Yesterday on the way to work, we were on the freeway when a big utility truck in front of us kicked up a rock into our windscreen, making a nasty chip.

Has anyone here had any experience with how MINI dealers go about replacing windscreens doing insurance work? I have a $100 deductable on my compresensive insurance.

I was wondering because we have the thing that senses rain and runs the wipers, and want to know if I need a special windscreen replacement, or if any standard MINI windscreen will do.

 

Depending on the location of the chip, you might want to just consider living with it until you have a few, especially since you'll be out $100 every time you do this. Chips are a fact of life with the shape of this car and the crappy OEM glass they give us. I have three chips so far (and I actually got a hard fourth strike right on top of one of those chips!), but nothing that has developed into a crack yet. Luckily in MA glass replacement is free with car insurance. Nevertheless, I plan on avoiding the hassle and the possible problems that accompany windshield replacement for as long as I can, or until I end up with one right in front of my face.

 

Yes, it takes a special windshield with the sensor already mounted and, to my knowledge, no one sells one except MINI. As for replacing it, find someone in your area that will get one from the dealer and install it for you. The dealer is the highest-priced option you have. However, since you're going to pay out the $100 regardless of who replaces it, you might want to go ahead and let the dealer do it.

 

Can't address your dealer question, but...
If the chip is less than the size of a dime, it is possible to repair the glass. I've had two chips already and my insurance paid for filling them up. They suck a resin into the chip+cracks that is then cured with UV light. The damage is barely visible now. According to the repair guy, the procedure helps prevent the 'star' cracks emanating from the pit from spreading. Several months after the repairs, things are still OK.
Good luck.

 

[QUOTE=Califzeph]

"Has anyone here had any experience with how MINI dealers go about replacing windscreens doing insurance work? I have a $100 deductable on my compresensive insurance."

even though I live in Mass. and all glass is covered by zero ded., Mini of peabody wants me to pay them out of pocket and then do the chase down with my insurance company myself(even though THEY have an installer come on site to do the install).That's just NOT going to happen.Since all 6 of my windscreens have been replaced under warrentee,#6 is broken and I'm going to give PPG a try(in the spring!).lots of people have reported good success with this product.Unfortunately, none of the aftermarket glass companies seem to have caught up with the rain sensing glass, so I think you are laced into the dealer for this install.Hope this helps. Jock

 

I had my windshield replaced over a year ago. I had insurance with a $100 deductible. The MINI dealership wanted $800 to replace the front windshield. (Only issue I have ever had with eastbay mini). I spoke with my insurance company and they reccommended Safe-lite Autoglass (or something like this), since they already had a contract with them and I wouldn't have to do any paperwork. I asked about talking the car to the dealer. They said that I could certainly do that and then looked up in their database how much they would reimburse for a windshield replacement on a MINI. The amount was about $350 for windshield and labor. Anything above that I would have to pay myself. That is why the dealers has you pay them in full and then deal with getting insurance reimbursement yourself. The dealer markup for windshield replacement was outrageous and my insurance company (USAA) was not going to pay for it. I went with safelite autoglass. They had to get the windshield from the dealer so I have an OEM windshield, it just cost less to have someone else install it. So check with your insurance company before proceeding with the dealer.

 

If the chip (and star) is less than the size of a dime, go to an auto parts place (Pep Boys, Autozone, etc.) and buy the quiky $7.95 repair kit ASAP before it spreads. This will fix it fine. In the interim, cover the chip with some clear tape to prevent moisture from getting in and cracking it further.

Just be careful: cover your bonnet near the 'screen in case of any spills--and follow the instructions to the letter. When it says "plunge 6-10 times" dont plunge more because resin will spill out and eat thru paint--and bonnet stripes. Jimbo

 

And yet another reason NOT to get the rain sensing option....

 

I have taken a few direct hits on the windshield,have had 2 filled.My windshield is very pitted though,and is hard to see through in low sun conditions.Not to keen on getting it replaced,cost,just don't want it done.To much structural involved.I'm kind of hoping for a rock to just punch a hole through it and let the 0 deductible deal with it.
But I think my MINI dealer is the only one up here that can do it.I mean I tried to buy snow tires from the local shops,and they all said,
what kind of Mini van

 

It's amazing how much my reflexes have improved since my first rock hit

 

Yeah
And learning what to stay away from

 

I can offer some first hand experience with this one. last January my wife and I were motoring along on the beltway about 80mph in my 04 MCS when a large rock flew up and hit the windscreen a few inches below the top molding and about the same distance to the drivers right of the rearview mirror. The impact was very hard and loud; scared the wee out of both of us. Needless to say the windscreen was damaged but only with a perfectly symetrical bullseye of about 1-1/2 inches in diameter! I have to take issue with the idea that somehow these are especially soft pieces of glass. Of course there is probably some difference in quality from piece to piece but that was one tough windsceen in my car! A check with a friend that owned a glass shop for a replacement resulted in the news that the rain sensing windscreen was a dealer only part; PPG or other suppliers didn't make a replacement part at that time. I was quoted $375 installed, and I approved the work. While I was there I asked him about the theory that these windscreens are soft, of poor quality or otherwise problematic. He told me that his experience with German made glass is that it is generally of high quality. He also told me that the MINI winscreens are bonded to the body with a very hard and tough adhesive, in fact harder and tougher than other materials he sees and uses (and he sees alot of pitted and chiped windshields). He did mention that they can repair many pits and chips to the extent that they are almost invisible, and often your insurance company will wave the deductable if you have that done rather than replace the whole thing. After a year my replacement windshield does have a few pits but driving around this place is hard on glass because of all the blowing dust. Also I'm told that all windscreens are bonded to car unibodies these days. The windscreen helps to keep the air bag in front of the driver and passengers where it can do the most good if/when it is deployed. It actually becomes a part of the car's structure.


I would think that you could find a reputable auto glass shop that could handle the task for you for much less than the MINI dealer quoted you. Further my guess is the MINI dealer farms out the work to a glass shop anyway. Since it's got to be a MINI windshield it looks like the only variable is the dealers mark up on the parts and shop rate and/or mark up on subcontracted work and the shop rate of a auto glass shop. And a few phone calls to some high end car dealer service departments (BMW, Porsche, Jag etc) can probably get you the name of trustworthy glass shops that work on their customer cars, and that would be more than qualified to tackle your MINI, and probably have a lower shop rate than the dealer, plus you'll save the dealers mark up .....................mgg (MTR ON)

 

I had to replace a couple of windshields on my 03 MCS because of rock chips/cracks. I figured that I had learned my lesson and now drive so that I am nowhere near any trucks, other vehicles, etc - very defensive. However, a couple of months back, I once again took a stone to the windshield of my 05 and sure enough, it now has a tiny little chip. This is the one thing that really annoys me about this car because I go out of my way to avoid being anywhere around anything that could kick a rock into the windshield and yet, I still got a chip.

 

I know,it's hard to avoid.I live in gravel truck country.They either lumber down the road,spewing rocks and gravel,which I can usually give a wide berth,the shoulder is an option.Or you get the odd truck that thinks{wishes} they were driving a MINI,and you have to play dodge'm at 75

 

MINI OEM Glass is terrible. Replace it with PPG brand glass at your local independent auto glass shop and enjoy

It is 1/3 the price and much stronger and higher quality glass than the stuff MINI uses.

 

Thanks all of you for the great info...

I went to Niello MINI in Sacramento yesterday and Mike, the SA told me that it would cost $420 including labor to replace the windscreen with rain-sensor, and that they had the parts in stock. I made an appointment to have the work done while we are on vacation in a couple of weeks. He said that they would want the money upfront, and that I should make my claim with the insurance company directly. I called Mercury and they are sending me the form to return with the bill from Niello, and they will re-imburse me less the $100 deductable.

Mike says that they provide the part and an outside contractor comes in and does the install. I have to have the car in by noon, and it will be done by 5. Fingers crossed!

While there, I ordered new black rubber floor mats and also a wind deflector for the sunroof. The deflector is $129. I like it a lot better then the after-market ones I've seen. Instead of attaching with double-stick tape, it bolts into place with clamps, and has a moveable wing that lets you direct air into the cockpit or not.

I've seen this deflector in person on a friend's MINI, and like it a lot. I had been considering the "Wing Guard II" from Moss MINI, but I like this one a lot better.

Their price on the floor mats was less then what Moss is charging, even with their current sale going on! I think rubber mats will be a lot easier to maintain this winter then the carpeted ones.

 

I've read some comments that the MINI's get stone chips because the car is so low or that the windshield is close to being vertical,etc.
Believe me, any car can get a stone chip.
My wife's X3 is less than 6 months old and has a chip.