost $900 parts and labor?! On my previous cars it was less than a third of that price!? Perhaps I should have bought the windshield insurance the dealer offered? Too late for that now.

Anyone have a recommendation on getting a new windshield installed for less somewhere in northern California?

 

Call safelite autoglass and get them to do it with an OEM windshield. It will be much less expensive and they will come to your workplace to do it and noone will know the difference

 

In fl your insurance replaces it free of charge

 

The online quote from Safelite is $200 lower than dealer at "regular price", down to about $500 on current sale, good savings but still much higher than a windshield ever cost me before, and not sure if they are getting the same parts from the same source...

Safelite gets the glass, ruber, and trim pieces from MINI? Anyone had any problems with work done by Safelite?

 

I have not asked what the deductible would be, I'm worried about having my insurance rate go up if I have them pay for anything...

 

8 windshields from safelite, no problems. Glass is really no hard to install and hard to screw up. Take it to them and save $200.00

 

I always carry the "full glass" insurance coverage on my cars, as it's only slightly more expensive than with a glass deductible. If you want to make sure you're getting an OEM windshield, just ask Safelite who makes the windshield, and where they got it from. I'm pretty sure there's a MINI logo embedded right in the glass on the MINI windshield, so it should be easy to check.

 

They replace them free and it does not count against you..atleast in florida

 

Yeah here the dealers want over $800 to do it. I had Safelite out of the penninsula do mine for around $280. WELL over a year ago, and no break since.

The dealer fed me a line about it not being covered under warranty if it broke again...well I could have replaced it 3 times myself for what they wanted.

Anyway, Safelite did mine, over a year ago, and so far no issues. How big is the crack? Safelite has the "dollar bill rule"...if it's smaller than a dollar bill, they repair it...bigger, they replace the glass.

 

I just spoke with my insurance, in CA they do not offer coverage specifically for glass, only as part of comprehensive, so with my $500 deductible it's not worth filing a claim.

 

Well, $280 is more in line with my expectation, right now even the Safelite web site is quoting me nearly twice that, dealer close to three times.

I guess I will stop by the Safelite shop on Stevens Creek to see if I can get it for something closer to what you paid.

Did Safelite use MINI parts on your car or not?

 

If it will help sway your decision more, most dealers will outsource windshield install work.

 

my ins co repairs windshields free if it is repairable (impacts, chips, non-spreading cracks, etc) and non-repairable is $100 deductible (my comp/coll are $350).

if this happens to you a lot, it might be worth switching, or lowering your deductible if it isn't a large difference. Or I heard around that there is a clear bra type film for the windshield too...

 

I had them do the OEM windshield. It doesn't have the MINI logo on it like the factory one, but everything lines up, including the VIN space, and I have the auto-wipers and the install included replacing the box for that behind the rearview mirror as well.

 

1. I've used SAFELITE for ws replacements many times over the last 20 years - they are 'partnered' with USAA and handle all insurance claims. My 02 is on ws #3, and they've done my Miata a couple of times, Element .... others. Only once was I not happy, and in that case they came back the next day and did the job again....no questions asked. I don't really care what glass they used....it fit fine and lasts as long as any other.

2. Once this is settled you might ask your insurance what the difference in rate would be to change your comp deduct to zero. After paying a $250 deduct on two glass replacements while living out of FL, I asked and the annual increase of rates for 3 drivers (one teen) on 3 cars was under a hunded bucks.... Since I was averaging a windshield a year between the 3 cars this became a quick & simple math question. And all those glass claims have never resulted in a penny of rate increase. Glass is pretty much a 'no fault' issue and as stated: in FL an issue the company can't even charge the deduct for .... a safety issue the ins must cover.

 

Hell with $900. Like JDUR56 said "...SAFELITE" is the way to go.

 

Yep, in FL they chalk up the repair for windshields for safety. Most windshields nowadays are considered structural parts of the frame....At least that is what I was told...

 

After my replacement I dropped my comprehensive to $0. It costs me an extra $30/year.

 

Only if you've got full-coverage.

 

u know the dealers use companies like Diamond and SAfelite..etc to replace the windshields.. Go with an outside vendor.. My Honda Fit was $700 at Honda at $286 through Diamond..guess what..Diamond goes to the Honda dealer to replace. My BMW 335 is going to be about $500 through Diamond..stupid rain sensor!! Good luck.

 

I have Allstate insurance which uses a separate claim service just for glass, as do many other insurance companies. When I contacted the glass claims company there was no one in my area that would do a Mini windshield due to the various problems. I had to have the windshield replaced at the dealer for $825 (all covered by my insurance). Be carefull with having the windshield replaced by someone other than the dealer because of the various problems with the install that are unique to the Mini. There are many NAM posts about people having problems with the windshield seal and pillar cap pieces after a windshield replacement. The clips on the pillar pieces frequently break during the removal and the normal glass installers do not have replacement clips and usually install the pieces without the broken clip replaced, then the pieces eventually come off when you least expect it. Also, when my windshield was replaced, the dealer required that my car stay overnight to let the sealant to cure properly.

 

I replaced the windshield on my 2006 Non-S Mini without a rain sensor for $197 in Los Angeles. It took them less than an hour.

 

$500 at dealer.

Saw one come into the shop done by aftermarket glass company...they installed piece of glass with a 4 inch rain sensor block but car had no rain sensor....looked ridiculous since rear view mirrors are different with that block there...

 

Thats crazy , installed in a Non rain sensor.

When I had mine done for both non rain sensor and rain sensor cars i just paid the deductible, but i know the rain sensor windows were much more. And they were not in stock for the r58/ R59's, had to wait a couple days:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...in-sensor.html

 

Some of these prices are ridiculous. Safelite replaced my windshield for $240 not too long ago and I haven't had any problems since.