[iviegatron]

Yesterday I took a 600 mile road trip and while driving a rock hit my windshiled. It wasn't a sharp sound like it would be a cause for concern so I ignored it. Came back home and I'm cleaning my windshield due to all the dead bugs. I noticed a small crack less than an inch long on the windshield and I was infuriated.

If it was any other car this wouldn't have happened. I feel like BMW is producing some inferior quality windshields. I only have 1250 miles on the car and I have 3 or 4 chips from previously driving and now a crack.

Prior to this I had my audi for 4 years and have taken the same road trips. Also had experiences where I thought my windshield was definitely cracked from rocks hitting it, but nope. It was solid.

Looks like I should sign up for $0 deductible glass coverage since I have no faith on this windshield.

[ferrarifast]

Is this your first M car?

Ms have always had lighter windshields than normal BMWs, likely for weight savings.

Also anytime a rock hits your windshield, it's a gamble anyways.
All types of windshields tend to crack, I wouldn't venture on and say BMW is using an inferior windshield. Angle, speed, weight of rock play a huge role. It really wouldn't make a difference if you've done the 600 mile trip before w/o any instances like this before.

[iviegatron]

Originally Posted by ferrarifast

Is this your first M car?

Ms have always had lighter windshields than normal BMWs, likely for weight savings.

Also anytime a rock hits your windshield, it's a gamble anyways.
All types of windshields tend to crack, I wouldn't venture on and say BMW is using an inferior windshield. Angle, speed, weight of rock play a huge role. It really wouldn't make a difference if you've done the 600 mile trip before w/o any instances like this before.

Yes. This is my first M car. I just think these windshields are more susceptible to damage compared to other cars if given the same conditions.

Is the windshield used on the regular 3 series different? If so, once my windshield needs replacement (I hope it doesnt), can I use a normal 3 series windshield on the M3?

[Forzanerazzurri]

BMW dosent produce the windshield and windshields crack and chip when hit by rocks. There isnt really a grade of windshield that will stop a rock from cracking it if the speed and size of the rock is high enough.

[Forzanerazzurri]

Originally Posted by ferrarifast

Is this your first M car?

Ms have always had lighter windshields than normal BMWs, likely for weight savings.

Also anytime a rock hits your windshield, it's a gamble anyways.
All types of windshields tend to crack, I wouldn't venture on and say BMW is using an inferior windshield. Angle, speed, weight of rock play a huge role. It really wouldn't make a difference if you've done the 600 mile trip before w/o any instances like this before.

lighter windshields? do you have a source to back that up?

[ferrarifast]

Originally Posted by iviegatron

Yes. This is my first M car. I just think these windshields are more susceptible to damage compared to other cars if given the same conditions.

Is the windshield used on the regular 3 series different? If so, once my windshield needs replacement (I hope it doesnt), can I use a normal 3 series windshield on the M3?

I think you'd have to confirm if that's possible.

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

lighter windshields? do you have a source to back that up?

I am under the strong belief that the M windshields are thinner/lighter than traditional windshields. When I took my old F8x for service and got a 3/4 series loaner in return, it always seemed they had a "thicker"/heavier windshield than the one in my car. I assumed BMW did this for weight saving reasons.

Could be a placebo effect. I'll run this by some folks in the industry when I get a chance next. Other than that if someone on this forum knows if there are any technical differences, would be curious to hear.

It seems that even for the non-M cars, BMW and Mercedes-Benz tend to use thinner windshields than other car makers. Just google "BMW windshield is thin" and you will see the countless threads and complaints about the glass cracking too easily.

BTW known issue on F8x forums
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...ghlight=window

[Murf]

I think it's also related to sound deadening for the more luxury oriented cars - they have thicker glass for sure.

My 5500 mile windshield looks 10 years old at this point, chips and micro scratches galore.

[iviegatron]

Originally Posted by Forzanerazzurri

BMW dosent produce the windshield and windshields crack and chip when hit by rocks. There isnt really a grade of windshield that will stop a rock from cracking it if the speed and size of the rock is high enough.

I understand BMW doesn't make the windshield, but as far as quality of windshield goes it is not the norm, at least I don't think. Like I said, the impact of the rock hitting the windshield wasn't that great, it barely made a sound and my windshield cracked. I always avoid driving behind 18 wheelers, pick up trucks, or any vehicle that is lifted. Plus I got multiple chips from normal driving on the freeway and I only have 1250 miles.

I drive my other cars more than the M3 and not a single crack or chip. I have 170k on one of my cars and never replaced the windshield since I never had a crack or chip. That car has been abused more than anything.

[zambarossa]

it is pure luck IMO. I once had 2 cracks in one trip. In some cases I thought the rock was a bullet but nothing more than cosmetic damage. All on BMWs. I believe where it hits and angle of impact also matter, the edges seem to be more susceptible.

[DRKNESSAudiDad]

Not that this was anything like your vehicle OP, but on our 2020 the windshield cracked as I pulled into my garage from buying it. Had it owed back to the dealership the next day, and they swore a rock must have hit it, but couldn’t show me an impact area !!!

[sutekidane]

This has nothing to do how miles you drove the car, it is more related with the road condition and luck :-P . If the crack is not that big, you can fix it by yourself. Search it on Youtube. I've fixed it multiple times.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

True or not there have always been stories (rumors) of BMW windshields being "soft" & easily pitted. Since 2004 have had them pit but never broke one.

[rak299]

Originally Posted by ferrarifast

Is this your first M car?

Ms have always had lighter windshields than normal BMWs, likely for weight savings.

Also anytime a rock hits your windshield, it's a gamble anyways.
All types of windshields tend to crack, I wouldn't venture on and say BMW is using an inferior windshield. Angle, speed, weight of rock play a huge role. It really wouldn't make a difference if you've done the 600 mile trip before w/o any instances like this before.

This just seems wrong. (about different windshields) I just looked ar BMWPartsDirect.com. I looked at 2018 340i and 2018 M3. Both used 51-31-7-258-069. (They didn't yet have parts listed for G80

[Ginster6]

LOL..
Took my wife's 2021 x3m40i SF to LA. cracked it left side going down. crack the right side coming back..

Was going to drive my M3 down this weekend. and decided I don't want cracked windscreen and besides that first class flight is only 19K point roundtrip...

[edofloat]

Originally Posted by iviegatron

Yesterday I took a 600 mile road trip and while driving a rock hit my windshiled. It wasn't a sharp sound like it would be a cause for concern so I ignored it. Came back home and I'm cleaning my windshield due to all the dead bugs. I noticed a small crack less than an inch long on the windshield and I was infuriated.

If it was any other car this wouldn't have happened. I feel like BMW is producing some inferior quality windshields. I only have 1250 miles on the car and I have 3 or 4 chips from previously driving and now a crack.

Prior to this I had my audi for 4 years and have taken the same road trips. Also had experiences where I thought my windshield was definitely cracked from rocks hitting it, but nope. It was solid.

Looks like I should sign up for $0 deductible glass coverage since I have no faith on this windshield.

This is becoming a common thing with MANY manufacturers. As far as I know, none make their own glass, they buy it from vendors. There aren't all the many vendors either, a few make most of the glass (according to my glass install guy). Ssame reason many manufacturers use crappy tires too, save some money per unit.

[Forzanerazzurri]

Originally Posted by rak299

This just seems wrong. (about different windshields) I just looked ar BMWPartsDirect.com. I looked at 2018 340i and 2018 M3. Both used 51-31-7-258-069. (They didn't yet have parts listed for G80

Obviously...

[FloridaE90]

Originally Posted by iviegatron

Prior to this I had my audi for 4 years and have taken the same road trips.

That's because the BMW must obviously be going faster than the inferior Audi.

[BMWRacer523]

i don't think it's as manufacturer specific as location specific. Almost every car with the exception of one in the last 15 years has had cracked windshield due to the shitty roads here in the NE.

[Kminor2578]

I just think this is a direction in the industry, my guess is for pedestrian safety. My windshield on my F80 never cracked but had millions of pits in it. I was cleaning my G80 yesterday and noticed it's starting to show the same pits and it only has 3400 miles on it.

[Indo Rider]

Originally Posted by zambarossa

it is pure luck IMO. I once had 2 cracks in one trip..

I tend to agree. I got 3 noticable rock chips on my 135 in the first year of ownership, was about to have windshield replaced after the 2nd, but then got the third and thought, shit, I could have got a new windshield and I then imediately been back in the same situation so I said screw it I'll see how many I can collect. Never got another over 10+ years... Two of them happened while driving on surface streets going 30 - 45 mph too, which was really a wtf at the time.

[PVC]

I think 3 series windsheilds are lighter too. At least that's what the safelite guy was saying when he replaced my 335i's windshield a couple of years ago.

[iviegatron]

I'm getting my crack fixed by safelite under insurance. Once the crack is fixed, I'm applying exoshield to lower my anxiety while driving.