Winshield chips/cracks

[TTG]

Originally Posted by Lups

Mine covers shields, but as you may have noticed I'm avoiding all the things I'm supposed to do, including this. The dealership said its 2k to replace so the insurance is a good thing and I think I'll keep avoiding this till spring.

Peter and I will now go and ask a nice man at the dealership to sell me a car I don't want. It's funny how much time one can spend in avoiding shit they don't want to do. Somehow I see this turning into a horror story again.

Some states get a free claim for a windshield once a year but not Washington.

With the crappy roads we have, I go through a new windshield on my daily once a year which doesn't cost much to replace. But if I were to drive the M as a daily, I would defiantly install some sort of a protection on it.

And as far as BMW windshields are concerned: They have been crap for a long time. Our 2002 Mini Cooper's windshield looked like it was sandblasted after 20K miles.

With thinner paint and crappy windshield, we are ALL being environmentally friendly in here

[gtpfbod]

Mine has a crack (@2k miles)

[VCP]

Broken windshield on day 3 of our Euro tour in June on M4. Also had 2 broken windshields on the E92M3. Just remember these windshields are much thinner than non M cars. Weight savings.

Originally Posted by dondula

I just wanted to see how many M4 and M3 owners here have received chips or cracks in their windshield?

I am seriously starting to think something is wrong with the glass BMW is using on these cars.

I have replaced my windshield on the M4 TWO TIMES from cracks and chips within a 3 month period! I no longer drive it on the freeway which is where I seem to be picking up chips which turn into cracks.. Having them repaired in-between, Something is wrong here..

I have never had a rock chip or crack in all my years of driving high end cars... I have a winter car that really takes a licking and it has 0 cracks or chips..

I am starting to believe there is something seriously wrong with the durability of the windshield being used by BMW..

Can any members here please post here if you have had similar issues with this new M3/M4 model?

[THEROK]

i use clearplex

[dondula]

Originally Posted by VCP

Broken windshield on day 3 of our Euro tour in June on M4. Also had 2 broken windshields on the E92M3. Just remember these windshields are much thinner than non M cars. Weight savings.

is this true? Are they really thinner for weight savings? I thought a windshield from a 4series is the same on an M4..?

[VCP]

I am going by the parts guy at BMW. Maybe he is just making me feel OK about this issue

Originally Posted by dondula

is this true? Are they really thinner for weight savings? I thought a windshield from a 4series is the same on an M4..?

[dondula]

Originally Posted by VCP

I am going by the parts guy at BMW. Maybe he is just making me feel OK about this issue

I'm pretty sure he was BS-ing you.. My dealer told me they are the same when I ordered my replacements

[Lynchmob6]

Originally Posted by dondula

Important things to keep In mind if you want to repair it and not replace.

Cover the chipped area with tape until you get it fixed, to keep the dirt out of the chip. That way, it will repair nice and have a better finished result.

Another thing is to get them fixed ASAP, one bump could within a blink of an eye, turn the smallest chip, into a big crack...

The only downside to the epoxy fillers they use on windshields, is they dull over time from wipers and become more visible.. But a little dab of polish will shine the repaired area right back up again.

Thanks! Great info…I appreciate it!

[smedin]

Blammo. Like, day 5.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by TTG

Some states get a free claim for a windshield once a year but not Washington.

With the crappy roads we have, I go through a new windshield on my daily once a year which doesn't cost much to replace. But if I were to drive the M as a daily, I would defiantly install some sort of a protection on it.

And as far as BMW windshields are concerned: They have been crap for a long time. Our 2002 Mini Cooper's windshield looked like it was sandblasted after 20K miles.

With thinner paint and crappy windshield, we are ALL being environmentally friendly in here

You said it!

[TTG]

Originally Posted by THEROK

i use clearplex

I understand that you have to redo it every year? Can you confirm. And isn't the cost pretty steep as well?

[SakhirM4]

Is this really more prevalent on M cars than any other brand in the same area and roads? Are you the only one getting chips in your town?

[drjochen]

I an kind of relieved that it is not just me. We had 3 windshields replaced in the past year. One on the X5 and two on my E90 M3. In the 20 years before that, never even a chip......
I could never see the rock, they came out of nowhere. not even a strong impact. Just a blopp and there was the crack.

[Thurman Murch]

I have never had issues with st gobain - glad I have it on my cars

Now Pilkington is another story - many cracks/breaks

Not sure about fuyao but it seems soft

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by Thurman Murch

I have never had issues with st gobain - glad I have it on my cars

Now Pilkington is another story - many cracks/breaks

Not sure about fuyao but it seems soft

My M4 has Saint Gobain also. So they put different manufaturers' glass on these cars?

[jondoc72]

I got one the FIRST DAY !!! :mad0 260:

thank god it was in front of the passenger side
safelite repair di a lousy job but at least the crack has no progressed

[dondula]

Something is going on here with bmw's glass.. I have never had problems with any other cars or even my other multiple cars I drive on the daily using the same roads.. The glass sucks. It's as soft as chocolate cake.

[BK]

Going all the way back to 2007, when people were complaining about how brittle the windshields were on the E9x, E90Fleet chimed in with the following:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

US cars have the "Climate comfort" windscreen option as standard

This blocks out UV light to keep temperatures down
But this type of windscreen is more brittle, thus more prone to pitting than the cheap windscreens

All manufactureres that use this type of windscreen, either as standard or as a option, have the same problem.

So blame BMW NA for giving you the more expensive windscreen as standard

I suspect things are still the same and the F8x is probably getting a relatively brittle windshield, too. FWIW, my E90 windshield chipped way more frequently than any previous car. With 100K+ miles, it looks like it has been sandblasted when the sun shines through it.

[Lups]

A fresh pic from mine....

[Wah]

Originally Posted by Lups

A fresh pic from mine....

holy shit! Get that shit fixed!

Nice pinky up, dude.

[Lups]

Originally Posted by Wah

holy shit! Get that shit fixed!

Nice pinky up, dude.

fy wah. I don't own those damn cutting tools.

[04RC51]

Originally Posted by Gstone

I just saw a nail this saturday, 1200 miles on car. Not sure how long it was there.
Got it fixed at local tire shop.
Haven't had a nail in more than 8 years.

No glass chips, yet.

Is it possible the new M4 tires are softer than previous gen M cars and this is why you're seeing so many new nails in your tires. The threads get better and better! I used to come for the info but now I just come for the humor. Thanks OP!