Windscreen crack - no chips or trauma

[numtumfutunch]

Quick question before I phone my insurer plz

I have a 2y old 5 Series BMW which developed a 15cm windscreen crack overnight

Its not been anywhere near a motorway for a week and has made a couple of short journeys around town most recently yesterday when all appeared well

Ive just noticed the crack and it runs from the top of the screen above the drivers head in a diagonal direction.
Theres no sign of stone chips or marks and I havent been aware of the sound of such when out and about

I did a quick Google - obvs - and some US i8 owners have had screens replaced under warranty for "stress fracture"
Is this a thing???

As stated Im phoning insurance later and will plead for an OEM replacement - esp as car is financed and under warranty

Cheers

[Far Cough]

If its covered under warranty , first call would be to the dealer to discuss warranty repair for stress crack. Insurance as a last resort. Have your research into the stress cracks at hand in case they ask and try to deny.

[Miserablegit]

Only allow dealer to replace if they confirm it is being done under warranty.
I had a rear screen replaced by the dealer and only then did Alpine say they weren’t covering it under warranty.

Cost of screen £1650
I then called insurers who said they would only give me £50 towards the screen cost as that was their policy if I didn’t use their screen supplier.
I ended up complaining to the insurer who finally paid about £1300 as they said they wouldn’t cover the
VAT cost.

Best of luck

[Wills2]

As the car is still under a factory warranty you can push for an original screen I have before (at least 6 times) and it works using the factory warranty card, I wouldn't be bothered about the dealer doing it as they aren't doing it day in day out and will probably sub it out plus they can't even wash a car properly so it doesn't fill you with confidence.

Never had an issue with a replacement screen fitted by the usual suspects but I did have a screen fail within a week through stress on an M5 that the dealer had fitted poorly.

[vikingaero]

It could be a stone chip and the result of several cycles of diurnal temperature - we've had quite high temps during the day and freezing at night.

[Panamax]

If the crack starts at the edge of the screen and head inwards it's not impact damage - it's a stress crack. Very common on convertibles where people hang their weight on the A-pillar as they get in and out of the car. Far less common on saloons/estates/coupes.

Your problem may arise from a poorly fitted windscreen and/or poorly constructed body shell. If the edge of the glass is in contact with some sort of metal protrusion then as the car expands/contracts with temperature or as the car deflects slightly over bumps the point pressure at the edge of the glass can start a crack.

Generally speaking your car insurers don't fret about why a screen has broken, they just fix it if its broken.

Nothing wrong with mobile fitters IMO. After all, they fit a lot more screens than your local dealership so ought to know what they're doing.

[Watchthis]

Maybe caused by a drunken human passing by your car during the night?

[Wills2]

Watchthis said:

Maybe caused by a drunken human passing by your car during the night?

You win the PH random post of the day award.

[numtumfutunch]

vikingaero said:

It could be a stone chip and the result of several cycles of diurnal temperature - we've had quite high temps during the day and freezing at night.

Thanks all.

Above is a good shout as I did hear an impact about six months ago with no evidence of damage and yesterday started at "minus something" followed by strong sunshine then another hard frost

Insurance very efficient and OEM screen promised so all good

Cheers

[Pica-Pica]

numtumfutunch said:

vikingaero said:

It could be a stone chip and the result of several cycles of diurnal temperature - we've had quite high temps during the day and freezing at night.

Thanks all.

Above is a good shout as I did hear an impact about six months ago with no evidence of damage and yesterday started at "minus something" followed by strong sunshine then another hard frost

Insurance very efficient and OEM screen promised so all good

Cheers

Usually there is a small excess for the insurers choice of fitter, and slightly more if you insist on others.
My wife’s Fabia cracked twice in 8 years (tall screen, I suspect). My E36 never cracked at all in 19 years, but loads and loads of chips - I got to the stage I wanted to crack it to get a replacement!

[numtumfutunch]

OP update

Insurance in bed with Autoglass who needed to call their "expert" for my car. No fancy options although it does have the collision avoidance stuff with a camera as standard which TBH isnt unusual these days

OEM screen was fitted without fuss and the XS a very reasonable £70

Still not sure what happened, windscreen guy as clueless as me with no obvious chips or trauma

Thanks all