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Windshield

7217 Views 18 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  thunderstrike, 
A
So, week 3 of ownership, already have a cracked windshield.

Anything special I need to know about replacement? I noticed there's some lines in the glass, not sure if those are antennae or what
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sgt770
I believe it is the antenna and I would only replace it with a OEM replacement, otherwise you may have some issues. Call the dealer>
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C
Bad luck, sorry to hear. And a bit surprised that your car must have had unrelieved residual stresses in the structure upon delivery. The stresses are normal, but manufacturing processes take this into consideration with remedial steps. But in your case it appears driving the car for a few weeks relieved remaining stresses and the windshield couldn't take the settling adjustment of the body. I would think that's a warranty repair...

I just had my new Cayman on a trip of several thousand miles... including a really rough winding road north of the Navaho Reservoir in northern New Mexico. I took it as fast as I dared and the road bounced the car around pretty vigorously. My windshield survived without cracks, so I guess there were no residual stresses in mine! :)

Doug
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Cinnamon said:
Bad luck, sorry to hear. And a bit surprised that your car must have had unrelieved residual stresses in the structure upon delivery. The stresses are normal, but manufacturing processes take this into consideration with remedial steps. But in your case it appears driving the car for a few weeks relieved remaining stresses and the windshield couldn't take the settling adjustment of the body. I would think that's a warranty repair...

I just had my new Cayman on a trip of several thousand miles... including a really rough winding road north of the Navaho Reservoir in northern New Mexico. I took it as fast as I dared and the road bounced the car around pretty vigorously. My windshield survived without cracks, so I guess there were no residual stresses in mine! :)

Doug
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Yeah, starting to wonder this myself, because it starts right underneath the windshield wiper and extends up a few inches above it. But I'd imagine the dealer just going to blame it on a rock anyway.
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GregW
I'd guess that a rock that cracked a windshield would leave a chip whereas a stress fracture wouldn't--but that is a guess. It might pay to ask a windshield expert.

Greg
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GregW said:
I'd guess that a rock that cracked a windshield would leave a chip whereas a stress fracture wouldn't--but that is a guess. It might pay to ask a windshield expert.
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What I was thinking. If the crack was caused by a rock there almost has to be a chip/star/impact area somewhere along the crack.
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D
oh oh oh let me tell you about windshields


Phoenix north 101 on way back home from taking delivery
dime sized crack right in front of my left eye
taken to safelite they tried to fill it but still had hair line that would shoot a laser of light into my eye if the sun was at a certain angle

on a new 80k car

totally pinged my OCD had to be fixed ins covered replaced the following week

same freaking week passenger side ding same freeway over one day spreat to be about 6" long and broke the wire antenna on that side

windsheild replaced same week

DAY OF THIRD WINDSHIELD INSTALL I GET ANOTHER DING RIGHT IN THE CENTER ...

safelite filled it for 90 bucks I can still see it

its driving me crazy

did Porsche make these out of the thinnest most frail glass they can find?


I swear my Jeep has gone through less windshields on the same commute since 2014 and has a near vertical windshield

WTF indeed
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Sonny
I live in the Phoenix area too. My 718 does have a few chips that have not expanded, but I have replaced several windshields on previous cars from stones thrown from another vehicle. The problem seems to be that large trucks delivering lawn stones (most people don't have grass) drop some stones on the highways and any vehicle without mud flaps and more than half of their rear tire showing throw those stones at your car and windshield. Mud guards should be required on vehicles with more than 50% of their rear tire showing.
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D
Sonny said:
I live in the Phoenix area too. My 718 does have a few chips that have not expanded, but I have replaced several windshields on previous cars from stones thrown from another vehicle. The problem seems to be that large trucks delivering lawn stones (most people don't have grass) drop some stones on the highways and any vehicle without mud flaps and more than half of their rear tire showing throw those stones at your car and windshield. Mud guards should be required on vehicles with more than 50% of their rear tire showing.
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exactly
I swear they intentionally spread rocks on the freeway here
101 especially
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trusted
Same here. I'm replacing windshields at a 1 or more per year rate even with spot fixing chips every couple of months. Extremely annoying. Just had the windshield on our newish GLC repaced last week. $800 down the toilet... Thinking about sending future bills to the local DMV and find out what happens.
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Viffermike
dave22 said:
I swear my Jeep has gone through less windshields on the same commute since 2014 and has a near vertical windshield
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But your Jeep also has a windshield that is totally flat, which enhances its strength ... and a hood, fenders, and grille that will intercept 95 percent of what bounces up ahead of you.

What @Cinnamon says could very well be true in your case, OP. In the other cases ... well, you all should know the boilerplate on what goes into the manufacturing standards of OEM windshields. (This is based on extensive research following an issue with first-gen MINI Cooper windshields being disproportionately susceptible to chipping and cracking, to the point where BMW paid for the first replaced windshield on first-gen Coopers):

Federal law requires an OEM windshield to pass certain shatter tests. To achieve this, most German manufacturers use safety glass that is significantly softer than typical windshields. This practice significantly increases the risk of pitting, chipping, and cracking -- but not shattering. However, most (but not all) aftermarket windshields are not subject to the same shatter tests as OEM windshields; the tests are more lienient. Therefore, a Safelite windshield, for instance, is likely to be made of harder glass than an OEM windshield, meaning it will likely shatter easier but be more resistant to pitting, chipping, or cracking.

Anecdote: I went through two OEM Mini windshields within nine months of owning the car. I opted for a Safelite for my third. Never had an issue with it in more than three subsequent years.

The fundamental issue with all of that is on modern cars, aftermarket windshields often don't have the same built-in items (antennae, tinting, electronic interfaces, etc.) as OEM windshields, so availability and quality is spotty.
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Y
I have joined the new windshield club. Rock thrown up at very edge of passenger side. Crack has already extended several inches. I am assuming the dealer will have to replace.
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autobahn said:
Yeah, starting to wonder this myself, because it starts right underneath the windshield wiper and extends up a few inches above it. But I'd imagine the dealer just going to blame it on a rock anyway.
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Same here. No signs of a rock chip, I assume it is stress related. Starts under the wiper and extends upwards. Mind sharing a picture of the crack ?
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AFH said:
Same here. No signs of a rock chip, I assume it is stress related. Starts under the wiper and extends upwards. Mind sharing a picture of the crack ?
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I'll try to take one soon.

There is a small white mark where the crack starts, but it's very small and doesn't look like a chip to me, looks like just where the crack starts. I don't know for sure though.
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Zzyzx
I'm blown away that trucks are free to let sand and rocks to fly off the back. They even have the nerve to post a sign on the back saying that they are not responsible for window damage. At least that how it is in central Texas.
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GregW
Zzyzx said:
I'm blown away that trucks are free to let sand and rocks to fly off the back. They even have the nerve to post a sign on the back saying that they are not responsible for window damage. At least that how it is in central Texas.
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Stuff flying off trucks or cars is illegal here in Australia.:x

I wonder if the sign on the back has any legal status.
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GregW said:
I wonder if the sign on the back has any legal status.
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Nope it doesn't. They just put it on to deter being held accountable by those who don't know better. Otherwise I'd get a sign saying "not responsible for speeding" lol
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GregW
trusted said:
<snip>Otherwise I'd get a sign saying "not responsible for speeding" lol
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But I'm not!! The car just over-reacts to accelerator input. It's Porsche's fault.
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thunderstrike
My wife 718 Cayman had a rock star crack. Had it sealed/repaired for $50 and the 3/8 crack is nearly invisible, but we can see small fuzzy dot. Turned out very good.

We we don't get any more cracks.

Hate to read your multiple windshield cracks. I would get hold of the City Maintenance to complaint and request they run a sweeper on the freeway 2 o'clock a.m.

Your windshield replacement and cracks sound like my my 2009 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon -- got new windshield replaced, and on my way to Moab got two more rock strikes and cracks. I ordered two repair kits from Amazon and plan to do it myself this time. The $50 Cayman job turned out okay, but I think I can do a better job repairing my Jeep.

My 2004 TJ Wrangler had a bird strike doing 80 mph in Texas on my way to Ouray, CO. My windshield had blood all over with stuck feathers.
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