JRC3002

I have a 2019 S560. While recently merging into interstate traffic (under acceleration, merging left), I heard a pop and a crack instantly formed from the top middle of the windshield, horizontally across the drivers side. I did not see or hear a rock and there isn't any signs of something actually hitting the windshield. Has any one heard of unexplained (no event) windshield cracking on this or other Mercedes models? I have had windshields cracked by rocks, but this was different. It did not start small and grow it simply immediately appeared, in full size, simultaneous with the "pop" sound.

MJ50

moved to W222 forum...

77Tony

The "pop" was most likely a stone or other hard object that struct your windscrenn and did not see...the result was a crack. Hopefully you have zero deductable glass. Call you ins com regarding a claim and push for OEM glass replacement.02 T

wilfie

It could be a stress crack where the body flexes and torques the windshield. This is usually covered by warranty for a year on most cars. Not sure on yours.
Check your warranty manual and take it to the dealer and they will do a close inspection to look for a rock hit.

Wolfman

Agree. I would go for a warranty claim with the dealer first.
They will look very hard to show you the impact spot.

If they can’t find it they will replace it. If not, go the insurance route

Pntblnk

MB windshields seem to have lost their overall windshield quality and glass tempering. I have replaced the windshield on my 17 S550 3x in just under 3 years and noticed yesterday that I have another small chip that will ultimately form yet another crack. We have replaced the windshield on my wife’s GL550 2x and have even had several loaners that have developed a crack with small rock impact. All OEM glass replacements.

Could just be my bad luck but have only put ~20k on both rigs in the past 3 years and have replaced 5 windshields with a 6th coming not counting the two loaners. Normal mixed city / highway driving and steer clear from dump trucks / construction equipment haulers. I have never had such problems with other brands...not enough to make me change but something is wrong with Mb glass.

Not sure I will press for OEM glass next time. Wondering if folks have had better luck with non OEM glass vs OEM.

hyperion667

I just have to say: that's a lot of glass! Doesn't seem ordinary.

MBS63AMG

Every day when I pull out of my garage with my E350, I have to go over one of those gutter shaped dips that connect my driveway to the street, and as I do it while turning, I hear a loud pop in the sun roof area. I'm afraid it is my panoramic roof torqueing. After that first time each day, it doesn't do it again. It only happens when I am driving the car at a slight angle, driving backwards and it dips into the flood groove connecting to the street.

Just a wait and see thing.

S550 Mercedes B

My 2015 S550 Mercedes Benz was purchased 7/29/2017, for $78,000 and with 13000 miles in spotless condition. It turned out to be the most expensive and worst car I have ever owned due to a massive windshield defect and the so-called "run-flat" concept that has proven to be not only a false claim, as contingent on the place and time, it potentially puts the consumer's life in jeopardy when a flat occurs. It was virtually not used during the Covid19 pandemic and for the four years it has been actively used, I am now dealing with 4 inexplicable broken windshields in 3 years and with mileage to date of only 77,000 miles. RBM of Atlanta refused to absorb the cost or to even discount the replacement of any, despite the fact that 2 replacements happened in under a year. I still have my old 2001 S430, in active use, on which I have accumulated 324,326 miles on it without ever having to replace a single windshield. I will now have to seek legal action to remedy this 2015 S550 windshield manufacturing defect.

JohnLane

Good luck getting Mercedes to participate with windshields that seem too eager about cracking.

I have had my 222 S65 for a year and have replaced the windshield twice. Always with OEM glass. .. rock chip makes crack.... then again and again until crack(s) are in my field of vision. The car needs another window now. I will gladly follow how it goes.

hyperion667

That's insane! 3 replacements screams defect! GL with it

JohnLane

It screams too many damned rocks dropped by dirt trucks + all the other trash “lost” by work trucks (who ‘forget’ to secure the load) that always manages to take a bounce and hit the window with a big enough noise that I know what follows. All too common driving in Phoenix metro area.

But should MB decide a different method of building a window will help I’m all for it.

hyperion667

Sounds maddening!! I'd be billing someone!

JohnLane

Zero deductible glass coverage means that at renewal they want to triple my rates.

Not pleased.

hyperion667

Pass that cost on to the ADOT. Also change insurance companies!

AbbyKay

I recently complained about the renewal cost of the insurance policy on my 2020 S560. It went up $400 for no reason. The agent could not explain, but told me if I dropped full glass coverage, I would save $400/yr and the windshield would be covered under a different part of the policy, but with a $500 deductible. He indicated that there were a lot of claims on these windshields. I didn’t think much more about it until reading this thread. Scary.

I asked about dropping full glass on my Honda and wife’s Mazda to save a bunch more on premiums, but that would have saved less than $50/yr. MBs seem to be expensive to replace and/or fail more often.

chassis

All windshields are thinner than ever. Cost and weight cutting as usual.

Glass chemistry (ingredients) and shape gets the job done from a windshield functional point of view, but there is less margin for error in the case of stone impacts. Thin wall structural performance is related to the third power of thickness. Big changes in strength correlate to any change in thickness.

JohnLane

Any of you aware of an alternative windshield that is less inclined to crack? I have read of films that can be applied to the outside of the window that are supposed to help but can just imagine what that will look like first time the wipers are operated.

hyperion667

Insurance makes me so fawking sick!

JohnLane

Got to change coverage and increase a comprehensive deductible from zero to $500.00 so my insurance rates “only” doubled.

I will now pay out of pocket for windows. Insurance has memory like an Elephant. Would love to be able to go without.... The drunk losers that hit you will never turn out to be insured. But we are. Ahhhhhh.....

W205C43PFL

A sad state of affairs...

Newbyloub

May have posted this before...

I have no ideal how much it may have cost me in added premiums, but our Commonwealth of Kentucky mandates that all insurance policies sold here include glass replacement cover.