I just replaced mine after 70K miles, installed used Pinklington not the OEM. Clear glass is a beutiful thing! Not sure on durability, havbe to get back to you
Installed it was $330 but I do not have the rain sensor. Not sure what the upcharge is for that
Same here but I have an R53 with Rain Sensor. They also used Pinklington glass and it better than OEM crap. My replacement was $385.00 on site. I have had my windshield in for over a NE Winter year and still looks great. (Road Salt, Cinders, Ice)
Call a local body shop that works on Minis and see who they use for class work. They call them and get a quote and say you are paying not an Insurace co. You will be suprised in a good way about the price.
I feel dumb for asking, but who would I call to see if the pits can be polished? Is that something a body shop would be able to do? Or would I call a glass replacement shop?
That sounds counter-intuitive that it would be less if I pay...? Is it because they figure it'll take forever to get the money if it's paid by the insurance?
Should I even bother checking with my insurance company to see if it's covered?
As far as recommendations I called the local guy who has clear bra'd and bonnet striped both of our MINI's and used the firm he suggested. When I talked to the installer he said he did work directly for the local MINI dealer as well
I don't know about other generation MINIs but the 1st Gen 2001 and 2002 viewing TSBs replaced under warranty hundreds because of pitting due to soft windshield glass. Some of the first aftermarket windshields were thicker and the plastic side covers did not reattach well.
Glass installers or shops get different quality levels of windshields. You should always ask what the quality level is and the guarantee. Examine the glass before they install it. Look for waves, spots, discoloration,and thickness consistency. Anybody can get a windshield replaced for under 350 but you may end up with less than quality glass. This is one of those things "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR" parts.
My deductible for a windshield is $100, so every couple three years or so something hits it and breaks it. Which actually really happened, something big and black like a nut got thrown up from a truck tire and I thought it was gonna come thru it!
Safelite did my wife's Audi the same time as the dealer did my '03 MINI, I wished afterwards I'd had Safelite do both - he did a superior job on the Audi. The dealer.........eh, not so much.
I just noticed the wife's Audi has another crack (for real) right in the same place as the last time. I have no idea how that happened (no really!)...cause her's isn't all pitted up like mine is - after mine's only done 30K too...
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