A few weeks ago, a crack magically appeared in my fiancee's 2006 Cooper S convertible overnight. So we filed a claim and and had the windshield replaced.

I told her to demand either Pilkington (what I have in my 2004 M3) or PPG. She ended up with PGW. Not sure if that's good or bad, but I digress...

When I saw the car after the repairs were made, something didn't look right. Not only did the top windshield trim look out-of-place (non-MINI), the inside ends of the trim on the top of the A-pillar covers look very clean as if they have never been exposed to the elements. Furthermore, they were just sticking out like flaps. I don't have another MINI on-hand, but I'm pretty sure this ain't right! See pics below. I could swear that these "flaps" are supposed to tuck under/inside the center trim, but since this is the generic stuff, it's not possible.

So I searched this forum and came to the conclusion that the auto glass shop did indeed use generic, non-OEM trim. So I had her contact the shop and explain the issue. She was told that they do use generic trim and any visible differences is, and I quote, "purely cosmetic". And if she wants genuine MINI trim, she have to cough up the difference.

Now, I am pissed and am crying fowl.

Can anyone else confirm my finding and agree that I'm getting the run-around here?

Thanks in advance!

 

I agree, that's definitely not correct.

 

Actually I believe that is how they look from the factory.
Last night after our Mid-Columbia Mini club meeting we all go out and eye each other Mini's the President of the club has a new Cooper convertible.
I noticed it also had the overlay of the gasket at the same location, I even peeled it back like you did in the picture above.
It was laying flat like yours until you lift it up.
I hope this helps, I would check some convertibles at a dealer or around town.
Gary

 

Hrmmm, I would cough up the difference if the deal was pretty good initially. For some reason, I'm not too fond of generic stuff, especially when it comes to potential water leaking.

 

Realoem shows that top piece separately from the others...


01 Cover, windshield, top 1 51317155304 $17.60

not sure what this other piece is... shown oddly, but its from the same care lookup


20 Molded part column A left 1 51717114251 $9.40
20 Molded part column A right 1 51717114252 $9.40
21 Grommet 1 51400766479 $0.25
22 Sealing windshield panel, column A 1 51717072927 $306.35

This one looks like yours as well. Seems normal



tons of other pics here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ur-ragtop.html

 

That is how they all look. Mine is exactly the same.

 

That looks normal to me.
Here's mine . . . 2005 Cooper

 

Thanks for all the input, everyone. Regardless, we were informed by the auto glass shop that they ordered an OEM trim from MINI and will be installing it today. The generic one they used just didn't look right to me.