Failed rear window on MINI Convertible

Sections: Uncategorized Dec 29th, 2004 65 Comments

We were recently sent this picture from a MINI Convertible owner in England – hopefully this is not going to be a common problem for the MINI Convertible, especially since this MINI2 thread suggests that the repair cost could be as high as $3000 because the whole roof has to be replaced! Carol, who sent the picture, wrote:

Last Sunday I opened the car from a distance of about 30 feet (it was parked in an open garage) and my back window shattered into thousands of bits!! The car had been parked there since the previous day, the back window was in perfect condition i. e. no stone chips or similar so what happened?

I am waiting for the dealer to collect it but they tell me that Mini say it doesn't happen and that I must have done something so it may not be possible to replace under warranty. I'm also told that it is not just a case of replacing the window, but the entire roof

Written By: Ian

http://jadn.com/~bob Robert Herrmann

Yea, I am bummed out. I had the car for only 8 days. I hope to get this resolved soon.
http://www.gbmini.net/ Ian

At MINI Peabody today, they were replacing the roof due to a rear window that blew out while driving – this is the first I have seen and it looked like a major PITA to replace the roof!
http://jadn.com Robert Herrmann

Got my mini back, it took two weeks total to get it turned around (they had to order the top from Germany.) I’m very happy with the work. Wouldnt you know it 4 days later (after some snow), I get in a fender bender… more repair work.. I might be cursed. :-)
meow-woof

Just thought I would add my twopennies worth! My rear screen shattered today too, I’ll find out tomorrow what the Dealership will do for me. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has submitted to this forum as at least I know I’m not alone, thank goodness for the web!
Xan Gentile

Happened to me too. This morning. I thought it was vandalism and filed a police report, but couldn’t find a motive or any other signs vandalism (including an instrument with which the glass was broken).

I came home and googled MINI rear window because I recently read something about the whole top having to be replaced and, lo and behold, MINI has a terrible secret . . .

I’m not very happy right now.
Xan Gentile

MINI’s covering it . . . I’ll post again when this is over. Expecting parts in by Monday and will get right on the install.

cheers Xan
Tina Johnston

Unfortunately, I too, have experienced the breakage of my back window on my new car. For no apparent reason, other than a gust of wind, my rear window shattered into a million pieces. Luckily, the car was parked and no-one was hurt.

I will now have to see what my dealership, and manufacturer has to say in response to this problem. As you have read before my comments, I have been told the whole convertible top will need replacing.

I love my car and have no other complaints at this time, however I will now constantly be concerned about this being a reoccuring problem.
meow-woof

My roof has been replaced under warranty. If you get a say request that the whole mechanism is replaced as mine was only recovered & now has wrinkles(which I’m releived to say are shrinking & should disappear) & an irritating wind whistle through the drivers side(needless to say it will be returned for further “adjustments” to be made).Lets hope they find the cause of this problem promptly & before too many of us have to go through the stress & worry of the “repair”, it seems that the MINI are assessing the claims on a case by case basis therefore go to your dealer armed with the details from this website to strengthen your claim.
Tina Johnston

My roof has been replaced under warranty. Dealership was very helpful, although claimed they were not aware of this problem until I brought this website to their attention. I did have the car picked up by roadside assistance program and it took approximately 7 days to fix. Not too bad considering I’m in Georgia,USA, and part had to be shipped.

I’m in 60-65* weather, so who knows what’s going on with these windows. I was also told BMW handling these claims on case by case. Keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn’t continue to happen.
John Gittus

The rear window of my Mini Convertible failed today 30/08/05,as it was being driven, with the roof up, along the A30. Autoglass cannot replace it: the whole roof has to be replaced by BMW. Zurich insurance won’t cover it out of the Windshield insurance and if I claim on the insurance therefore they say that it will be a “general claim” and I shall lose my no-claim bonus. The car is less than 12 months old and has done less than 5,000 miles. The BMW agent is going to submit digital photos and an account of what happened to BMW to see if they will pay for it.
Liam

A similar thing has happened to my boss’ car about 8-10 weeks ago. It is a May 04 build Cooper, hardtop. Her car was parked in work’s car park on a mild day (ie, no sudden changes in temperature), she went to go home, opened the passenger’s door to place her bag on the floor, closed the door to go around to the driver’s side, and on impact of closing the passenger’s door the rear window shattered. Similarly, there were no apparent faults with the rear glass, it just seemed to shatter for no reason.

The local dealer was bot much help, in the end they paid for the labour and my boss had to pay for the glass (the car is still under warranty). I’m not sure of the exact details, but I think she ended up being out of pocket around AU$500.

The day after this happened, I parked my Cooper S in the same spot and with some trepidation closed my door! Thankfully, my car is okay (fingers crossed).
Heather

Mini Cooper owner still in warranty luckily. Driving along happily in a heavy downpour after a very hot day and the rear window of my Mini Cooper exploded. Extremly shocked as the noise was undescribable. Luckily BMW Derby has picked up the cost under warrantly and a curtesy car. They have go to replace the whole roof. I couldn’t believe it either. Luckily for me sites like these made me equipt with the info to fire at them. It seems were only too aware, didn’t have to put up a fight to my amazement. My insurance has taken off the policy rear windows, now I know why. 6 hours labour plus the cost of the roof. Who said Mini’s are a nice car.
Paul Ellison

My wife was driving her 15-month-old, 05 hard-top Mini Cooper down the interstate last night with a couple of passengers. There was a sudden “boom” and the rear window shattered. It was fairly cold (20 degrees F – February in Michigan) and the car was washed earlier in the day. The dealer, of course, claims that it couldn’t possibly have happened on its own and since there were no other cars around and no overpass in the vicinity, he insists someone must have shot at her rear window with something like a pellet gun from the woods. The two teenage passengers were unhurt and saw no hole in the window – until the glass started to fall apart as my wife exited the interstate to get to a gas station. Aside from the problem with the rear windows in convertible Minis, I have seen posts for the same incident involving two hard-tops with virtually the identical circumstances. Fortunately I am an attorney. Although I prefer to try to reason with them, I will not hesitate to make the dealer’s world a living hell if they don’t change their tune quickly.

However, I hope other people don’t have to deal with a similar “smart mouth” service manager who is doing his ultimate to avoid having to incur the cost of a warranty repair
marc

hey i have a mini and love it i have a blue roof with blue paintwork but i have noticed on the roof the colour on the roof seams be rubbing as in patiches it has lost its colour a bit and in the middle of the sides of the roof two small holes have formed ??? has any one else had this probblem?? its a 04 and a bit worried to enjoy the sun now as dont want too make it worse HELP PLEASE
cheryl

I have a 06 hardtop mini cooper and was driving my kids to school today when we heard a sonic boom. We looked up and the back glass had shattered in a crescent moon shape. I am glad to find this post to see that I am not alone.

← 21 People and One MINI MINI at the 2005 Detroit Autoshow →

Sort by MINI model

Recent BimmerFile Stories

MINI Model Cheat Sheet

1st Gen MINI
R50: One & MC Hatch
R52: All 1st Gen MINI Convt.
R53: MCS Hatch
2nd Gen MINI
R55: Clubman
R56: Hatch
R57: Convertible
R58: Coupe
R59: Roadster
R60: MINI Crossover
R61: MINI Crossover Coupe
3rd Gen MINI
F55: Clubman
F56: Hatch
F57: Convertible
F60: MINI Crossover
F62: Traveller

Advertise with MotoringFile

If you or your company are interested in advertising on the most influential MINI website in the world, please visit our Advertising section. If you have further questions about becoming a sponsor or would like to see our rate sheet please feel free to contact us directly.