So I cracked my windshield on X-Mas eve and it's finally being replaced by my insurance company on Tues. I'm going with Safelite since thats what my ins. company uses.

However, since it appears that there are so many ppl with windshield issues has anyone thought of taking this issue to a higher power. While I love my mini I think this is something that BMW should address.

After all Nissan was sued for the quality of their paint.

 

Mine cracked with 340 mi. on it. Went with PPG replacement glass and never had a problem since. The deal is, even if you launched a crusade for a class action suit with a hundred followers the response would be questionable. They are very aware of the problem since 2002 and still choose the same supplier. Some owners are on their fifth replacement factory glass!

The windshield is part of the structural integrity of the driver compartment. Slamming replacements in and out could weaken the frame or A-pillers, do you really want another factory replacement? The problem clearly is the OEM glass where early posts suspected body flex, sunroofs and even the roof color as the cause. They should review the issue and solve it, but haven't in four years. Maybe they are stuck in a contract with the French glass maker.

Following posts on major warantee concerns, windshields top the list. Is it worth a battle? Have they finally worn us down? Do you need a secret decoder ring to get a straight answer from the dealer? This movie is getting tired so you may not get many responses. Change out the glass and get over it. There are so many positives about the car and really very few things they dance around under warr.

 

7 windscreens here- the last was a PPG. I was averaging 1 every 3 months of ownership.I complained to MINI and got no where.I complained to BMWNA and got even less. I posted a formal complaint on the NHTSA site and it seemed to fall off a cliff.The PPG has been terrific ,and has lasted almost a year with not even the dreaded Pitting that the OEM are so prone to even if they don't break.Walk.no run to an auto glass installer, inist on the PPG replacement(there is one by Pilkington that I have no knowledge of which may work just as well, but.......) Thank you Yucca Patrol, Andrew's recomendation was what finally sunk in to this thick skull.My biggest complaint about OEM glass and the dealer response to perform the "dreaded pen test" to determine if there was impact of any kind is that at 57 years old I have owned roughly 40 cars , driven litterally millions of miles and have NEVER had glass that cracked as easily as these cars seem to.In 4 Honda's I had over a half a million miles alone and never replaced a single piece of glass for anything besides terminal pitting.

 

Switch to the PPG brand glass. It is most definitely stronger than OEM. . . .not to mention a heck of a lot cheaper too!

 

2002 MC CVT, 34K miles, 39 months old, still on original factory Sekurit windshield glass.

2004 MCS, bought new 10/2003, sold privately 2/2005, car had 17K miles at time of sale and still on original factorywindshield.

2005 MCS, delivered 3/2005 and 8,200 miles later no glass issues.

 

Knock on wood I haven't had a problem with glass on my 05 MCS with about 5,000 miles. But if I do, is there any problem with the rain sensor if I go with PPG instead of OEM?

 

My 05' JCW developed a "L" shape crack right below rear view mirror about 6" long right after it came back from dealer for other check up. I did not notice it at first since it was hard to see from driver's seat. I do not recall hitting anything so it was very strange. Called the dealer Crevier Mini in Socal, and too it back. The service girl looked at at and called manager to confirm stress crack and replaced under warranty! No hassles. Nice service. I hope this is not ongoing thing once it happens.

PS after I told my story to friend who owns 05' MC, developed the crack also near left lower corner. his planing to take it back to dealer.

 

Interestingly enough mine is a l shaped crack right below the mirror as well. You are probably correct about them not caring, it's just frustrating.

My windshield is getting replaced tomorrow with safelite, my insurance is picking up all but 100 of the cost. We'll see how that goes, worst case if I need another replacement I'll go PPG

 

Safelite will probably install the OEM Sekurit glass.

 

Here you go.

 

My car is only 2 months old and has already had one stress cracked windshield replaced under warranty. There's lot of talk here and at BMW forums about soft OEM glass and stress cracks, but I don't think it's limited to our products. Something about the way windshields are mounted today tends to make them more vulnerable, my 2001 Audi TT also had a stress crack.

 

Thanks for the reference!

 

nope...safelite is installing their own brand. I am sitting at the shop right now waiting for them to be done. I feel better about it too because they have done a number of minis and are installing new molding too' Sorry for the grammer this is being typed on mhy pocket pc phone

 

Correction...They installed PPG :-). The guy wasnt happy with the safelite glass when it came, so he sent it back and got a PPG screen. Now thats customer service. Awesome I'm very happy now

 

Just got my '06 Cooper 8 days ago. I came out of the store today to see an L shaped crack right bellow the rear view mirrow! I have 500 miles on the car!
I do not recall hearing anything hit my windshield although there is a microscopic chip about 1" from the top edge of the glass.

Any thoughts on wether or not I'll be able to get my local San Diego dealer to cover this under warranty? I bought the car in LA.

 

the only vehicles w/ well known stress crack issues are 02's and early 03's.
the windshields crack on account of the fact that the windshield on these cars is designed to be a vital part of the body structure. to keep from making the vehicles excessively portly, the front windscreen is used to provide structural rigidity. this puts the glass under a lot of pressure. the same applies to the side windows on the rear. this type of design enables the body to require less reinforcement (aka=weight). 02 and early 03 models had a different design than later models. it only takes a small rock to crack the windshield on these cars; actually I meant to say a very small rock...

 

My 05 has had no probs with 12700 miles. I have had two LOUD rocks hit it going over 70 mph...I thought for sure it was cracked or chipped but no.

Of course being a quite vertical windshield compared to other cars does not help it withstand rocks, but the main problem in this thread is stress cracks which is completely unacceptable!

 

I, also just got my first cracked windshield at 15 K miles. I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later from reading all the posts. It seems to have been caused by a pebble. This looks like it might become a yearly event.
I went with Safelite, too, because I got the best quote from them at $319 and this includes a new rain sensor. I'm not sure about the glass manufacturer 'cause they weren't all too clear about that. My insurance deductible was too high to claim it, so I lowered comprehensive to $100 since I'm sure I'll be dealing with this again.
I will be happy to be "pit free" for a while since I had thousands in just over a year of ownership.

I do love my Mini, but this windshield stuff is the "pits".

 

2006 MCS delievered in Late December 2005. Currently has 2 very large cracks. Still awaiting insurance company for replacement.

 

Mine will be upgraded to PPG first thing tomorrow!

 

'04 MCS w/63K and first windscreen cracked in lower right corner while on the Tour de Nord in Newfoundland last week.

 

Wow! This is exactly the story I was about to post. Maybe I am feeling a little lazy but what should I do? Replace it at the dealer's or go with another options such as the PPG I keep reading here?
Thanks for the help. Also, does insurance covers this? We have progressive with all the bells and whistles. Also does something like this raises your premium if opt by charging it to your insurance?
thanks again,

 

I got my first serious chip a month or so ago at about 30,000 miles. There was a lot of pitting that was starting to get to me though, so this chip might be just what it takes to persuade me to replace the OEM windshield... with PPG gas, of course.

 

This seems to vary from state to state. Some states require insurance policies to include windshield replacement with a zero dollar deductible, others require it with a small deductible, and others don't require it at all (you're on your own).

Ask your insurance agent where you stand. If you have to pay $100 or more for each windshield, then I recommend getting PPG glass now.

 

Sorry for my ignorance but was is PPG glass? Thanks for the help.