Alright. Just 4 Days after I picked up my '05 MCS (January Build), I've got a cracked windshield. It wasn't there the day before when I put it in the garage and then boom, in the morning there's a crack running up the windshield.



Now I'm getting the run around with the local dealer (probably because the car wasn't purchased there, see: SF Bay Area gouging) and they even went so far as to say, why don't I go back to the dealer I bought it from so they could absorb the cost.

They state Mini has fixed this problem in '05 cars and that anything that doesn't pass the ball point test won't be covered under warranty. I'm not surprised since they were really making a nice divet with the one they were using on my windshield. Next step, regional rep to see if he'll authorize a repair. Having owned quite a number of BMWs over the years I can tell you I've had ZERO luck with the regional rep aside from the dreaded E46 M3 Engine failure that they had no hope of avoiding liability for.

Well, how many 2005's out there with cracked windshields? Raise your hands...

 

That's the standard policy everywhere. You can do the pen test at home and see if it will pass... If it does, I'd stick some clear packing tape across it to make sure that nothing hits it before you get to the dealer...

 

welcome to my nightmare.#6 ,yes 6 ,has an identical crack to yours,but it travelled from the middle if the car and worked it's way outward. MINIUSA ,you should really be ashamed of yourself, Phil Kahler's work to get this problem taken care of, notwithstanding. Your "fix" on the original problem glass was obviously crap.WE want to know what you intend to do for those of us who have had problems since day one (July ,2002!).I have filed a claim with the NHTSA (national Highway Transportation Safety Administration) I suggest that everyone who has had a problem with the glass in their MINI do the same.There is strength in numbers, people, and the squeaky wheel DOES get the grease! For the dealer you went to to try to put a guilt trip on you for not buying the car from them is truly the insult to injury.They get paid to do warrentee work whether they sold the car or not.The advice you got to protect the crack from further damage is good.If they try to tell you it was the result of impact,bid them a fond farewell , and make haste to a PPG dealer and have them install one of their replacements at a fraction of the cost. JMHO Jock

 

I sure hope every one with a cracked windshield files a complaint with the Feds.

Many complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may get MINI to: 1) Fix the cracks under warranty or 2) Buy better windshields.

It isn't hard. Do it on line at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

 

Damn, mine looked just like that. Three days after I bought the car. I, unfortunatly saw the rock hit the windshield. Although it did not look bad enough to do that kind of damage. Or maybe it did if you use the formula of:

rock weight x
rock velocity x
crappy glass

 

Two weeks ago, the day before I drove the Mini to Charleston for it's first service, a crack appeared on the windshield. It started from the upper center of the windshield, went down a couple of inches and then to the side several inches. It's obviously a stress crack. The dealer gave me no problem with saying he'll replace it under warranty. Of course, he didn't have the glass in stock and I'll have to make another trip to Charleston.

 

Thanks for the link, I've placed my complaint but unfortunately had to list it under BMW since there was no MINI selectable for MY2005 (not sure other years).

 

Mine was cracked when I bought it in November, got it fixed for free but now recently I got a crack stretching over the whole window, left to right, on the new windshield. :(

 

Wow yours has it pretty bad..mine has a few chips that are about the size of a ballpoint pen.

 

Loki,
Please check for a PM
Charlie

 

PPG: the final solution

 

Hello fellow coopers,
I found this forum by accident, and I am beginning to believe this was the best thing that has occurred to me searching for info on the MINI.

My first week, I had a flat on "run flat tire". Notice there's no warranty on tires regardless? I ran into many Cooper owners that had early with the similar problems. What's going on?

I just got a crack on my side rear window. I don't know the cause but I know that i will have to replace it @ my expense. Does anyone know if PPG people can replace side rear window on the MINI?

Its fun when working, costly, when broke!

 

Unfortunatly not if you have the rain sensing windshield wipers.

 

I thought the final solution was fire.... And lots of it!

 

so that's what happened to Donna and Mike's car! CHOW!CHOW!CHOW!

 

Are you sure the side window would not be covered by warranty? The front windshield is a whole different thing based on a design/material problem that causes the windshield to crack much more easily then it should. Before you replace the window take it to the dealer -if there is no evidence that your rear window was impacted there is no reason IMHO that it should not be covered under warranty as it likely cracked as a result of a manufacturing issue.

The front window issue and how Mini is dealing with it is twisted - after the service guys push the pen in the fracture they can create an indent (intentionally or not) which invalidates the whole warranty thing

 

That's strange that MINI isn't listed. Last summer or fall when I started reading about windshield cracks I looked at the NHTS complaints under MINI's name. There were reports of windshield problems for MINI model years 2002 thru 2004.



Many complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration may get MINI to: 1) Fix the cracks under warranty or 2) Buy better windshields.

It isn't hard. Do it on line at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

Thanks for the link, I've placed my complaint but unfortunately had to list it under BMW since there was no MINI selectable for MY2005 (not sure other years).

 

my mini dealer says they wont replace it at all if there is any sign of impact at all!!! so i told him that i wasnt going to go to the BMW dealer to have it replaced and i think he was suprised when i told him i was going to another dealer lol. now ive gotta find a PPG dealer!!!

the chip is under the windshield wiper on the passenger side about and inch from the bottom of the window. it spidered all over the place too!!!

 

i just submitted my complaint!!! this is BULL ****!!!!

 

If there's sign of an impact on the crack, then you're better off pursuing it through your insurance company. Cracks started from rock strikes aren't warranty issues, and it's hard to prove that it's a stress crack when there's impact damage on or in the crack...

Now if there is impact damage elsewhere on the windshield, but not on the crack, get the dealer to prove they are related...

 

it removed about 1/2 mm of material from the surface of the windshield where it impacted. i could make a bigger mark with a beach ball!!!!


its geting replaced tomarrow with PPG glass, screw the BMW dealer, wanted 400 installed! i got my PPG for 250 intalled!

 

"...they even went so far as to say, why don't I go back to the dealer I bought it from so they could absorb the cost."

What dealer told you THAT!!
I'd like to know so my next new car (BMW or Mini) does not come from that dealer (Bay Area).

They can be polite as they deny your claim - but there is no reason to pizz someone off by that kind of a remark.

 

So your damage was caused by something hitting the windshield.... I've yet find find ANY manufacturer that will replace a windshield under warranty due to anything impacting with it.

Do you carry Comprehensive Coverage on your insurance? That should cover any windshield damage...

 

Is it just me or do you all see the crack in the paint. sorry to point this out, but I think you should notice it.

 

everyone that has big cracks on the website above says the impacts were on the black area of the windshield where they are glued in, hmm...sounds like a problem to me, i dont care if its the result of an impact or not, the impact just provokes the crack, and i'm sure mine would have cracked eventually even w/o an impact.