2003 MINI COOPER S Visibility Problems

2003 MINI COOPER S. MY WIPER MOTOR DIED IN A HEAVY RAINSTORM, OR SO I THOUGHT. DRIVING WITHOUT THE WIPERS IN HILO, HI WHERE I LIVE WITH 140" A YEAR OF RAIN CAN BE DEADLY WHEN WIPERS DON'T WORK. IT IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT AFFECTING ALL ORIGINAL 02-06 MINIS. SEE HERE FOR DETAILS. I REPAIRED MINE SIMPLY BY GROUNDING THE WIPER MOTOR TO ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE CAR. I HAD TO DRIVE 3 WEEKS WITHOUT WIPERS BEFORE I COULD FIX THIS. DEALERS CHARGE $600 TO FIX IT AND IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THE MOTOR IS NOT ACTUALLY DEAD. IT IS A POOR, AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY DESIGN. I GUESS I COULD HAVE SPENT A COUPLE THOUSAND RENTING A CAR FOR THAT TIME, OR JUST SPENT $600 RIGHT AWAY AND ANOTHER $500 ON THE CAR TO GET IT FIXED. I TOOK MY CHANCES, SO WILL MANY OTHERS. THERE WERE PLENTY OF TIMES I COULDN'T SEE WELL AND HOPED FOR THE BEST. HERE IS THE SITE WITH LOTS OF INFO ABOUT IT. HTTP://WWW.MINI2.COM/FORUM/FIRST-GENERATION-FAULTS-FIXES/141234-WIPER-MOTOR-FAILURE-2.HTML HTTP://WWW.NORTHAMERICANMOTORING.COM/FORUMS/1ST-GEAR/83170-MY-WINDSHIELD-WIPER-MOTOR-DIED-IN-A-STORM-AT-NIGHT.HTML. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

THE DRIVER'S SIDE (POWER) WINDOW OF MY 2003 MINI COOPER S (50K MI) FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHILE IN AN UP POSITION. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROVES INCONVENIENT, TO SAY THE LEAST, PARTICULARLY WHEN ENTERING/EXITING PARKING GARAGES AND TOLL BOOTH STATIONS. MY MECHANIC WILL REPLACE THE MOTOR AND REGULATOR FOR $600. GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF GROUSING I'VE SEEN ON THIS SUBJECT, I SHOULD THINK THAT BMW SHOULD STAND BY ITS PRODUCT. *TR

2003 MINI COOPER S. BOTH WINDOWS ARE STUCK AND DO NOT WORK. HAD BOTH MOTORS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. WINDOWS HAVE FAILED AGAIN AND NOW THE CAR'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *TR

Mileage: 73,500

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD CRACK. *JB

Mileage: 70,750

THE WINDSHIELD OF MY 2003 MINI COOPER S HAD THREE SIGNIFICANT CRACKS AND MULTIPLE CHIPS WITHIN A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP.*AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED WITHOUT BEING STRUCK BY OBJECT.*AK

Mileage: 33,000

DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW WILL LOCK UP AND NOT MOVE, MOTOR AND REGULATOR REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

I OWN A 2003 MINI COOPER S AND LIKE MANY OTHER OWNERS OF MINIS, MY WINDSHIELD IS CRACKED IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. I DO BELIEVE MINI SHOULD COME UP WITH A NEW DESIGN AND DO A RECALL. *AK

BMW MINI COOPERS HAVE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELDS THAT CRACK REPEATEDLY WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. THE GLASS CRACKS DUE TO STRESS OR TEMP. CHANGES. NOT RELATED TO STONE IMPACTS. CHECK OUT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING THREAD ON THE MINI2.COM WEB SITE. WE ARE ON OUR 2ND WINDSHIELD IN TWO WEEKS. BMW IS COVERING UP THE PROBLEM WHILE QUIETLY INTRODUCING STRONGER GLASS. *JB

LARGE WINDSHIELD CRACK SUDDENLY APPEARED WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF ANY IMPACT TO THE WINDSHIELD. *AK

Mileage: 5,500

MY 2003 MINI COOPER'S WINDSHIELD CRACKED SHORTLY AFTER I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE NEW CAR. IT WAS NEVER HIT BY A ROCK, AND MANY OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED STRESS FRACTURES CAUSED BY WEAK WINDSHIELD GLASS. *AK BMW/MINI-USA REFUSED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD UNDER WARRANTY

Mileage: 3,000

WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENTS DUE TO PREMATURE PITTING, CHIPPING, AND CRACKING. MANY OTHER MINI COOPER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 29,000

WINDSHIELD IN MINI COOPERS ARE TO SOFT. I AM FIXING TO HAVE MY SECOND WINDSHIELD INSTALLED. JUST HAD ONE REPLACED IN AUGUST. A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD BOTH TIMES. THE SECOND TIME IF I HAD BEEN ANY CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THE ROCK WOULD HAVE COME THROUGH AND KILLED ME OR MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID THE SAME THING. THERE WAS AT LEAST TWO CAR LENGTHS BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE OTHER CAR. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD HAS MANY ROCK PITS IN IT AND IT IS ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD. *JB

MINI COOPER S 2003 MODEL PURCHASED SEPTEMBER 27, 2003 HAS DEVELOPED A WINDSHIELD CRACK NEAR LOWER EDGE AT CENTER. MANY MINI OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR CRACK, AND MINI/BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM HERE. AT GREAT MAJORITY OF THESE CRACKS ARE OCCURRING IN ONE OF THREE PLACES. CRACKS ARE HAPPENING REPEATEDLY TO SOME OWNERS (3 NEW WINDSHIELDS IN ONE YEAR FOR AT LEAST ONE OWNER.) WE WOULD LIKE MINI/BMW TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND TO REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR CRACKED WINDSHIELDS NOT CAUSED BY ACCIDENTS.*AK

2004 MINI COOPER S WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM 1/32 INCH "PIT"...ONLY 3,100 MILES ON CAR.*AK

Mileage: 3,024

WINDSHIELD, CRACKED , FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *AK

A 1" LONG VERTICAL FISSURE (CRACK) JUST APPEARED OVERNIGHT ON MY 2003 MINI COOPER S WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN A SINGLE CAR GARAGE (AND I DON'T HAVE KIDS OR PETS), AND WAS VISIBLE ON WINDSHIELD THE MORNING OF FEB 11, 2004. ON THE EVENING OF FEB 10, 2004, THIS CRACK WAS NOT THERE. THE CRACK ORIGINATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD FROM BELOW THE AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARDS LIKE STONES AND ROCKS, AND NO SUCH HAZARDS HAVE HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CRACK IS GROWING EACH DAY LIKE MY VOCABULARY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT IS NOW 8" LONG NOW AFTER 1 WEEK AND HAS HUNG A LEFT. I'VE READ ON NUMEROUS MINI OWNERS FORUMS ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003 MINIS AND THAT 2004 MINIS HAVE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED IN LOWER CENTER. DEALER CLAIMED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY A SMALL CHIP IN THE GLASS. I COULD NOT SEE ANY CHIP IN THE GALSS.*AK DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY USING GUIDLINES SET BY THE MANUFACTURE.

Mileage: 16,389

WINDSHIELD CRACKED THREE DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. I DON'T REMEMBER ANY STONE DAMAGE BEING DONE. WHEN I WASHED MY CAR (HOT DAY), A CRACK DEVELOPED IN THE MID-RIGHT BOTTOM BORDER OF MY WINDSHIELD. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS STONE DAMAGE.

Mileage: 2,100

2003 MINI COOPER S PURCHASED NEW; AT APPROX 4500 MILES 6-INCH CRACK APPEARED OVERNIGHT IN LOWER RIGHT CORNER OF WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME AND THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE ANYWHERE ON WINDSHIELD. SINCE THEN, CRACK HAS PROGRESSED NEARLY TO CENTER OF WINDSHIELD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRACK WAS THE RESULT OF A STONE HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. SERVICE MANAGER "PROVED" THIS BY TRACING CRACK WITH A BALLPOINT PEN UNTIL IT ENCOUNTERED A MICROSCOPIC, NEARLY INVISIBLE "PIT" ALONG THE CRACK. DEALER DECLINED TO REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. PERSONAL OPINION, SUPPORTED BY EXPERIENCE OF OTHER MINI OWNERS: STRESS CRACK PROBABLY CAUSED BY INCORRECT INSTALLATION OR UNDERDESIGNED WINDSHIELD. IN ANY CASE, MINI HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT IN SOLUTION, REPLACING SOME CUSTOMERS' WINDSHIELDS UNDER WARRANTY AND REFUSING TO REPLACE OTHERS, LIKE MINE.

Mileage: 4,555

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2004 MINI COOPER S JUST GOT A STRESS CRACK TODAY. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE MINIS INTRODUCTION AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED WITH REINFORCED A PILLARS ON 04S. IT HAS ABOUT 2500 MILES ON IT. MANY MINI OWNERS WOULD LIKE THIS PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED, PERMANENTLY.*AK

Mileage: 2,500

EXCESSIVE PITTING ON WINDSHIELD ON A VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. *JB

THE FRONT WINDSHEILD CRACKED, EXTREMELY SMALL CHIPS ON WINDSHEILD. CRACK APPEARS WHEN CAR IS PARKED FOR A WEEK. I HAD HUGE ROCKS LANDED ON MY WINDSHIELD BEFORE AND NOTHING MORE THAN AN EXTREMELY SMALL CHIP, UNLIKE OTHER CARS THAT ARE DRIVEN DAILY. I BELIEVE THE CRACK IS A STRESS CRACK AND NOT CAUSED BY A ROCK. MANY COMPLAINTS WHERE FILED AT HTTP://WWW.MINICOOPERONLINE.COM IN REGARDS WITH THIS MATTER. *LA

Mileage: 16,600

CRACKED WINDSHIELD LOWER LEFT CORNER OF ONE WEEK OLD CAR. CRACK APPEARED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. LONG BEACH MINI DEALER CLAIMS ROCK DAMAGE.

WINDSHIELD BULLSEYE PRODUCED BY VERY INSIGNIFICANT STONE FROM ROADWAY. WAS SHOCKED TO SEE DAMAGE RESULT FROM SUCH A MINOR IMPACT. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS.*AK

Mileage: 19,500

I HAVE A MINI COPPER S AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKS VERY EASY. I HAVE TALKED TO MINI USA, AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. BUT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO SO MANY MINI OWNER, I THINK THAT IT IS A MINI USA PROBLEM. CAUSE WHY WOULD SO MANY MINI WINDSHIELDS CRACK ALL THE TIME. *AK

NUMEROUS WINDSHEILD CHIPS IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH A WINDSHIELD THAT CHIPS SO EASILY. THE SMALLEST OF DEBRIS WILL RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT CHIP. THE WINDSHEILD HAS TO BE TOO WEAK. HOW CAN THE WINDSHIELD PROTECT YOU WHEN IT IS SO WEAK. THE FIRST CHIP HAPPENED AT ABOUT 800 MILES ANOTHER AT ABOUT 8000 MILES AND THE LAST AT 11000 MILES. THE FIRST ONE WAS "REPAIRED" THE NEXT MORNING. BUT IT IS NOW SPIDERING.

Mileage: 800

THE WINDSHIELD ON MY 2003 MINI COPPER S CRACKED RIGHT DOWN THE CENTER WHEN I SPRAYED IT WITH A HOSE WHILE WASHING IT. THIS WAS NOT A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE, JUST A REGULAR GARDEN HOSE. I BELIEVE IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO A TEMPERATURE CHANGE. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT A PARTICULARLY HOT DAY, BEING BARELY ABOVE 70 DEGREES. I HAVE WASHED THIS CAR AND ALL OF MY PREVIOUS CARS IN WEATHER HOTTER THAN THAT! ADDITIONALLY, A SEARCH OF THE WEB SHOWS THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH "STRESS" CRACKS WITH MINI WINDSHIELDS. ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD, BUT IT IS CERTAINLY DISTURBING AND (IN MY EXPERIENCE) VERY UNUSUAL.*AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKED AT 3 MONTHS USAGE AND 4,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I KNOW THIS TO BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE COOPER AND COOPER S AS I HAVE MONITORED THE MINI COOPER MESSAGE BOARD FOR WELL OVER A YEAR NOW AND HAVE SEEN MANY FAILURES POSTED(MANY OF THEM MULTIPLE FAILURES). DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THE COMPANY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AS IT MONITORS THE MESSAGE BOARD CONTINUOUSLY BUT HAS YET TO OFFER OWNERS ANY OPTIONS FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE GLASS.*AK

Mileage: 4,267

WINDSHIELD CRACKED

Mileage: 8,200

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD. ALSO, STATED THAT THIS WILL BE THE THIRD WINDSHIELD. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT ROCKS WERE HITTING THE VEHICLE AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY THERE WERE CRACKS ON THE WINDSHIELD.*AK

Mileage: 8,000

CRACKED WINDHSIELD ON MINI COOPER S. ONE OF PROBABLY THOUSANDS SUFFERED BY MIN OWNERS OWING TO THE GLASS BEING TOO THIN AND THE WINDSHIELD TOO UPRIGHT. THIS IA A DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE. MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED MONDAY APRIL 14. A SMALL STONE MAY HAVE HIT IT, BUT THE CRACK DID NO BEGIN UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. RANDOM CRACKS DUE TO STONES AND ROCKS ARE TO BE EXPECTED FROM TIME TO TIME. BUT THE OCCURRENCE OF CRACKS ON THE MIJI COOPER S IS EPIDEMIC AND WIDELY KNOWN. THE COMPANY DENIES THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE, BUT THE FREQUENCY OF THESE CRACKS, ADMITTED BY THE MINI COOPER DEALER NETWORK, IS WIDELY KNOWN TO BR A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AND THERE IS NO POLICY TO REMEDY IT, OTHER THAN HAVING THE WINDHSILED REPLACED AT A COST EXCEEDING $600. THESE CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE MEANT THAT HUNDRED IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OWNERS ROUTINELY ARE FORCED TO DRIVE THEIR CARS FOR LONG PERIODS WITH CRACKED WINDSHIELDS--A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

Mileage: 4,500

THERE WERE TWO CHIPS AND A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. *JB