[ijl_bitsa]

Guys,

I've been reading this forum for the past few weeks and seeing a number of i8's having cracked windshield problems...

I don't have this problem, but it does seem to be pretty common ?

The "drive module" for the i8 being carbon /composite, seems to me it will flex more than the glass that's attached to it?

Anyways, I though I'd post this topic and see how many other people have been having the same issue, especially as BMW do not seem to acknowledge it as a problem and do not cover the replacement on warranty.

Anyone else ?

[thesunny]

I'm guessing this is at least partially in response to my post in this thread:

http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1279550

My car was towed to the BMW dealer and they claim that the car arrived with a cracked windshield.

[ijl_bitsa]

Originally Posted by thesunny

I'm guessing this is at least partially in response to my post in this thread:

http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1279550

My car was towed to the BMW dealer and they claim that the car arrived with a cracked windshield.

Yes indeed.... There are others too

[MalibuBimmer]

According to my neighbor, who owns a BMW certified body shop, and who has several i3s and an i8 in right now for repair, the windshields on these cars is very thin. Apparently for weight. The windshield, when hit by a pedestrian,"gives," too. He says the windshields in these cars are more prone to break than in other cars. (Interestingly, he also said that the modular nature of the i8 and the relative inexpensiveness of the body panels makes it a somewhat cheaper car to repair than most other BMWs.)

[PurplePeril]

More on here with pictures - http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1249996
Mine was replaced under warranty!

[ijl_bitsa]

Originally Posted by PurplePeril

More on here with pictures - http://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1249996
Mine was replaced under warranty!

Thanks purple peril...

You're in he UK, right ?

From what I read on here BMW UK take good care of you over there, not sure about that here in the US.

[PurplePeril]

Originally Posted by ijl_bitsa

Thanks purple peril...

You're in he UK, right ?

From what I read on here BMW UK take good care of you over there, not sure about that here in the US.

Yep UK - Robin Hood county

It's my first BMW and customer service from my dealer has been exemplary to date.

[rastaman777]

Originally Posted by PurplePeril

Yep UK - Robin Hood county

It's my first BMW and customer service from my dealer has been exemplary to date.

Glad to hear that. Consider yourself lucky too mate. My experience here in the east coast USA, BMW service is minimally adequate at best.

[JasH]

My first 2 BMWs too, and after some hiccups, exceptional service here too. Very pleased with BMW and the dealer.

[Nivarox]

Great to hear you are doing well with your dealers but honestly this is what a dealer should do when a customer comes in

[vmatheboss]

took my i8 for a 400 mile drive down south and a small rock chipped my windshield... initially there were no cracks or splits anywhere, just that tiny dot.... it eventually started cracking overnight and spread to the center.... the damn windshield is SO thin..ive never had any problems like this before....

do you guys with cracked windshields take it directly back to bmw or just a glass company that can fix the i8 windshields? and how much does it cost roughly with labor?? i think i need to claim insurance on this one.

[rastaman777]

This windshield issue sucks!

Where I live there are so many trucks - pickups, semis, 18 wheelers - every variety. I don't think I go a week without somekind of stone hitting my windshield damn hard makes jump every time.
Shudder to think what those stones will do to the i8.

I think I'll make sure my comprehensive deductible is low!

Not expecting any assistance from the dealer, unless it ends up being some kind of acknowledgment from BMW....ya right!

[vmatheboss]

Originally Posted by rastaman777

This windshield issue sucks!

Where I live there are so many trucks - pickups, semis, 18 wheelers - every variety. I don't think I go a week without somekind of stone hitting my windshield damn hard makes jump every time.
Shudder to think what those stones will do to the i8.

I think I'll make sure my comprehensive deductible is low!

Not expecting any assistance from the dealer, unless it ends up being some kind of acknowledgment from BMW....ya right!

from what i heard, your insurance would not be affected from windshield cracks. not a full deductible is needed for cracked windshields... im waiting for my insurance to call me back tomorrow. might be better to get an aftermarket windshield thats a little thicker

[rastaman777]

Originally Posted by vmatheboss

from what i heard, your insurance would not be affected from windshield cracks. not a full deductible is needed for cracked windshields... im waiting for my insurance to call me back tomorrow. might be better to get an aftermarket windshield thats a little thicker

not worried about the premium going up , just trying to minimize out of pocket cost in case i get the windshield problem too.
just changed my deductible to 100.

please let us know how it goes....thicker glass sounds like a great option if its available. r u leasing? wonder if a different windshield would affect the return.
i think i've read about some aftermarket glass protection stuff on here too.

hope all goes well!

[vmatheboss]

Originally Posted by rastaman777

not worried about the premium going up , just trying to minimize out of pocket cost in case i get the windshield problem too.
just changed my deductible to 100.

please let us know how it goes....thicker glass sounds like a great option if its available. r u leasing? wonder if a different windshield would affect the return.
i think i've read about some aftermarket glass protection stuff on here too.

hope all goes well!

my deductible is 500.... i called a local buddy of mine that owns a body shop and can do glass repairs... i was ok with aftermarket, but my buddy said he can only get OEM for the i8 because he couldnt get aftermarket... the windshield cost anywhere from $1100-1800 not including labor yet.... he will try to do what he can for me in terms of cutting down that deductible since he owns the shop. i lease, and i got the "protection" plan thing where if i even had another cracked windshield at the end , im just gonna leave it there for them to take care of... less any scratches or curbs on the wheels, i wouldnt need to worry

[Mightymousemighty]

I'm getting a clearplex film put on her next week.

Because I'm scared of these crack issues

£250

There's several vids on youtube

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by Mightymousemighty

I'm getting a clearplex film put on her next week.

Because I'm scared of these crack issues

£250

There's several vids on youtube

I'd be interested in your experience with that stuff. How does ot react to lots of sunlight? Does it affect how well the wipers work? Is it easier or harder to clean than the galss surface? Etc. Thanks in advance.

[Mightymousemighty]

I'll feed back no probs

[ijl_bitsa]

Originally Posted by Mightymousemighty

I'm getting a clearplex film put on her next week.

Because I'm scared of these crack issues

£250

There's several vids on youtube

Doubt any film will make any difference if it turns out to be the chassis flexing that causes a crack... It will help for stone chips though.

[ElMills]

Broke the windshield on my car, not from chassis flex or anything but noticed that the windshield is super thin and brittle once cracked. Almost like a iPhone screen. Once it cracks it spreads like crazy. My wifes i3 also had a cracked windshield but that one seemed much thicker.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by ElMills

Broke the windshield on my car, not from chassis flex or anything but noticed that the windshield is super thin and brittle once cracked. Almost like a iPhone screen. Once it cracks it spreads like crazy. My wifes i3 also had a cracked windshield but that one seemed much thicker.

Welcome to Leight Weight World. ;-) I think we'll all discover - not only on i8s - that in order to gain fuel efficiency and dynamics, we'll have to sacrifice some ruggedness.

[Cali Singh]

Another Cracked Windshied from 2015 pure impulse with less than 5k miles on it. Are these being replaced under warranty or is this an out of pocket expense