[silverado]

I picked up my 330i (Black Sapphire, Black leather, manual transmission, sports, cold weather, premium, iDrive, PDC). The car is FANTASTIC in every way except that I noticed a 1-inch line in the windshield that looks like some sort of dent and things look distorted through it. It is clearly a manufacturing defect.

My question is: am I better off having the windshield replaced by the dealer or living with this (at least for some time). How well would a replacement windshield fit on the new car compared to the seal and fit of the factory installation?

[ldpantoja]

Take it to the dealer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SCA]

If it ain't broken, don't fix it! Seriously I would leave well enough alone. Have your dealer make a note on your service record next time you have the car in for service, but I would not replace it at this time.

[bozo5521]

Are you SURE its a defect? If so, get the thing checked out...ESPECIALLY in a first year model..If I suspect there is a piece of lint in my driveshaft, I take it in..Thats what warranties are for..Abuse it...

Ask all the people who bought CPO(or new) 2001 X5's..Most of them have spent more in repairs than the price of the car because of the lack of warranty maintenance done on them...And youll sleep better too!

[silverado]

Originally Posted by bozo5521

Are you SURE its a defect? If so, get the thing checked out...ESPECIALLY in a first year model..If I suspect there is a piece of lint in my driveshaft, I take it in..Thats what warranties are for..Abuse it...

Ask all the people who bought CPO(or new) 2001 X5's..Most of them have spent more in repairs than the price of the car because of the lack of warranty maintenance done on them...And youll sleep better too!

Yes, I'm sure, but I'm also getting it checked out. However, I worry about having the windshield replaced and what that might result in, e.g., imperfect seal that's not as good as the original. Anyone knows whether such a problem is likely or is replacing the windshield at the dealer a slam dunk that's unlikely to go wrong?

[SCA]

Any repair is rarely, if ever as good as the factory.

[Interested]

If it is indeed a manufacturing defect, I would return the product for a replacement. As mentioned, a repair is never "as good as new". If this is a lease, I would just have it fixed, if you bought it, you should get a new one.

[silverado]

Originally Posted by Interested

If it is indeed a manufacturing defect, I would return the product for a replacement. As mentioned, a repair is never "as good as new". If this is a lease, I would just have it fixed, if you bought it, you should get a new one.

It is a purchase, so you're saying I should ask for a new car?! I've already put 500 miles on this car.

[Tierfreund]

Originally Posted by silverado

It is a purchase, so you're saying I should ask for a new car?! I've already put 500 miles on this car.

LOL. A new car because of a problem with the windshield.

Thousands of windshields are replaced every day. There´s no magic to it. If it´s bothering you have it replaced. Don´t worry about seal, glued in windshields have been around for 20 years, there´s lots of practice with replacing them.

[bozo5521]

Originally Posted by silverado

Yes, I'm sure, but I'm also getting it checked out. However, I worry about having the windshield replaced and what that might result in, e.g., imperfect seal that's not as good as the original. Anyone knows whether such a problem is likely or is replacing the windshield at the dealer a slam dunk that's unlikely to go wrong?

A result that is not as good as the original?! The "orginal" is already screwed up! Like Tier said, replacing a windshield is not like replacing a transmission..These guys do this stuff all the time...And AGAIN, if they replace it, and you dont think it is done right?! WARRANTY!! They'll get it right..BELIEVE me...

[LWL]

Don't wait, go to the dealer right the way so they would assume its factory defect instead of your own fault. Replacement of a new car is unlikely, they would just replace the windshield.

[batmanwagon]

Yeah, I've had several windshields replaced due to road debris cracking them. In every case, I've had original factory glass fitted, and you can't tell the difference in terms of fit and finish if you go to a reputable place.

[silverado]

Thanks all for your replies. I had already called and reported it to my salesman on day one and now I'm taking it in tomorrow morning to be looked at. They'll be ordering the windshield from Germany.

[garymazeffa]

I have twenty years in the auto glass business...if you can live with it...do not fit it! You break what they call the "factory seal".

[SCA]

Originally Posted by Tierfreund

LOL. A new car because of a problem with the windshield.

Thousands of windshields are replaced every day. There´s no magic to it. If it´s bothering you have it replaced. Don´t worry about seal, glued in windshields have been around for 20 years, there´s lots of practice with replacing them.

In some cases this is not true, ex. the E30 M3 where the front windshield and rear glass are bonded to the car for extra rigidity.

[SCA]

Originally Posted by garymazeffa

I have twenty years in the auto glass business...if you can live with it...do not fit it! You break what they call the "factory seal".

See....someone with experience.

One of the reasons robots install the front and rear windows in because they can do it more accurate then humans and at a faster pace.

[Interested]

My point is that there are stores that sell "irregular" products at a discount. Clothing for example: There may be only a slight thread "pull" that doesn't affect the function of the item, yet because the manufacturer's reputation is at stake, they will mark the item as "irregular" and sell it as such. This is for a $50 shirt! How about a $40K car?

You mean to tell me that you would pay full price for a car that has a manufacturing defect? Sure they can fix it. Will it be as good as new? NO. Therefore, you should either get a discount or a new car. Your choice.

If this is something that you will see everyday, and it will take away from your pleasure, you need to be compensated. Let's face it, none of us NEED a $40K+ car, we choose it because it gives us pleasure. That's what we are paying for.

If it was me, I wouldn't pay full price for a defective product. Just my opinion (which is worth exactly what you payed for it).

[jetmechG550]

I developed a stress crack in my windshield and brought the car in for BMW NA to look at. They replaced no questions asked after seeing that it was cleary not caused by any kind of rock strike. The new one went in without problems and I have not had any problems since. You can't even tell it was done.

[silverado]

Originally Posted by Interested

My point is that there are stores that sell "irregular" products at a discount. Clothing for example: There may be only a slight thread "pull" that doesn't affect the function of the item, yet because the manufacturer's reputation is at stake, they will mark the item as "irregular" and sell it as such. This is for a $50 shirt! How about a $40K car?

You mean to tell me that you would pay full price for a car that has a manufacturing defect? Sure they can fix it. Will it be as good as new? NO. Therefore, you should either get a discount or a new car. Your choice.

If this is something that you will see everyday, and it will take away from your pleasure, you need to be compensated. Let's face it, none of us NEED a $40K+ car, we choose it because it gives us pleasure. That's what we are paying for.

If it was me, I wouldn't pay full price for a defective product. Just my opinion (which is worth exactly what you payed for it).

I understand what you mean, but the warranty doesn't grant that you get a replacement car. It only says that they'll fix it. I'm not sure I would have much ground to stand on asking for a replacement car.

[silverado]

Took it in today to be looked at and my friendly BMW technicians got black grease finger marks on the cloth covering on the column between the driver door and the windshield I can probably clean it, but just for them to look at it my car is worse off than when I took it in. What will happen when I leave it with them?! Sure I would get a new windshield, but with a finger print here, a scratch there, etc, the value becomes questionable.

It's small things like this that drive someone like me crazy: no one will be as careful with the car as I would be, period.

[Tierfreund]

Originally Posted by SCA

In some cases this is not true, ex. the E30 M3 where the front windshield and rear glass are bonded to the car for extra rigidity.

That´s what I meant. The E30 M3 was one of the first cars with glued in windshield (bonded). and that was almost twenty years ago.
My last 5 cars had bonded in winshields. With the advantages they give in chassis rigidity, nowadays, at least german carmakers, do not use anything else. The days of the sealrubber windshield are long gone.

Anyway, in German autobahn driving, with the higher speeds, a windshield will rarely make 100.000miles. Sooner or later a stone-throw will break it or put a denture in it. And since a car with a break or a puncture will not pass the mandatory road-inspection every two years (3 for a new car), lots of windshields have to be exchanged every years. I think I´ve had 5 or 6 replaced in the last 18 years (all except one were glued (bonded)), and never had trouble with the replacement. (No sealant troubles, no windnoise even at topspeed).

So unless competent glass repair shops are unknow in the US, there really shouldn´t be a problem with the exchange.

The only trick exchanging a bonded in windshield is to have the glue harden 24 hours after the replacement before moving the vehicle. Not doing so is asking for trouble.

[Tierfreund]

Originally Posted by silverado

Took it in today to be looked at and my friendly BMW technicians got black grease finger marks on the cloth covering on the column between the driver door and the windshield I can probably clean it, but just for them to look at it my car is worse off than when I took it in. What will happen when I leave it with them?! Sure I would get a new windshield, but with a finger print here, a scratch there, etc, the value becomes questionable.

It's small things like this that drive someone like me crazy: no one will be as careful with the car as I would be, period.

Now THAT should NEVER happen. Take it up with the SA and make very clear that it is not acaptable. Any mechanic worth his paycheck should know how to prevent dirtying a customer car.