What is the consensus on the 2005 windshields? Has the problem been corrected with the "new and improved" glass or not? I don't see a lot of complaints with the '05's posted. '05 owners please respond!!!:smile:

 

wonderful things I love about the car, it seems the windshield is not one of them.

I am loving my new car, but the glass seems very 'soft' and I am surprised about the number of small chips already present. I wash the car every weekend, and live in Southern California so the car should not have the harsher conditions associated with road salt, ect and so on ....

MadHatter

 

once your stock windshield cracks or becomes too pitted to see through, go ahead and get an aftermarket one made by PPG.

Mine has taken some incredible hits over the past 2 years without any problems. Great considering that my stock glass cracked within a few weeks!

Edit: My 3,333rd post on NAM!

 

Hey yuccapatrol, I see you're in B'ham AL. Did you by chance buy your MINI at Global in Atlanta? If so, how was your experience? That's probably where I'll end up.

 

Welcome to NAM, solberg. Check your private messages!

 

I know many people had problems with windshields in the 02/03’s and even some 04’s, but I’ve not heard a thing about 05’s having any problems other the back window on the Cabrio’s.

I do not disagree that early builds had a problem, but I do not think most early build people have windshield problems. Many people who did in the 02/03 models were the same people who had more than one crack on them.

I bought my MCS in August 02 and have never had a crack or broken windshield. I do at this time have two huge chips in it, but they are not in my line of site so I don’t care. These have never been repaired and I’ve had them at least 1 ½ years and I can’t get my windshield to crack.

The funny thing is if it did crack my insurance will cover replacement 100% and no deductible because I live in FL and they can’t charge it to you here. Just think people have to pay out of there pocket to get the windshield replaced and have lost more than one. I can get it replaced for free and can’t get it to break. Is this ironic or what.

 

No cracks or chips for me so far.

 

sndwave, I can arrange to help you with that non-cracking but chipped windshield

Because I knew of this problem before I got my MINI, I asked my insurance company for zero deductible on glass. Only cost about $12 extra and I was able to replace my windshield for free.

 

I have a few chips in mine. I work close to a windsheild replacement center, so I stop in occasionally to have the chips filled. I have less than 6000 miles on mine and the windshield is surprisingly pitted.

 

I know you could help me out with a new windshield, but I'd rather have it crack on its own. You just worry about those breaks.

 

I posted back in mid Nov that I noticed and amazing amount of pitting on my 05MCS windshield when I am driving facing direct sun light. I have now noticed the same on the back/boot window. Pathetic glass. Someone is asleep at MINI quality control. I have not read much on here about 05's windshield cracking. Maybe the pitted glass "gives" a little and now fewer cracked windshields. Nick

 

I've had my 05 for 6 months now and it's been hit plenty of times in the screen and I've only got one chip on it.

That said, I took it in for my first service and they are replacing the screen because of a stress fracture (which i've never seen) and the single chip.

So for the last 6 months I thought I was lucky with only having the 1 chip.

Luke

 

Chip happens!

but stress fractures are MINI's fault. . . .

 

Surprised how many pits my 2005 MCS has already after only 5000 miles, about 3500 of those on the highway. Also a bit of an arc scratched into it by the driver's side windshield wiper. Reminds me of cheap Walgreens reading glasses - easy to scratch! (But a new pair of reading glasses is, like, $9.95.)

 

No problems and I've driven 13,000 pot-hole filled highway miles with lots of trucks so far.

 

My '04 has 17k miles on it. I've had several large rocks bounce off the windshield without cracking it (I do a lot of highway driving), but the glass is very pitted. Driving in the direction of the sun is becoming difficult.

 

45,000 miles......6 windscreens..........# 6 has a 8 inch long crack in it .PPG next time for sure! I'm going to hold off till spring .#6 was the first "new " windscreen to cross the pond.It lasted approx. 6 weeks before a crack in the upper drivers side corner .Current crack:follows the exact curve of the passenger side wiper along the bottom edge of the blade.Glass at this point is pitted beyond belief.Back to the drawing boards MINIUSA! (I tell every one who will listen what a pile o crud the glass is in these cars.)

 

No cracks yet, just a huge pit that occured when a BOULDER bounced off the screen after TEN MINUTES of ownership!!

 

My '05 MCS has about 13.5K mi on it since I bought it in August of '04 (sorry, I'm not sure of the manuf. date) and I have had several rocks hit my windshcreen with no cracks or divots (that I can see). I do a lot of highway driving.

However, this morning I was scraping some ice off the windscreen and there must have been some dirt on it from the day before. I must have ground that dirt into the glass with the scraper be/c now I have about 4 or 5 SCRATCHES!! Thankfully they are below my line of sight. I've never had a problem with scratches from using a scraper on the front windshield of my other cars .

Does anyone know of a product(s) that will buff out scratches from glass?

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

No cracks or scratches. I am, however, surprised by how easily this windshield pits. Part of my commute is 38 miles on the highway which can be pretty hard on the front end. This is my first winter with this car and the windshield looks like my previous car's windshield after 190,000 miles.

A million tiny little prisms...and I drive to work into the sun and home into the sun. Not fun. 3M should also make a peel-away for windshields.

 

Frankly, I see no difference in the 05' glass versus the older models. Still pits the same... Not sure any of us have owned their 05's long enough for the "Crack Syndrom" to start.....keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't!!!

Donna
Previous 02' (poor Scooter is gone) and 05' Cool Blue MCSC

 

How the crap can MiniUsa continue to use this sorry glass? Luckily I have not had any problems but I only have about 2600 miles on mine but all I read about is bad glass!

 

I have 5000 miles and mine is already pitted quite badly. I drive 35 miles each way on the Interstate each day (morning east bound and evening westbound) and the sum makes it really noticable. I'm hoping for a crack so my insurance will cough up for a new one. I guess I will go the PPG route as opposed to OEM.

 

I'm up to 7,300 miles and no complaints. One small scratch while driving down the highway, I was struck by what looked like a baseball size rock just below my line of sight. The sound it made was enough to almost make me need to clean the drivers side seat. Sounded like someone swinging a bat at the windshield.

I give 'em a thumbs up.

 

only 3 mo old and I have a chip and just last weekend on a 4 hour ride a chip stretch 3 inch. That is 2 within 3 weeks from hwy driving and compliments of an 18 wheeler.