Hi guys, I am really concerned about the windshield issues and before I deal with the fracture I have I was hoping to hear from those that have had the PPG glass installed.

From what people say here and on other boards the PPG glass is much better then the OEM and I am wondering how those that have it are doing.

Please let me know how the PPG glass is faring for you - it would also help to know how long its been on your Mini and what year your car is.

Thanks!

 

year is your car?

 

My car is a 2005. I am asking because Mini changed things a bit in the 05s supposedly (although it doesnt appear to have cured the issues). I'd like to hear from anyone who has the PPG though just to see how they think it is holding up, if they had to replace it, etc

 

The PPG glass costs 1/3 the price of the MINI glass and is far superior in every way to the soft and brittle garbage that MINI equips our cars with.

It resists chipping, does not tend to suffer stress fractures, and does not quickly get that sand blasted look from millions ot tiny pits caused by the tiniest bits of dust hitting the glass at speed.

It was the solution to my stress fracture and chipping problem and I'm sure it will be your's too!

 

Conversely to YuccaPatrol's experience, I've had PPG glass in my MINI and it was exactly the same as MINI branded glass. It pitted, and it chipped, just like stock glass. I even found a flaw in the forming of the glass in the upper passenger side, so after about 5k miles (I let it pit up even more and chip up too), I had it replaced under warranty from the installers. They then installed MINI branded glass, which actually lasted slightly longer than that PPG one did.

Now, my experience with PPG in the 1990's with a 90 Chevy S-10 pickup was wonderful. I loved it! That glass was nearly bullet-proof! Didn't chip or pit up like the stock glass did. I just wish the PPG glass for the MINI was like that, but it wasn't!!

 

YucccaPatrol,

Don't know avout eVal, but, you convinced me

I have an 03 MCS 55,000 miles, no stress cracks, one small chip) which I had fixed by the guy that fixes all of my chipped windshields), and 11,000,009 small points of light.

If, or should I say when, I get it replaced it with be with PPG glass

Earl

ps

Well I see Dominic types faster than I do . I have heard others say PPG was good/better than MINI. .

Dominic did you just get a bad piece (ie upper right area) or was it, in you opinion, junk??

 

hey guys, I've never heard of this PPG glass until reading this thread.

The windshield on my 02 has finally been finished off with a crack during our trip to AMVIV and beyond. Can we get this glass from the dealer?

James

 

You can get PPG brand glass from nearly any independent auto glass shop. Best thing to do is call your local independent BMW mechanic and ask where he sends his customers for auto glass work.

Your MINI dealer will likely only sell you the genuine OEM piece.

Interesting experience dominic. . . sounds like you did get a bunk piece of PPG glass. Wonder if the rocks and stuff are worse out West in the desert areas than here?

Anyway, now we have two good and valid opposing opinions and so the balance of the forum is restored!

At the very least, the PPG glass is 1/3 the price of OEM. . . . . and I did get the satisfaction of NOT paying my MINI dealer (Global Imports in Atlanta) for a stress fracture that they refused to cover under warranty only a few weeks after taking delivery of my MINI. . . .

 

The whole piece of PPG glass was total junk. It didn't pit up and chip only in the upper right hand area where the manufacturing flaw was, it pitted up and chipped all over the whole windshield.

 

This whole windsheild issue maybe needs a poll taken here on NAM.
And not just asking has your windsheild cracked.
Do you have a sun roof,do you only motor in urban areas,do you motor on rough roads,do you motor on gravel dirt roads,or around gravel trucks.
These would be the kind of questions that need to asked.
There must be a problem with the glass,seeing as how the problem shows up on some brand new cars.
Could be a quality issue from the glass supplier,could be install issues.With the windsheild being glued in hard,as it is past of the body integrity,and does not float like older windsheilds on a bitumus seal,the quality of both the glass and the install are very important.
Now,I risk going out in the morning to a cracked windsheild for saying this,but on my 03 non sunroof MC,42K miles,all driven on less than perfect highways,lots of back road gravel motoring.I follow lots of gravel trucks,farm vehicles throwing mud and rocks,I have taken lots of direct hits.Had some filled,and the whole surface is pitted,only a problem when motoring into a low sun.But no cracks.Now maybe I got a good one. I have had to replace windsheilds on other cars and trucks,driven in the same conditions.
I feel for those of you having problems with cracking windsheilds,and like the bad tranny seals in the MCs,I think MINI is just treating us wrong with these major problems

 

One thing to note about PPG glass, as of a few months ago, they didn't make one to fit a car with auto-sensing wipers/dimming mirror. If you've got these features, as I do, you're stuck with OEM glass.

 

I agree with YuccaPatrol. The glass in my 03 MCS developed a stress crack in less than 3000 miles. When the dealer began to play the pin in the crack game I told them to hell with it. I replaced it with PPG glass and have not had a single problem. And I mean I've really taken some hits. I drive I-5 thru central California everyday, and there are days when every truck that man has ever made is on that highway.

 

Replaced the stock stress cracked glass at 640 mi. on an '04. I read up here and went straight for the PPG. It has held up fine even getting whacked by a freeway asteroid. I can't believe MINI has dragged this issue out over the production years.

Make sure you select a proper installer that has complete documentation on removal/installation and urethane product per MINI specifications, structural integrity is at play.

 

Or blow off those features:smile:

 

I LOVE these features!

I'll live with OEM glass as I've not had any stress cracks in 3 windshields (knock wood)... #1 went with massive road debris hitting my car - I believe it was a series of mangled ladder treads that would've ruined any windshield; #2 went with a rather large rock that produced a large chip and some spidering. Number 3 is doing quite well (again, knock wood).

BTW, for those of you replacing your windshields, you should replace the pillar covers and top and bottom molding pieces at the same time. My passenger side molding flew off the car at speed when the wind got under it because the clips that hold it in place are meant for one use only! When it was replaced the tech said that all those pieces should be replaced with the glass.

 

Definitely good advice. I had heard of similar problems before I had mine replaced and specified to the installer that I needed all new moldings. Ask for your old pieces back just to make sure you get new ones.

 

I'll second that. One of my A-pillar covers flew off not long after my Safelite windshield install... I think they used a PPG windshield, but I'm not sure.

About 2 months into the new windshield, this happenend:

 

What did you get hit by?


I have a PPG replacement and took some good hit and its doing fine.



Paul

 

I should have been more clear, This was not your ordinary rock, it must have been a small boulder. It sounded like a gunshot went off inside the car when it hit. I can only imagine what might have happened had it been the OEM glass. Notice the "eyebrow" over the bullseye.

 

I think the issue has to do mostly with the Freeway's we drive on and how fast we and others drive. Coming back from the Grand Canyon for the first time recently allowed for a 80 MPH drive all the way to Cali., at the same time Truckers are doing 80 mph. . Anyway, I could just see all the rocks flying up all over the place with every imperfection in the road and in short our original windshield now needs replacing.
I'll give the PPG a shot, thanks guys.
James

 

Thanks for the replies everyone - I'm still sorting it out (the info about the clips/a pillar covers/molding is very helpful!) and will probably get the PPG. The local installer recommended by an excellent body shop says they use PPG and inspect each windshield before installation, I'm just waiting to hear back if they know about the pillar cover replacement, etc.

Keep the posts coming if you have any input though, its bound to help others who encounter the Achilles windshield of the Mini.

(Of course like any warranty issue not every car will have the problem, but there is no doubt that there is a pattern demonstrating that this is a problem endemic to the car. On that note I have noticed that the dealers do not write up the cars to check the windshield and thus deter the repair under warranty without even entering it into the system - is this a way to avoid the problem from being properly tracked and addressed?)

 

eVal - so, did you end up with a PPG windshield?

It's time to replace mine, and I'd like to go with the PPG (which my dealer obviously doesn't have), but I doubt that I can get the pillar covers and moldings from anyone other than the MINI dealer. What's the best way to get this all to work? Anyone else have advice?

Thanks!
Chris

 

My independent local auto glass place just ordered the necessary trim pieces from the closest MINI dealer. when I had my PPG windshield installed.

I don't remember how much they were, but I remember thinking the trim parts were very cheap when I reviewed the invoice.

 

Just out of curiosity, how much was the total install withthe price of glass and moldings? I've had my mini for less than a week and already got my first small rock chip, driving through Birmingham no less. Must be something about that city. Second new car in a row that i've gotten my first rock chip while driving through there on the way to Huntsville from Auburn.

 

I asked a great local bodyshop who they reccomended for the glass replacement and they pointed me towards a shop that turned out to be great. They already used the PPG and knew about the a-pillar covers and clips, which they even kept in stock. Thay also assured me that they took out and replaced all the urathane which many of the mobile ones do not. The total cost was around $330 as I recall and the glass seems to be great

I'll bet you can find a place just like I did if you try, no need to involve the dealer at all