Well, I'll tell you first, I love my MINI!!! It's a HOOT!!

Second I'll cry because it got hit in the windshield going to work today by a rock, thrown from the uniform truck I was following. Cracked it real, real bad. About the size of a silver dollar. Just hope it will last until I can get it replaced.

The upside to all this is, the driver pulled into his next account about 2 miles down the road. I followed and we had a pleasent conversation about the rock his vehicle thru at my MINI. He inspected it and there were still glass shards on the windshield and in the crack. He called his boss, who advised me to get an estimate and send it to him. Which I did!!

Now, a new windshield w/rain sensor($221.00), installed is $432.16, but they don't have one in stock. Got to be ordered!!
I'll call MON in the morning and make sure they have it on order, then call again Monday and remind them.

Gotta go folks and wipe the tears off the keyboard!!!

 

ouch, no sensor for me and it was $68 + 160 to install. I suppose the sensor is probably nice though.

 

Oh, Kevin! I know what you mean! Wanda got nailed by a semi-rig that cut us off just outside Houston on the first cross-country roadtrip, when she was less than two months old! It smarts, doesn't it?

You are fortunate to have dealt with such a decent person whose boss took responsibility. Now THAT'S refreshing!


Clover

 

Not to be negative, but how is it the truck driver and/or his company's fault for a rock flying into your windshield? I mean if we take it far enough we could just go after the county you were driving in and attempt to lay blame w/ them for not sweeping the streets often enough. I have had rocks fly into my front glass as well, but I never thought to go after the guy in front of me for JDA (just driving along) and flicking a rock/pebble into my glass. Congrats to you for getting him to pay for it. I guess that's what we all dream of. :smile:

Later.

 

Actually, CalTrans does have a fund for windshield repairs! Last year on a run to Big Bear, a bunch of SCMMers had their windshields damaged due to road debris. One of them contacted CalTrans and complained that his shield needed to be replaced due to all the gravel remaining in the road, left there by CalTrans! And they paid him out of some obscure fund!

Who knew?!!!?


Clover

 

I'm also surprised that the truck owner took responsibility. Is that a common thing in your state? I've never heard of such a thing. If somebody told me that my car threw a rock that hit their windshield, I'd tell them to call their insurance company.

 

You are all correct. I am very lucky!!

As it was a commercial vehicle that had just pulled out of a gravel driveway he and his boss agreed that it wasn't just road debris. As I work Contract Air Force Security, was in uniform, and on my way to work probably didn't hurt either. These are great folks and they have the contract for our uniforms and the Fire Departments uniforms at the base.

Addamaniac: The rain sensor was an option I had on the car. I would not be without it!

 

That's right, debris that flies up from the road from another vehicle's tires and causes damage to your car is not the other driver's fault, generally.

But, if the object falls off or comes off of the other car (i.e., was not lying in the road) and causes damage to your car, it IS the other vehicle's fault in most circumstances. Insurers consider rocks and road debris a "road hazard", and as such are not normally covered by the other driver's insurance.

The above incident is unusual, I assume the company paid the loss out of pocket as a goodwill gesture.

Nice folks, I'd say.

 

Actually in many states the commercial trucks are required to have proper flaps installed to keep these types of things from being picked up by the tires and lfung at the cars behind them> This way they are somewhat responsible.

I am lucky living in SC that insurance companies have to cover all glass as part of your comp and collision with no deductable so any time glass breaks in your car the insurance picks up the tab no matter what and you pay zero!

 

Not sure if its law everywhere, but in Florida windshield damage is covered by your insurance company with no deductible and no premium increase.

My Windshield was cracked by a random rock on the highway (no vehicles in front of me). My insurance sent out a company that week and had it replaced with no cost to me, GF had the same thing happen to her.

 

My dealership MINI of Peabody, quotes almost $800 installed for a non rainsensing windshield,Where in hell are you getting quotes this low-WE ALL WANT TO KNOW!!!!!
(PS I've had 6 windscreens since Aug of 02,averaging 1 every 3 months for the first 18 months-ALL replaced under warrentee)

 

I've also got the rain sensor, but I don't understand what's different about the windshield, and how does the sensor work. Anyone know??

 

why I hate driving behind dump trucks, I swear they are always frickin dropping stuff!

 

Ouch! Sorry to hear about the windshield..but.... a big thumbs up for the driver of the other vehicle... See - there are still good people out there on the roads...

Chow!

Donna

 

It is city law here that all loads must be covered. All dump trucks have a sign that says stay back 10 ft or driver is not responsible for damage. Also, there is a policy on insurance company (don't remeber, I think its like a buck a month extra) for to replace windshields with no deductable. There are allot of glass repair places here. Heck, some will pay your deductable for you if you use them. Some of the roads out side of the city are awful for stone chips. They use what they call chip stone. Its just small stones with tar pored over them.

 

Mini of Nashville as in Tennessee. They are superb to deal with and I give them a big thumbs up for their service. I have the quote in hand and they advised me today via my answering machine that the windshield should be in Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

You still can't get a better deal on parts and accessories than Classic Auto Campus!!! Those guys have great prices!!!

And yes there are some good folks in the world. Talked to one of the guys I work with about what happened and their first comment was, "Don't worry those folks will make it right, they are good people!!"

 

The sensor is part of the windshield. It's already mounted to it, so it comes as a complete unit.

It's infrared, it sees the rain. I use the stuff at work, security, but don't ask me to explain it, my backyard PHD doesn't qualify me. The government buys it for us to use, trains us on how to use it, but lets someone else work on it!!!!!

 

Hi devil's advocate here.

Let's say I'm driving in a Mini rally and my car runs over a pebble and it
lodges into my treadblocks. As we enter the freeway, the centrifugal
force causes the pebble to dislodge and make its way into the Mini
behind me, thus cracking his windshield. Do I offer to pay for it?

NO WAY!!

Not that I'm a cad, but come on, do we in this day in age have to lay
blame on someone other than ourselves for something that should be
considered a risk of driving?
It's something totally different if the big rig in front of you is carrying a load of pea-gravel and forgot to secure the load and forgot to install his rear mud flaps and having things fall off his rig. That's an unusual situation that calls for notifying the owner/operator of the unsafe rig. But I don't think that we should've thought any less of the guy in the uniform truck if he went to his superior and they offered a "We're sorry to hear about your windshield, but we can't be responsible for buying you a new piece of glass."

Sorry to rant, but living in Lawsuit-happy California has got me all riled up.

Nothing but love to all my Mini clan out there, so no hating on me

 

Yes....you are ranting! But, it's a good rant! Rant on, baby!


Clover

 

Gracias mis amiga!

 

Bdmini, I could take this to another level but I won't. The owner offer to pay for the windshield and for that I am very appreciative. So I'll leave it at that.

 

Sorry to say but down here in South Florida on the Turnpike thats a normal occurance. I watch big gravel trucks dropping loads and loads of rocks and dirt with every bump they hit for miles and miles. You can also be back more than 300 yards, but since the truck is moving at 70-85mph the rocks will bounce and roll down the highway for a loooooong time giving you a chance to run into them. I try to avoid these trucks at all cost, but they're everywhere.

If i had more time i would start driving around video taping some of the stuff that comes off these trucks to see if the state would finally crack down on them. But i doubt my time would end up getting much done.....

 

I'm loving this thread.
OldHippie - brokenWindshield + SwellTrucker = Karmic Recycling.
OldHippie + Uniform = ROtF LMAO!

 

Here in New Mexico you'll see the signs that say "Stay Back, Not Responsible For Broken Windshields". About 2 months ago the city said enough and that a driver can hold the truck company responsible. The police had a crack down on those guys that didn't have the gravel properly covered, etc.

Brad

 

Who knew is right!!! I see trucks hauling gravel/rocks/debris with signs on them that say "Stay back not responsible for broken windshields". You would have to Prove they lost the rock from their truck that broke your windshield to be able to hold the responsible otherwise everyone could pick out a truck and say they did it and collect.

Earl