I have a crack along the top of the windshield on my '06 JCW R53. The dealer quoted $1000! Has anyone had experience with Safelite or other aftermarket installers. Leaks or fitment issues? Pricey independent quoted $600, but said they would use OEM. Any thoughts on this? Thanks.

 

Safelite will use aftermarket replacement glass (Chinese supplier IIRC) unless you insist and then at much higher cost. With that and if the independent shop guarantees OEM MINI (with logo and related markings), I'm thinking $600 is about the best you're likely to get. In any case, I'd ensure best possible that the shop and assigned technician have experience with these cars. I'm too fussy to risk damage by a ham-fisted glass tech.

Mine has two very small stone chips which I filled with Permatex glass repair kit, which helped but are still visible. I have glass endorsement on my vehicle(s) policy, so if mine cracks, I'll press for OEM glass which they've done before (Farmers). Also, I believe the lower trim strips much be removed during glass R&R, during which the trim retention clips can easily be broken. Per the video linked below. those can only be replaced after the complete windshield is removed. In anticipation of that and regardless of the low mileage on mine, I purchased several of those clips in advance ready if needed. If I'm wrong on needing glass removed for replacement access, somebody here will likely correct me which is OK with me...

 

There are several states that require free glass replacement with no deductible if you have comp insurance. Check your local laws.

 

I’ve used Safelite - last was in spring 2021 - $450 for OE glass. Pilkington is good. The Chinese stuff is not as good. Here (NY, and CT ), the dealers use Safelite to do the work.

 

Thanks everyone. And thanks MCS4FUN for the video. I will probably go with my comp insurance. I just wanted to know my options in case I didn't want to file a claim. If I use insurance, I'll insist on dealer install. Cheers!

 

Note to self: Replace broken clips before installing windshield 😂

 

I've used Safelite twice with good results. Once I got OEM glass and once I got aftermarket (Fuyao?). Both turned out great, no complaints.

 

I've also used Safelite numerous times with no complaints.

 

I replaced those clips in my car a few weeks ago without removing the windshield. I'm sure it's much easier with the windshield out, but it's doable with it in place. I did break 4 or 5 clips (that I bought 8ish years ago) while trying to get them in, so it's a struggle, though having fresher clips may help.

 

Coincidentally, I spoke with my insurance agent today about my recent premium increase. In the conversation, the topic of windshield replacement came up and the price of glass. From my time wrenching in dealerships earlier in my career I had experience with windshield glass, specifically OEM vs aftermarket. At dealerships, we sometime had cars come in with complaints on inoperable or faulty safety systems or rain sensing wipers - systems that used cameras, LiDAR or other sensors mounted behind the windshield. In almost every case, we noticed recent aftermarket windshield installation and in almost all of those cases, the fix was to install OEM glass as those systems require precision glass for those devices to work properly. Insurance companies often fought us on the diagnosis because of the much higher cost of OEM glass.

Since our R53's lack those features, I don't think it's critical to have OEM glass installed. My premium on my cars went up over $800/year for no reason other than insurers have more costs in paying to fix all the fancy-featured new cars. I took full coverage off my cars, except one and I'll pay for my own windshield glass for less than the cost of my rate increase.

 

I'm going to demand OEM precisely because they raised my rates. Cheers!

 

looking for new glass as well. In austin I found a guy who said $210 and had window in stock; would even come to me. but wanted cash and i didn't have any that day. of course I can no longer find his number. but otherwise the lowest quote i found was right around $450. I've never done it but thinking about pulling one from a junk yard and doing myself. the adhesive would run about $80 and the salvage glass would be about $35 + a bottle/12pk for whoever i can get to help. prob a bad idea but money is tight.

 

My limited experience with windshield issues with my Porsche Boxster and Turbo and a MINI JCW is dealers don't do glass work. They farm it out to Safelite or one local Porche dealer in northern CA used a guy who came up from southern CA every so often. I had him repair a chip or two one in my Porsche Turbo windshield another time in the windshield of a new MINI JCW. MINI dealer refused the job.

I had a windshield replaced in my Boxster. I used the same Safelite store and the same tech local dealers (M-B, Porsche, BMW, etc.) used. I insisted on factory glass. As it was at the time no aftermarket glass was available. Still I wouldn't have used it.

Cost me around $1000 (and this some years ago, circa 2007), but the guy did a superb job. No issues and I drove the car for another 9 years and over 100K more miles (car had 317K miles when I sold it).

 

Thanks for the video.

 

Easy to find using OEM parts fiche, however the replacement trim clip P/N 07131490537 I purchased a year ago are shown below. The quantity ordered was arbitrary and cost has likely gone up since then. Cheap enough to buy in advance and have on hand when needed...

 

Yep we have those kits here, they tend to get brittle with age and break off.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/07131490537/

 

An update - just looked at the lower left corner of the SafeLite sourced OE - from 2020 is a small bulldog in the black imprint of the part # info.

 

Thats the Genuine MINI glass. You got lucky, most use Fuyao Glass.

 

Oh no. Luck had nothing to do with it. I waited 3 weeks for that. That’s what I paid $450 for in 2021? I had Fuyao in my Yukon - never again, there was weird distortion on the right side near the A pillar.

 

Ok, so you did have to up pay. I have Fuyao in mine and thats all they had. I asked for OEM and they said they did not buy that under satelite for the R58 with rain sensor. I guess it because its a weird/odd MINI and options. Next time it goes i am going to try to get the Oem from the local dealer.