So...I passed a salt truck today, and now I have a broken windshield. It's kinda good in a way since the windshield was severely pitted. I called Safelite Autoglass and they said that the insurance company won't pay for an OE windshield for an '04 model. Are the after market windshields okay, or should I demand OE?

Thanks,
David

 

No, actually get aftermarket - PPG if you can. MINI windshields are infamous for cracking. An aftermarket one is no guarantee that it will remain intact next time, but I've heard good reports about the PPG ones, and so when MINE finally cracked, that's how I went (my new car had a run-in with a rock on the highway).

FYI - my first MINI went though *3* windshields under warranty for mystery cracks (no rock hits) so I'm not a fan of the OEM windscreen... If anyone disputes this though, feel free to share.

 

That sounds good. I have been very disappointed with the OE because of the pitting. I have never seen a windshield so bad. Hopefully the new windshield will be better quality. Thanks!

 

Best of luck!

 

I'll second the PPG windshield - IMHO the MINI OE glass blows chunks! I have PPG windshields in both of mine and am happy with the glass.

 

The OEM Mini glass was modified (it was assigend a different P/N as well) and is much stronger than the original which I had replaced twice. No problems with the third (redesigned one) though and it's been 2 1/2 years. I heard of problems with delamination on aftermarket screens so personally stuck with the factory glass once they sorted out the problem.

 

When did they modify it? My '06 (November build) MCS windshield just cracked this morning. I couldn't find any impact point so I'm going to see if I can get it replaced under warranty.

 

Quick! Go put some tape over the start/termination point lest you catch a pebble that hits that spot afterwards and are foiled by the 'pen test'.

 

I'm on windshield #5. I have full OE replacement insurance on my MINI as we are allowed that the first 3 years of ownership. However, the last windshield that went, the insurance sought an aftermarket windshield only to find that it would take awhile to have one sent. So they got an OE windshield from MINI. My insurance company also noticed (at least in the Vancouver BC area) that the original MINI windshields are less expensive than the aftermarket ones.

 

+1 for PPG, have mine a year and a half no problem. Using Triumph now as safelite basically destroyed my Saturn.

 

Thanks for all the help!

dth

 

I went with the PPG glass after a rock from I-20 cracked my windshield on the way home from Dallas at Thanksgiving.

Looks great! I did note some pretty hefty pitting in the factory glass.

 

I need a new windshield too, but I worried about one thing. One of my room mates in College had a MINI, and his windshield distorted the hell out the world, it almost made me sick driving it. Im guessing it was an aftermarket. Any Ideas what was the problem so I can avoid it

 

The doesn't distort anyhting.... Looks the same as OEM to me, right down to the pebbled black trim on the edges.

 

My new aftermarket PPG windshield look like the OEM windshield. No distortions-no defects.

 

I have PPG and you could not tell the difference in looks. Very good quality.

 

One of my friends needs a new windshield and they can do it in the parking lot at work. Some installers say it has to cure over night. Others say that is ridiculous. Everyone guaranties their work.

Any thoughts?

Rich

 

My 04' was covered under warranty. No questions asked. It cracked by the passenger wiperblade.

 

Early non-OEM windshields had some distortion problems, but this was taken care of long ago.

Oh and my OEM windshield's been fine over the course of nearly 4 years and 24K, so go figure, no cracks, and only lite pitting.

 

Get an OE window,aftermarket glass has crap optics

 

I replaced my windshield with Safelite 2 years ago and it's still good. They came to my work and changed it there. The technician cracked one molding but replaced it for free. No leaks or noise. Insurance paid minus deductible.

retroom

 

Safelite in my 02 for a couple of years now. They've done it twice in the driveway - both times from big rocks....

Also have done my Miata a couple of times over the years...

My Element 3 times now....

Over the years, across the country, but always Safelite.

Always 'standard' Safelite glass. Whenever there was a problem (once), one call and they were right back out to fix it. Last time they did the Element they said "these moldings have been on and off a few times, so we'll replace those too."

Safelite is the autoglass partner on my insurance company. Call in a glass claim and get routed to Safelite. One call...done.

A glass claim is typically covered under comprehensive part of your insurance. Check what your deductable is and then ask about changing to zero deductable. My dif' was about $50 on 3 cars for a year, changing from $200 deduct to zero. Averaging a windshield a year across the stable became a no brainer. And my rates continue to drop - never went up from a glass claim. It never hurts to ask.

 

Well, the Safelite glass lasted a total of 2 months and 2 days. Some small rocks on the interstate must have caught it just right and "crack"... I decided this time to go with a PPG windshield. So far, so good. I'll update you in a couple of months who I get the next windshield from!

 

This is an unfair generalization. I'd bet a lot of the aftermarket glass is made by one of the major glass companies anyway. There are some pretty stringent regulations in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and the product liability for substandard product would put a company out of business in no time flat.

Anybody know who makes the MINI OE windshield? There aren't many glass manufacturers for automobiles. PPG, Owens Corning, SafeLite, and perhaps a handful of others.

 

I think it's made in France...