I had a pipe bounce across into my lane and shatter my front windshield. I have read it is best to try and use PPG glass. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

Here are some parts to watch for when removed that they are not damaged, just talk to someone who has installed these ( windshield ) on a MINI before. Go with PPG, OEM MINI, Pilkington ...etc and you should be good.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ent-parts.html

 

Cannot state this firmly enough - go with a shop that has definitely done several Mini's before! There are some tricky bits both to remove and to have properly seated/sealed that are not at all intuitive no matter how many other cars they do.

IMHO there are quality differences among the different glass brands, try not to let them use glass from Mexico,.... the price difference can be almost $200 for quality and those upright windshields seem to be a magnet for stones although a pipe is a new one to me.

 

Miss Susan had her windshield replaced in her R52, it had to be done at the dealership because of some sort of RTV curing. Well that is what they told her. That and since they covered part of it under warrenty I guess they wanted to do it.

They used OEM windshield.

I am interested if anyone has had one replaced out of network, I'm thinking of having one done on my R52... can I get it done at home or does it need to go to the dealership?

 

I had the windshield in my '08 R56 replaced a few weeks ago. Before the replacement I checked to see what was worn out in terms of rubber components, and found that the cowl pieces needed replacing (rubber wore out) and the 2 "A" Pillars needed to be replace (rubber worn out and a crack in one of them), and as a matter of course I got the top rubber trim piece (it was cheap). Got all parts from the dealer, then had a local shop i've worked with before come to my house and replace the windshield with a PGW (PPG) unit. It went in without a hitch, they used the new parts I had and it looks like new in the front area. The toughest part is getting the A-Pillars off in one piece, as the screws and clips aren't obviously located or removed. The windshield itself was pretty typical, and they didn't have any glitches. They'd obviously done a Mini before. Just ask the independent shop if they have before you bring them in.

andy

 

Safelite is going to replace the windshield tomorrow. They looked at it today and they seem pretty comfortable. They have done two other Mini windshields. Thank You ECS as I will really look at the parts around the windshield after the install. I pointed those areas out to them as a concern and they assured me they will be able to correctly repair the windshield.

I'll keep you all posted.

BTW, it was indeed a 10" section of cast iron piping. It must have been hit by one of the oncoming cars that sent it flying. Could have been a great deal worse.

 

"Thank You ECS as I will really look at the parts around the windshield after the install."


You are welcome.

 

The windshield was replaced Friday by Safelite. They replaced the windshield at their shop and I am not very impressed with the care they took. They did not vacuum the inside of the car and the dashboard was covered with balled up residue from the old wind shield. Also, a few of the trim pieces were not reinstalled very well. Lots of finger prints left on the glass too.

What has happened to pride and good workmanship?

 

Hope it doesn't leak... I wouldn't let safelite change my mini windshield if they paid me. My buddy had his replaced 3 times by them and it still leaked.

 

Had my windshield replaced at Safelite about a year ago. Had to take it back 15 min after leaving shop to have them attach trim so wind noise would go away. A few days later had to put Black RTV around top of window and around A piller to keep wind noise out. Not Happy with their job. Would not take any other of our cars to them again.

 

Safelite are hacks. Totally messed up my windshield replacement; didn't replace parts they were supposed to, pillar came off because they broke it. All this after I gave them explicate instructions of what parts they needed and the type of windshield. Avoid them like the plague.

 

I had safelite replace the windshield on my 2008... No problems to report. No mess was left behind either.

 

Any update, did it cure right ?

 

The good news is that the window is seated well and is not leaking. The bad news was that they destroyed the driver side A-Pillar cover and foam under pad. I ordered one from ECS and will be installing it this weekend. Safelite is going to pay for the item and the shipping charges.

I will not use Safelite again.

 

had some shop do mine (long story).

anyway, they did not install the lower trim on the windshield correctly either. its like popping up in the "middle" of each piece, L and R (chrome strip at bottom).

any suggestions on how to fix this? (sorry to thread jack). i dont really want to bring it all the way back to this place that has been fixing my car due to my "accident".

also, as for "where pride and good workmanship?" has gone, out the window man. out the f-ing window. its sad.

 

Pull it off and realign it, make sure the center section is pieced together. The clips on the back also might be broken, use my pics of the actual pieces as a guide to what to loo for above. Bet its a clip broken or binding.

 

I had a big rock take out my original windshield. The install guy was legit, I made my insurance company aware what the car was and they sent this guy that does higher end cars, including minis. Install was perfect. Unfortunately the OEM-equivalent glass sucks. You can see the waviness in your eyeline and it got a rock chip the day after install. And not from a big rock, like one the size of a bb.

 

Request aftermarket PPG or Pilkington, had both and no problems. For people with auto rain windshield wipers use MINI OEM or Pilkington, don't think PPG makes the glass for that right now, at least for R58 R59. Again, asking the insurance to send there ( Euro higher end ) glass guys helps. As they know the ins and outs and have done them before.