[PelotonToPodium]

This is probably the most subjective question ever, but I'm genuinely curious if other owners have experienced more than normal rock chips / cracked windshield glass.

For context, our family has three F30's 328/335i's and every single vehicle has had at least one windshield replacement and a couple more chip repairs...in the last 2 years. Then again, we all daily drive the major freeways here in LA/OC....so there's that

I've also wondered if the particular angle of F30 windshield is more prone to catching debris...but I'm no engineer/smarty-pants!

Anyone care to share their experiences?

[thatg20guy]

I can definitely attest to F30 glass being pretty prone to chips and cracks - had my windshield replaced last Christmas after an attempted repair by Safelite resulted in the crack growing (1/10 chance of that happening and Safelite does inform you of that chance). Two months later and I got another noticeable chip that was repaired (successfully this time) by Safelite.

I've seen various threads floating around complaining about windshield damage and it seems that the general consensus is that the glass current BMWs use is quite soft (supposedly to save weight). Not too sure how valid that theory is though. For some reason, no matter how hard I try to avoid dump trucks or pass them quickly, I always seem to here a few pings here and there from rocks. Could be from trucks passing the opposite direction, from the shoulders of the freeway, or from the exhaust of the car in front of me (kidding about that last one)

[badbread]

Absolutely the worst auto glass I've encountered in my life.

My 2000 integra with 10 year old glass is in better shape than my 3 month old glass on the BMW.

It's so frustrating.

[PelotonToPodium]

Any idea of aftermarket glass that is supposedly "stronger" than OEM? I'm already mentally preparing myself for when my HUD windshield ($1,800?) eats a rock from those stupid gravel trucks that never seem to use their canvas covers...

[Elvisf30]

Originally Posted by PelotonToPodium

This is probably the most subjective question ever, but I'm genuinely curious if other owners have experienced more than normal rock chips / cracked windshield glass.

For context, our family has three F30's 328/335i's and every single vehicle has had at least one windshield replacement and a couple more chip repairs...in the last 2 years. Then again, we all daily drive the major freeways here in LA/OC....so there's that

I've also wondered if the particular angle of F30 windshield is more prone to catching debris...but I'm no engineer/smarty-pants!

Anyone care to share their experiences?

true story i dont even drive to close to cars in my f30 (about 5 car lengths) and still have about a billion tiny chips. its gotta be the quality of the glass. :

[LiquidMercury]

When mine is completely clean and it's a fully sunny day, on the right angle of light, my windshield looks like it's covered in a billion specs of silver glitter! LOL.

[F30RiK]

2012 f30 original glass

[Humdizzle]

i've never had a crack in 15 years of driving until i got an f30. had to get the whole windshield replaced. lol im actually on the way to autozone right now to pic up a chip repair kit for 2 new ones i just spotted

[Michael Schott]

Had my 2014 for 65,000 miles. No cracks.

[the dope steez]

Originally Posted by LiquidMercury

When mine is completely clean and it's a fully sunny day, on the right angle of light, my windshield likes like it's covered in a billion specs of silver glitter! LOL.

Same here. A glass tech commented on my last chip that it looks like my windshield was sandblasted. I've had about a dozen chips so far, I just bought yearly chip repair insurance for $80. Paid for itself times a million already.

[7iM3less]

My 328i is a 2013 with 22k and it surprisingly has more chips than I would have expected. None of my other cars have ever "aged" this quickly.

[LiquidMercury]

Originally Posted by the dope steez

Same here. A glass tech commented on my last chip that it looks like my windshield was sandblasted. I've had about a dozen chips so far, I just bought yearly chip repair insurance for $80. Paid for itself times a million already.

Sandblasted, lol, yep,that's a better term I'd say. I drive over 100km's (all freeway) 5 days a week so I'm used to it on this car. I'll just wait for the big crack then let my insurance find me a better replacement.

[RoundelM3]

European cars seem to have a problem with soft glass - the Porsches I drove before moving up to BMW all had rock chips in the windshield. I had an '81 911SC Targa that had to have the windshield replaced because it became "frosted" over time, like it was dirty, but it was permanent. No real solution other than avoid driving too close to other vehicles, particularly large trucks, especially when there's debris (sand or gravel) on the shoulders.

That said, my 2013 F30 doesn't have any chips or cracks in its windshield after 4+ years.

[KC Bimmer]

New windshield was installed Monday. So it seems more prone but idk.

[spuntyb]

Yes, they are. At least, more so than any other car I've owned.

[Eriphill]

My last 3 series definitely had the sandblasted look and it was only a year and a half old. Not sure if it is true but I was told that with the heads up display only a specific type (naturally its more expensive) of replacement glass could be used

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Yes these windshields are soft AF. My 2 yo F36 has more chips than my other 5 yo Hyundai.

[tturedraider]

The same complaints were made at about the same rates regarding the E9x and the E46. It leads me to believe there's nothing particularly different about BMW's glass than any other glass. It does seem to me BMW owners are more likely to choose to have their windshields replaced rather than repaired. That's just an impression. I have no specific evidence to back it up.

[EBS0712]

I think aerodynamics has a play in this situation. The better the aerodynamics of the car the closer the wind stream is to the body and the glass. You've all seen the photos of cars in wind tunnels with the smoke streams showing just that fact. BMW's, particularly the new ones, have excellent aero and this may be part of why BMW's and other "good" cars suffer more than others.
That being said this is lots of junk on the roads these days ........

[mrmd1999]

Have to agree. I have an M550i, only 5k miles, and got a nice quarter sized chip this morning. Highly pissed. I drove a Toyota tundra for 10+ years and had MUTIPLE stone impacts, with only 1 or 2 resulting in the same level of damage. I know it's not a rigorous scientific study, but my anecdotal experience - which is all that's possible - suggests they use less resilient glass.

[mrmd1999]

Since it JUST happened this morning, I'm mostly just venting. And I'm mostly just pissed that it bothers me as much as it does. But, these things are inevitable if the car is driven. I didn't buy it as a garage queen. Having said that, couldn't this have waited until at least the new car smell was gone???

[MmmmmM2]

I've got a bunch of little chips in dings in mine....Not even a 6 month old car.