Recently I was hit by two rocks that took out my windshield. Having never made an insurance claim for just a windshield, I called my local glass guy. He quoted me $450.00 and he told me that was less than half of the dealer price, I freaked! I have never paid that much for a windshield. I was also told that insurance companies never pay the dealer price. Next I went to see my dealer service writer. He told me that the installed price would be about $1300.00, I almost fell down!!! He also told me that insurance companies never pay that much and that dealership would deal with insurance companies on this mater.

I asked for a written estimate, and after finding revised part prices, it came to $231.32 for parts and $655.00 for labor. I had to ask; Why so much? (And the point of this thread)

If you don’t use BMW/MINI glass, BMW will void the warranty on both the rain sensing wipers and the automatic climate control

If you don’t use BMW/MINI sealant and it should leak, BMW will void the warranty on the complete electrical system.

If it is not installed by a BMW/MINI technician, using proper BMW/MINI techniques, BMW will void the warranty on any future stress breakage.

And here is the BIG one. Since airbags are mounted in the pillars, incorrect windshield installation can result in injury or death.

My insurance company cut me a check, no questions asked.

Dave

 

[Bold and italics above added by me.]
I can somewhat understand all of the other points you raised about warranty coverage, but I'm lost here. What does the windshield and its installation have to do with the climate control system?

 

Dave,

When I replaced Wanda's first windshield, I purchased the glass from Long Beach MINI for about $185-195. Went to an independent glass guy who had promised one price on the phone, and another when we rolled in with the MINI. Needless to say, we walked.

Ended up having the install done at Long Beach MINI, for which they sub out the work! They charged me $140 for it, after I reminded them that was the original quoted price for labor at the time I purchased the windshield. (They had tried to charge me $175... )

Anyway, call around and see. I have the rain-sensing windshield, too. I've had no problems with this windshield. Good luck to you! :smile:

Clover

 

The UV sensor the the ACC sits right under the windshield. Thats the only reason I can think of that it would void this warranty...pretty silly.

 

Yeah, my local MINI dealer uses OEM glass, which is ridiculously priced and crappy quality - and then, they outsource the installation to a third-party, none of which have been "factory trained" on the "proper" glass installation procedure. My local service advisor told me they know their glass is crap, and know that they are potentially causing problems by outsourcing the install... total cost would have been in the $600 neighborhood, with no quality guarantee - gimme a break!

I found my local PPG Autostar installer/dealer, called them, and had them come out and replace mine with quality PPG glass. Total cost was $231 installed and they did it in my driveway so I could watch. They use the SAME sealant as the local dealer's outsourcer, too, so that cannot be an issue.

Since replacing mine with PPG glass, it's take a couple BIG hits with NARY EVEN A DIMPLE... One thing that hit my windscreen was grapefruit sized at highway speeds... also, no pitting like the factory windscreen, either. Top quality stuff, IMHO, although I head Pilkington is also very good.

IMHO, the dealers are totally ripping people and insurance companies off on this...

 

Hmmm, so no zero glass deductible in California, eh?

 

Depends on your dealer. I recently had a cracked windshield, so I called my dealer, Rassmussen in Portland. Ann said that if the crack wasn't covered by warranty, they charged around $250 to replace it - that's for a rain sensing windshield. Turned out it was covered by warranty, so it didn't cost me anything.

 

You're lucky, IMHO... All the dealers have been trained to do the 'pen test' where they follow the crack with the tip of a pen - if they find any point where it drops into a pit, they deny the warranty claim.

My point to the service and warranty people was, "This windscreen is pitted all OVER the place", and proceeded to show them about 100 other small pits the same size as the one they claimed was an impact point that caused my crack... they still didn't care (which is not surprising - John Roberts MINI, which is now MINI of Dallas has the WORST service of any dealer I have EVER dealt with).

 

Nope, dangit! Grrrrrrrrr!

Clover

 

One thing I have learned in this world is that if zero deductible comprehensive insurance is available - get it. I had two windshields in a Honda Element go in two months! One to rocks, one to vandalism. My out of pocket cost - $0.00. Pays my premiums for the rest of my lfe for glass. Buying a nice new car and cheaping out on insurance is a black hole.

 

A lot of states won't give you the zero deductible on glass replacement unless you ask for it. A couple states have it standard on the policy. I had to ask for it here in NC.

 

As far as I know, it is not available to Californians. You can bet that if it were, I'd get it!


Clover

 

My deductible is $100.00 for this. That isn’t so bad.


Dave

 

Some drunken idiot ran over my car (literally- with his feet) on Tuesday night and smashed in the windshield. Luckily, there was no body damage.

I actually saw him do it and caught him. He was just some young punk doing dumb things with his friends. Had a few words with him and decided to exercise some restraint and not smash his head into the pavement.

Anyway... I had to pay about $250 out of pocket for a new non-rain sensor windshield installed. Here's the nationwide link.

http://www.safelite.com/

 

I would have smashed his stupid face in.

 

Why didn't you make him (or his parents) pay the $250?

And to the original poster: there are no airbags in the pillars (even though the word "Airbag" is printed on them) - just the wiring that goes to the curtain airbags above the doors.

 

That's the plan. I got his name, address, ph#, and license plate of his friend's car. However, the little brat was just visiting and lives in another state. I'll call him this weekend and send him the bill. But, I'm not going to be waiting too hopefully for the postman to bring my check.

 

jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez thats expensive here i have henderson glass do it and they pay my whole 100 doller deductable so its free for me, they charge 80 dollers to pute it in and it was 250 for the windshild

man i dont know what some companies are trying to do but its a fars

heres the gipper, i got a bmw mini oem windshild to boot at that price, hell yea!!! it got a rock and broke a week later so i was back in ooh well

but bmw where i worked at had a guy replace the windsheild out of his own van, so their was no bmw certified mechanic no where near the car

their a bunch of scammers ! :(