[schneeky]

I have a 34cm crack in my windscreen and have been told by my insurance company that no replacement exists anywhere in Europe and that BMW have no imminent plans to have any manufactured.

I have solar reflective comfort glass, head up display, lane departure and auto lights/wipers so it isn’t the basic screen but it sounds odd to me that not a single example can be sourced anywhere in Europe.

Has anybody else experienced this? I’ll get onto BMW to see if they can shed any light on this but I’m not happy at the prospect of a log delay driving with a potentially dangerous windscreen. I’m told that the police take a dim view of this too…

[1HOT BMR]

Have you looked into aftermarket glass? It's really exactly the same thing minus the car company logo on the corner. I've used afermarket glass in many cars and cannot tell the difference from OEM.

[Losco]

I don't have HUD and comfort glass, but have auto wiper. Mine got cracked on highway and it was right after the big earthquakes so they didn't have any in stock. apparently all the windshields in storage got destroyed... made me wait 4 weeks for it but got my replacement after that. It'd make no sense they won't have replacement windshield.

[schneeky]

Yes looked at aftermarket glass too - no joy...

[AKSteve]

Honestly, if I had to choose, I would pick aftermarket glass over the original glass that came with my 535xi. In less than 6 months, I had 5 chip marks and a footlong crack in my windshield. It seems to be a real weak point.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by schneeky

I have a 34cm crack in my windscreen and have been told by my insurance company that no replacement exists anywhere in Europe and that BMW have no imminent plans to have any manufactured.

I have solar reflective comfort glass, head up display, lane departure and auto lights/wipers so it isn’t the basic screen but it sounds odd to me that not a single example can be sourced anywhere in Europe.

Has anybody else experienced this? I’ll get onto BMW to see if they can shed any light on this but I’m not happy at the prospect of a log delay driving with a potentially dangerous windscreen. I’m told that the police take a dim view of this too…

Sounds like it could be the insurer trying to wriggle out of the claim; which company is it?
Have you spoken with your dealer yet?

[1HOT BMR]

Originally Posted by schneeky

Yes looked at aftermarket glass too - no joy...

I agree with Jon D above, it's unlikely that there is no glass available anywhere.
I don't know how much a windshield would cost in Europe but I pay for my windshields myself and do not file a claim. These guys come to one's house to do it and the windshield cost for my 550i is $551.61 US dollars.

http://www.allstarglass.net/quote.php

[schneeky]

The insurer is Admiral who use National Windscreens. I spoke to National Windscreens directly and also Autoglass who confirmed zero stock too.

I'll call the dealer tomorrow, been a busy week :-) and will also take a look at All Star Glass but guess that they are in the States - I'm on the other side of the pond but will let you know.

Thanks for the feedback.

[ex-poster]

Originally Posted by 1HOT BMR

.... I pay for my windshields myself and do not file a claim.

Why is this?

[1HOT BMR]

Originally Posted by smithrh

Why is this?

For two reasons: I have a $500 deductible and the price is lower if you inform the glass repair place that you are paying out of your own pocket - glass repair is inexpensive so it doesn't make sense to me to file a claim. I had to replace the windshield of my NSX about a year ago - my price was $325 installed. If I'd file a claim the price would have been much higher. Why? I have no idea. The fewer claims you have the less likely the insurance company will find an excuse to increase your rates.

[schneeky]

Update: Spoken to my dealer who confirmed no availability in UK or Germany. Spoke to BMW UK who will escalate to Germany to see if I can get an ETA watch this space - Not amused...

[radarguy]

I'm not sure how good a $600 installation would be. My F10 without HUD, but all the other windshield stuff cost $875 for OEM parts at "insurance company rates". $300 was for parts other than the windshield. Total was $1425 including labor. SAFELITE would do it for about $850 including labor. See the attached for the BMW invoice.

I checked SAFELITE out. They would have me drive the car in and I'd be done in 90 minutes at which time I should wait 24 hours "before I go through a car wash". The BMW dealer said they will keep the car in their shop for 24 hours at proper ambient temperature so that the windshield does not move while the sealant cures. SAFELITE guarantees against leaks, BMW guarantees against leaks, wind noise and the consequences of those leaks such as ruined electronics behind the dash panel. All the stuff on the windshield (rain sensor, headlight sensor, lane sensor) remains under BMW warranty with a BMW repair. With someone else s repair, you might have a contentious warranty situation for those items.

[snj1013]

My windshield got a foot long crack in it the very first time I drove the car. I was going 35-40 mph when a very small rock hit my windshield. I've had dozens of larger rocks, at higher speeds hit my Infiniti G35 without causing any noticible crack. I have an estimate of $550 from a local repair shop. The glass is a little over $400 from the dealer (base model, no HUD or lane departure), $30 for a molding, and $100 to install. I asked about aftermarket glass, but the installer told me that currently there isn't much out there. In a couple of years, the aftermarket glass will be out there more, and at a lower price.
Any thoughts? $550 doesn't sound that bad if the BMW glass is over $400.

[schneeky]

Well good luck - I hope you don't have HUD and comfort glass..

BMW or any 3rd party still cannot supply me with a windscreen. Finally was told by my dealer that they are being produced in tiny batches and I may get mine at the end of August (But they previously said the end of July so it's anybody's guess).

I'm passed the angry stage now and am resigned to a long wait - BMW Customer service originlly told me that they had no idea when a screen would be manufactured and that it "could be a week or a year". When I said that was outrageous, the operator simply said that it wasn't and couldn't see why I would have a problem with that - "my fault for having a high spec vehicle". I was/am stunned by that response but as her IQ was clearly below average I didn't bother to take it any further. I guess one will turn up this year sometime or is that tempting fate?

F10/11 owners with HUD beware...

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by schneeky

I'm passed the angry stage now and am resigned to a long wait - BMW Customer service originlly told me that they had no idea when a screen would be manufactured and that it "could be a week or a year". When I said that was outrageous, the operator simply said that it wasn't and couldn't see why I would have a problem with that - "my fault for having a high spec vehicle". I was/am stunned by that response but as her IQ was clearly below average I didn't bother to take it any further. I guess one will turn up this year sometime or is that tempting fate?

F10/11 owners with HUD beware...

BMW told you that? F$%" that.

I thought blaming the customers went away in the 1980s, when the crap companies that did it went bankrupt.

[kaishang]

BTW is the difficulty that you have the solar reflective glass, the HUD, the touring model or what?

The way BMW windscreens crack (I've had 3 stone chips in a year cf about 1 every 3 years in every other car I've had), there should be plenty of windscreen available. So is it one of the windscreen/HUD options which is causing the supply difficulty?

[schneeky]

I think it is mainly the HUD option but also the combination of them all. Still can't see why BMW can't keep a reasonable stock. As you say, cracked and chipped windscreens are hardly uncommon HUD or no HUD.

[RH512]

I have HUD and wiper sensor, don't think comfort glass. Been on order for three weeks, they're telling me another month or two - so end of August or September. My quote is just over $1700 for the complete job which insurance will cover.

Crack keeps growing. Started with tiny nick on black area at top of passenger side and short crack, then went down for about 10 inches (25 cm) then turned and is almost in the middle of my view on the driver's side. Not happy.

[radarguy]

Originally Posted by RH512

I have HUD and wiper sensor, don't think comfort glass. Been on order for three weeks, they're telling me another month or two - so end of August or September. My quote is just over $1700 for the complete job which insurance will cover.

Crack keeps growing. Started with tiny nick on black area at top of passenger side and short crack, then went down for about 10 inches (25 cm) then turned and is almost in the middle of my view on the driver's side. Not happy.

That really sucks. If the crack becomes a hazard to safe driving, I would insist that they provide a loaner or replace the windshield with a non-HUD version and then replace it again when the correct part is available.

[Krash7172]

Just cracked mine also. 9/22 is the ship date I was given.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by schneeky

I think it is mainly the HUD option but also the combination of them all. Still can't see why BMW can't keep a reasonable stock. As you say, cracked and chipped windscreens are hardly uncommon HUD or no HUD.

I didn't think the HUD option required anything other than a standard screen; if you know differently I'd appreciate any info you may have.
I'm trading my F10 535d in for an F12 640d early next year and I want to configure it with HUD, but if it requires a special screen, I might reconsider the option.

[RH512]

Originally Posted by Jon D

I didn't think the HUD option required anything other than a standard screen; if you know differently I'd appreciate any info you may have.
I'm trading my F10 535d in for an F12 640d early next year and I want to configure it with HUD, but if it requires a special screen, I might reconsider the option.

I was told it is a different part for HUD.
Checking realoem.com shows various combinations, each requiring a different screen.