I have a question for anyone who can help me.

A trash truck lost something off it's truck or a stone was kicked up from the truck. I documented the time, day, and truck number. I rang the truck company that evening. They said they's "help" with the windshield, but since I can't get a timely answer from my Mini dealer regarding the windshield, I knew someone in this forum would be able to help me.

1.Will I negate the warranty if Mini doesn't repair the crack?

2.Can a filler be used or are they a guarantee that the windshield is mended? It isn't but a two inch fracture, but it's right in my line of vision.

3.Is the truck company responsible for the repair? They want me to go to the cheapest place that they refer me to.

4.I live 100 plus miles from my dealership. If they do the repair, will it take hours or overnight?

5.My Mini is a 2004 MC with the regular winshield. Is it expensive to replace?

Thank you in advance to any answers I may recieve.

 

If the crack is not within the driver's line of sight and it is not bigger than 6 inches, it can be repaired. Pick up the phone and call the folks at www.safelite.com (They are a nationwide auto glass repair company) at 1-800-800-2727 and schedule a windshield repair visit. They can perform windshield repairs at your home or office while you wait and typically under 30 minutes. Then again the quality of the repair depends on the location and extent of the damage.

I am not familiar with insurance provisions in Indiana, but here in Florida it is illegal to drive around with a cracked or otherwise damaged windshield and therefore, insurance companies are obligated to provide $0 deductible for glass coverage to their policyholders. Check your insurance policy to find out coverage limits and such that may apply to your glass repair/replacement.

If you don't get the crack fixed, the damage may spread and then you will have no choice but to replace the windshield. I recommend against braking the factory windshield seal unless there is no other alternative than to replace it, as the windshield is a KEY component in the functioning of the car's airbags and to prevent the roof from crushing in during a rollover. An improperly installed windshield can put your life at extreme risk.

Call Safelite and let the technician determine whether your windshield is a good candidate for repair or replacement.

 

Bummer on the windshield. I'm on my third! Anyway, there are several points to consider.

1) If it's someone elses fault, you choose who does the work, not them. They just want to save some $, and maybe not get thier insurance involved.

2) Mini will charge ~$600 (mine was $613 at Mini on Mountain View).

3) A Glass Only house will charge ~$200 ($215 for mine in San jose, they came to my work!).

The no-name job was actually better than the one at Mini. Looking at the reciept, they don't even do the work! They contract out to someone who charges them about $200!

Matt

 

Flying objects hitting your car, regardless of who kicked it up or threw it
at your car, is considered a comprehensive coverage.

If you have Statefarm, they have mobil service that can replace your
winshield at your house or work. :smile: or, if you're close to one of their
authorized glass repair places, you can drop off your car. It doesn't
take too long to replace it.

Hope you get it fixed soon.

 

Had the same thing happen on the D.C. beltway 2 days after picking the car up at the dealership. We have a $0 comprehensive deductible (an extra $40 a year at progressive) so they picked up the tab. Glass guy came out to the house and replaced the windsheild in the carport. Then he gouged the insurance company for $970!

I would definately contact your insurance company, but I would ask them what a premium change would cost for a $0 comprehensive deductible. Then call them a couple days later and tell them about your windsheild.

 

whatever you do get it fixed ASAP. any small crack will quickly become large problems. Sudden temp changes, like washing a car on a hot day with cold water or freezing temps, can/will make it worse right before your eyes.

 

I second lowering the deductible. But reporting the loss in the manner described here is fraud, so please don't try that. Insurance companies are not stupid, and even if their investigation unit can't prove it, they'll watch you like a hawk from then on out...

The annual premium difference for my policy between $100 deductible for comp and $0 deductible was $13.00. Given the propensity that MINI windshields have for stone damage and cracking, it's a sound investment.

If you do have a deductible on your comprehensive coverage, many insurance companies will waive the deductible if the windshield is repaired rather than replaced. If the trucking company becomes uncooperative, speak to your insurance compnay about your options. It may be easier to use your policy, and allow them to subrogate to try to recover the repair costs and your deductible.

I had a small bullseye on the RH side of my glass repaired last year. As this was being done, there was a car in the next bay over having glass replaced. They used an air-powered knife or saw to cut through the urethane and remove the old glass. Unfortunately, I saw quite a bit of exposed bare metal on the mating surface of the windowframe when the old glass came out. I know that the new adhesive/sealant is going to cover most of that, but it still bothers me that the factory corrosion protection was compromised when the paint was gouged off of that area. I'm trying to prevent that from happening to my car for as long as possible!

As a side note, situations like this are also why I want to fit a small windshield cam above my mirror. Then there's video proof to corroborate witness accounts of any "incidents." There are many times when people get away with stuff because it boils down to "one person's word against another." Not if you have an unblinking eye to back you up!

(edited to discourage criminal behavior 10:26 AM EST)

 

go to your dealer if you havent gone already. they will replace it for free on a one time good faith replacement.. The stock windscreen was thin glass so they are replacing them for us..

 

Why replace it if there is the possibility of getting it fixed?

 

I keep a one-shot $8 quicky windsheild repair kit in my boot, which works just fine for anything that hits my 'screen under an inch across or so (i've done this for rental cars as well But be verrrrry careful pulling the plunger off the 'screen, for the resin's acid-based hardener will eat right through paint--and bonnet stripes. I learned this the hard way. Jimbo