Months ago, a rock put a tiny chip in my windsheld. It has since spread, and now looks awful and may become dangerous at some point. Has anyone replaced a windshield at the dealer? It doesn't have the rain sendsors, just a plain ol' windshield.

I don't trust any other body shop or glass shop to do this; I had a bad experience with one replacing my rear driver's side window. That whole ordeal cost around $350, so I'm scared to know how much a windshield replacement would cost. Anyone have any figures?

 

I've seen a couple Mini's at my dealer getting windshield's replaced. They were done in the parking lot by a mobile windshield repair. Does your dealer do the replacement themselves?

 

I had the dealer replace the windscreen on my '04 MCS without rain sensors and it was about $415 back in June of this year. I imagine it is about the same for an '07...but I've been wrong before.

 

I have no idea how my dealer does things... I bought my car in the midwest, and now live in California. I haven't had to visit the dealer just yet.

$415 seems a bit steep, but it is what it is... I'm wondering how long I can just let this go. The crack started at the very bottom of the windshield, aligned with the center of the driver's side wiper blad. It stretches vertically for about 3.4" and makes almost a 90 degree turn towards the left. That left part is now about 10" if not longer, and it looks like it will soon connect with the pillar at the left side of the windsheld.

I hope this makes sense. So it basically affects the bottom left portion of my windsheld (from the inside, looking out). Will it collapse, will it stay? What do I do?

 

I think the location of your crack is very common...for whatever reason. In fact, the crack I had was about the same except that it didn't travel as far across the windscreen (it stopped after about 4 inches).

I certainly paid more for the dealer-installed OEM windscreen--I could have had a PPG windscreen for about $100-$150 less, but I wanted an OEM windscreen.

Good luck!

 

What is this windscreen you speak of?

 

How about "windshield?"

 

OOhhh..

So why pay more for OEM? Is build quality an issue?

 

I think you'll find many reasons back and forth for OEM vs PPG. Do a search and you'll find loads of arguments. I chose OEM because I wanted to keep it stock. Really, it comes down to your preference.

You may want to check out this website for a quick PPG estimate.

 

There is almost zero chance that your dealer actually does the work themselves. But they will sell you overpriced parts, hire another company to do the work, and then add their profit on top of it all.

Just call the dealer and ask them who they recommend for auto glass work and go there if you want "dealer" quality.

Even when you have a car under warranty, it is always a good idea to know a friendly mechanic who works on the same or very similar cars. If you have a good independent BMW mechanic in town, call them and see who they use for auto glass.

 

Oh interesting... from your link it looks like the quote is $348.99 but that's with 20% off discount for the holidays, so the typical price is 439. If I can have OEM for the same price, it will get done at the dealer.

But, does anyone know if I am endangering myself by not getting it replaced?

 

Not sure what the laws are where you live, but here in FL, you are entitled to one free windshield replacement per year if caused by road debris, etc. It's built into the insurance premiums and I think all companies offering insurance in FL have to abide by it. Might want to check with your insurance company before forking over money to anyone.

 

I doubt Commiefornia has anything like that. My deductible is $500, but I'd really like to keep insurance out of this.

 

Check your insurance and make sure the deductible applies to the windshield. My Allstate policy has $0 deductible on the windshield. I'm in Kally-fornia (as the governator says it) also.

 

I don't know who your insurance company is but....

A windshied vs rock is a claim under comp' ... I've filed a dozen over the years and my rates never went up..... a rock ain't your fault

What a poster said about FL is true and we're lucky.... But I've lived in other states too and I had a comp deductable of $200. After paying that on 4 windshield replacements I finally called my insurance and asked what the cost was to change to a zero deductable...(when I worked in the Bay Area and lived in North Bay I was loosing a windshied every 6 months)

For THREE cars (three drivers), for a YEAR less than $75.....

Averaging 1.5 windshields a year I was loosing.......FAST

Hey, it never hurts to ask.

BREAK

My insurance has a relationship with SAFELITE. All glass insurance work is passed to SAFELITE. I've had multiple replacements on my MINI & ELEMENT and MIATA with 100% satisfaction. They will come to your home or work and do it there. When I did have a problem, they came back out and redid the job, no questions asked. On my ELEMENT last time they replaced the windshield 3 times, and bought all new trim pieces B$ I said OK...they said thank you for your business (there was a weird whistle noise). My 02 MINI has been done 3 times now (too many rocks!!!)....satisfied every time first time out.

 

Ahh losing windshields every six months in the bay area?? That's where my car gets driven the most. That's another fear... as soon as it gets fixed, I get another crack. I should really ask about the zero deductible.

My insurance is State Farm... the same isnurance that told my dad his rates would increase if he claimed the huge door dent left by an obese lady at the market. I have excellent rates at the moment, I really can't afford to lose them.

 

Someone at State Farm probably told your dad a lot more that you're not relating here.

I used to be an Underwriting Manager for State Farm and now I'm an Auto Claim Representative for them.

Yes, now Comp claims CAN increase your premiums if you submit enough claims, but not the way an at-fault accident or moving violation will. Bottom line: If you have a valid comp claim, file it, unless the cost is small and you've submitted several other comp claims in the past few years. And BTW, that's the same rule applied by most every major insurance company these days.

As far as the cracked windshield goes, if they can determine it was caused by stones or other road debris, yes, it is a valid comp claim. If it's caused by manufacture defect (as we know these MINI windshields are prone to break from stress), then it's not covered under your auto policy. Of course, if you find a claim handler that doesn't know what he or she is looking for.........

 

Well, I didn't sit in on the conversation between the agent and my father. They've had a very clean record, except for the SUV my mother totalled about a month prior to my dad wanting to file that claim. Maybe this was the reason?

I'm under the age of 25, and have also had a really clean record (knock on wood).. I don't want to give them any reasons to increase my rates... plus they are really good with me, letting me keep my good student discount, allowing me to put my girlfriend's car on my policy in order to get the multi-line discount (old agent told me we had to be married in order for that to happen).

I am 100% sure the crack was caused by a rock... I still remember the moment when that darn rock hit me; during a 2500 mile journey to CA... I was beyond exhausted, it didn't really phase me until I pulled into my garage and actually noticed how much it had spread.

No one really touched on the safety issue... anyone have any thoughts/experience?

 

Okay... with a $500 deductible, it's definitely NOT worth filing a claim over.

As far as the safety issue goes, you could drive that car 20 years and that windshield would not create a safety issue for you. A cracked windshield is not going to be discernably less able to protect you from road debris than a perfect windshield. If you get in an accident, it's still going to shatter and stay in place as it was designed due to the thin layer of film in between the two layers of glass.

 

I've had Niello replace mine twice , third time :impatient I went straight to their sub contractor. Hayes Brothers Auto Glass 916-444-5277, they get OEM from Niello. Hayes Glass is located at 2230 19th in Sacramento, downtown (just off 50). Did it for my deductable. I have a growing crack now and due for another windshield any day now .

 

It is in your best interest to replace the windshield.

It is a safety hazard just as a distraction, whether or not it continues to get worse.

I checked when I got my MINI new and learned of the $400 price tag for new.

Seeing how close to the ground MINI's ride, I figured it was just a matter of time.

Up here we get "stress fractures", something about the twisting of the body and the extreme cold, plus everyone has the potential for a stray rock.

I went with the full glass coverage and cashed in the first year.

The insurance worked with the dealer who farmed it out. These guys specialized in MINI's, made house calls, and didn't leave a fingerprint behind. They asked me if I'd take a generic glass and I said only OEM for me. (I just had to have the little MINI emblem on the windshield).

Get a new windshield, change your insurance to full glass, look forward to clear motoring in your future. Nothing better that clean, clear glass!

 

That crack would only be a distraction if dreman is a midget or he stares at the pretty wax job on his bonnet while driving.

Still... the OCD in me would not allow me to drive around with a cracked windshield, safety issue, or not.

 

I'm sorry

I see a statement of the general auto insurance industry....

I'm afraid to file a claim

Sad .... very sad ......

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I'm glad to hear it's not a safety issue... and no I am not a midget . The crack does bother me, but what bothers me even more is the thought of it cracking yet again after replacement. My only solution is to find time to talk to my agent about some sort of glass coverage, or $0 deductible.

Thank you for this post, if you reccomend them, I will call them for a quote.

 

Given the bad rep of soft glass for the OEM MINI windshield, why would anyone want to keep it "stock?" I'd prefer to get a PPG or similar quality glass (at a cheaper price) if I needed a replacement.

Or am I missing something here? Yes, I did the search (and have read previous threads), but I just don't see anything great said about the OEM. I am assuming, of course, that the rain sensor windshield is available for the '07s.