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I have a 2014 E350 wagon. One day last week, we noticed a large S-shaped crack in the middle of the windshield that squiggles up from the center to the top. No telltale signs of a rock. Not from the windshield wiper. We think it happened while parked in a parking lot. Has anyone heard of this? I Googled and found some issues with Teslas having windshields cracking from "overtorquing." Any thoughts?
you mean twisting in the windshield itself or racking? You see this on some cars using space frames(older exotics-ala Lamborghini). It is an issue when they are jacked up or raised on a lift. If not done properly the frame will deform and has been know to take out a windshield on occasion. I don't see this as an issue with Mercedes. My guess is the damage is from an impact, even though it is difficult to find the source.
you mean twisting in the windshield itself or racking? You see this on some cars using space frames(older exotics-ala Lamborghini). It is an issue when they are jacked up or raised on a lift. If not done properly the frame will deform and has been know to take out a windshield on occasion. I don't see this as an issue with Mercedes. My guess is the damage is from an impact, even though it is difficult to find the source.
Boo... Should I be able to feel a pit or something in the windshield, though? It is completely smooth on the outside, but you can feel a bump or ridge in the windshield from the inside of the car.
A few years ago just after I purchased a new Jetta, I had a similar experience. The windshield cracked for what I believed no reason, and after investigation there were no signs of any object hitting the windshield either.
Since it was cracking at a 'good' rate, I had it replaced as soon as I could, but then I remembered hearing a loud noise a week or few days before while I was driving and could not determine the source of it. I must have hit something at the time, but the impact must have created a weak spot in the glass, and it started cracking days or a week later.
Maybe something happened earlier with you as well.
A few years ago just after I purchased a new Jetta, I had a similar experience. The windshield cracked for what I believed no reason, and after investigation there were no signs of any object hitting the windshield either.
Since it was cracking at a 'good' rate, I had it replaced as soon as I could, but then I remembered hearing a loud noise a week or few days before while I was driving and could not determine the source of it. I must have hit something at the time, but the impact must have created a weak spot in the glass, and it started cracking days or a week later.
Maybe something happened earlier with you as well.
Sigh, I guess it's possible. Was hoping to see other owners having similar issues so I could get MB to replace, but seems like this will be coming out of my own pocket. It's a weird shaped crack, though. Never seen an S shaped crack. I'll have to post a pic. Most windshield cracks I've seen just run straight across...
Can you upload a pic? In less than 2 years I've already changed 3 windshields,it just needed a small rock at highway speed to crack the glass with S-shaped cut.
Never happened so easily in any other car ever had.
The windshield is not tempered glass, so it will follow the weakness in the glass itself as the crack progresses. This could be any shape depending on where the glass impact occurred.
2 layers of glass and and inter layer of vinyl. Sometimes only the outer layer of glass will crack. The vinyl also has an effect on how the glass crack expands once it fails. If you look very closely along the crack with a magnifying glass I'm sure you will find the impact.
Well, I brought it to two Mercedes dealerships today, and they both found the impact mark. It's tiny, and in a section where the crack is really thin and not nearly as noticeable.
Can you upload a pic? In less than 2 years I've already changed 3 windshields,it just needed a small rock at highway speed to crack the glass with S-shaped cut.
Never happened so easily in any other car ever had.
3.5 years and 55,000 miles on mine, original windshield since I got the car.
you mean twisting in the windshield itself or racking? You see this on some cars using space frames(older exotics-ala Lamborghini). It is an issue when they are jacked up or raised on a lift. If not done properly the frame will deform and has been know to take out a windshield on occasion. I don't see this as an issue with Mercedes. My guess is the damage is from an impact, even though it is difficult to find the source.
Yup! Particularly, lifting a vehicle up with a floor jack from one point of contact with a front door open (or opening a door while the vehicle is lifted) can cause the glass to crack from the body flexing. The door being closed helps to brace the vehicle. Other times they can just crack from heat. Stress cracks. Dealers will usually warranty this given no sign of being struck by an object.
Well, I brought it to two Mercedes dealerships today, and they both found the impact mark. It's tiny, and in a section where the crack is really thin and not nearly as noticeable.
See if you can find it in this picture.
I cannot find any crack from this picture, but I'm wondering what type of device you have fixed to your windshield, I'm assuming a phone for navigation....in which case I find it hard to believe that you don't have MB navigation given that you have leather seats? May be you don't want to use the COMAND system... or that is some other device you have installed...???
I cannot find any crack from this picture, but I'm wondering what type of device you have fixed to your windshield, I'm assuming a phone for navigation....in which case I find it hard to believe that you don't have MB navigation given that you have leather seats? May be you don't want to use the COMAND system... or that is some other device you have installed...???
There is a phone holder, but I think what you're probably asking about is the dashcam. We do have navigation, but prefer the phone since it has updated maps and traffic.
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