Okay, so I live on Long Island and yesterday I took a 40 mile treck on the Long Island Expressway towards Eastern Long Island. I noticed alot of wind and a lot of Construction Trucks. As I drove and passed these trucks it appears that they were kicking up sand and I could here it hit my windshield. When I got home and cleaned the windshield, to my amazement there were about a hundred tiny little "chips" on the windshiled!! :evil:

WTF is up with that?? I had a Maxima for 7 years and drove it on the highway all the time and I don't think I amassed that many.

Anyone else notice the same *****? Go outside and take a look, does your windshield have the same problem??

Manny

 

>>Okay, so I live on Long Island and yesterday I took a 40 mile treck on the Long Island Expressway towards Eastern Long Island. I noticed alot of wind and a lot of Construction Trucks. As I drove and passed these trucks it appears that they were kicking up sand and I could here it hit my windshield. When I got home and cleaned the windshield, to my amazement there were about a hundred tiny little "chips" on the windshiled!! :evil:
>>
>>WTF is up with that?? I had a Maxima for 7 years and drove it on the highway all the time and I don't think I amassed that many.
>>
>>Anyone else notice the same *****? Go outside and take a look, does your windshield have the same problem??
>>
>>Manny

Hi Manny and welcome to MCO!

you are one of many, many MINI owners complaining about the sub-standard windshields, and you are - like all the other - spot on!

Here is a link to a rant of mine in another thread:

my windshield rant

In my view the MINI windshield are very sub-standard and COMPLETELY inadequate, and I am very frustrated about this!
I cannot in the long run afford to drive a car that will require a new windshiled, as much as I love my MINI. I hope, I really hope, that either MINI or an aftermarket company come out with an acceptable quality windshield.

The MINI windshield has two huge problems:

it is too thin and weak - supposedly for weight savings. I would gladly add 20 lbs to the car in exchange for a windshield of acceptable strength.

the glass of the windshield is also of a very inferior quality, it is way too soft. Not only does it easily crack and chip, which could be related to the steep windshield angle and maybe also the thin strength, but it gets numerous, numerous pits from very small gravel or grit, or even from sand! The glass is softer than the frigging paint, for crying out loud!!!! I have more chips and dings in the glass than in the paint

I have stopped counting the dings on my windshield at 50 and have resigned myself to the fact that I will need a new windshield when I get home from this roadtrip.

However, unless I can get a proper windshield I will have to sell this car with a broken heart. I do not want to drive a car that consumes windshields at a greater rate than it needs oil changes

Otherwise the MINI is a great car, but the windshield is not up to the standard of teh rest of the car.

 

I meant to say I cannot afford to drive a car that requires a new windshiled very 2-3 months.

 

Spot on, MG!!!

I was horrified--albeit from afar--when I heard about all the windscreen problems and really quite pleased with myself that my windscreen was not poorly behaved... until yesterday (as you may know from my "Very bad things" post) Stupid stress crack!!! I know that it happens, but I don't know anyone else with any other vehicle that's suffered from it. If it's a stress fracture, it's covered under warranty... until the warranty is up. This is, of course, not to mention the very great inconvenience of having to continuously drag your MINI into the dealership for sand-pocked glass.

I was mildly reassured, however, that my insurance would cover as many windscreen replacements as necessary, without raising my premium. It'll be inconvenient, but free. So, you might want to check your insurance before you sell the car. It's an awesome ride and I totally understand the need to unload a car with a disposable windscreen, but I thought I'd pass along the insurance info, in case you were unaware.

Good luck and here's to hopin MINIUSA gets the message,
~Kelley

 

PS...

MINIUSA.... if you ARE listening:

I, too, would gladly add some extra poundage if it meant I could have a "real" windscreen.

 

Thank for the info and heads up about this issue. I am looking forward to my MINI's arrival in a week or so but not looking forward to this major problem. I will make an effort to read up on the insurance policy and manufactures warranty in regards to replacement options. I hope it really is free to replace the windshield with a much higher quality glass.

And Celeste, don't give up hope on your MINI okay...just be patient.