Hi people! This is my first time here. About the WINDSHIELD problem. Back in very early spring during the monsoon season, the wiper blades caused two marks that marred the windshield and was replaced by MINI at no charge. Apparently the blade had a broken piece that wasn't noticible. But the wiper seemed okay, the metal part did not appear to touch the glass. Keep watching them blades! ! Oh well. And then two months later, a rock hit the top and another windshield. This time I went to a local shop to save $160 because of insurance. The mfg. is PPG, so I'll see how long it lasts.

 

Please read my earlier post today. I deal with MINI in Winston Salem and was quoted $548 for replacement windshield.

 

Hi Folks first post here as well.

Had my mcs for about 1 year now 17 in wheels with sports package

1 major chip @ 1000miles (repaired) but now spidering
2 more minor chips.

One of the chips I saw happen a very, very small rock, of 1mm hit the windshield at low speed. The small rock actually had an arc to it, it was going the slow. Chipped it.

So far no major cracks.

I asked the dealer at 10,000 mile about the windshield and if there were any service adisories about this and he acted like he knew nothing. Obviously there is a major problem. The glass is way too weak!

 

$900 is what Crevier mini just quoted me for a replacement. This is my fourth replacement and the only one not covered under warantee. I mst have bad luck or something with windshields. Ive had the MINI for 8 mo and go in every 2 for a new windshield. Arggg this is frustrating. The reason that I have to pay now is cause one day after the last one was installed i got a rock strike. It made a nice circle crack that didnt go anywhere then 6 weeks later a crack appears on the lower right, it creeps up and over the rock strike. So the deal says the rock strike cause the crack. $900 too much for a windshield.

 

It's been almost 6 months since this post was made. Can we get a progress report?

Dave

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Fruita Fat Tire Festival

 

Dave - I just forwarded this to my contact at MINI asking for a followup. I'll post when I hear something.

Mark

 

>>Does anyone else read this as an admittance of guilt?
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>>_________________
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NO. They said they will look into it. However, that means that have a concern even if it only that people are complaining and they don't like complaints any more than any other business.

Earl

 

What is the windshield problem anyway?


>>
>>I’m with MINI USA, and on their behalf, we want to apologize to those of you who have experienced problems with your windshield. Please be assured that we have heard you, and MINI is investigating this issue. As soon as we have any information at all, we will report it here. In the meantime, please continue to work closely with your dealer, who is in the best position to assist you. As always, we are available at 866.ASK.MINI if you’d like additional assistance.
>>
>>
>>

 

Some early MINIs (2002 MY in particular) have a cronic problem with stress cracks.

My MINI for instance is on it's 5th windshield.

 

Yes, I too am VERY interested in hearing an update from MINI on this subject. There is obviously a problem unique the MC windshield. It would seem that if the company wants to keep its customers happy and avoid PR hassles, they should do the right thing and do it fast. There are just too many broken windshieds out there. Bite the bullet Mini. Improve the glass and offer a no-cost one-time replacement.

 

I have a 16 month old 2002 MINI Cooper CVT still with the original windshield and no cracks. car has no sunroof. No problems on my '04 MCS either. This car has no sunroof either.

I think it would be very interesting to perform a poll of owners with cracked windshields to see how many of them have MINIs equipped with factory sunroofs. Is it me or the people that report the most windshield related problems are those who own MINIs with panorama sunroofs?

 

My 2002 MCS has a sunroof and a crack in the glass. I did the "Pin Test" and I spotted what seems to be a very small (and I mean VERY SMALL) divot. What is interesting to me is that the crack goes up from the divot as well as down from the divot. It has travelled down and has veered to the right, forming an almost perfect "J" shape. I plan on going to the dealer with it next week (Crevier) but I promise you that I will not pay $900 for a new windshield!!!

 

I owned a very early '02 MC with sunroof and never had even a minor problem with it, and it did see a fair amount of highway miles. It definitely does seem like the reports have been slowing down (almost non-existent for '03 and '04 model years).

 

I called Mini of North Scottsdale and they quoted me 262 on the windshield plus installation. Whoever is telling you 900 wants to rip you off good!!

 

Earl, did you read my follow up post? The one where I said it was a comfort post?

Anyway, Dave I posted the same type question over on Roadfly the other day and have yet to get an answer. May be with Mark's help

I still have a problem with MINUSA's choice of words in the first sentence;
What are they apologizing for? The poor quality control of the first crack causing cars (there were high spots in the opening causing metal to touch the glass), the poor quality control regarding the adhesive application (addressed in TIS Bulletin: SI M 510203), the "A-pillar" flex (as previously reported as a cause) or the fact that dealers are not replacing these cracked windshields and hiding behind a bogus pen test?

For those still paying out of pocket for these replacements, check with your insurance folks, I dropped my deductible down to zero on all comprehensive claims and the annual increase was only $46. And yes I know that it could me back to hurt me if I have too many glass claims and this isn't the correct way to handle this issue, MINI USA should come up with the correct way.

 

2003 MC no sun roof, after almost 1 year of driving. Very small rock(?) pit. Windscreen cracked while sitting in parking place overnight. I'm anticipating that the replacement will be disallowed because of rock induced crack. If so I'll replace it eventualy but plan on driving it for a while and hope for a "stress crack". I think it will also be good advertising and plan on taking it to a couple of car shows before i do replace it.

 

>>
>>I’m with MINI USA, and on their behalf, we want to apologize to those of you who have experienced problems with your windshield. Please be assured that we have heard you, and MINI is investigating this issue. As soon as we have any information at all, we will report it here. In the meantime, please continue to work closely with your dealer, who is in the best position to assist you. As always, we are available at 866.ASK.MINI if you’d like additional assistance.
>>
>>Dear MINIdivision,
I am glad to hear this. I purchased my MCS in July of 2003 and within the first month I noticed chips in the windscreen. My entire windscreen is now pitted and in some places chipped. I have mentioned this to the dealer and the response is always the same. MINIUSA will not deal with chips or scratches. I may not have a windscreen that has stress cracks but I do have one that is prematurely "aged" with chips and pits. At times in the daylight it is difficult to see clearly through the haze of tiny chips in the glass. This is clearly a warranty issue and I hope that MINI is addressing it as such.
sincerely,
Julia Brandreth
>>

 

I guess I have to join the group...just noticed a very small crack down by the drivers
side wiper blade. It looks like it comes up from the bottom molding.
Is this a common spot?? :evil:

 

The windshield glass on my MINI is the PITS - oh my

The second windshield is just as bad for PITS etc. :???:

 

MINI Division,

I'm still waiting for a response.

It's been 6 months since you said you'd get back to us. A progress report is in order.

Dave

 

Yeah I'm on my 2nd windshield in 4 months. I was hit by a small stone, wouldn't call it a rock, and that crack turned into a 5 inch one in a few days. Cost me $450 to get it replaced. That's bad, but even worse that it happened just 11 days into owning my Cooper.

 

I have a 9/03 production '04. Driving home one night on a windy night in Route 80 in NJ, I was hit by a wind squall that rained stones on my car for approx 20 seconds. The paint took the hits better than the windshield: all leading edge clearcoat was chipped down to the paint, the headlights were a loss, the bright trim, etc. The windshield had literally hundreds, if not thousands, of pits--in the right light it looked metallic! Within a day or two, a small crack developed and grew at the bottom, left edge of the windshield.

All is fixed as of this date, but I already have two small pits in the replacement OE windshield.

I'll never forget the expression of the bodyshop owner's face as he kept repeating "The paint was stronger than the windshield...."

 

Edit: I was going to sticky this thread, but decided instead to start a new post to MINI Division and sticky that

 

I think MINIDivision is a bot!

 

I'm giving them the chance to prove they aren't.