Interior Exterior
Q:
Has anyone had a problem with a cracked windshield under the rear-view mirror mount?
When I took my Elise in for it's 1000 mile service, I asked the dealer, BMC of SF, to install a micro-mirror I had purchased. Before he installed the new mirror, the mechanic discovered a 1 1/2" crack under the mirror mount. Since this crack was an internal crack and not a external rock created crack, they took pictures of it and forwarded the info to Lotus to see if they would replace the windshield free of charge.
Well guess what? Lotus came back and said they would not replace it.
Since I have not even hit the mirror or done anything to initiate a crack, I am positive the crack must have been in the windshield when I purchased it new and was not noticed by me or the dealer in the new car inspection. I was wondering if anyone else had this problem.
A:
Or maybe the guy installing the Micro Mirror cracked it, and then told you it was already there. Other people trying to install the Micro Mirro have cracked the windshield.
Forgive me, but I'm a cynic.
A:
my windshield cracked there (about an inch long) when removing
the stock mirror...
I think many have....
If your stock mirror was already removed when he showed you the crack...
that's how it happened.
A:
Very easy to crack. Believe me. I'll just wait and see if it gets worse, and if it does (im in the bay area too), we'll be searching for a good windshield installer....
Cheers,
Skottoman
A:
Welcome to the club!
My Micromirror has been sitting in the box for about 3 months now, I tried to get the stock mirror off but of course cracked the damn windshield... Sucks because I had just done the 1000 mile service else I woulda asked them to do it... so I'm waiting for the 7500 service, though frankly I wish I could just return the stupid micromirror and give up on the idea of using it... sigh
A:
The windshields are very easy to crack. I am with pinmagic: the discovery of a 1.5 inch crack sound suspicious. I have a similar crack under my mirror mount from where I tried to install the micromirror. I would think you would have noticed a crack of that size by now if it was already there.
A:
Document the crack with photos. I would also consider having the crack repaired with resin to prevent it from spreading. It should cost little and is worth the effort.
A:
I've heard of cracking before. Either the windshield is to thin to handle the mass of the mirror mounted to it or something else. I.E. maybe some of the cars were damaged when the original mounts were installed. Just how thin are the windshields?
A:
My new Elise had a cracking at the cleat on the first day I drove it home. I hit a big bump that probably caused the mirror to flex while I was adjusting it. I actually thought that I might have bent a rim, but didn't. I then drove the car for the 1000 miles and brought it in to HRM. The crack did spread about 3 inches. Lotus denied the claim on it so I had to have my Allstate policy cover it. As far as I am concerned, that area of the windshield is weak and the stock mirror has just enough weight for it to crack.
A:
My new Elise had a cracking at the cleat on the first day I drove it home. I hit a big bump that probably caused the mirror to flex while I was adjusting it. I actually thought that I might have bent a rim, but didn't. I then drove the car for the 1000 miles and brought it in to HRM. The crack did spread about 3 inches. Lotus denied the claim on it so I had to have my Allstate policy cover it. As far as I am concerned, that area of the windshield is weak and the stock mirror has just enough weight for it to crack.
I figured it was weak. I can't make windshields but there is a fix. Now, is there sufficient demand to pay for development? Realistically, Lotus should not only fix these issues, but also warranty these things. Maybe I haven't owned enough cars but I never heard of mirrors causing windshields to crack before owning a Lotus. I guess you had better not bump the mirror and had better adjust it like you're handling nitroglycerin.
A:
Windshields crack all the time for various reasons. Sometimes it's stress, sometimes it trying to remove a mirror. I broke the windshield of my old Honda years ago when I replaced the mirror. I'm not sure what I did, but two days after I put the new mirror on it had a 3" run starting right at the mirror mount.
What's annoying about breaking the Lotus windshield is it's so darn expensive.
A:
My crack has not gotten any worse over the past 4 or 5 months...
I don't expect it too either.
Maybe I'm too optimistic
A:
The crack under my rear view mirror has'nt grown in the 2 1/2 months since it started. I've had my windshield replaced before, and the expense wasn't the worst part. It took 3 to 4 weeks to get the glass from the factory, Then when the glass was installed they put the mirror in the middle. I'll probably replace the windsheild and buy a micromirror whenever the crack decides to get bigger.