W211 Ryda

Here to vent out my frustration on how easily it is to crack/chip MB’s windshields. Back in August, my windshield was chipped by some debris on my way to Vegas, so I had the windshield replaced for $600 at the dealer in November. Was driving up to Vegas this past weekend and got my windshield chipped AGAIN!!! Not only was my windshield chipped, but my hood got a small chip as well!! I’ll be going on my 2nd replacement.
Just out of curiosity, how many people have had their windshield damaged on their W211? Next time I'm taking a rental car or flying. BTW, my original and the replacement windshield were both PPG.


p.s.

Stood next to Paris Hilton for a couple seconds at The Palms. Can't believe how skinny she is in person. Also saw Chris Moneymaker & Palmela Anderson at The Palms. Fun weekend albeit the damages!!

fubar

I got a small chip my first week. <argh> Never spread a bit so I think I'm good. I got it in a construction area so I'm not surprised. No further damage/issue in the last 6 months.

fubar

dacbiet

My windshield chipped in the first year of ownership. A small crack less than 1 inch on the passenger side bordering the window pillar turned into a 18 inch crack within one week.

The windshield was replaced at Caliber Motors with OEM glass. Within 1 month of driving with the new windshield, small chips and imperfections are already visible. I don't drive the car that much; I only have about 7K miles on it. All miles accumulated have been city/hwy driving in OC/LA county. In conclusion I don't think the windshield glass used on these cars is very durable.

Edison_Chen

I dont own an E, but an S- I've also noticed the windshield is somewhat softer than other windshields....

I have many small nicks in the windsheild; they aren't very noticeable from far...

MBE55AMG

Replacement again?! Cali roads are ridiculous! Can't imagine the hassle you must go through each time. Of my 2 years of ownership of my W211 I haven't had anything come close to touching my glass.

Well, as always, good luck.

X72

Anyone have any experience with these products?
www.edgeguardusa.com
www.ultrabond.com

I live in Florida, but I take long road trips to New Mexico and I am lucky I haven't had my winshield crack. I think we must have fewer rocks in Florida. So far no cracks, but my windshield is somewhat pitted.

fubar

Now pitted *is* an issue. My CLK w/ ~50K miles really needed to have the windshield replaced due to pitting. I already see that on my 211 w/ 10 K miles.

fubar

mbbodytech

The thing that most people making comments are leaving out is the driving conditions they are putting thier cars through. What do you think is going to happen when you are driving 70 or 80 miles an hour and stones are flying up and hitting your windshield?

Driving on the 15 there are gravel trains all over the place all the time just spewing stones out the top - no matter what the law is. The morons who run quarries and constructions are the ones who are causing the problem, not MB.

vtec26

i got a chip going from vegas to ca as well. spent around the same amount to replace the windshield.

W211 Ryda

I drive to vegas about 6 to 7 times a year (yes, I'm a gambler ) driving cars like a Durango, Expedition, Camry, my Toyota truck, Seville, and an Accord and none of those vehicles experienced a crack or chipped windshield during the drive on the 15. Even when there was construction near the Barstow area...I never had a windshield damaged until I drove the Benz. Yes, road conditions do play a factor here, but I still think the quality of the glass MB is using bears more weight.

W211 Ryda

Yeah, I was bummed out when I saw the damage on the new windshield, but there's no point sulking any further.....so I just made the best out of my trip and went all out at the baccarat and roulette tables.

When are you getting the Si? I was thinking of getting one as my daily driver. They look fun to drive!

SAguirre

My 1991 300E had its original windshield for the 10 years and the 95,000 miles it spent in Florida. Within 3 years of being in Colorado it got so pitted that it was hard to see out of when the evening sun was hitting it. I made an appointment to have it changed in a week and the next day a rock made an indentation through the two panes of glass! I got the windshield changed 5 days later and a Jeep Grand Cherokee cracked it when it made an illegal left in front of me!

Well, I changed 8 windshields on my 1986 Audi in its 284,000 miles. In the last 6 months I have changed the windshield on my S6 (this is its 4th in the past 82,000 miles and 10 years) and I had the first one replaced on my W211 in March (it had about 8,000 miles I think). I have also changed 2 windshields on my Porsche 996 when I had it for 5 years.

Colorado puts gravel on roads as much as possible so as to avoid chemicals. This means that if the person in the lane in front of you drives out of the lane markings they drive on leftover gravel and spray you with tons of *****! I get so angry at them that I usually pass them and return the favor! I have chipped and cracked so many windshields on so many different cars that I can honestly tell you that they are all the same. It is all about statistical probability, not the rigidity or design of the car.

I have State Farm insurance and I have a $0.00 deductible on anything on the car that is glass. This costs me about $50.00 per year extra and it has paid for itself many times over! I strongly recommend this coverage if it is offered and available in your state.

Steve

btw, my windshield on my Audi is a PPG and the one on my Benz is a OEM Sekurit. They are chip and crack the same.

rbordel

I managed to acquire a winshield chip on my MB after owning it slightly over 24 hours. This after I went 13 years and 180000 miles in my previous car (a Honda Accord) before it received similar damage. Not a good omen. My MB's chip is almost dead center in the windshield, and has not spread in the intervening 1.75 years since it happened. Since then, I've gotten some pitting on the windshield, but no other cracks. One of these days I plan to have it fixed, but I guess it's not that important to me as I haven't yet. I also have a small collection of paint gouges on the hood and fenders due to flying debris.

Parrot of Doom

Here in the UK, a windscreen replacement costs £50 on your insurance, and it doesn't affect your no-claims bonus

Most people over here, when they want a new windscreen, just chuck a rock at the screen and claim.

rjm

My insurance company (USAA) will pay to have windshield chip damage repaired free of charge to avoid having to pay for a complete windshield when the chip spreads. They send a guy to the house and the repair takes about 30 minutes. I have had chips repaired on my Mercedes and other cars at absolutely no cost, and the repairs are almost invisible. I was told that Mercedes and BMW use very "soft" glass (for safety purposes) and therefore chip more easily than other cars. You might check with your insurance company to see if they cover the costs plus the deductible.

aceman

Getting this thread back on topic...

How was Pam

Otto

I replaced my chipped windshields twice in my bimmer.

do not follow or behind trucks -- the small rocks come from them often. because trucks are higher than sedans, your windshield may be chipped by these rocks.

RickyE430

From what I understand, in Arizona insurance companies are required to replace windshields at no charge. I have never paid for windshield replacement, in fact, my wifes Jag's windshield was replaced last week and they gave her 50 bucks !

Otto

very good state law.

My insurance policy has 500 deductible so I replaced my windshields without bothering insurance company (keep no claim record for lower rate.)

rockyfeller

Me too Ryda....Drove the car to Chicago a month ago got a beautiful 6 inch crack on the left side of the windshield. Car has only 8000miles on it Arrrgh! I had a feeling this is a common problem with our cars. I didn't notice how or when the damage ocurred. My 20 yr old 190E? Never replaced a windshield! My 15 yr old S-class? Never replaced a windshield! My 94 BMW? Has some chips and has been through a lot but NO cracks. What gives here?

One good thing I can say is maybe at least now I can get a windshield with a built-in tinted sunscreen. This is the 1st car I've ever owned without tinting on the top of the windshield. Am I alone or don't tell me this is optional too! I don't know if the OEM glass is available with the sunscreen, is it?

BWL

I own a 2003 E320 with 27K miles on it and the windshield (PPG glass) is in great shape. I drive a mix of city roads and highways and have had a couple of encounters with gravel hitting the windshield - but luckily no cracks or chips.

I do agree with other posters that have said that where you drive makes a huge difference. I don't really think one glass manufacturer necessarily has worse glass than some other guy.

CE750

with my farmers, I have the AZ glass/safety (covers headlights too) writer which has 0-deductible, and they can't raise your rates if you file a claim.

I replced 3 inside 6 months on my V70... and thus far my MB (at 2000 miles) had a w/s replaced.. I also just recently got a good size chip in the middle, the next one I get, I'm going to try to get a new w/s..

You just have to be VERY careful that they get you an OEM w/s and not some cheap after market which most will try to do.

Beowulf

I agree. I don't know what it is with German cars, but both my wife's former BMW and my '05 E55 are VERY susceptible to windshield pitting. I'll admit that mine may be the result of an Atlanta AMG get-together last spring - we got a little frisky on the way to one of our destinations - 130-140+ and you could hear the road debris ping-pinging as it hit the car (hey, I was following a Kleemann SL65, among others) . No criticism to the participants and no paint damage, but the windshield appears to be finely pitted.

It isn't noticeable unless the sun is shining directly on the windshield. Never had the problem on any cars other than BMW & M-B. Curious if there is a some German safety requirement that makes windshields more susceptible to pitting in exchange for some other benefit.

alewifebp

I've noticed a big pitting problem too, and it started soon after I got the car. I will say that I have been behind far too many trucks that are spewing some type of debris, but it is worse than it was on my previous cars.

I too wonder if some reason exists for this.

E55 and 993

I don't think MB windshields are any different than other cars. My BMWs, Porsches, and MB have the same bad luck with rocks on the windshield. I need to have my E55's windshield replaced, a crack has grown a few inches. Bummer.