I've gotten the dreaded crack. Are the aftermarket windshields any good? My dealer is trying to set something up with Auto Glass Specialists. Will I be sorry? (Interestingly, they see they've only seen two cracks out of "thousands" of cars.)

 

I've heard the aftermarket glass is better than OEM, so I'd say nothing to worry about

 

I was informed there is only 1 other aftermarket glass, people refer to as PPG or Pitsburgh Paint & Glass. The OEM glass comes from Sekurit. Some people have said they think PPG is thicker, but according to my knowledgeable windshield installer, he says it's the same thickness. He said it's unfortunate that MINI has spec'd such a thin windshield, and that we should expect to replace them over time. He said in comparison, a Honda Accord windshield is quite a bit thicker, by almost 50%, that it requires a couple of people to move while the MINI can be lifted by a single person.

I'm now looking for better auto insurance to cover my windshields, since my AAA that I pay a lot of money for, won't cover glass breakage less than my $500 deductible.

 

I just had my windshield replaced two hours ago with PPG glass from a company called Glass America.
The installer said it is the same quality as the original.

Mine was covered by my State Farm comprehensive coverage.

Took them just under an hour to do in the parking lot where I work.

 

I had my windshield replaced with an aftermarket one. It seems to be better in that one day I actually saw a huge rock coming towards me and it slammed dead center into my windshield. No pit or anything, I don't know if I could have said the same thing if it had been the MINI windshield. The only thing that I have heard, and came to see that it was done to my car is that aftermarket companies don't know how to properly remove the black pillars along the sides of the windshield and usually wind up breaking the clips.
I believe my windshield is a Pilkington, and it was installed by a local company right in my driveway.

 

I thought I read somewhere that the A pillars on the car are the problem and that MINI was beefing up the A pillars to prevent them from "flexing" causing the windshields to be more susceptible to cracking.

 

I don't what other people have come across or what other installers have said all I know is:

My dial indicator showed the OEM glass at 0.175 inches thick (averaged) in the 10 spots I was able to check around the perimeter of the glass. The replacement glass (PPG) that was installed in my car measured by the same indicator was 0.193 inches (averaged) in the same corresponding locations.

I have had my glass installed for 8000+ miles now with no complaints.

It would have cost me $274 out of pocket if I had gone that route, I didn't I went with my $250 deductible and the minute the new glass was in I dropped my deductible to zero

 

Mini is replacing my window so it's going to be the OEM. But they're paying Auto Glass Specialists to do this; it's a convenience issue and the dealer has been good enough to work with me. Any tips on avoiding having them struglgle with the pillars? I really don't want this to become a hassle.

 

In reference to my enquiry at MINIUSA regarding production status on my order, a guy at MINI said that the A pillars were reinforced for the 04s. I asked what they were doing for older MINIS with the problem and he said they were installing thicker glass. Don't know if it's true, but that's what I was told.

 

I’m with MINI USA. I’m sorry to read about your problem with your windshield. If you want our assistance, please phone us at (866) ASK MINI and please mention Reference # 1-104505733 so that we can help you more efficiently.

 

>>I’m with MINI USA. I’m sorry to read about your problem with your windshield. If you want our assistance, please phone us at (866) ASK MINI and please mention Reference # 1-104505733 so that we can help you more efficiently.

I'm on my 2nd windshield. Not great for 3 weeks of ownership. It actually cracked on day 11. My insurance wouldn't cover it, so it cost me $422 to replace it. I sure hope that this isn't going to be a regular thing cause otherwise I better set up an account with my windshield installer for a bulk discount rate.

It's painful. MINI Roadside Assistance told me I had to talk to my insurance company and they couldn't help. Funny seeing someone from MINIUSA responding to your post. I guess it all depends on who you talk to.

Sad, very sad.

 

>>I’m with MINI USA. I’m sorry to read about your problem with your windshield. If you want our assistance, please phone us at (866) ASK MINI and please mention Reference # 1-104505733 so that we can help you more efficiently.


Well MINIUSA. When I called about my windshield cracking and chipping I was told there was nothing that could be done. Hank Aaron MINI service department wasn't any help either.

 

Once again, here's the link to the NHTSA complaint form...
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/