hi there all...

our '06 MCS/a has under 5000 miles on it (not that mileage should have anything to do with it) but last night we discover a hairline crack had started right behind the rearview mirror...

this morning it has grown into the infamos "L-shaped crack" and it is about 8-10 inches long now...

is there TSB information on this that i should be "armed" with when i contact the dealership?

thanks all! i know that this seems to be an oft repeated subject... sorry about that..

sbp

p.s. oh yea... definitely not impact induced.. in fact the car was stationary and unoccupied when it started... and then again when it grew...

 

I spent too much time going over this issue with the dealer. The stock windshield is not a high quality piece. I used Triumph Auto Glass and went through the insurance. Requested PPG replacement have not had a problem that was 11 mos ago.

 

+1 - if the dealer will not replace it under warranty, take it elsewhere and have better glass put in. It will be cheaper, and last longer. The dealer tried to charge me upwards of $800 to replace mine - Safelite did it (with better glass) for $280 AND they came to me.

 

My 2004 MC developed a stress crack and the W/S was replaced under warranty. When I got my 2006MCS I got a rock chip with less than 200 miles on the clock and since than have replaced two W/S because of rocks.
They were all on me. I think there is something in the glass that attracts rocks. It's a PITA!!
06MCS/DS/B/Bbonnetstripes/Whalen8ballshiftmachine

 

I left a message with the SA (Service Advisor) and SM (Service Manager) at my MINI dealership. Here is their response:

I have to do a pen test on the w/shield, meaning it will tell me if the w/shield has been hit even by the slightest hit.

Anyone have experience with these "pen" tests?

Thanks!

sbp
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Yeah thats why I kept going back and forth with dealer. They will move a pen point along the crack if the widens at any point( indicated by the pen dropping down into the crack) tells them that the windshield was hit by something. Everyone in the real world knows that when glass cracks small pieces are likely to fall out. The "pen test" seems to me to be a way to garauntee they find a hit on the windshield.

 

Get better insurance. Allstate (& many others) allows unlimited windshield replacements for free.

 

This is just another example of the inferior service and product MINI expects us to live with for the honor of driving a MINI.

 

just a quick update here - went up to Open Road MINI (Morristown MINI) and met with the service manager so he could inspect my windshield crack...

after a few minutes scratching around the crack with a pen... the verdict came - will be repaired under warranty...

the repair hasn't been made yet as i scheduled for a day when they could provide a loaner but that was a good start for us... : )

 

I'm glad it worked out for you, hopefuly this will be the last time you have to worry with it.

 

not more than a few weeks to the day (a year ago) we have the same stress crack on the windshield of our MINI...

we will be going down the same path as last year, so let's see what hoops we have to jump through this time (last time it wasn't so bad)...

same exact circumstances... car was parked... hairline crack appeared behind review mirror and was about 2-3" long.. a day later with some sun and heat applied we are looking at the L-shaped crack about 10" long (and growing!!)..

this will be windshield #2...

sbp

 

Since when? I have Allstate and I'm out my deductible at a minimum for a new windshield.

 

I have NJM Insurance (which has an excellent reputation) and there is no "free" windshield replacement.

 

'free replacement'

for most a matter of semantics. the ws is normally covered under comprehensive - if you don't carry comp you are out of luck.

If you do - ask your company what the difference is to change your comp deductable to zero. Unlike your collision deductable, many are surprized that for a few dollars they can drop comp deduct to zero which becomes "free windshield". I've probably averaged a windshield every 14 months on one of the cars over the last 15 years....

Also note that in some states - well, Florida anyway - insurance can't charge a deductable for windshields period. Something about a special safety clause. Been that way here for as long as I can remember.

 

sure there is FREE windshield replacement.

if you want to pay the extra premium

my insurance.. ERIE offers..

0 ded
100
250
500
i had 250 and to lower it to 100 was 18 more dollars per year
lower it to 0 was 58 more per year.

i have an FJ cruiser and they EAT windshields.. the glass is straight up and down.