Boom!!!

[sevenup]

BMW Z4's also have a knack for allowing the drivers airbag to deploy while parked and locked in the garage...don't ask how I know this...

[rnr]

I had the windshield on my Elise explode at ~45 mph on a country road. It looks like something hit it but I did not see anything and there was nothing at the site of the impact. AAA glass coverage meant it cost me $50 for a $1200 repair.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7090/7174883807_1d9d562a80.jpg

[jimrankin]

Tempering process does bring all of the stress into a "straight line" of sorts, with all edges being the end of the lines. This makes the glass very strong when being hit straight on. It can not be snapped along a "scratch" like from a glass cutter but it is VERY subject to fail if any pressure is put on an edge. It's safer than non-tempered plate glass because when it breaks it shatters along all of the imparted stress lines leaving only small pieces. The edges of the broken pieces are very sharp so they do cut you, just not deep like the edge of a broken, and usually large, plate glass shard.

MINI does use a thinner glass to save weight but so do most of the smaller lighter cars that are looking for performance or better mileage and not trying to keep the cabin luxury quiet. I have so many rock pits in my MINI's windshield you almost can't see through it any more, but it has never broken. I've also got several rock hits on the side windows without a failure so shattering isn't something more inherent in MINI's than in other small cars.

I dealt with tempered glass for most of my working life and never saw anyone seriously hurt (scared s---less yes) by it exploding.

[coffee break]

The Mini is back home good as new. New glass and regulator assembly covered by warrant. It turns out that "warrant coverage" on some items is subject to opinion it seams.

I don't know if it was a convincing factor, but an exploding shower door story may have tipped the scale. :smilielol5:

Thanks for the feedback. :seeya:

[scannon]

I don't know if it was a convincing factor, but an exploding shower door story may have tipped the scale. :smilielol5:

Thanks for the feedback. :seeya:

 

Happy to be of assistance.