Well both our '05s are 3 mos old and have stars and cracked windshields thanks to rocks thrown up by large trucks. I just got mine cracked today by a rock. My wifes got two large stars last month.

I've read about others with broken windshields.

Is the glass in our Mini's that poor? Is there a recall or something being done by Mini to replace them with better glass?

We've owned many cars in our lives with about a million miles of driving and only had one other starred windshield!

 

Both of our cars (one MINI, one not) have cracked windscreens. I'm learning to live with it. Both happening within four months of purchase. Call it bad luck I guess.I'm unaware of any action by MINI USA.

 

Yes. Search and you will find that this is indeed the case.

No. Think of it as a "feature."

 

Mine is frosted from a 50 mi. freeway commute. Plus 2 cracks both starting from rocks at the edges of the trim. 43k miles of hurricane force winds. The windshields are softer than the clearcoat, go figure! My first star was at 999.9 mi. with no cars within 500' except up. I figure there is no point in replacing it untill I get a job closer to home.

 

Road rocks hitting your windshield are a fact of life when driving in the highway. However, one thing that has helped to significantly reduce the problem is to keep a healthy distance between your car and the car in front of you. You should keep at least 4 seconds distance. Following too close is not only dangerous, but triplicates your chances to get showered by gravel and road rocks.

Whenever I see dump trucks I either back down as much as possible or if I have space/momentum, I floor the car and pass them as quickly as possible (But always safely).

Sometimes a rock will hit you out of nowhere, even if you don't cars in direct proximity to yours.

4,400 miles and no windshield issues. '05 MCS

 

The first two were mini glass, and when the chip happened, the crack followed shortly. This last one is PPG, and it has several pits, and none has turned into a crack yet. Interrestingly, the glass in my 65 Mustang is original, and has less pits than any of my new cars, and I drive it fast too. Cheap glass for sure!
Also, the near vertical angle makes it much harder on the windshield when a rock hits it.

Matt

 

Interesting because my wife's 02 MC CVT still has the original factory Sekurit Factory windshield virtually intact. And this car has been to 11 states and several road trips. Hmmmmmmmm

 

and never over 35mph Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm 4 second rule, give me a break. I'm sorry I don't need bullet holes in my rear glass.

 

Laugh all you want. So lemme see, are you one of those annoying tailgaters in the expressways?

Why is it that some people can't drive at highway speeds without riding the bumper of the car in front of you??

Gimme a break, dude... really

 

I have a star shaped crater on mine, my car was just 2 weeks old!

It was a big dump truck going the other way. I used some $10 windshield repair kit to stop the crater from expanding, seemed to have worked, its been 2 months and no futher damage.

 

No I don't tailgate. 4 seconds ,wow. I'm glad your doing that in the right lane. Oh, & congrats on your windshield

 

Yes the left is for PASSING ONLY. Didn't they teach you that in driving school? Oh wait! This is Amerikkka.

 

Try adding a few lanes. Bye.

 

Yup cracked by a rock on the freeway.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=42192

see post 8

 

How did you get a PPG replacement? Was it from Mini or through a glass shop?

 

Yep, PPG is the one, over a year later - no problems. The thing can take evil hits and if it gets a bullseye, like ours did, the filler holds up great with no cracks, stars or runs at all.

Ours (04) stress cracked at 300 mi. I went to a quality autoglass store with experience on MINI's. The total charge was around $230 paid mostly by the insuance co. I remember maybe a $50 deductable out of pocket.

I had read soooo much on cheesy factory glass I went straight to PPG. I have heard tale, on this site, of owners on their fifth windshield. I couldn't stand the thought of stress and possible weakening of the pillers etc. with glass monkeys ripping out four more failed units. Have you ever watched a glass "tech" pull a windshield? I love the two boot forward kicking technique with Wally's back curled in your drivers seat. Blam.....Blam..... Blam

 

20k miles - Been hit by loads of stones, not a single chip on my screen. I also don't tailgate.

 

2900mi no rocks, chips, cracks or pitts... I make sure to never follow closely to dumptrucks or trucks with loose loads I will pull off and let them get a mile or so ahead,take a different route home or pass them.

-Josh

 

Ooh. That's hot.

 

Had a stress crack appear 2 months ago during a car wash ... MINI replaced it under warranty ...

Watch out for the "pen test"

 

3 years, 2 windshields. In fact, the second one caught a rock one hour after picking the car up from getting it installed.

dan

 

No winshield crack yet on my Mini but I had one on an Acura once and in two weeks this tiny crack spread half way across the windshield. My insurance company got furious with me because I did not tell the company about the first crack that could have been repaired. Now the entire windshield was going to have to be replaced. ski

 

I experience two broken windshields, one on my 02 MCS and the other on my 05 MCS........

 

My first was replaced by the state of CA because of not cleaing up road work.....

The second was out of my pocket, and was only a bit over $200. And this was from some low-ball shop that did it in the parking lot at work....
As opposed to $613 from the dealer!!!!

Matt

 

I have two huge chips in my windscreen about the size of a nickle each. The thing is I've had them years now and it's never cracked.

Other than a bad ECU flash I got from a dealer, I have the most indestructible MINI ever built.