Countryman Windscreen

[tony wright]

My wife went to get in her car this morning and a 14" crack has appeared from the bottom right hand corner of the screen. It certainly was not there when she parked the car last night as you really can't miss it. There is no way it is an impact crack as we live on an estate with a 30km speed limit and her last drive was to the shop on the estate.

Car is only 4 months old should I take it back to the dealer or get in touch with BMW as it may be a design fault or do I just suck it up and get it replaced?

[dandarez]

4 months old?
Dealer.
If only to get the correct screen - I've heard of MINI screens being fitted and not being the OE designated BMW Mini screen (ie they don't fit properly and leak or worse). And as the Countryman is assembled in Austria I would absolutely make sure I had a correct OE screen fitted by a authorised MINI dealer.

Edited by dandarez on Sunday 28th August 10:39

[gowmonster]

what was the temperature like last night where you are? is there any chips at any point along the crack? if yes I guess it's temperature related, if not it could be a defect and I'd certainly ask the dealership some questions.

[tony wright]

Yes, the car is 4 months old and the weather last night remained in the high teens. There are no visible signs of stone chips anywhere on the screen and the crack is literally bottom right hand corner. Somebody suggested it could be a stress fracture but not sure what that is or how it could be caused. Anyway will contact garage in the morning.

[sad61t]

Any speed bumps on the route to the shops?

Windscreens these days are part of the structure, so going over holes/bumps stresses the screen. If there's any small defect in the screen or burr on the frame it's easy for this to develop into a crack.

Dealer, as your average AG muppet is likely to get it all wrong especially if it's heated. A stanley knife for cable 'adjustments' FFS.

[tony wright]

Ended up driving the car to the BMW garage and sure enough the guy came out and said straight away a stone chip had caused it. He then proceeded to try and dig the tip of his pen into the crack after running his finger over it several times. I asked him to stop, said I was not happy and taking it for a second opinion.

Turned up at the next garage who specialise in body repairs and screens and the first thing he said was it was a stress fracture. He said it would be pointless fighting BMW as they would just claim it was caused by a stone and it would be very difficult to prove anything else So the car is now booked into be repaired and I'm going to be €150 lighter.

[dandarez]

tony wright said:

Ended up driving the car to the BMW garage and sure enough the guy came out and said straight away a stone chip had caused it. He then proceeded to try and dig the tip of his pen into the crack after running his finger over it several times. I asked him to stop, said I was not happy and taking it for a second opinion.

Turned up at the next garage who specialise in body repairs and screens and the first thing he said was it was a stress fracture. He said it would be pointless fighting BMW as they would just claim it was caused by a stone and it would be very difficult to prove anything else So the car is now booked into be repaired and I'm going to be €150 lighter.

Garage says it would be pointless fighting BMW - of course they'd say that wouldn't they, they want your business... and you've just given 'them' the business!

I would have gone to another BMW (MINI) dealer and asked for a 'technician' to look at it who wouldn't put a biro into the crack.

One last point. Hope you get a correct OE (BMW MINI) screen fitted by 'them'.

It'll be marked on the screen... I would double check it.