1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Windshield class action lawsuit

Another ambulance chaser.....mine didn't make it into the house from the mailbox before it visited the can!

 

Didn't know there was a problem with stress cracks? Did know that the OEM are very soft and pit easily.

 

If possible can someone post or PM me with a copy of the letter. I am curious to see what case action suit this is because I was a plaintiff in one windshield case that had been resolved with BMW. Funny that I have not received a letter yet.

I was part of the case because Mini charged $800 to replace my stress cracked windshield when still under warranty. Mini said the crack was caused by a rock chip and I said no it was not.

 

PDF of the Class Notice

 

Thanks Nathan. That was the case that I was a Plaintiff. Interesting that the law firm has not contacted me about the settlement.

 

Thanks Nathan. I did not know the qualifications.

Jim

 

Got it today addressed to the co-pilot of all things. Took more effort to distract her than I really wanted to expend.

 

Just yesterday, I got in the mail, the class action letter having to do with windshield replacement on certain year MINIs. I realized that, although I've never had these stress crack issues, the 5 year allowable time limit for me expires in 1 day!!!!

 

Well, there you go.
I didn't know the whole story and my car isn't in the affected class.

 

As a side note, I highly recommend the book "King of Torts", by John Grisham. Gives you a really good look at "class action lawyers" and how it all works. Good read.

Jim

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_King_of_Torts]The King of Torts - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

 

I got mine yesterday and filed it (circular file).

 

got the notice in the mail yesterday (day before?) about a class action lawsuit out of CA about the 1st gen windshields : 5yrs or 50k? 4 windshields replaced in the time I had it (since about 36k /in late 06) none due to stress cracks, all rocks hitting that almost straight surface and biting in; guess even the bottomfeeders (aka class action lawyers) are hurting for money now; and no surprise at the California District court decision to even hear it

 

As anyone thought to clue in that law firm as to the growing groundswell of ennui exhibited herein?

 

I do not understand the resentment by many posters on this case action suit. The early Minis (mine was a 2003) developed stress cracks in the corners that were not caused by any type of debris hitting the windshield. At the time I knew many people were having the same problem. The dealerships were told to do a "pen test" on the cracks to deternine if there was any small along the stress crack line. If there was any pit the dealership would not replace the windshield under warranty.

In my case the closest dealership is 120 miles away so I called the dealership to make an appointment to get the windshield replaced under warranty due to the stress crack. The dealership was fully aware of the problem. I was told I would need to leave my car overnight for the repair which for me meant staying overnight. When I got to the dealership they said there was a small pit along the crack so they would not replace the windshield under warranty. I agrued that there was small pits all over the windshield and that small pit did not cause a crack but got nowhere with the dealership. It cost me $820 to replace the windshield.

Mini USA should have been replacing these early windshield with stress cracks in the corners. This suit just recovers some of the expenses that many of us had. If the crack had been due to a rock chip I would have not issue with Mini but I am confident that in my case the crack was caused by stress in a weak windshield.

My 2006 MCS windshield has been fine and I have no issue with Mini associated with my 2006 car.

 

Bingo....

 

I agree that lawyers can be a pain and are just out for money but what about Mini and their techniques of always trying to get out of warranty repairs. I have had many issues with Mini not performing a warranty repair that other brands would have taken care of without a battle. I suspect most of us have had an issue that we thought should be a TSB or warranty item that Mini has not taken care of.
Mini has sure got rich from us.