Windshield gets chipped easily?!

gr8000 · 12-23-2008, 09:33 AM

Background
I went out for a ride with a couple of friends during last weekend on some "challenging" rural road to have fun. Each one of us brought their cars - the others were a modified Elise (2000 model) and a Honda S2000. We had great fun on the twisties and I really enjoyed the M as I never had so far. We had 3 runs over a 1hour timeframe, whereby each one of us leaded each time. We maintained something like a 20m safety distance one after the other.

Comment on performance of the M
I did not expect for such a heavy car like the M to be "on top of the league", but to my surprise it was extremely fast in cornering and I was sooo happy with the overall handling. I really left with big smiles, particularly in view of the fact that the other 2 guys know what they are doing behind the wheel (they are tracking their cars for years). Such good performance was a positive surprise, and BTW there was no brake fading and no issues with the disks afterwards. I consider the route challenging with lots of tight corners (most in elevation), all of which I felt had put tremendous strain on the various components (drivetrain, differential, brakes, suspension, tires etc) with the exception of the engine. The engine seemed to run soooo smoothly with "effortless" power delivery. Most of the driving was done in gears 2 - 4 and the performance of DCT (with progman 31.1) was impecable with no hesitation to downshift under threshold braking. Anyway, that's all the good stuff and probably irrelevant to the windshield chipping issue but I felt I would share.

The windshield issue...
The bad surprise came next day when I hand-washed the car (like I always have done since the time I got it in June). In the evening when I got out for a ride I noticed many little chips on the windscreen under close examination. I am talking about some 20-30 small chips most of which are barely visible (0.2mm - 0.5mm) and some 3-4 which are visible (0.8mm in size), plus a couple of 2mm scratches! Unbelievabe! Although during the run of the previous day I was hearing little (invisible) rocks landing on my windshield, I would never imagine that these can make the damage they did! Neither the speed was so high in the twisties nor the distance was too close (or at least that was my impression).

The future?
Anyway damage is done and I guess it is irreversible (unless you guys have ideas how to repair this). But what worries me most is why is the windshield so sensitive / brittle! Am I the only one here or does anyone else share this view too? I dont mind about the paint as there are solutions to this (clear bra, repainting, detailing etc), but a vulnerable windshield is a big issue in the way I see it! BTW, I did not detect any paint chippings (although probably there will be some). I know many will say I should have kept a bigger distance but I felt the distance was sufficient. After all, the rocks landing did not sound as if they were landing with tremendous momentum. I have not asked whether the others friends have experienced this but I will soon.

Any thoughts?

HotLap · 12-23-2008, 10:28 AM

Not much you can do but learn to live with it. My 535i with 10K miles looks like it has 60K miles on it with all the windshield and paint chips! I've never had a car look sooo bad after so few miles and I try and NOT follow too closely on freeways, avoid dirt trucks at all costs, etc. Seems my BMW's windshields/paint chip more easily than my previous non-BMW new cars, but that's probably just my perception. Still it's painful when you are trying to keep your nice car nice...

MMMorish · 12-23-2008, 10:41 AM

I have a similar experience but not with the windshield, rather the passenger side window. Upon inspecting my car after its tint job at the tint shop I noticed a thin slice that went from the top of my window to the bottom right near the edge (near the b pillar).

I asked my tint guy if he cut the window film there and he said that he cuts on the outside edges of the window, not on the actual window. Upon further inspection, we noticed that the "slice" goes down past the weatherstrip.

We basically concluded that what most likely happend was that a tiny rock got wedged between the weatherstrip and the window and when I lowered the window the rock put a slice in the glass.

How cheap is the glass that BMW uses? Can we do anything to get some type of compensation for the cheap material used?

FusionM · 12-23-2008, 10:51 AM

I am getting a clearbra for the windshield at the moment to prevent future damage. *TLud* Yes, I know, it's crazy.

SECRET M · 12-23-2008, 11:02 AM

careful with the clear bra option. hazing is a huge issue over time esp if you do not keep ur wiper blades clean.

darkalley · 12-23-2008, 11:26 AM

same issue with my e46 m3 and this car. tons of tiny pin hole chips everywhere.

FusionM · 12-23-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SECRET M

careful with the clear bra option. hazing is a huge issue over time esp if you do not keep ur wiper blades clean.

Yea I warned about that but I never bring the car out when it rains and I always keep it Rain-X'd. It beats having to replace the windshield and worrying about quality installers.

pittsy · 12-23-2008, 12:37 PM

I only have 1 chip in my windshield that is visible and its right in my line of view in the drivers seat. Its very annoying

darkalley · 12-23-2008, 01:35 PM

i don't have any chips. these are tiny pin size nicks all over the windshield. visible with direct sun.

!Xoible · 12-23-2008, 01:41 PM

i thought it was just me... every car i buy turns like that

gr8000 · 12-23-2008, 03:48 PM

it is really annoying... it seems that the windscreen glass is so sensitive whilst it shouldn't be. But the most frustrating part is that you cant do anything about it really other than to watch out (i.e. stay as further as possible the car in front)...

Dascamel · 12-23-2008, 03:55 PM

My 335i has the same isssue, after the first 10k the windshield looks horrid. In bright sunlight almost tough to see. Others have reported the same thing, figure the M will have the same fate.

Now anyone know about how much it costs to replace the entire windshield and if so non OEM options?

Hammer · 12-23-2008, 05:22 PM

I noticed that on my car, too. There were nearly any chips at the windshield of my Porsche´s over 30.000miles, but i got the first one with my M3 two days after buying it and it was very visible... 12mm(after repairing) ...
i got other smaller ones now and i start to belive bmw builds cars with very vulnerable windshields (compared to Porsche and i think you might add some other carmanufactures here) :-(

PortoM3 · 12-23-2008, 06:13 PM

I have tiny chips on my windows too. I learned not to follow trucks too close. also, never run the wipers when the window is dirty, it will scratch it. I run the hose on it. man, it is annoying..

SMSgt B · 12-23-2008, 06:33 PM

Same here. I have a pretty good chip (little smaller than a dime) on the passenger side. When I had my 04 M3 I was got a pretty good rock chip in the windshield. I had it replaced at the dealer and on the way home I got another rock chip. Now I wait until I either sell the car or I get one that interferes with my visibility.

PunjabiM3 · 12-23-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

I noticed that on my car, too. There were nearly any chips at the windshield of my Porsche´s over 30.000miles, but i got the first one with my M3 two days after buying it and it was very visible... 12mm(after repairing) ...
i got other smaller ones now and i start to belive bmw builds cars with very vulnerable windshields (compared to Porsche and i think you might add some other carmanufactures here) :-(

I agree with you on that. My Porsche after 20k miles did not seem to have much if any small chips on the windshield (at least from what I recall), but my M3 with only 8k miles on it has far more already. I don't seem to recall this being an issue with my 2005 M3 either. On another note, I feel that the rain sensitive wipers in my 05 M3 worked much better than in this one...

CodeRed · 12-23-2008, 08:22 PM

We all need to drive around with tear offs!

swamp2 · 12-23-2008, 08:29 PM

I will concur. I have about 10k miles on my car and the windshield looks like the one from my E36 M3 with about 100k miles. It is either really shit glass or a quality problem. Sucks for such a car for sure. Service depts may replace them while under warranty. I might try before I hit 50k miles (warranty period in the US).

MMMorish · 12-23-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamp2

I will concur. I have about 10k miles on my car and the windshield looks like the one from my E36 M3 with about 100k miles. It is either really shit glass or a quality problem. Sucks for such a car for sure. Service depts may replace them while under warranty. I might try before I hit 50k miles (warranty period in the US).

Do you think we can get them replaced under warranty?

msile · 12-23-2008, 11:04 PM

Three on my M3 in two weeks of ownership. One in 18 months in the Posche.

swamp2 · 12-24-2008, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMMorish

Do you think we can get them replaced under warranty?

I have no idea but I will try at some point.

Hammer · 12-24-2008, 06:13 AM

I believe its something about aerodynamics!

12-23-2008, 09:33 AM	#1
gr8000 Major 72 Rep 1,172 Posts Drives: E92 M3 - DCT Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Athens, Greece iTrader: (0)	Windshield gets chipped easily?! Background I went out for a ride with a couple of friends during last weekend on some "challenging" rural road to have fun. Each one of us brought their cars - the others were a modified Elise (2000 model) and a Honda S2000. We had great fun on the twisties and I really enjoyed the M as I never had so far. We had 3 runs over a 1hour timeframe, whereby each one of us leaded each time. We maintained something like a 20m safety distance one after the other. Comment on performance of the M I did not expect for such a heavy car like the M to be "on top of the league", but to my surprise it was extremely fast in cornering and I was sooo happy with the overall handling. I really left with big smiles, particularly in view of the fact that the other 2 guys know what they are doing behind the wheel (they are tracking their cars for years). Such good performance was a positive surprise, and BTW there was no brake fading and no issues with the disks afterwards. I consider the route challenging with lots of tight corners (most in elevation), all of which I felt had put tremendous strain on the various components (drivetrain, differential, brakes, suspension, tires etc) with the exception of the engine. The engine seemed to run soooo smoothly with "effortless" power delivery. Most of the driving was done in gears 2 - 4 and the performance of DCT (with progman 31.1) was impecable with no hesitation to downshift under threshold braking. Anyway, that's all the good stuff and probably irrelevant to the windshield chipping issue but I felt I would share. The windshield issue... The bad surprise came next day when I hand-washed the car (like I always have done since the time I got it in June). In the evening when I got out for a ride I noticed many little chips on the windscreen under close examination. I am talking about some 20-30 small chips most of which are barely visible (0.2mm - 0.5mm) and some 3-4 which are visible (0.8mm in size), plus a couple of 2mm scratches! Unbelievabe! Although during the run of the previous day I was hearing little (invisible) rocks landing on my windshield, I would never imagine that these can make the damage they did! Neither the speed was so high in the twisties nor the distance was too close (or at least that was my impression). The future? Anyway damage is done and I guess it is irreversible (unless you guys have ideas how to repair this). But what worries me most is why is the windshield so sensitive / brittle! Am I the only one here or does anyone else share this view too? I dont mind about the paint as there are solutions to this (clear bra, repainting, detailing etc), but a vulnerable windshield is a big issue in the way I see it! BTW, I did not detect any paint chippings (although probably there will be some). I know many will say I should have kept a bigger distance but I felt the distance was sufficient. After all, the rocks landing did not sound as if they were landing with tremendous momentum. I have not asked whether the others friends have experienced this but I will soon. Any thoughts?
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12-23-2008, 10:28 AM	#2
HotLap First Lieutenant 13 Rep 376 Posts Drives: 2008 M3 Vert / 535i Twin turbo Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Not much you can do but learn to live with it. My 535i with 10K miles looks like it has 60K miles on it with all the windshield and paint chips! I've never had a car look sooo bad after so few miles and I try and NOT follow too closely on freeways, avoid dirt trucks at all costs, etc. Seems my BMW's windshields/paint chip more easily than my previous non-BMW new cars, but that's probably just my perception. Still it's painful when you are trying to keep your nice car nice... __________________ M3 ...the ultimate driving machine 2008 M3 6MT Cabrio, Jerez Black w/ Bamboo Beige interior, Tech/Preimum Packages, I-Pod, SAT/HD Radio, 19" MWheels 2008 535i tt, 6MT, Monaco Blue w/ Cream Beige interior, Preimim/Cold Weather/Sport Packages, HUD, HD Radio, etc.
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12-23-2008, 10:41 AM	#3
MMMorish Just call me J.J. McClure 156 Rep 2,834 Posts Drives: E92 M3 & C4 Corvette Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (5)	I have a similar experience but not with the windshield, rather the passenger side window. Upon inspecting my car after its tint job at the tint shop I noticed a thin slice that went from the top of my window to the bottom right near the edge (near the b pillar). I asked my tint guy if he cut the window film there and he said that he cuts on the outside edges of the window, not on the actual window. Upon further inspection, we noticed that the "slice" goes down past the weatherstrip. We basically concluded that what most likely happend was that a tiny rock got wedged between the weatherstrip and the window and when I lowered the window the rock put a slice in the glass. How cheap is the glass that BMW uses? Can we do anything to get some type of compensation for the cheap material used? __________________ MODS: Meisterschaft GT Racing Exhaust / BMC Air Filter / UUC SSK & DSSR (Modded)/ RPI Scoops / Passport SRX Hardwired / Custom Wrap 3M Clearbra / 20% Tint / 50% Windshield Tint / Key Hole Delete / Matted Out Accessories / VRS Type II Diffuser / Smoked Reflectors / Euphoria 6K LED Interior Lights / Rear Fog Light Mod / 6000K HID's / 6500K LUX H8 Angel Eyes / RDash License Plate LED Kit / LED Xenon Reverse Lights "M3 drivers have no friends"
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12-23-2008, 10:51 AM	#4
FusionM Private First Class 20 Rep 179 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: . iTrader: (0)	I am getting a clearbra for the windshield at the moment to prevent future damage. TLud Yes, I know, it's crazy.
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12-23-2008, 11:02 AM	#5
SECRET M Engineer 36 Rep 277 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northern California iTrader: (1)	careful with the clear bra option. hazing is a huge issue over time esp if you do not keep ur wiper blades clean. __________________ [Sold] 2008 BMW ///M3 :: Space Gray\|Black
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12-23-2008, 11:26 AM	#6
darkalley Captain 84 Rep 655 Posts Drives: Gone- 08 DCT SSII, 2006 SMG Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Current: 2014 BMW 4-Series Convert for the fiance w M Package, F150, 06 S2000, 08 911 c4s iTrader: (0)	same issue with my e46 m3 and this car. tons of tiny pin hole chips everywhere. __________________ 2008 SSII DCT M3/Peapack/Parsippany NJ
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12-23-2008, 12:37 PM	#8
pittsy Captain 60 Rep 860 Posts Drives: Jerez...E92 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	I only have 1 chip in my windshield that is visible and its right in my line of view in the drivers seat. Its very annoying __________________ 08 E92 M3 Jerez Black \| Bamboo \| 6MT \| 18s \| 5% tint \| No iDrive \| Heated Seats \| V1 hardwire \| ///M Alu Pedals \| Matte Black Grills \| Painted Reflectors \| CF Roundels \| GP Thunder 8500k \| Remus Race Exhaust \| VMR V701 18s Matte Black
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12-23-2008, 01:35 PM	#9
darkalley Captain 84 Rep 655 Posts Drives: Gone- 08 DCT SSII, 2006 SMG Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Current: 2014 BMW 4-Series Convert for the fiance w M Package, F150, 06 S2000, 08 911 c4s iTrader: (0)	i don't have any chips. these are tiny pin size nicks all over the windshield. visible with direct sun. __________________ 2008 SSII DCT M3/Peapack/Parsippany NJ
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12-23-2008, 01:41 PM	#10
!Xoible Banned 832 Rep 46,029 Posts Drives: .... Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: . iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 M3 [4.00] 2007 335i [9.00] 2008 528i [8.00] 2006 Infiniti - G35 ... [8.00]	i thought it was just me... every car i buy turns like that
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12-23-2008, 03:48 PM	#11
gr8000 Major 72 Rep 1,172 Posts Drives: E92 M3 - DCT Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Athens, Greece iTrader: (0)	it is really annoying... it seems that the windscreen glass is so sensitive whilst it shouldn't be. But the most frustrating part is that you cant do anything about it really other than to watch out (i.e. stay as further as possible the car in front)...
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12-23-2008, 03:55 PM	#12
Dascamel Lieutenant Colonel 48 Rep 1,664 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 M3, 2010 e91 328i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bakersfield, CA iTrader: (0)	My 335i has the same isssue, after the first 10k the windshield looks horrid. In bright sunlight almost tough to see. Others have reported the same thing, figure the M will have the same fate. Now anyone know about how much it costs to replace the entire windshield and if so non OEM options? __________________ 2008 E92 M3 Jerez Black,DCT,Fox Red ext,Prem,Tech,19", ipod/usb, CF roof and trim 2010 E91 328i Space Gray,Black int, M sport, most options 2007 Montego Blue 335i (retired)
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12-23-2008, 05:22 PM	#13
Hammer Lieutenant 31 Rep 423 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany, Cologne iTrader: (0)	I noticed that on my car, too. There were nearly any chips at the windshield of my Porsche´s over 30.000miles, but i got the first one with my M3 two days after buying it and it was very visible... 12mm(after repairing) ... i got other smaller ones now and i start to belive bmw builds cars with very vulnerable windshields (compared to Porsche and i think you might add some other carmanufactures here) :-(
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12-23-2008, 06:13 PM	#14
PortoM3 M3lover 27 Rep 485 Posts Drives: SSII M3 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Wiesbaden, Germany iTrader: (1)	I have tiny chips on my windows too. I learned not to follow trucks too close. also, never run the wipers when the window is dirty, it will scratch it. I run the hose on it. man, it is annoying..
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12-23-2008, 06:33 PM	#15
SMSgt B Lieutenant 152 Rep 493 Posts Drives: '23 M4 G83; '23 M850i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Stuttgart iTrader: (0) Garage List 2022 BMW M4 [0.00]	Same here. I have a pretty good chip (little smaller than a dime) on the passenger side. When I had my 04 M3 I was got a pretty good rock chip in the windshield. I had it replaced at the dealer and on the way home I got another rock chip. Now I wait until I either sell the car or I get one that interferes with my visibility.
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12-23-2008, 08:22 PM	#17
CodeRed Private First Class 7 Rep 152 Posts Drives: '08 E90 & 67 Alfa GTV Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: God's country iTrader: (3)	We all need to drive around with tear offs!
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12-23-2008, 08:29 PM	#18
swamp2 Lieutenant General 609 Rep 10,407 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Diego, CA USA iTrader: (3)	I will concur. I have about 10k miles on my car and the windshield looks like the one from my E36 M3 with about 100k miles. It is either really shit glass or a quality problem. Sucks for such a car for sure. Service depts may replace them while under warranty. I might try before I hit 50k miles (warranty period in the US).
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12-23-2008, 11:04 PM	#20
msile First Lieutenant 82 Rep 373 Posts Drives: AW M3 Coupe Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Florida iTrader: (2)	Three on my M3 in two weeks of ownership. One in 18 months in the Posche.
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12-24-2008, 06:13 AM	#22
Hammer Lieutenant 31 Rep 423 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany, Cologne iTrader: (0)	I believe its something about aerodynamics!
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