HUD Issues

[TheX5]

First off let me say that I *love* the HUD option, especially when using it for navigation. Now onto the issues.

I got a nasty crack in my windshield that resulted in it needing replacement which set me back a cool $1,700 at the dealer.

No sooner did I pick up the car that I noticed the HUD was no longer working, specifically the projector was working, but the image was very faint on the windshield. I also noticed that in auto mode, my headlights were always on.

So back to the dealer I went, and they concluded it was a defective windshield (HUD requires a special windshield). Of course none were to be had in stock, so they had to order one from Germany which took a few weeks to get to the US.

Side story: I'm so used to seeing my speed on the HUD, that without it I managed to get clocked at 95 by the highway patrol. Fortunately, the officer believed me when I told him that I simply didn't know how fast I was going because of how I had become dependent on the display. I honestly thought I was going about 80 which is what he coincidentally ended up writing me up for

Back to the dealer where my windshield has now arrived from Germany. I drop of my X5 and several days later get a call to pick it up. No sooner do I get inside that I notice the exact same issues: No HUD, and headlights in auto mode are always on! Don't they actually test these things before they hand them back to the customer?!!?!?

So now the service advisor hauls out the mechanic responsible for the repairs. He gets in the truck pokes around a bit and then sheepishly admits that something is not right. Duh?

Today I get a call from the dealer advising me that they are having a BMW factory service specialist come take a look at the car tomorrow. Translation: we have no idea what is wrong

My bet: It's the wrong windshield again. Probably some screw up in the part numbers or some such oddity.

Anyway I am now seriously thinking of deleting the HUD on my '11 X5 which will be going into september production. It is an awesome option and I really hate to lose it, but I drive up to the snow quite a few times and my windshield gets pelted pretty good with the sand/rocks the they dump on the roads, so I'm pretty sure I'll be dealing with a cracked windshield at some point over the next 3 years of the next lease. I also think the HUD windshield might be quite a bit more expensive than the standard one?

Was wondering if anyone else has had similar (or other) issues with the HUD option?