Does any one else feel like thier MINI is a magnet for road debris? I just (yesterday) replaced my windsheild (factory) and today the guy in the next lane drives over a glass bottle. My poor mini was showered with broken glass. Now ive got 2 dents in the bonnet a chip in the roof and get this a cracked windshield with five scratches too. Arggggg. Ive had this beautiful car for 8 months now and im on my 5th windshield. Thanks for letting me RANT.

 

I don't know about it being a road magnet but after driving a much larger vehicle for the last 8 years, the crap on the road suddenly seems LARGER.

:smile:

 

I've never driven a car that is as susceptable to FOD (flying object damage) as the Mini is. My theory is that two things are at work: #1 the aerodynamics of the bonnet design, and #2 the "earth-friendly" paint that simply is not nearly as durable as whatever everyone else is using. Anyway, I bought a bra, stay at least ten car lengths away from the nearest vehicle, and am generally much more aware of what is going on around me than I'd like to be.

 

Im done with stock windshields!! No more !!! Who has the best aftermarket windshield?

 

I'm at 26,000 miles on my MCS and no debris on me... lucky so far I guess. Five windshields???? Yikes!

 

So far ive only had to pay for one, but its still expensive. Crevier MINI in So Cal charges $105 and hour and BMWMINI calls out for 5.4 hour time, Which is crazy. Total for My paid for windshield $931.00. Too much Im going aftermarket when I find the thickest strongest one. Any one Any one have a idea on which it is?

 

Well I have only had the MCS a few weeks and only 1000 miles so far. Iv'e been very lucky because here in California there is all kinds of junk on the roads. What Iv'e seen just this past month:

1. A 5 gallon paint can ( Empty I think )

2. Wood and bricks ( Various sizes to inflict various damage )

3. A steel extention ladder ( Looks as if it had been hit about a million times)
4. A old car hood (Probably fell off of a scrap iron truck)

5. A lawn chair ( Flat, really flat)

And for sure all this junk looks much bigger in the MINI. But the MINI handles so well you just motor around it as best you can!

 

biggest road debris ive missed is a v8 engine block that fell off a truck on the 60 westbound thru industry. yup so cal freeways collect alot of junk. saw a carbon fibre hood off a civic that wiped doing 100+ on the 15 south of Ontario Mills.

 

WOW, a V-8 engine block. Man if you it that, your going to leave some major paint plus alot of other stuff.

It seems the highways are getting worse and worse when it comes to junk on the road. I've been driving since ..oh about 1963..and I don't ever remember seeing all the junk I see today, plus a whole lot more cars to deal with.

But hey,..that's what make's the MINI so fun to drive. Each day you start out, it's a whole new adventure trying to out drive the masses of people and playin dodge the junk!

:smile:

 

Still on the factory windshield after 11.8K+ miles since 9/7/2002.

2002 Cooper CVT with the standard suspension and 15" tires.

5 windshields????

 

I drive the 5,10,15,57,60,91,105,110,118,215,405,604,710 basically LA area.
I drive about 600 a week for work. I use the MINI as advertising and Transport for My co.

 

Wow a V8 on the freeway! where do you live ryhtomit? I'm close to the ontario mills mall.

I agree the freeways here are really bad! Too bad we can't have freeways like in Japan or like the autobhan which are really smooth and debis free.

 

I live in Corona. The circle city known for historic racing but no more. I drive alot so Im all over the place. Maybe ill meet some of you on Sat at the SCMM drive from Dana Point to Redondo.