CRUNCH...oops...

[MR325iT]

So I'm adjusting the rear-view mirror after washing the car tonight and "POP" - there's a small trim ring which popped loose next to the ball joint which holds the mirror in place. I try to turn the mirror the other way and...CRACK - the top of the windshield cracks and the mirror holder completely separates from the windshield. I guess I can check with the dealer to see if this might be warranty, but I think my chances there are slim. I know what I'm in for with a new windshield (in terms of $$$), but anyone have an idea what reattaching the mirror holder might run? Thanks, MR.

http://homepage.mac.com/alnmik/oops/PhotoAlbum5.html

[SARAFIL]

:yikes: :yikes:

I have never seen anyone do that kind of damage to the windshield before without hitting something! I can't believe how that happened.

Now the bad news-- that won't be warranty. Basically, anytime you break something, it won't be a warranty item. BMW will find it hard to believe that the rear view mirror broke and in the process it cracked the windshield. Sorry to see that damage! You'll probably be looking at about $350-400 to repair that. As far as the mirror holder, what is broken? Have you tried to pop it back in to the holder, or is it broken?

[MR325iT]

Originally posted by SARAFIL
: As far as the mirror holder, what is broken? Have you tried to pop it back in to the holder, or is it broken?

The mirror holder itself is fine, but that darn trim ring is still loose. The ease with which the windshield broke really surprised me - not much more force than if I were just adjusting the mirror. I figured the worst thing that would ever happen is the holder would come loose from the windshield.

I'll probably call the dealer to test the waters on warranty coverage - probably isn't too safe to drive with a fractured windshield. Will probably end up replacing the windshield, then getting the dealer to reattach the holder.

About two years ago, we were in my wife's A4 when a thermos container came across the center divider and whacked us in the fast lane. Spider-webbed an area about 24" in diameter and scared the hell out of us. Somehow didn't penetrate or damage the hood, even though I was at 70-75 at the time.

[MR325iT]

Originally posted by rumatt
My god. How hard were you pulling/twisting? There's no way you did that while casually adjusting the mirror!

After noticing the trim ring broke, I was trying to move the mirror around to get a better view of the ring itself. That's when it broke the windshield. Really wasn't pulling that hard. Surprised the holder didn't just come away from the windshield.

[Matthew330Ci]

:yikes:

[Patrick]

Wow! :yikes:

I had an interior mirror come off of one of my cars, and when it was in for service, I asked them to re-install it (glue it back on). It was installed BACKWARDS and when the tech tried to remove the mirror, the entire windshield cracked!

I got a free windshield out of their mishap ... :D

[ObD]

Force of jammed ball joint + lever arm + glue bond force > glass bond force = cracked windshield. :D

[Dincic]

I've seen this before with the Porsche 928's! Back about 10 years ago the windshield had to be replaced for around $1300!!! Can you post a picture?

[2b9m3w]

Man oh man. It seems to me that adjusting the mirror is "normal usage" of the vehicle and that it should be covered under warranty. Maybe the windshield glass was flawed to begin with. Could have been that way from the factory else maybe hit with a rock right where the mirror connects to weaken it...

Good luck and let us know what happens.

[SARAFIL]

Originally posted by 2b9m3w
Man oh man. It seems to me that adjusting the mirror is "normal usage" of the vehicle and that it should be covered under warranty. Maybe the windshield glass was flawed to begin with. Could have been that way from the factory else maybe hit with a rock right where the mirror connects to weaken it...

Good luck and let us know what happens.

As soon as he shows up with a broken mirror, they'll know immediately that he wasn't just adjusting it. It's unfortunate, but I can not see any way that BMW would cover this repair.

[wildpanda86]

Sounds like it is a problem with the mirror holder that prevented the mirror from pivoting which cracked the windshield.

You did not purposely or accidently hit the mirror causing the windshield to crack. & they better not accuse you of being rough with your car. Because it seems to be a flawed mirror & the cracked windshield is a consequence.

I say get them to cover with warranty and then for the hell of it (even if you know that warranty will not cover it) get customer service involved, managers, online BMW petition... give them hell.!!!

I just hate how BMW warranty is soooo stingy about what they cover.

[SARAFIL]

Originally posted by wildpanda86
Sounds like it is a problem with the mirror holder that prevented the mirror from pivoting which cracked the windshield.

You did not purposely or accidently hit the mirror causing the windshield to crack. & they better not accuse you of being rough with your car. Because it seems to be a flawed mirror & the cracked windshield is a consequence.

I say get them to cover with warranty and then for the hell of it (even if you know that warranty will not cover it) get customer service involved, managers, online BMW petition... give them hell.!!!

I just hate how BMW warranty is soooo stingy about what they cover.

So I'm adjusting the rear-view mirror after washing the car tonight and "POP" - there's a small trim ring which popped loose next to the ball joint which holds the mirror in place. I try to turn the mirror the other way and...CRACK - the top of the windshield cracks and the mirror holder completely separates from the windshield.

I guess you did not read while I read. I read that the mirror broke (uncertain who's fault it was), and in the process of fidling around with it to fix it himself, he cracked the glass. I'm sure it was a mistake, but it was his fault none the less. If the mirror broke, that could have likely been a defective part. By twisting the frame, he put pressure on the glass and caused it to break. There was no manufacturing defect or malfunction that caused the glass to break, it was his actions.

While I am sure he didn't mean it, his actions caused the glass to break, it was not the direct result of the mirror breaking. The warranty covers manufacturing defects, it is not an insurance policy on the owner's actions. If you break something, you are responsible for it. BMW should not and will not pay for damage that someone else caused.

[MR325iT]

Originally posted by SARAFIL
As soon as he shows up with a broken mirror, they'll know immediately that he wasn't just adjusting it. It's unfortunate, but I can not see any way that BMW would cover this repair.

I talked with a service manager at the dealership this morning. When I began to describe what happened, he said "...and then you broke the windshield, right?" Judging by his reaction, this may be more common than I thought. He told me to bring the car in Monday morning, and provided there's no evidence of a rock chip from outside, this will probably be covered under warranty. If so, I'm saved - will reserve judgment for Monday morning when the car goes in. They'll need it fr 24 hours, but that's better than paying $226 for the glass company's replacement. Saved from my own hamfisted repair attempt.

[LarryN]

Originally posted by MR325iT
I talked with a service manager at the dealership this morning. When I began to describe what happened, he said "...and then you broke the windshield, right?" Judging by his reaction, this may be more common than I thought. He told me to bring the car in Monday morning, and provided there's no evidence of a rock chip from outside, this will probably be covered under warranty. If so, I'm saved - will reserve judgment for Monday morning when the car goes in. They'll need it fr 24 hours, but that's better than paying $226 for the glass company's replacement. Saved from my own hamfisted repair attempt.

Nice! Congrats... Unless you were totally misstating the story, then the windshield was improperly installed to begin with. I had a Ford F-150 that the ball joint was stiff (but not frozen), and I broke the windshield by adjust ing the mirror. It turned out that there was a piece of metal in the seat for the windshield that wasn't supposed to be there, putting a twisting force on the glass.

Let us know if they find something similar with your car.

[Cliff330i]

Wow, that stinks. They may replace under warrenty if you have a cool service advisor. I hope it works out for you. :)

[MR325iT]

Originally posted by Cliff330i
Wow, that stinks. They may replace under warrenty if you have a cool service advisor. I hope it works out for you. :)

It's official this morning...dealer is covering under warranty. Very cool service manager. This is the second time Crevier has bailed me out on a possible out-of-warranty repair.

[2b9m3w]

Originally posted by MR325iT
It's official this morning...dealer is covering under warranty. Very cool service manager. This is the second time Crevier has bailed me out on a possible out-of-warranty repair.

Excellent! Congrats.

Did they say why it might have happened and what makes it warranty-able?

[MR325iT]

Originally posted by 2b9m3w
Excellent! Congrats.

Did they say why it might have happened and what makes it warranty-able?

Nope. They checked to make sure it wasn't caused by an exterior rock chip, and they were curious about the car's mileage (probably easier to replace under warranty on newer cars). When I started to describe what happened on Saturday, the guy finished my sentence for me - makes me think this is actually fairly common, or that it really is relatively easy to break a window that way. I wonder if the adhesive they use somehow weakens the glass where it's bonded to the mirror holder.