[wiggis]

Is the MINI windscreen especially prone to stone chips? I've had mine since November, and have been hit twice now. On both occassions, the 'whack' noise when the stones hit the screen were so loud that I was convinced the screen would be cracked from end to end with an inch wide bullet hole. Thankfully, all I have are two little clusters of tiny chips - irritating, but not horrific.

I've never experienced such loud stone strikes on a windscreen in my life. At this rate, I can't believe the screen will last 12 months before it needs replacing.

Anyone else?

[Morri7]

I've had mine since May '03 and only had one hit that I can remember. It left a small mark but nothing significant. Some insurance policies will allow you to get stone chips repaired for free so you could look into this.

[mostick]

If you look closely at the mini the windscreen is more upright that most screens. I do a lot of motorway driving and have so far been through 5 windscreens. All of which are from stone chips. I also have a lot of stone chips on the bonet. But hey, there is always a compromise to having such a fab car!

[KillerByte]

I've had my MINI nearly eleven months now, and had to have a stone chip on the windscreen repaired after two months. Touch wood that's the only glass damage I've suffered so far.

[ScottyBoy]

Ive had the same thing happen to me on the motorway a stone hit the screen and i thought from that hit the screen should of at least craked but thisonly caused a small chip, this has only happend twice and not again! hopefully!

[atif_farooq]

I've had my mini for 3 years almost, no chips on the windscreen so far, touch wood!

[:: Jon ::]

Had a cooper from july 2002 till march 06 and had 3 windscreens due to stone chips..

got the S in march 06 and had one screen due to a crack form a chip

[dalboyne]

Mine has certianly suffered more screen chips than any other car I have owned. I washed her at the weekend, and lost count of the number of small chips. I got one bad one last year, but this was repaired under the insurance.

It's very strongly advised to cover a major chip (one that penetrates to the next layer) with something like waterproof tape immediately, and to get it repaired ASAP, otherwise the moisture can get inside and start to do its damage.......

Cheers

Ian

[steve hayes]

Hi,
I've had MC ('01), MCS ('02), MCS ('03) and MCSC ('05) and they've ALL had stone chip damage requiring the screens to be replaced. Like an earlier contributor, I put it down to the upright windscreen, perhaps aggravated by the airflow over the curved front of the car, Hey, let's not grumble too much - we've all clearly got enough dosh to afford a MINI in the first place, and we can always console ourselves by setting the cost of a replacement screen against the low rate depreciation we all supposed to be experiencing

[Pops Racer]

yeah small price for such great pleasures. Windscreen is too upright . I'm still on my first but it has some nasty chips and one divet. If it werent in for its 3rd clutch at 16000 mi I'd probably be driving her right now! Cheers

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

If you think this is bad, who remembers toughened windscreens and have you ever had one of those shatter on you on a motorway?

Tigger.

[rec]

something hitting a more vertical surface will produce more damage than something hitting a more horizontal surface due to deflection angles.

hence the reason your windscreen turns into a pitted wreck on a MINI 3 months I've had mine and mine's pitted quite a lot

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Come to think of it, this is way tanks have raked back armour at the front; it's much more effective to attempt to deflect a missile, than to simply try and stop it...



Tigger.

PS: Is this the first time a picture of a tank has been posted on Mini2?

[Adrian_T]

Only had the car since November?

Just you wait till the summer and I can guess your question then?

"Does your MINI attract more squashed insects than any other car?"

The answer of course will be yes!

Good luck................

[DaiB]

I've quite a few very small chips on my windscreen after nine months - but I've had at least 6 bonnet chips down to the metal. The last one is also a very slight ding. These are all in the flattish headlight/grill area.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Since having the MINI I've found myself leaving a much bigger gap between me and the car in front; not only does this make it much easier to wave at MINI's coming the other way ( ), but it keeps the stone chips to a minimum

Tigger.

[PmP]

I was doing 100 miles a day for a while last year, and got a cracked windscreen which was replaced, very next week I got a bullet stone chip that would warrant a new screen, but just repaired it and said would replace it when weather improved.

[minigolf]

Had my MINI since June 2004 and have had the OEM screen replaced, then the replacement replaced as well. Gunning for a third new screen in 3 years ... only 4 months left to go!

[minigolf]

Quote: Originally Posted by rec (original)

something hitting a more vertical surface will produce more damage than something hitting a more horizontal surface due to deflection angles.

hence the reason your windscreen turns into a pitted wreck on a MINI 3 months I've had mine and mine's pitted quite a lot

Hahaha, so true. Actually, the OEM screen was the worst in this regard. My two replacement screens have been aftermarket Australian made screens, and while they're still clearly prone to cracking they don't appear to be anywhere near as bad with the pitting/sandblast effect that my OEM screen had.

[S12 GMM]

Yeah, I've noticed quite a few stone chips on my windscreen (one which I asked the dealer to repair before I collected it) and also alot on the bonnet of my recently purchased 2nd hand MCS. Will remember to keep a bigger gap from the car in front! I only really notice them when I clean the car anyway, still looks great from a distance and thats what counts as it'll only be me inspecting it at close range!