Soft windshields

[woodranch]

Is it just my car or do you have issues to.I have a 03 4.6 and I get more rock chips in my windshield then any other car I have owned.Is this glass unusually soft and do they make a better windshieds that will not take such abuse.

[cpatzer]

I got a rock chip in my 05 4.4 the first day I owned it *#%$()*$)% Once replace through BMW Seattle, I haven't had one yet in over 1.3 years (crossing fingers).

[gregwx5]

I agree...my winshield is terribly pitted!

[X5Jay]

I have the same issues with my windshield. Anyone know to what extent the damage has to be before ins. will cover replacement? I have 2 small (about 1/16")rock chips about 1/4" apart from each other. While they're small, they're right in my line of sight and very annoying...

[X5 in AK]

Rock chips and pitting are usually two different issues. If a rock hits the windshield with enough force, it will chip (star, crack, whatever you want to call it) regardless of how 'hard' the glass is.
Pitting, or your windshield looking like it was sandblasted, probably is a function of glass quality. The windshield on my '85 728i was terribly pitted when I bought it as a 12 year old car, so bad that I couldn't see out it when the sun hit it just right. No rock chips, though. I had a new PPG windshield installed, no problems after 6 years. Still looks new.

So if you have a sandblasted looking windshield, I would vote for poor glass quality. A rock chipped windshield, that's just bad luck.

[chefwong]

Same goes for just the glass overall.
I've had my drivers side replaced due to 2 small scratches about a inch long that I couldn't stand looking it....

Lo and behold, I have 1 each on the front passenger and rear driver as well. Glass is just soft IMO.

[X5 in AK]

Oh yeah, if you get a rock chip, take your car to a place that fixes rock chips (Novus) to get it fix before the crack spreads. Its cheap, $40 or so. Check your insurance for coverage, but you may be better off paying out of pocket because the insurance will listed the $40 chip repair as a 'collision' on your policy, making it look like you ran into somebody.

[blondboinsd]

Yeah I have had to have about 5 fixed on the windscreen, same thing went for my Z4 I had (had to have the whole windscreen replaced) Both my last X5 (2004) and my 2003 325i never had these issues, I also have issues with dimples on my hood, makes me so annoyed!

[RUSTY]

Originally Posted by cpatzer

I got a rock chip in my 05 4.4 the first day I owned it *#%$()*$)% Once replace through BMW Seattle, I haven't had one yet in over 1.3 years (crossing fingers).

Hi cpatzer, I know how you feel, my last 3 BMWs got "rocks" in the first week! I picked up my X5 in January, and the day after (!) I got the "traditional" rock!

Well - it must be something with a kind of good luck sign from above, and I hope that I will enjoy this car as much as I did the E34 and E39.

Note that damages bigger than an eye means that the windshield MUST be replaced shortly, as the repair won´t last very long.

And yes, BMW windshields are soft and looks like sandblasted after 1-2 years.

[cpatzer]

The replacements don't seem to be too bad though. Whatever it was they used it has stood up pretty well.