We decided to take the MINI to Tulsa from Kansas City this weekend to finish the break-in. Unfortunately, two rocks attacked us on the journey.

The first impact (below) occurred half-way down to Tulsa on Saturday. We were on a two-lane road and the rain had just started picking-up. We didn't have anybody near us for awhile, but as we reached the crest of the hill we saw a Semi in the opposite lane.

As the Semi passed us, it splashed a lot of water over the MINI. Inside this water was something akin to a golf-ball sized hail stone. I saw it for a half a second and then heard the a loud crack against the windshield. Right after that I said a rather loud curse word.

We pulled into a gas station shortly thereafter. After cleaning the windshield I was able to confirm that we had four little divots in the windshield as a result of the impact. It was kind of a buzz kill.



Anyway, my wife says it's only a car, it could've been worse, and it can be fixed. All true, but you do hope to get more than 800 miles before picking up some character in a car. So we pull out of the gas station and continue to Tulsa.

It's now Sunday and we're leaving Tulsa for Kansas City. I'm still upset everytime I see the chips, but I know that they're going to get fixed after we get home. We're somewhere near Owasso and we get the second impact (below). ARGH!!!



We just heard the crack from the passenger's side and didn't see a rock at all this time. We were in the left lane of a two-lane divided highway and the nearest car was way over 100 feet in front of us in the right lane. Where the heck did this rock come from?!


So tomorrow morning I'm calling my insurance agent and getting the glass guys out to fix the windshield. Maybe I'll take the day off and detail the car after they fix it. It would definitely make me feel better. Maybe I could even get a really nice photo of the car for my signature...

 

I got a chip early on in the life of my mini too (I think it was around 800km). My old RSX had a really slanted windscreen and made it through five years without a single chip scratch or break. I wonder if the Mini's windscreen is more prone to chipping due to it being so upright.

 

I've already had the windscreen replaced (at 3000 miles), because a stone hit it. Didn't even notice it at the time. Next day it had become an eight inch long crack.

 

From my anadotal experience, it would seem that more upright windscreens are more prone to taking rock damage (ie: the "bullseye" type, etc). I just replaced the front glass in my 3 series last week after 7+ years. It only had one bullseye, but thousands of tiny imperfections from rocks bouncing off (I assume less impact damage occurred because of the shallower angle of the glass). I hope that my new mini to come (Oct) windshield will last as long as the bimmer's.

 

Update.

I just called my insurance agency yesterday (State Farm) and they have stopped reparing windshield chips for free. I called two local shops for estimates. Based on my descriptions of the chips, they don't think that they they could fix (i.e. too small and no radiating cracks). I'm okay paying for the repairs, but I would think there's a fix somehow.

Anyway, while I was talking to my Agent, I had her change the deductible for comprehensive to 0. Cost me a grand total of $30 every six for the MINI. If the windshield cracks from a new impact, I should get a new one installed gratis.

 

The repair kit in this thread might be a possibility: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=102805

 

I have this kit. It only works on good size chips. It doesn't really do much for little ones.

Roverlandpark...your best bet is to wait until you get a big chip or crack and just have the windshield replaced. I had a big chip fixed on my WRX and you could still see it. The windshield guy said these type of repairs are to prevent the chip from becoming a crack. That's all. I have windshield coverage so if anything happens, insurance pays for the whole thing.

 

My thoughts exactly. Changed my insurance to a zero dollar deductible on my comprehensive to cover a new windshield. The change in premium was negligble.

 

I live in a legal broken windshield city. Unless you want to drop over $1000/yr for windshield insurance, you are hooped. I have had 2 chips in my windshield, and I have had them both fixed for $20 each from those people that park in the corner of parking lots.

 

I had mine one month. I was on my way to a Mini Rally sponsored by my dealer. I was in a parade of Minis think this is cool when a stong got kicked up from the car in front. Got a bullseye in upper left portion of windshield. Fortunately outside of my normal field of view. I stopped on my way home and got one of the Permatex repair kits mentioned above. It was very easy to use but didn't come close to eliminating it visually.

I too checked with State Farm and found out they discontinued free repairs. I have $100 deductable and I've decided to wait to see if it cracks or I get more abrasions before I have it replaced.

I do think since the windshield is more vertical it is more suseptible to stone chips. I'm going to look into the $0 deductable for the future.

 

A rock hit my windshield at around 800 miles, busting it. $100 deductible, had a local small pro shop fix it, and I got over it. It DID bum me out terribly for a few days, though.

A friend of mine bought a new Toyota Yaris (his commuter car...he owns 3 Ferraris...you can't commute in those...try keeping one running regularly/properly, let alone 3) and had his windshield busted at 300 miles.

It happens, no matter what you drive, wherever you are.

"NAM - Where group therapy meets the road"

 

My commute to work:
driving 405N + 710N (near Long Beach Port, CA)
no matter how I try, I end up driving behind a Semi pulling ocean containers. and most of them has rock guards missing.
need to replace my windshield soon, my last bull eye repair stated cracking...