Well........it finally happened....7,600 miles on my MCS and a stress crack appears. Since I will NOT return to my dealership, my insurnace company will replace my windshield less my $50.00 deductible. Here's the question..I've read many posts on this and seem to think that it's better to go with an aftermarket windshild vs. the one from BMW. If BMW has done nothing to improve the glass.......then as others.......it would seem that I would be replacing the windshield again. Any opinions would be appreciated!! Thanks......

 

I've done a bunch of research and i'm going with a PPG windshield. Definitely not the BMW glass.

 

Damn, sorry to hear that, and I thought that they fixed that (insert sarcastic laugh here).

If you’re sure it's a stress crack, check all the other windshield posts for the way the Dealer will scientifically test for a stress crack (more sarcastic laughter here), then put as much tape as you possibly can to protect that crack from receiving any possible stone damage and head to the dealer for a Warranty repair.

If not then go with PPG IMHO. I replaced mine at 15,800 and the PPG has just under 31,000 so far and has taken a few big thunks from road debris and is still going strong. P.S. it’s thicker!


Come on MINIUSA, how about an update?

 

I thought BMW improved the windshield on the MINI. ???

Even with the aftermarket windshield, the quality will differ between different manufacturers. :smile:

 

I had a pilkington windshield installed on my MINI after only 2 weeks of ownership because of a 2 inch crack in the stock windshield. I have since had one or two fairly large rocks directly hit my windhshield and they didn't even leave pits. I would definitely recommend going aftermarket.

 

I have had 5 windshields.

4 MINI windshields all had cracks or rock chips. At that point I was averaging a new windshield every 2-3 months.

My 5th windshield is from PPG. It's about 8 months old and is holding up very well.

 

Wow.......Thanks for all the replys. Sounds like my mind is made up and I will go with a PPG windshield. I appreciate the quick response as I need to let my installer know Thursday what I want to do. This site "Rocks"...No pun intended!

 

Will the PPG glass work with the rain sensing wiper sensor?

 

When I had mine replaced, way back when, the only option for those with the rain sensing wiper was OEM and since it had to come from Germany, there was about a 3 week wait.

It's easy to check, look in the phone book and call a local glass company, give them the info on your car. It's all computerized, they should be able to cross reference and let you know in a matter of minutes.

 

What's the price on the PPG glass? I just took a rock strike which destroyed my stock windshield. It seems that the Mini windshield rake is not as severe as one might think and it takes one heck of a whallop when a rock hits it. I'll pay for this out-of-pocket since my insurance company is looking for any excuse to raise my rates...

 

>>What's the price on the PPG glass? I just took a rock strike which destroyed my stock windshield. It seems that the Mini windshield rake is not as severe as one might think and it takes one heck of a whallop when a rock hits it. I'll pay for this out-of-pocket since my insurance company is looking for any excuse to raise my rates...

They can't if you have glass coverage, it's considered a non chargeable item.

X2

 

They asked me if I had ther "rain sensing" option, so i think they have a version for that.

 

D.D. The only other thing, if you're paranoid and have some pull with the installer is to ask if he'll use the BMW urethane (the glue that holds the windshield in)... it's supposed to be really high quality stuff... better seal for air/wind leaks, water leaks, and better in crashes as far as holding in the windshield in place
Much better than the $2 homedepot stuff some "bargain" windshield replacement companies use...

 

The guy that did mine had a 2 part injector type unit. Built in warming unit, very different then what I had used in the past.

Safelite Autoglass (I think they are National) wanted $274 for the replacement and install.

I have since reduced my deductible to zero on other then collision.

One other recommendation, make sure the installer understands how to remove the exterior A-pillar trim to not break it, it can be reused but will need some adhesive foam reapplied. There is a hidden screw under the rain gutter corner trim that must be removed, the rest of the trim is rather basic.

 

I just had my cracked windshield replaced with the aftermarket PPG glass. I told the glass place that I did not want MINI's original weak glass.

After 2 days, I still have no stress cracks!

 

>>>>They asked me if I had ther "rain sensing" option, so i think they have a version for that.

They could have been asking because they don't carry the glass with rain sensors in it. I had my windshield replaced a couple days before Thanksgiving, and there was no aftermarket glass for rain sensing wipers at that time. I don't think that's changed in two months, but I could be wrong.

BTW, my first windshield survived over 15,000 miles with only some small pits and no chips or cracks, until some major road debris hit it at highway speeds. The outer glass shattered but the inner glass remained intact. The current windshield, OEM glass with rain sensor, got a rather large chip with accompanying small crack within a few weeks. The crack has been fixed so it won't spread.

 

Last I heard, all the aftermarket glass places just get the windscreen from BMW anyway. Had mine replaced last year with a new MINI windscreen. It's taken some hard hits with no chips, compared to 7 or 8 chips on my original after only 20k miles.

 

stupic question but is the PPG glass shaped the same? Ie are they exactly the same, just different glass, or did they make the car a little more "aerodynamic?"

Lou

 

Sorry this is defiantly not the case. OEM glass is by Sekrit, (or however it's spelled) and they are so marked, mine is PPG and is also marked accordingly.

The best I can tell it is the same shape, and I'd think it would have to be due to the method of mounting. The glass needs to sit in a bead of adhesive that is equal in depth along the entire mounting surface. There are rubber stops mounted in about 4 locations to insure the adhesive doesn't get compressed to much.