Rear View Mirror with Aftermarket Glass?

[kidmd1]

Hi all-

I'm curious to hear if anyone has any experience or thoughts about this. About 18 months ago, I replaced the front windshield on my 2010 328i because of a crack. I used a local auto glass company to do the repair.

Last month, with the blistering heat in DC, the rear-view mirror fell off of the windshield. I happened to have a service appointment scheduled so I asked the dealership's maintenance guy if he could re-attach the mirror (I had been using double sided tape temporarily). He told me that because the company had used an aftermarket glass rather than "BMW glass" that the mirror would not attach well and that I needed to replace the entire windshield for $750. I did the repair but I am wondering if I was scammed into replacing the glass a second time. I mean, the mirror had held for 18 months prior to this and the heat in DC was up to 105 degrees outside. I kinda feel like this mirror should have been simply re-glued.

I would be curious to hear about what other people think about this.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

David

[90turbo1]

so you are saying that the metal plate that is glued to the windshield came off the glass?

or the mirror fell of the metal plate??

The metal plate thing looks like a stop sign shape and is up next to rain/light sensor.

If the metal plate came off and there was no damage to the actuall glass you could try to get one of those auto part store rearview glue kits. its a special glue that bonds to glass. But you must remove all traces of the old glue first. If the metal plate pulled a chunk of glass off with it then windshield replacement is in order.

The dealership will not under most circumstances glue that back on, I know you think they are scamming you but look at it from there point of view. If they glue it back on and say in a month it falls off again you are going to get mad at dealership and they will have to cover there warranty on the repair, plus they got a mad customer. If they "fix it right the first time" as in replace the glass its a no brainer its fixed and you can leave and chances that will come back are slim. why didnt you go back to the glass people that installed the glass?

another thing do you hang crap from your mirror? I have only seen one BMW pull the mount off the glass and that was a car that had a bunch of crap hanging from the mirror.

[e34Croak]

Aftermarket windshields are garbage. I have seen at least 3 or 4 cars this summer with this exact problem. We tell our customers exactly how it is. We'll re-glue the mirror but if it continues to fall off, it's the aftermarket windshield that's causing this. Insurance companies should cover the repair with OEM glass in the first place.

[kidmd1]

OP here. Thanks for the replies. The entire mirror came off the glass with nothing left behind. I probably should have just tried to glue it back myself, since my lease ends in 6 months but the car was already at the dealer. BTW, I don't hang ANYTHING from the mirror- that's kind of tacky for a BMW.

So, what is so special about BMW glass that it adheres better to the mirror glue?

[HoJo]

Nothing special about the glass. The mount on the factory, and some aftermarket windshields is bonded on at the factory, much stronger than some glue you can get at Autozone

[slocar]

Go to autozone and buy the mirror glue and glue it back on yourself. There is nothing special about "BMW glass", at least not when it comes to the way glue adheres to it.

Of course they'll tell you that you need BMW glass. How else would they get to stay in business if they didn't rip you off for 800 dollars?

[Globallyoff]

Mine just fell off today. I was going to take it back to the glass shop that installed the aftermarket windshield, but I think I'm just going to try and glue it back on myself first so I dont have to leave the car in shop. Ill keep everyone posted.

[ross1]

Aftermarket windshields are garbage. I have seen at least 3 or 4 cars this summer with this exact problem. We tell our customers exactly how it is. We'll re-glue the mirror but if it continues to fall off, it's the aftermarket windshield that's causing this. Insurance companies should cover the repair with OEM glass in the first place.

I am NO fan of most aftermarket(cheap) glass as fit is often poor. Installers of cheap glass typically use other inferior materials and shortcut methods.
BMW doesn't have the only quality replacements (many good replacements have the pad already bonded on)and I cannot concieve why one vs. the other would effect adhesion of the mirror pad. Poor preparation, poor adhesive or installation technique? Yes.
The glue only sticks to BMW glass? Give me a break.
If I can make a mirror pad remain on an aftermarket glass so can anyone else.

EDIT; Next to improper preparation of the glass, cleaning and primer, too much adhesive is another common reason for these bonds failing.

[stefanom3]

bull. just use epoxy. it will never fall again :)

[Globallyoff]

After looking at the windshield last night, I elected to take it back to the shop that installed the glass (4 mo. ago). They used quality PGW glass and said no problem. I had used a windshield reflective shade yesterday to try and keep the interior heat down. It was 98 degrees here yesterday and they said that lots of mirrors are falling off, esp with the shades that apparently increase the windshield temperature. It took them nearly an hour to get it glued back on because of the rain sensor and all of the wires that need to be channeled. There was no charge to me. Im glad that I didnt try and glue it on myself. Im also glad that I didnt pay twice the price for a BMW brand windshield when these people will stand behind their product.