Here's my theory...

Something dropped on your moonroof, probably without your knowledge. Perhaps something the size and shape of a coconut. Maybe it was a coconut. Or maybe it was an animal jumping down from a tree or a roof, using your moonroof as a stepping stone of sorts.

The glass suffered internal stress cracks but did not immediately shatter.

Later, the internal aerodynamic pressure caused the previously stressed moonroof to finally shatter.

The internal plastic layer (I assume it's safety glass) combined with the tinting plastic kept the glass pieces together to form the bulge in the photograph.

It's only a theory...

 

How did I find the links?

1. goto www.google.com
2. in the search field enter 'sunroof exploded -bomb" and browse the links

you can find anything about anything with google.

 

Thanks! Wow. I haven't entered such specific texts before. I think I will try "riches galore; no fine print".

 

Try putting your name or email address in there

 

UKSUV,
As a precaution, take more photos of the damaged roof, including side shots that show the degree to which it is blown OUT and UP. Having someone holding a ruler (lightly) against the roof isn't a boad idea either. Get the documentation before you start driving to the dealer to get it fixed.. You never know if you'll hit a bump and it goes poof, and all falls inward, opening the door for the dealer to say something fell onto it.

Taping some cardboard beneath it might not be a bad idea.

Also, is there a safety laminate in the glass...like a windshield...preventing it from shattering...like a tempered side window would?

Charlie

 

It's at the dealership. MNS is giving me crap.

 

So heres the scoop...My S.A. (Justin) calls me up and says, "Hey we're not going to warrranty the moonroof because my manager says he sees 2 pot marks and a crack going from it." I respond, "I know which 2 you are referring to because I put them there trying to break the moonroof out so I could drive it to MNS. hE SAYS, "WELL EITHER WAY...WERE NOT DOING THE WARRANTY WORK ON IT. I say whatever and I will get back to him. I PUT THOSE THERE. I had to do something so I could drive it without my roof caving in on me or flying out and hitting someone else's car. I am talking to someone tomorrow.

EARLYAPEX: CAN YOU GIVE ME SOME ADVICE?

 

Well, if it comes to it, here's a guy selling the moonroof glass...

http://www.craigslist.com/sfc/car/65488341.html

Insurance should cover it (comprehensive?) if the dealer weasels its way out...

 

Your best bet IMHO is going to another dealership. If you cannot do that tell the current dealer that it is a safety hazard and that you want an appointment with the Field Representative asap. Show them photos of the roof right after the incident and explain what you did to it afterwards and why. Bring any info on it happening on other Minis and even BMWs.

Best of luck to you

 

If all else fails, give your friendly local TV station a buzz. They just love this kind of story. And the negative publicity about your dealer's refusal will be priceless.

Since it's so unusual, it might even get carried on the national feed. If it does, your dealer might just get a call from some high mucky muck at BMW!

Also, don't forget to submit an incident report / complaint at the NHTSA website (www.nhtsa.gov). This is obviously a safety hazard. I doubt your's is the only case and they will be obliged to investigate.

Good luck.

 

I like 911's advice. The media would eat up exploding sunroofs, especially if you can prove it has happened to other people.

Unfortunately you may be SOL with the dealer since it may be very hard to prove there wasn't prior damage to the sunroof.

 

If they won't cover it under warranty, go somewhere else. If you end up having it fixed under your insurance, don't give the work to the dealer who refused your warranty coverage.

Since the dealer is almost always more expensive for repairs and service than anywhere else, there are only 2 good reasons for going there.
1. You think the work is so complicated and specific to your car, that no one else could do it properly
2. You expect the dealer to stand behind their product and their work

I don't think moon roof replacement is that complicated, and the dealer has already shown that they won't stand behind their product. So take your business somewhere else.

This is the way poor dealers loose business, and its just stupid. If they do the work under warranty, I believe they are partially compensated by the manufacturer. If they can get you to pay the retail price for repairs, they make more money. But, if they're unreasonable and you have someone else do the work, they make nothing. They also lose future business from you and everyone that you tell about their poor service. Who was this dealer again?

 

Definitely a call the regional service manager should make. The local dealer seems to get bonus points for annoying us. The dealer can arrange an appointment with the big-gun regional representative or the national ASKMINI people can actually be an advocate for you. Make some calls. I have turned around “we can’t replace that under warrantee” issues quickly and without getting ugly with the SA which in my case was a female who was “trying” out the position. She is back in sales now. We have warrantee satisfaction.



Don’t cave on round one they calculate 60% of their customer base are idiots, non-confrontational and have loads-o-money to toss to the “stealer”.

 

If I understand the laws correctly, isn't it the dealers' responsibility to show what the customer did to cause the defect/problem? Not just simply "well, we don't know what happened, so we're not covering it"?

For example, if I understand correctly, that's how the 'pen test' came about for the windshields. As in, "the pen got caught in a pit, and that pit was caused by an impact, therefore the crack wasn't a manufacturing defect, and we're denying warranty coverage" (however much BS this may be).

-Paul!

 

Beware Friends!
You might be thinking something along the lines of: "oh no here goes Tatt on yet another rant-fest about being "marketed to", and having his expectations expertly "managed"...

You're right friends! Now I'll come to the point... I think it's just another version of the old "exploding panoramic roof" ruse, cleverly employed perhaps to divert our collective attention from the (continuing) "Fable of the Fox and the MINI Windshield" saga...

Lastly, to the guy who had cheese assembled into the dashboard of his Bimmer - my gosh I only hope it was not limburger .

Now I need to get back to my X-Files reruns - thanks for listening,

Tatt

 

Update: Taked with the MA over at MNS and once he saw the buckle in both corners and the bubble in the back of the moonroof, he said he WOULD cover it under warranty under "good faith." I told him the 2 nicks were from me trying to bust the moonroof out so I could drive it. Thats after I mentioned that I had about 30 pictures taken 2 seconds after the incident. You can definitely tell that it was a structural integrity problem. Even a blind man could. More to follow...............

 

Good news! I hope they fix it quick!

 

That's great news. But I know what happend--and it's all your fault. You mentioned it happend right before you got to Peoria--having lived there, I understand completely what happend. All the good air in your car rushed out of your sunroof in a gallant attempt not to have to mix with the air it would have to cohabitate with in Peoria. You're lucky those molecules went for your sunroof instead of your winshield....

 

When I lived in Glendale I found it was best to drive fast on the 101 through there.