Had my MINI since Oct, 09.
Windshield cracked around 15000 miles. Flying stone and stupid enough to take it a car wash.
Cravier MINI of Santa Ana charged over$1500 to replace windshield.

Just got another starburst after another 1000 miles.

What kind of piece of junk windshield is MINI using on our car? This is the only car I've own that I am having so much problem with windshield cracking.

AAAAA!!!!!!!!

 

$1500 windshield? I hope they at least had the courtesy to give you a reach-around. That's absolutely felonious. And don't get me started about Crevier in general. You need to find another dealership to service your car. Seriously.

Virtually all modern windshields are fragile. Our cars have particularly vertical windshields, making them more vulnerable to a "direct hit" rather than a glancing blow. At least you don't live here in Arizona, where flying rocks are probably worse than anywhere else in the land. My windshield was busted by 3k miles (but repairable), and I've had about 4 repairs done on my other car in the last couple of years. SoCal isn't nearly so hazardous.

 

Lots of threads on cracked windshields here on NAM. I was happy when my windshield cracked. I knew that my insurance would cover the new glass and the cost of the repair. Read through my post from a few weeks ago:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...y-cracked.html

And I have to agree with KevinC. It's time to find a new dealer. I had my 96 BMW 318ti serviced there when I lived in Newport Beach back in 1998/1999. They are crooks.

 

New MINI windshield is under $300.00 dollars.......( at least for 1st Gen - about $287.00)

So you were charged $1,200.00 labor.....

Can you post a copy of the service bill ?

 

This is a breakdown of my bill from Safelite for an OEM BMW/MINI windshield:

Glass - $279.94
Install kit - $22.00
Labor - $80
Some misc. part - 20.63
$402.57 plus tax.

Can't wait to see a copy of his bill from Crevier.

 

MINI doesn't use crap glass. Look at the angle of the windshield compared to other cars, its almost vertical and flat. When rocks hit it, they don't bounce off as much as the angle of deflection isn't as high. It's poor engineering, but not the use of inferior products.

 

I don't know if I would agree that it is "poor engineering" as when I am driving in the rain, that angel keeps the water off me.

 

Fortunate side-effect

 

Here are the breakdown of the charges from the Crevier, Santa Ana dealer.

Parts
1 - Green Windshield - $302.23
1 - Cover windshield - $35.06
1 - Repair Flat Rate - $135.07
1 - Cutting wire - $ 13.24

Labor - $990.00
Tax - $42.49
Total: 1475

Upon closer examination of the bill, they apparently found clips on a pillar broken and replaced A-pillar. Not sure what it is. But no one told me when I picked up the car.

The though that I am going to have to replace my windshield frequently just doesn't sound right to me.

At any rate, I had to cover the entire amount at the dealer and file a claim with my insurance company. Good thing my insurance agent was on it and got a $1000 check to me within a week. I am just hoping my premium doesn't go up after this little claim.

I was told by the dealer advisor that they had customer replace windshield with other places and they often install them improperly and cause leak and damage other electronics. I have rain sensor and don't want to void any warranty or the hassel of dealer and glass repair shop pointing fingers at each other if I ever run into problems.

I think as soon as my maintenance contract is up, I will get rid of the car. Nissan 370Z roadster is sounding more economical by the minute.

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Incidently, this is the 2nd major repair done to the car since my purchase.
2 months after picking up the vehicle, the water pump leaked and had to be replaced. This was under warranty, so no charge.

 

So about 7 to 8 hours to do the work for $990? Like I said the Safelite tech was not even in my driveway for 1 hour. Labor was $80. This disgusts me.

And BTW a cracked windshield is not a major repair. I would say changing your brakes is more involved than replacing the windshield.

i saw the whole thing happen. I was in the driveway with the tech.

If you have the right tools you can do anything quickly.

 

In a slip of the finger I meant to type angle, not angel...although I do hope my guardian "angel" is riding with me considering how I drive at times.

 

Yeah? 1000-1 Crevier doesn't do their own glass replacement, they have a glass company come out and do it on site.. just like they do for tinting, ding repairs, etc. "Other places" include whomever they use. Lying sacks of poo. I'll bet if you asked around you could find out who does their windshield work for them. I'd then get a quote from that company (which would no doubt be in line with the other ones posted here, or about 1/3 what you paid) then fire off a letter to Don Crevier, asking for a partial refund. Even if they doubled their wholesale cost to do the job, that should be WAY below the outrageous charge they slapped on you. Don't stand for it. And I highly suggest you don't continue to give them your business. Supporting crooks like these guys while depriving other honest shops is a shame.

 

Inskip MINI of Warwick RI charges $500.00 for a windshield installed..and as far as clips breaking during removal of moldings, that happens all the time.

As far as the 1K dollars in labor ......was the SA wearing a mask when he handed you that bill Seems a tad high.

The MINI Cooper nor it's windshield is a Unicorn. Any windshield installed improperly will cause issues. And many cars have rain sensing wipers these days. What you were told is a boat load of you know what.....

 

Anyone know a good, honest MINI repair shop in Orange County, California?

 

The more time I waste at work, the more information I find on this forum!

I also had a windshield crack develop about two weeks after I brought Sarah Jane home. I had talked the wife into going for a ride so we could get in a little topless driving time. We were tooling down one of the state two lane roads and I had just passed a couple of farm equipment vehicles when I noticed what looked like a small crack at the top of the windscreen. By the time I got home, the crack had grown by almost 1/2". I found it a little odd since I didn't see/hear anything hit the windscreen and when I looked closer I didn't see type of pit or chip around the crack. I was going to call SafeLite and have them replace the windscreen but just for grins I talked to my MA and he told me to bring it in to the dealer so they could look at it. I took it in a couple of days later on my way home and both the MA and SA looked at the crack and agreeded it didn't look like damage from road debris so they took the car in, gave me a loaner and replace the windsheild at N/C! I was pretty surprised at how smooth everything went.

However, two days after I got the car back, I went to pass a stupid landscaper truck/trailer about a mile from home and just as I pulled even with the rear of the trailer, he threw up a stone and chipped my brand new windshield! But I guess at least I had a new windscreen for 48 hours! I just called SafeLite and had them fix the chip and payed for it out of pocket. I did ask the SA about why he thought the original windscreen had cracked and he said that it "sometimes happens" and he also mentioned the rather steep angle the windscreen is mounted at does place some extra stress on it.

I just thought I would pass along my own experiences to anyone else browsing the NAM forums.

 

To the OP - if it makes you feel any better, Mini of SF just quoted me "about $1300" for a windshield replacement, but they wouldn't deal with insurance...

Either way, getting it repaired by a mobile company for nadda if they just repair it, or deductible if they replace.

Any opinions on the replairing of chips? Devil's Slide slid onto the windscreen this morning, leaving a star chip the size of a quarter. I'm tempted to tell them to replace, not repair.

Any particular thoughts?

 

front glass if usually covered under comp' coverage and you might be surprised how little it is to change comp' deductable to zero - assuming you have comp' already. For me it was less than $20 a year to go from $250 a year to zero on 3 vehicles...

Also some states say front glass is a safety item and make insurance carriers apply zero deductable so long as you actually have glass coverage - again, comp' in many cases. Florida for one is this way.

Don't be afraind tro ask your insurance company a few questions . . .

glass replacement for rock hits has never impacted my rates.

My insurance turns all claims over to Safelight and I've had them do many over the years. In ONE problem fix, they came back the next day and did the entire job over with a new piece of glass "sorry for the trouble sir."

 

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
Moulding (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 and 5 , almost all on freeways. Still $100.00 deductable and so far no increase from my insurance company. Last time I had to replace the caps. Labor of $900.00 seems high.

 

Labor 3.1 hours?? The Safelite tech was not even in my driveway for 45 minutes.

 

My chip came from a very high pick-up truck with giant aggressive tires on I-4. He passed me doing well over 95mph and threw a bunch of crap up off of the highway. I was doing about 75mph when he flew by. I heard the crap hitting my car but did not think I had a chip in my windshield. I found it the next day when I washed the windshield.

I called my insurance company and they sent a guy over to repair the chip. They offered to replace the whole windshield if I did not just want the chip filled in. The chip is low on the drivers side and if I did not point it out you would never know it was there. I did get it repaired because I did not want it to turn into a large crack. Travelers insurance paid the guy so it cost me -0-

 

Ok Mini lovers.. I'm so over it! I have a 2010 Cooper S Clubman. I thought they were made for motoring ? Every time I go on the highway I get a broken windshield .. This is getting expensive after 2 times now.

Today I took it in for tire rotation and oil change went on my way for a 30 min appt, when I came back to the car the side rear glass was Shattered! Looked like it Popped and shattered from inside out straight down the middle in the center! an over cast day not sunny and smoldering! This is Not Normal how many other people have experienced this?

What kind of JUNK glass or POOR design features are in the Minis that BMW is aware of? Are there any class action law suits yet? There is on the Power steering on 2009 and earlier models....

I would love feedback! DD
P.S I can plaster photos on the web if you would like

 

One of the first things I noticed on my convertible mini is how thin and flimsy the windows seem to be. On all of my cars, the glass has been thick and has seemed to be pretty substantial. On this one, not so much.

On the bright side, I live in FL and the law here makes insurance companies cover 100% of windshield damage. It's also considered a comprehensive claim which will not cause your rates to go up with most insurance companies.

 

My 2007 Mini-CooperS convertible has 82K miles. Since I purchased the car new in 2007, I've had to replace the windshield 4 times, and have had pecks, or starbursts repaired probably 8 times. After replacing the windshield the second time I changed my insurance (State Farm) to zero deductible. Now I've received a warning letter from State Farm regarding the frequency of claims on my Cooper. I'm told that the Cooper is vulnerable to picks and breaks due to the angle of the glass. I'm wondering if other cars with similar windshield angles, such at the VW Beetle, have the same problem.

 

On the bright side, I live in FL and the law here makes insurance companies cover 100% of windshield damage. It's also considered a comprehensive claim which will not cause your rates to go up with most insurance companies.

correct but one detail point ... they must cover it 100% IF you have coverage ... for my insurance like yours it is a comp claim. You don't HAVE to carry comp ... no comp, no free glass

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I've found two factors significantly impact how frequently I bust windshields

1. When I live in or work in an area with a lot of trucks, I tend to bust glass. When I worked in the ports of San Fran, and Portsmouth VA there were a BUNCH of trucks on the road ... trucks launch rocks hence more busted glass ... I averaged one a year

2. When I consciously increase my distance from other vehicles (especially trucks) I tend to take fewer rocks to the front end . . . I fear the day I need to replace the windshield in my 79 .... I doubt I can just call SafeLite for that .... so I keep a LONG interval from the car ahead as much as I can. I've had my 79 for 10 years knock on wood . . .

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editorial comment:

it is funny to read one thread where the argument is accepting nothing but 100% original MINI glass to maintain integrity/value of the car

and another bemoaning the poor quality glass

strike funny .... let's say curious . . .

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