Cracked Windscreen - Another Dealer Fob-off!

[S Warren]

Took my car in this morning due to another cracked winscreen (2nd) coming from drivers side A-pillar.

Dealer has just called to say they cannot replace under warranty as there are some very small visisble stone chips in the area of the crack. Correct me if I'm wrong but this is absolute bulls**t!

When I discussed the cracking windshield problem over the phone with them, theye said that due to the design they do crack easily when hit by stones. Sorry but this is not an excuse. Little chips should not cause a winscreen to crack. I have a stone chip right in the centree of my windscreen which is not small, but has not grown at all over the last year. Furthermore, the courtesy MINI I've been given today has a big stone chip right next to the A-pillar on the drivers side. This has obviously not caused an crack.

Why oh why will BMW/MINI/Dealer not accept that the windscreen on the MINIis fatally flawed. Or perhaps as there is the rumour of a new screen now being available with a new part number they have, but are not bothering to tell their customers!

Everytime, they do not replace these screens under warranty and people are forced to pay out of there own pocket or claim off their insurance companies, it acts as an indirect theft!

I'm going into the dealer at lunchtime to discuss further. Therefore, any advice and/or assistance would be gratefully received.

I totally f*****n fuming over this!

(I read that soome of the USA owners are thinking about getting together to file a complaint with the approproiate authority. Could we not do someything similar here, to prevent the hassle and expense owners are being put through).

Thanks,

S

[Red Dwarf]

S,

How did you chat go? I know that the windscreens issue is the only real concern that I have about my recently purchased Cooper. There are a number of threads about this on here, including one that is suggesting that a new screen design is being used.

I can't find it now, but I'm sure I saw a thread mention an actual part number for this new screen.

Hope it went well.

[averyocooper]

if they can fit the point of a ballpoint pen into the stone chip then you are screwed. regardless of the obvious logic that the windshield is weak and such a small stone shouldn't cause a crack they won't pay up b/c they can claim the crack is from an external source.
-a

[Steve74]

They modified the part as I believe they were faulty. They are aware of the problem. Dont take it from them and insist. The screen should not split from the lower corner - print out the numerous pages of threads on this site - I did and they still tried to tell me it was a stone chip so I wrote a letter to the dealer principal and rejected the car as it was new. They fixed it and installed a CD changer for the trouble. The problem is with the screen bond/strength I believe and it will crack from the bottom left or right corner. Take no sh*t from them as they will fob you off and make you pay. If worst comes to the worst check your insurance as many screens are included at a very low cost to fix/replcae in the policy detail through someone like Autoglass. Mine only would cost £50. Hope that helps.

[NessW-s-M]

My Cooper S windscreen has a crack about 6 inches long that appears to be coming from the bottom nearside corner, underneath the tax disc. There is no evidence of a stone chip. The car is only 3.5 months old, and has done just over 2,000 miles. It's booked into the dealer in two weeks time to get fixed. I was at the dealers on Saturday to pick up my roof decal, and I showed them the crack then. They didn't reckon it was a fault (surprise surprise!) but at that point I hadn't read all the postings on this site, so I didn't know about all the problems there have been with windscreens.

Has anyone found evidence of BMW admitting there's a problem? I'd love to e-mail it to the dealer before it goes in to be fixed.

[scooperman_uk]

unlikey. im on my third screen. all cracks from the bottom corner... stone chip within a few inches. then forget about it...

[Red Dwarf]

Quote: Originally Posted by NessW-s-M

My Cooper S windscreen has a crack about 6 inches long that appears to be coming from the bottom nearside corner, underneath the tax disc. There is no evidence of a stone chip. The car is only 3.5 months old, and has done just over 2,000 miles. It's booked into the dealer in two weeks time to get fixed. I was at the dealers on Saturday to pick up my roof decal, and I showed them the crack then. They didn't reckon it was a fault (surprise surprise!) but at that point I hadn't read all the postings on this site, so I didn't know about all the problems there have been with windscreens.

Has anyone found evidence of BMW admitting there's a problem? I'd love to e-mail it to the dealer before it goes in to be fixed.

Have a look through the numerous threads on here about cracked windscreens. I think that there was one with some reference to MINI USA and an alledged letter.

[S Warren]

Windscreen replaced FOC.

They said the crack was due to a stone chip (all I could see was a tiny speck if anything!) near the crack and that the screens can be prone to cracking when chipped due to the curvature of the screen. Of course, this is no excuse, if they cracked with every stone chip then we'd all be changing our screens every week. Moreover, I had a big chip in the centre of the screen which had been there for ages without getting any worse.

The guy I spoke with at my dealer was pretty good and sympathetic (obviously, however he has to tow the company line, which is understandable). He advised that BMW will not change the screen if there is a chip within approx 8 inches from the crack. Anyway he agreed to speak with appropriate person at Cowley on my behalf.

Got a call back advising that somebody would come up from Cowley to inspect my windscreen.

Got a call the next day advising the engineer had inspected it and confirmed and maintained that the crack was due to the chip. However as a 'goodwill gesture' they would change my screen FOC

I wasn't going to argue the toss further, 'goodwill gesture' or 'warranty'. (I'll save that if I encounter future problems)

The only thing I'll say guys is try to be strong and argue your case effectively without getting mad. I do think that some sort of official joint action needs to be taken regarding this problem however. Perhaps a petition/official complaint to BMW and relevant motoring authority.

I'm obviously very pleased it's been sorted, but I'm always worried it's going to happen again.

Anyway, gotta go now as my Whalen Shift Machine has juts been delivered!

S

[stuboy]

Got mine changed under warranty i got the impression that if there were no sign of a stone chip you are in the clear

Ps mine also started in the left hand bottom corner

[Zulu]

S Warren,

I sympathize with you about the lack of responsability on your dealers part to deal with this very well documented flaw in the Mini. Your dealer is just doing what is prescribed by BMW to avoid paying for everyones windscreen that cracks - and there are many.

I would do anything I could to return the car - or be prepared to keep on coughing up for windscreens.

Unless of course BMW accepted that the original 2 screens they installed on your car were defective from the plant (which is the case) and they have now remedied the problem with a better product. But then they should pay you for the first one that you shelled out for and everyone else. Some people are on their 6th windscreen!

Good luck.

[NessW-s-M]

Just to let you know, I took my Cooper S into my dealer this week for a replacement windscreen, and they had no problem at all with repairing it under warranty. And they gave me a BMW for the day free of charge which I wasn't expecting.

So not all BMW/MINI dealers are bad!!!