Mini Cooper

Maximusy

Good Morning everyone, I wonder if anyone that owns a mini cooper has come across this problem, my wife has a 2009 R57 mini cooper convertible, we came out of our house yesterday to find a shower of glass at the rear of the car, the rear windscreen had shattered , the rear windscreen is actually a part of the soft top , it looks like its glued into the cloth of the soft top as far as i can see, thinking i could arrange to have a windscreen fitter come and replace it i have so far been told by everyone i have contacted  that you cant replace the rear windscreen on a mini cooper convertible, you have to actually replace the whole soft top , the cost of supplying and fitting a new soft top seems to be around £1500- £2000 unless you take it to the main dealers and the price doubles, has anyone that's owned a mini convertible had the same problem? hard to believe that you would have to pay out for a new convertible roof due to a broken windscreen, i would be grateful for any suggestions .thanks.

Grumpy_chap

Maximusy said:

Good Morning everyone, I wonder if anyone that owns a mini cooper has come across this problem, my wife has a 2009 R57 mini cooper convertible, we came out of our house yesterday to find a shower of glass at the rear of the car, the rear windscreen had shattered , the rear windscreen is actually a part of the soft top , it looks like its glued into the cloth of the soft top as far as i can see, thinking i could arrange to have a windscreen fitter come and replace it i have so far been told by everyone i have contacted  that you cant replace the rear windscreen on a mini cooper convertible, you have to actually replace the whole soft top , the cost of supplying and fitting a new soft top seems to be around £1500- £2000 unless you take it to the main dealers and the price doubles, has anyone that's owned a mini convertible had the same problem? hard to believe that you would have to pay out for a new convertible roof due to a broken windscreen, i would be grateful for any suggestions .thanks.

Do you have windscreen and glass cover on the car insurance?

AdrianC

BMW may well only supply the glass as part of a complete soft-top.

The glass might be available separately elsewhere, perhaps from a breaker, with a good trimmer being able to fit it to the existing roof.

But this sounds like an insurance claim to me...

Maximusy

Hi Grumpy Chap, Thanks for your reply, yes the windscreen is covered on my insurance but they have said they will cover the cost of the rear windscreen but not the cost of the hood .

AdrianC

Maximusy said:

Hi Grumpy Chap, Thanks for your reply, yes the windscreen is covered on my insurance but they have said they will cover the cost of the rear windscreen but not the cost of the hood .

As a glass claim.

But as a "proper" claim...

Maximusy

Thanks AdrianC     Thanks for your reply, yes im trying the breaker's yards at the moment and then a good trimmer , i spoke to my insurance company and they say the rear windscreen is insured but not the hood  im sorry to say . Thanks

k3lvc

There's a few instances of it on Mini Convertibles FB page together with a suggestion of someone who'd had it fixed without a full replacement - not sure on the longevity of the fix though and it's certainly not going to an Autoglass driveway job

Grumpy_chap

Maximusy said:

Hi Grumpy Chap, Thanks for your reply, yes the windscreen is covered on my insurance but they have said they will cover the cost of the rear windscreen but not the cost of the hood .

Assuming the full cost won't make the car a write-off, then it is for the insurer to cover any ancillary items needed to make the repair complete.

It seems no different to me than a stone damaging the headlamp lens and BMW only selling the complete headlamp as a sealed unit.

Might be worth pushing back with the insurer.  If they stand by only replacing the glass, it is for the insurer to locate, fit and provide warranty on that part.

Failing that, the DIY route has several mini convertible rear screens listed on line based upon a quick search I just did.