that's code for... i have the dreaded windshield crack.



went to the dealer today and, as i expected, out came the pen and they are denying the fix under warranty because they can detect a rock chip. well how could they not on an almost vertical windshield?

service manager said a new one costs about $500, most of which is labor and that if I get it done somewhere else and they screw up, any problems (leaks, etc.) will not be covered. so in other words, a veiled threat that I should have them do the work.

i expected as much, it just makes me so mad, since my 2006 is only 6 months old. true, I just drove across the country and back, but I hate thinking that I can't drive anywhere because a rock might bounce up and hit my precious winshield and start a crack.

why is it that if MINI/BMW designs a product that is more prone to rock chips and cracking than other cars (a more vertical windshield and crappy glass) they can't make it more reasonable to fix, especially since so many people seem to have this problem?

i knew before buying that owning a BMW product would be expensive, but i think this is BS. and, since it's not really necessary to replace it right away and I don't have $500 burning a hole in my pocket, I probably won't, so I have to drive around with a crack in the windshield of my nice new MINI.

sorry, i just needed to vent.

on the positive side, Grover performed flawlessly on the drive to the West Coast and back. the cruise control is great and I'm so glad I ordered it. and when I needed to pass an 18-wheeler, the car just got up and went. except for some bad roads where the run flats mixed up my internal organs it was a true testament to how great this "small" car is that I can drive it from Memphis to California and back and totally enjoy it. (and having an iPod certainly helped a lot, too!)

 

that really sucks....i hope like crazy i dont get any cracks.....

 

I have a nice L-shaped crack in my new '06 too. I haven't taken it in to see if they'll cover it or not. I know a rock didn't cause it, but the question is, will they? Anyway, I feel your pain. Best of luck.

 

Rocks hitting glass are covered w/o the normal deductible under my policy in TX. Have you called your insurance company?

 

Sorry about your MINI's boo-boo. My Wanda got one when she was only 6 weeks old (actually a rock thrown by a semi-rig that cut me off on I-10)....just outside Houston on her first cross-country (and back) road trip.

It is a good idea to have the dealership install the new one, but you may want to consider getting PPG, instead of OEM. Folks that go with the PPG windshields swear by them (not at them).

 

Dreams, first of all I love your emoticons! I can really FEEL your pain...

I just picked up my first tiny "ding" from a danged rock kicked up by a boat-totin' pickup truck, driving through the debris that a street sweeper had just nicely put in the middle of the road. What great timing on my part!

OK, my ding is just barely visible to a normal human, but I can get my fingernail into it, so I'm afraid I could someday acquire a slash like yours.

So many people say get the PPG glass replacement, who does that? Surely not the dealer.

Let us know if you get by under the $500 mark.

Sir M.

 

No, the dealer does not install non-OEM glass. I replaced Wanda's rain-sensing windshield for well under $500. I paid $225 for the OEM glass, and my dealership installed it for $140.

BTW, the dealer actually subs the work out, but they do warranty the work if anything goes wrong. I haven't heard of anyone having any troubles with their PPG glass, though. Just find a reputable automotive glass installer.

 

I just replaced the windshield on my 05 last week, due to a rock chip that splintered out. I called the dealer closest to me (Crevier in Irvine, CA) and they quoted me $1500 to replace it!

I called an independant shop and they did the job with PPG glass for under $275, including the two exterior black panels on the A pillars. Those are commonly broken during removal of the windshield, so they suggested ordering them up front. They were cheap enough and my originals had some dings on them anyways.

 

Good price, atomtbomb!

 

Very sorry to hear Grover took a rock! Jake got one in his FIRST month ...a 'star'...that started to spread on Day 1.

Fortunately (and I highly recommend it!) I have glass coverage on my MINI (and have had on my past 3 cars).

The MINI dealership here uses a mobile replacement service. They used an OEM windshield, changed it in my driveway and it cost me $50!

It's a very small addition to your policy and covers ALL glass...mirrors, lights/lamps...VERY MUCH worth it!

Hope you find someone good that won't stick you for $500! No wonder you're

 

Wow, that really stinks. Glad to hear the MINI performed so nicely on your road trip, but the windshield cracks are completely for the birds.

2 years, 40k miles on my 2nd MCS, and the glass is still in one piece. First one needed new glass after a year or so.

We get a little spoiled down here in FL, because basic car isurance, by law, has to cover windshield replacement with no deductible & no bump to your premium. I guess the powers that be wanted to be sure we weren't driving around with cracked windshields for safety's sake.

And there's at least one windshield replacement firm that gives you a box of steaks with the job. Go figure...

 

Mini dreams,
Did you take your vehicle to Roadshow Mini since you're from Memphis ? $500
is indeed to much.

 

I feel for you. I am in the same boat right now with my MINI. I had a rock chip the windshield while I was on the autobahn and the estimate was 500 Euros... Rain sensor really kicks the price up.


Anyway, I am holding off (small crack right now) until either it gets worse or I have to get inspected.

 

you can fill that in no problem with shoe-goo. jk

 

Different story on a different car, but:
when a rock cracked the plexiglass on my bmw headlight, the dealer wanted to charge $500 (because they claimed US dealers can only order the full headlight assembly, even if only the plastic is cracked) --- what BS!!

I ended up buying the assembly from a distributor, and replacing the plastic piece myself (I was later able to scavenge the assembly for bulbs and other parts), but it still cost me more than a plexi-glass cover should.

Anyways, all I'm saying is: I feel your pain.

 

The OEM glass including the rain sensor only cost $200, so $500 for repair means the dealer is sub out the work and charging double for labor.

 

This is why I ALWAYS carry a $0 deductible on my comprehensive. It's a whole lot cheaper than some people think.

In SC, glass was covered no matter what your deductible. Fixed for free.

 

One important thing I learned from NAM before I brought my car home was to set my deductable that covered windows very low (currently at zero). Some insurance companies will sell window policies (State Farm doesn, but it's covered under Comp) but you'll have to research that. The difference to go to a zero comp deductable was about $20.00 over 6 months (for me).

Secondly, my local dealer, Classic MINI, does not replace the windshield themselves, but rather farm the work out to an installer. I just asked who they have do the work for them and called that person directly. That way I get the new window at less than the dealer install cost, but by the same technician who knows the plastics on the MINI windows.

Haven't had a problem with the install he did. (although I do have 3 stone chips in it right now, but no cracks)

 

These threats about losing a warranty if you don't use the dealer are BS. Obviously, if the dealer didn't do it, he isn't liable for the screw-up. But the one who did it is. However, a dealer cannot claim a warranty is void simply because they didn't do the work. So, for example, if you do the oil yourself and your engine blows, the dealer cannot say the warranty is void just because you changed your oil. However, if you did it wrong, then it would be your fault. But, they have to prove that. In the case of the windshield, you can get it done by places that do that as their sole business for about 1/2 the price. As a general rule, with the exception of items unique to your vehicle, you are better off going somewhere else to get work done for non-warraty, non-free service.

 

Head over to NAPA Auto Parts and pickup a product specifically designed to fill the dings--same stuff the mobile units use to repair window dings. I think I paid less than $6 and it's impossible to know where the ding was located if you didn't know beforehand. Just make sure you clean the ding really well with alcohol and a stiff-bristle artist brush to get debris out of the ding. The product has a suction cup and the clear epoxy cures via direct sunlight! Best of all, the instructions are clear & easy to follow.

In fact, it works so well that a co-worker asked me to repair a window ding on the windshield of his Hummer! He doesn't tease me as much about my MINI anymore and all the stuff I have for it.

Good luck!

 

Some policies (I think USAA does this, for example) will cover minor repair such as dings for free, without making you pay the deductible. They do this because they know it's cheaper to encourage you to have a ding fixed now, than to have to cover the windshield replacement later when that ding is allowed to spread into a big crack.

 

Still, people with Hummers are the devil

 

thanks everyone for the responses. I actually think I might have a low deductible for comprehensive... not sure, I need to check. I guess if I don't, I need to adjust it for the future. somewhere I read that someone had replaced their windshield like 8 times!

sounds like my dealer does do the actual replacement, so I'm not sure I can go directly to another source. and while I agree that their threat that if I do it somewhere else it will be out of warranty if there are any problems is BS, i know that if I get it done somewhere else, there will probably be problems and they will find a way to blame the other installer.

okay, i've got to check on insurance first. perhaps it won't be $500 after all.

 

I agree!

 

Is there some kind of window tinting/clear coat that you can apply which will help reduce the possibility of windshield cracks because of rocks?