Got my first--and hopefully the last--windshield crack. I'm a true Mini owner now!

Anyway, I'm leaning towards the dealership (East Bay MINI here in CA) as my choice of installer despite the premium cost ($830 +tax). I've talked to them and they told me that they do it in-house and that the car must remain in the shop for 24 hours for the adhesive to set. Sounds reassuring.

But, I want to hear from other NAMers about their experience with windshield replacement by your particular dealer. Was it done in-house or farmed out to a local glass shop? How was the workmanship?

EDIT: I talked to my dealer again but to a different person this time. I was told, yes, the work is done in-house, literally, by a local glass installer who comes over to do the job for them. Parts are all Mini OEM.

 

My first replacement windshield was done at the dealer under warranty.

They used the factory glass but I didn't know who the installer was.

They did a good job and it lasted about a year until a rock hit it. The

next one was done by Safelite and they also did a good job, in fact I

hung around and watched him do it. Something you might want to think

about is getting zero deductable on your comprehensive that means

you pay nothing for windshields, deer hitting the car, etc. It only

cost me $5.00 more a month.

 

Sorry to hear about the glass. Not much help but here in FL front glass is free. Might be worth upgrading if it is an option in your state.

 

I had a side window replaced at a local shop $277 installed. My dealer is over 200 miles away. The cost of the window w/o labor, turned out to be about $50 less than what the dealer quoted me but did not get a dealer quote for the labor / other parts. There are no 3rd party makers of glass for MINI so all glass comes from a MINI warehouse.

As I remember the cost of a MINI front windshield is $300 something. So your quote is over $500 in labor for a 1 hour job... if that.

 

Had mine replaced on my '09 at the dealer here in Colorado. Was covered under an insurance plan that I had purchased, but the total cost would have been around $400 (parts + labor). $830 is absolutely outrageous.

 

Nothing wrong with using the dealer but I have had windshields replaced on several cars, including the MINI, by glass companies without any issue. What I like about them is they do it where you are and it's done. Never had one leak or anything bad happen afterwards.

I have to get the one that was put on several years ago replaced as it is starting to get badly pitted but that is part of awning a MINI.

Just do a little research on glass companies in your area and you should be fine. Safelite is a national chain and I have them to do good work. The only thing I would stress to them is to replace the a-piller covers when they do it. Some try to reuse them but they are designed to be replaced if they have to be taken off. BTW, a glass company is usually cheaper then the dealer and the glass is the same quality.

 

Thanks for the replies. Here's my rationale for going with the dealership.

The Mini is not as common as say domestics and Japanese imports, and thus very few glass installers will have experience with it. Especially, where I live which is also 200 miles away from the nearest dealer. In fact, one installer even refused my business once I told him the make and model of the car. The installer that the dealer contracts is likely to have more experienced, given the frequency of windshield replacement on Minis.

Also, local installers in my area will not have easy access to Mini OEM parts. The installer that Mini contracts, performs the installation at the dealership, which has all the parts needed. Sure, Safelite or any local glass installers can just order parts from Mini, but I have my doubts. Part of their schtick is that they can do the job within 45 minutes on location. However, the OEM parts would have to be shipped, which takes time, and goes against their modus operandi.

 

Definitely get OEM glass, avoid Safelite.

Also, I recommend you get Clearplex if you are constantly getting rocks to your windshield, we had it in our MINI and it worked awesome.

http://metropolitandetail.com/pageDetailing

 

As far as insurance goes, I've contemplated upgrading my coverage to include glass. However, My insurace co., Geico, forwards clients to Safelite. The Mini rep said that I'm more than welcome to file claim with my insurance, but they do not handle it themselves.

Has anyone had experience with filing a claim with the insurance co. for dealer services?

Also, I have reason to think that, although the Mini's windshield is a rock magnet I will not be replacing windshields as frequently as some have experienced (One NAMer claimed to have replaced his windshield 3 times within 2 years of ownership). The crack on my windshield was caused by an impact from a pebble kicked up by another vehicle. On that day, had I decided to go straight home instead of going for a joy ride on some windy less-traveled country roads, I will not have this crack. My usual commuting routes are not peppered with loose pebbles.

 

Thanks for the tip

Sorry about your loss, btw

 

When it comes to windshields, I imagine there will always be a wide variety of quality during replacement. I've used safelite, dealers, and other local companies all with varying results. They can all do OEM glass so that isn't an issue either, really it all comes down to the company itself and its hard to say even with a dealership. I've made many companies replace a replaced windshield because of their own stupidity.

Personally, if it was a long drive I'd just stick with someone local unless of course the dealer gave you a great excuse to enjoy motoring for the day!

 

My MINI dealer (Portland, OR) did not stock the glass (side window) so they would have had to have it shipped from a MINI/BMW warehouse in CA. Maybe they have front windshields stocked I don't know?
My local installer had to order from the dealer. It was then drop-shipped from the same MINI/BMW warehouse (2 or 3 days).
There are no 3rd party makers of MINI glass like there are for more common cars.
Even the MINI dealer was surprised at how low the cost was from MINI when he looked it up so there may not be incentive for 3rd party glass makers to compete.

 

I had my windshield replaced at Bob Smith Mini (CA). It was $820 many years ago.
I have 0 deductible on comprehensive insurance so the insurance company paid for the replacement. My insurance company has pre-approved local glass installers but when I told them it was a Mini Cooper and that the A-Pillar Cover clips frequently break during windshield repacements, the insurance company agreed that I could take the car to a dealership rather than using a local installer. It was a much higher cost at the dealership.

The closest Mini dealership is 120 miles from my home. So I thought is was best to use the dealer in case there was any problems, such as broken clips because I knew a local installer would not be able to obtain the clips. I have known two people in my area that have had their A-Pillar Cover fly off after a windshield replacement, we suspect from broken clips not being replaced.

The replacement was done at the dealership. They let the adhesive cure overnight. It was a pain to take it to the dealership but I had no problems after the replacement.

A local installer should be able to do a good job but I would purchase a couple clips ahead of time and give them to the installer for replacements when they break a clip. The installer can do the job at your house so that the adhesive can cure overnight before driving the car. Most installers prefer to do the work at your house just for that reason.

 

The following is what I replied 'a few years ago:

"This is coming from the 'left coast' Sacramento, CA. I had my 3rd replacement windshield put in my 2002 Cooper S last Friday. All 3 came from road hazards (rocks), two 10 days apart. Hayes Brothers Auto Glass got the OEM from Niello MINI; Hayes does all of Niello's glass work. Here's the breakdown

Windshield (non rain sensor) 189.00
Labor (3.1 hours) 133.00
Adhesive 40.00
Molding (Upper) reused caps 13.90
Subtotal 375.90
Tax 18.82
Total 394.72
Deductible 100.00
Billed to AAA Insurance 294.72"

I've since replaced 4 nd 5 , almost all on freeways. Still $100.00 deductable each time and so far no increase from my insurance company. Last time I had to replace the caps. Labor of $900.00 seems high.
This posting will probably 'jinx' me now, as I haven't needed a replacement in a while. 3 of my 5 were from 'rock shots' that came when I was commuting to/from work - another benefit of retirement I guess .

 

I had my windshield replace by a glass company out in town. They used a windshield by PGM that had the correct rain sensor, and I was very happy with both the new windshield and the installer, and the total cost was only $230.

An important thing to find out is if the installer has a supply of the little clips that attach the black A-pillar covers to the car. It's difficult to remove the covers without breaking at least one or two of the clips, and many glass shops will "cheat" and reattach the covers with double-sided tape, rather than using new clips to replace the broken ones. That works for a few days or weeks, but one or both of the covers will invariably fly off the car eventually.

 

I had one replaced at the dealership. It was Mini of Mountain View, which is now Mini of Stevens Creek. They did it in house. I haven't had any trouble since it was done, maybe 2 years ago. They let it sit 24 hours without moving it after they installed the window. When I came to pick it up it was still back inside the shop where they did the install.

I was told it was done by one of their own technicians and not by a local glass installer. It was done under warranty though so maybe for off warranty replacements they would have opted to have a glass shop do it.