As if we didn't talk about this topic enough, my windshield broke. I'm looking for a place anywhere between Santa Clarita, CA to Orange County to replace my windshield. I have an '07 MCS with the stupid rain sensing windshield wipers (it hasn't rained since i bought the car over a year ago, well maybe once) ...went to crevier, home of the unhappy customer, and they quoted 1200 and i said no. anyone know of a non-dealer drive to your home mechanic that can help me out anywhere in Southern California that doesn't cost an arm and a leg?!?!? I would really appreciate it.

 

Call South Bay MINI and Long Beach MINI for quotes. When my 2003 rain-sensing windshield was replaced, the glass was a little over $200 and the labor ran about $140 at Long Beach. I have no idea what the price is for the R56, but $1200 is ridiculous.

 

http://www.minicorsa.com/
Danny@MiniCorsa.com
He fixed a "regular" windshield for me for a fair price.

 

I just had my standard windshield get taken out on the 101. I ended up using www.safelite.com who get many recommendations on NAM. 200 bucks after tax and were the cheapest I could find to come out next day.

 

Talk to your insurance. You would only have to pay the deductible or nothing and you don't take a hit on your insurance. When I lived in Idaho where they do chip sealing of the freeways and roads I replaced a windshield a year at no cost (Allstate) and rates never went up.

 

Thank you all. I should have called LB in the first place since I bought the car there, and i'll also look up the rest. Thanks!

 

Wow safelite's instant quote is awesome. Does not compute, your $700 check is in the mail. I'm stoked!!!

 

My Father works in the glass business. You need to go with PPG or Pilkington I would stay away from safelite but you get what you pay for. If you have comprehensive insurance they will pay for the replacement with no deductible most of the time.

 

darn.

 

Safelite is one of the companies that my insurance AAA uses for windshield replacement. Safelite replaced my stock windshield with a PPG windshield. The installer said that they use PPG because it is better than the stock windshield. After paying my $100 deductable, my insurance was billed $550.00.

 

My windshield just got a crack/chip when driving on highway, passing by a big truck. My ins. should cover 100% no deductible, Should I be better off repair the crack or replace the whole shield?
thanks.

 

I hope I'm not jinxing myself here...but my '06 R53 went through FOUR windshields in a little over a year of ownership. The first one was a stress crack covered under warranty, the rest just seemed to be related to its relatively upright profile I guess. My '08 R56 hasn't had so much as a chip yet although I drive it under similar conditions all the time. Doesn't seem like much difference but there must be something.

 

[quote=DaPooh65;2561236]My windshield just got a crack/chip when driving on highway, passing by a big truck. My ins. should cover 100% no deductible, Should I be better off repair the crack or replace the whole shield?
thanks.[/quote

It really depends on the size of the chip/crack. If it is longer than 1 inch, I'd say replace it. Under normal stress it will probably spread over time.

 

i got sick and tired of changing my windshields so i just left it alone and named my mini scarface lol....i drive 150miles a day i cant keep a crack off my windshield

 

My carpoolmate had the unfortunate experience of replacing her Audi A4 windshield twice in a 4 week period due to rocks (gotta love the 405). The first time she replaced it with factory glass since she wanted to keep it "all Audi". Looked good as new (of course), but was expensive. The second time she replaced it with cheaper OEM glass. The difference was subtle, but definitely there. The cheaper glass was distorted at the left/right edges where it curved into the A pillar. As a passenger you'd see other cars "elongate" as they passed through that side of the glass. The Audi glass did not have that distortion. Buyer beware.

- John

 

Can you explain the difference between "Factory" glass and "original equipment manufacture OEM" glass. Seems like that would be the same?

 

Sorry I meant "generic" or "off-brand". For what it's worth, if you drive a lot of freeway miles it may be worth looking a $100 Comprehensive deductible. If the difference between a $500 deductible and a $100 deductible is, say, $100/yr that means if you got your windshield replaced within 4 years courtesy of your insurance you'd be ahead of the game (assuming they don't raise your rates and the replacement cost is >$500).

 

I believe in only insuring for losses that would be too painful to pay for.

In less than ten years, I am ahead of the game for our $1,000 Deductable on Coll/Comp for two cars.

The last windshield 'ding' was a nickle size spyder crack long ago and when I went to the auto glass shop,
they said that my insurance would pay 100% of a 'repair' over a replacement, without regard for 'deductable'.

This 'repair' was invisible in almost all lighting conditions and lasted at least ten years.

I now see that despite $1,000 Deductable, Glass is covered at ZERO deductable.

No doubt required by Florida Insurance Commission and probably one of the reasons insurance costs so much in Florida.

Despite this, I would probably still select the 'repair' over replacement.