I've been reading on the forums how 2005 MINI's have continued the trend of stress cracks even though MINI supposedly addressed this issue in 2004. I'm not a car enthusiast, never have been, but I love my MINI; after all, it is a special car. :smile: So, please forgive my ignorance in this qustion. Why is it that some people continue to experience stress cracks while others never have any? Maybe it's not the glass itself. Maybe it's the structure of their particular car? Does that sound crazy? I just don't understand if all the windshield glass is the same, why there is such a disparity among owners. Please help an unenlightened MINI owner. (By the way, no cracks yet, but I've only had my MINI for 3 months...knock on wood :smile: )

 

I have owned 3 MINIs all bought new. The 2002 MC CVT with nearly 30K miles and still on the original factory windshield (It has travelled thru 13 states). I had a 2004 MCS which I kept for 16 months until sold in February and still on its original factory windshield.


No problems so far with my 1 month old '05 MCS either.

Some people have gone thru 6+ windshields, others like me have never had any problems and still have the original factory glass. No one has been able to pinpoint an exact cause for this problem. Some blame the factory Sekurit glass, others the way it was mounted, etc. Many possibilities but nothing definite.

 

I don't think anyone can provide a certain answer why among any cars some experience many of the same warranty issues and others do not. I would hazard that its basically how that individual car came together and how the parts themselves are made/prone to the problem - so basically it is luck of the draw in my opinion.

When many cars exhibit the same problem, whether it is the high incidence of windshield fractures without sufficient cause, or speaker rattles, etc it is apparent that it is not a random issue and rather is an endemic problem caused by flaws in design, build or materials and should be addressed by the manufacturer.

 

I think if anybody could answer your question then a solution could be devised.

Being that this has been a longstanding problem even after quite a few changes to the construction of the car, my guess is that the root cause of the problem is just unknown...

 

Yes, I'm sure you're right. But MINI supposedly addressed the issue with stronger glass, I believe? So since the stress cracks are still occurring, I would guess that stronger glass was only part of the problem, not the only problem. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if and when this issue is resolved. Thanks, everyone, for your insight. :smile:

 

From what a SA told me they did not change the glass (at least not from 04 to 05), just the mounting points

 

I meant that the glass from the 02's and 03's were changed for 04 & 05 (at least that's what I read). :smile: