So last night I get in my car after work and notice there's about a 6 inch crack in my windshield. It was really dark out so I decided to look at it this morning, well when I got up it was about 10inch long now and upon inpecting I noticed there is no sign on inpact from a rock or anything and the glass is completly smooth inside and out like it normally would be. Any idea what may have caused this and has anyone else had this problem?????

 

I think that it is more of a "Welcome to the Club" than an "Oh NO!"

Due to structural rigidity, the windshields tend to crack. Has happened to many on here I'd imagine

 

Dooh, Problem not the first one to break the stupid extra cup holder off two. I love my MCS, but sometime it just pisses me off. Just another reason to call and yell at dealer, oh yippie.

 

Got a chip in my windshield and when my guy fixed it he said the upper strut brace really helps them prevent stress cracks.

Has anyone that added the brace he a stress crack after adding it?

Earl

 

What year is your car?

 

I've seen it happen.

 

And where in the windshield is the crack?

 

'04MCS starts at the base about 4 inches left of center in the window goes straight about about 4 inches goes right about 4 inches and up at a 45 degree angle about another 2-3 inches

 

Go here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=35672

and do the "pen test" this will let you know right away if this is a warranty item...

 

Thanks! So far it looks like it will be covered, lets just hope nothing else happens to it before i get to the dealer

 

If it's covered then you better cover it up! Take a bunch of tape and layer them over the crack to protect it.

Good luck!

 

I left my '04 MCS idling outside my office yesterday for a few minutes to do some bookwork and when I came back out I had a crack in my windshield. It starts under the drivers side wiper arm heads north and y's out from there. No rock chips or damage to the vehicle (only has 6200 miles on it). I know from previous posts that the windshield is a source of constant complaint but was wondering if the fact it was below zero and the car was warm added to the problem. Closest dealer is 200 miles and I hate to make the trip to hear the inevitable "not under warranty" so I may bite the bullet and have a local glass company put in a PPG (I know this may not be the answer either).

 

Again, before you make the trip, do the pen test. If you can do this without the pen snagging, you will be covered.

One thing with the PPG glass, I don't believe PPG has come out with a windshiled that is compatible with the rain sensing wipers if you have them...

If it doesn't look like your windshield is going to be covered, check with your insurance company. Depending on your state (and your policy) it may be cheaper (or free) to have them replace the glass, and it shouldn't penalize you come renewal time...

 

I went into Target today with an unflawed windshield. When I got back in I noticed about a four in crack running up from the lower edge approximately at the center of the passenger side wiper blade. There was no damage to the body and I could see no impact mark, just one hairline crack. It was a relatively balmy 40 degrees and I wasn't even using the heater.

Hi haven't done the ballpoint check and am sort of afraid to lest I knock out a piece. Mine's a late 03 and I'm still about 600 miles short of my 10,000 servicing (another car for drudge stuff). I bought it from Bill Jacobs in the Chi-town area about 3 hour's drive from here.

My questions after reading this are

1. does anyone know if 03s are covered for stress cracks

2. Has anyone by chance dealt specifically with Bill Jacobs regarding this problem?

Advance thanks

 

I have bad news for all you Winshield Crack victims.

To fix a cracked windshield, whether under warranty or not, the black plastic corner pillars will have to be removed. Removing them is not the problem, but putting them on properly so that they NEVER fly off is. I call it the shingles, where the windshield crack is the chickenpox.

I dont think any dealer, or windshield specialist can put those plastic pieces back on properly like the factory does. Give them a year or two, go over 100mph and wave them goodbye.

 

I have some fixed chips,and lots of pitting.But I'm not swapping out the windsheild unless I can't see through it,or it gets a hole punched through it.

 

In the event that MINI does not replace your windshield under warranty, you do have the option to upgrade to the very strong and durable aftermarket PPG brand windshield.

Your local independent auto glass place can install the aftermarket glass for about 1/3 the cost of the genuine MINI garbage and you will be left with a stronger windshield that will resist chips and pits much better than OEM.

camelpilot's warning about trim pieces flying off is only true of your dealer or installer does not REPLACE the trim pieces with new ones. Make sure these get switched for new ones. If they promise to replace the with new ones, you can make sure that they do by purposefully scratching the old ones before giving it to them.

(Can you tell that I don't trust a MINI dealership to replace a simple windshield? )

 

Doesn't matter the year, if you pass the pen test, it's a valid claim...

As for the side pillars, actually some dealers can competently replace them. I had the driver's sider replaced because the original one from the factory started to seperate from the car... 1 year and 15k miles later and it's still very secure...

I say some dealer's because another local MINI dealership can't get it right and a member of our club lost a passenger side pillar doing 70 on a local interstate...

 

When discussing the JCW cross-brace with my dealership, and the added rigidity it will bring which could help avoid the dreaded windshield crack, the dealer insisted that there is no issue with the windshields past the second year of production and the service manager says he hasn't replaced one in 3 years. (How's that for a run-on sentence!) When I mentioned the pen test to the service manager he scoffed and said that was bogus and he had never heard of it (Mini Yaletown, BC). All of which makes me hope real hard the darn thing never cracks on me!!

PS... new meanie coming Tuesday to keep the mini company -- m coupe: the other bmw go-kart.

 

Don't know if the pen test ever reached Canada, but all US dealers got a bulletin about it. You can find it up on Motoringfile.

As for the issue he is talking about... There was a recall for a manufacturing defect on the 2002's that was thought to be causing the stress cracks. I metal burr on the windshiled frame, the fix was to grind it down... Trouble is for the most part it didn't help....

I know of 2004 owners that have had the problem here in the US...

 

The windscreen is the only major part of the car that I have not had to talk to the dealer about.Its got some chips and is pitted,but 97% highway miles,on the roads I motor on that's not bad for 40K+ miles

 

I called ahead to Motorwerks in Minneapolis when my '04 MCS windshield recently cracked for no reason. The SA told me on the phone that it wouldn't be covered until I pointed out the fact that I knew it was a recurring problem and then he said they would look at it. Two hours after dropping the car off, I had a new MINI windshield with no problems. They had called ahead of time to a glass company to have them there. It seems the SA re-evaluated his stance pretty quickly once the obvious was pointed out. I'm happy for now and finally have a clear, non-pitted windshield for the first time since delivery.

 

I have had two windshields replaced under warranty,no hassles, no questions, loaner car!!! Outstanding service
04S....