S560 Unexplained Windshield Cracking
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Newbie
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 8
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2025 S580
S560 Unexplained Windshield Cracking
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.
Member
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 161
Likes: 30
From: Tucson, AZ
2011 E-350 Coupe
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.
Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 115
Likes: 21
From: Calgary
2014 S550 4matic, 2014 Corvette, 2016 Camaro SS 2011 Lexus RX350
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.
Check your warranty manual and take it to the dealer and they will do a close inspection to look for a rock hit.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,537
Likes: 3,670
From: Land of 10,000 lakes
AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
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
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
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 597
Likes: 24
From: Nashville
2017 S550 Iridium / Black Nappa, 2015 GL 550 Paladium Silver
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.
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.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 31,273
Likes: 3,916
From: on my way
2012 CLS63
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.
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.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 493
From: Birmingham, AL
2019 S560, 2022 Audi S8
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.
Just a wait and see thing.
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Joined: Jun 2023
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2015 S550 Mercedes Benz
2015 S550 Mercedes Benz Windshield
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix
222 S-65
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.
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.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 31,273
Likes: 3,916
From: on my way
2012 CLS63
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.
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix
222 S-65
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.
But should MB decide a different method of building a window will help I’m all for it.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 31,273
Likes: 3,916
From: on my way
2012 CLS63
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.
But should MB decide a different method of building a window will help I’m all for it.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 31,273
Likes: 3,916
From: on my way
2012 CLS63
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 8
From: Virginia, USA
2020 S560 4Matic
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.
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.
Last edited by AbbyKay; Jul 3, 2023 at 10:30 AM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 14,666
Likes: 4,568
From: unbegrenzt
2017 GLE350 4MATIC
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.
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix
222 S-65
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 1,209
From: Phoenix
222 S-65
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.....
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.....
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,222
Likes: 6,281
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.....
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.....
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 825
Likes: 263
From: NE KY, on the Ohio River
2018 S560; 2022 EQS450+
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.
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.
