My car was vandalized in the parking garage, baseball bat to the rear window. some kids were going around and several other cars suffered the same. I am wondering - how many of you would care or notice if one of your windows are not matching OEM glass with the little Mini logo. It costs more but for some reason I can't bear to put OEE or aftermarket glass even if it is the same specs.

 

Sorry for your loss.

I don't know about the rear but the front on my R53 have waves in it you can feel but not see. It seems to chip/pit easy too. Clearly a product of China.

I know I will be going to Mini for my next windshield if my insurance doesn't give me crap about it or request the real thing.

I think someone needs that bat shoved up their *** and their head rammed into the hole in your window, but...

 

As a part of the pre-sale agreement on my used Mini the dealer had a new windshield installed - the cheap knockoff, and it really looks it compared to the original. Insist, if you can because there is a quality difference. I suppose one day I will have to replace it and I definitely will get the OEM.

 

Not a fan of aftermarket glass either. And when clips break off more often than not the trim pieces are improperly re-installed with double face tape or nothing at all. Had an A pillar trim fly off while going 70 one day and when that top corner gutter trim piece is lost your forced to purchase the entire side for $80.00 due to one $2.00 clip.

First get a price quote from the glass company and/or if glass is covered in your state, find out what your insurance company is willing to pay for the aftermarket glass/labor. Most cases your adjuster will have to call you back with that figure. Then call your MINI Parts/Service advisor and see if they can match price.

I did just that a few times in the past and came out on top with Genuine MINI glass, no difference to pay and parts properly installed !

 

I did a quote for Safelight windshield yesterday :
Tint
Rain sensor
Heated
$413
Pretty high

 

The Safelite quote through Geico website is $420 installed. Seems extraordinarily high for the small size of the rear glass. Calling around for Mini glass on Monday.

 

Lol new glass for my toyota FJ was almost $2000 each time

 

My 2 cents

total waste of money

I've sold quite a number of cars over the years, both private and to dealers. NOT ONCE have I been told the 'not original glass' was an issue and most of those cars had gone thru 2 or 3 windshields while I had 'em and most of those were SAFELITE

Most recent was a MINI ... no potential buyer ever looked at the glass markings ... nor on my Miata . .

BTW I pay ZERO out of pocket for my glass replacements. You should really discuss comprehensive coverage with your insurance company. For the cost of 1 piece of glass you could probably have had 10 years of zero deductible comp coverage including glass.

just my two cents

but do what makes you feel good. don't want ya losing any sleep.

(btw ... I've seen it said that 90% of the automotive glass comes from a small handful of plants ... it just depends on what they are making and with what markings on any particular day .. You don't really think MINI makes glass do you? or paint? or wheels . . .)

 

We just had the front windshield done on our 09...it was $316 installed by ABRA which I thought was a bargain. Glass made by PGW, it appears to be good quality. Definitely shop around.

 

Since mini glass seems to get pitted so easily....maybe a QUALITY non oem is the best option as long as it comes from a place that will send an installer that knows mini's....
Grayraven makes some good points.....but a good installer (not just a guy with a guidebook that was hired last month, and went to a weekend company training seminar) will bring the $2 oem clips if he breaks one..... Lots of hacks trying to make a living....just gluieng in glass and reusing trim or using the "universal" moldings in the glass trucks kit...
Call your local mini dealer or mini centric shop...ask who they use for glass....

 

When I needed new glass, knowing the issues at hand, I called three different companies. None of them carry MINI clips or anything equivalent in their vans and none have the OEM top strips, they just cut off a generic section from a roll. I was told there was not enough room in their vehicles to carry the myriad of diff clips for all manufacturers - just not practical.

And FWIW, seen more than a few footwell modules, floor carpets go south ($$$$) from improper "driveway installs".

 

I agree with your comments especially about insurance, but Pilkington, (PGW), but only SOME Safelite; these are not the crappy non OEM glass I refer to as cheap and most of the time Pilkington is the OEM on BMW's, Mini's, VW's, Range Rovers. There are others out there that are really not good. Wavy, not tinted to match OEM, extra glue/mounting points missing >(and this is where SOME Safelites fail) - crap. Many of these inferior ones are made in Mexico. And I point out the importance of a good experienced installer, there are a lot of things to pull off on a Mini to get it installed. You don't want your Mini to be their first one. Experienced installers can make a cheaper one seal and do the job.

So - to sum up - this is your "once" that you are being told that SOME non OEM windshields are bad separate of the installation issues - thin, chip easily, don't have the right tint to match, have missing tabs/edges out of spec/poor optics. Yes, I have been in the business of used cars for a couple of decades at one level or another - I have signed paychecks.

 

Wow, never even thought about the issues mentioned above. I had a new windshield put in by a company that I have used for years for several Mercedes and other American cars. They always did a great job. When the MINI windshield was done I looked at the A pillars and they did not fit correctly and there was something about the rubber that was off but I could not pin point what it. My next windshield will be installed at MINI. It should be pretty soon, I now have 4 rock hits and it is pitted badly. Mi will post how it. Came out once I get it done. Thanks for the heads up everyone. Hopefully you, Moto_Mini got the info you needed.

 

In over a dozen installs by Safelite over the years, in different states and on a variety of vehicles including MINI I've made two observations

1. They always brought everything they needed including any clips or special seals .... "I stop and pick them up first ..."

2. ONE TIME I had an issue (on a Honda) and I called the next day and said I was not happy. They were back the next day and redid EVERYTHING, new glass, new clips, new seals ... no questions and no arguments: just "very sorry and if this is still not 100% as you want it, call and we'll be back until it is right."

Every Safelite operation, and every installer is unique of course, but these guys ARE the largest in the business. Many dealers don't replace glass ... guess who they call?

 

I used Safelite once & they botched the job good. It was made right on the 3rd try. That was 20 years ago so maybe things have changed.

I use a local place called Guardian glass. They do good work & I've never had a problem with them. I've had several windshields replaced by them with PPG glass. Had the MINI done a couple of years ago & they used Pilkington glass. Perfect job & the glass is good.

Justa my .02.....

 

Yep, 100% - the type of glass used for the application is only SOMETIMES critical, what is critical every time is the installer and how they handle any problems that come up. Still, for the OP, any installer that stocks the OEM glass at premium prices, probably has the experienced installers - IMHO,...

 

final comment

I have insurance thru a company that many/most of you can not buy from .....

they are consistently rated at the top especially for their claims handling

they pass all their 'glass claims' to ... SAFELITE

end program.