Rear-windshield suddenly explodes?

[e-man]

So I'm driving to work this morning (Mon, Sept 14th around 8:20am) and I stop at a stoplight. I'm behind this Mini Cooper. I'm fiddling with the radio and then I hear this soft popping noise. I look up and the Mini Cooper's rear windshield has a huge hole in it and the glass is shattered ("frosted")!

The dude finished his turn and then pulled over to the side (obviously not hurt). This was at Huntingwood and Vic Park.

Anyone willing to hazard a guess at what could have happened?

[Phr3sh]

Possibly the frequency of the sound produced by the speakers...a very unlikely senario

[Cospa]

There's a hole in it? Could a rock have been kicked up by a passing truck or something? Is it cold out? Maybe temperature could have something to do with it too.

[DuDe1411]

i say bird :p

[e-man]

There's a hole in it? Could a rock have been kicked up by a passing truck or something? Is it cold out? Maybe temperature could have something to do with it too.

This morning was 14 C, so I don't think it was the temperature.

Yeah, my first thought was a rock or a bebe gun or something. I don't think it was from a truck, though. Angle would be too hard and there isn't that much traffic in that area. Or at least traffic which is fast enough.

[Keigotw]

bullet hole?

[e-man]

bullet hole?

Maybe. If that was the case, I gotta figure I would have heard a loud noise, not a slight pop (I'm assuming the pop was just the glass breaking). I'm no gun expert, but aren't guns really loud? To the point that people would notice it, even above day-to-day traffic noises?

Also, the dude's side windows seemed to be intact. I doubt a bullet would go into the window and basically stop there.

[whampoa]

Stone chip causing a small crack, that expand quickly in time, and sudden temperature changes.

Or bad seal around the windshield that cause stress and explode.

[mcplar]

Might have had his defroster on. Those have been known to 'over heat' and cause windows to pop.

this might be better answered in the auto forum though......

[bobbings]

Maybe. If that was the case, I gotta figure I would have heard a loud noise, not a slight pop (I'm assuming the pop was just the glass breaking). I'm no gun expert, but aren't guns really loud? To the point that people would notice it, even above day-to-day traffic noises?

Also, the dude's side windows seemed to be intact. I doubt a bullet would go into the window and basically stop there.

James Bond likes to carry a silencer... lol

[Si98]

High powered air rifles that shoot pellets aren't loud.

Were there any hi-rises nearby? If shot from a balcony the angle of the bullet or pellet would go straight into the back seat avoiding the side windows.

[Aristophanes]

Bumble Bee from Transformers was the culprit.
Do you driving a yellow Camaro?

[mcplar]

Bumble Bee from Transformers was the culprit.
Do you driving a yellow Camaro?

Does it hot?

sorry, couldn't resist.

As for the air rifles, hope that's not the case. You might have a whacko on your hands if so.

[subagear]

I was gonna say the car body torqued the window, but you were at a stoplight.

[KawaiiTentacleBeast]

Maybe it was just typical shoddy German build quality on the glass. My boss use to have a MINI and the silly thing(brand new) leaked rain in from the front windshield for no apparent reason.

[jasonkwan86]

Ill keep an eye out at here at the dealership, chances are they will bring it to a dealer sometime in the near future.

[e-man]

Ill keep an eye out at here at the dealership, chances are they will bring it to a dealer sometime in the near future.

Ha ha. Cool. Let me know if someone shows up.

When they do, you can say "Let me guess: You were at a stoplight and BOOM! the glass breaks." I'm sure they'll be quite amazed how you knew.

[funky_monkey_99]

this kinda sounds like ppls sunroofs imploding!

[Pete_Coach]

Maybe. If that was the case, I gotta figure I would have heard a loud noise, not a slight pop (I'm assuming the pop was just the glass breaking). I'm no gun expert, but aren't guns really loud? To the point that people would notice it, even above day-to-day traffic noises?
.........
Nope, a bullet makes very little noise, a small crack as it breaks the sound barrier. Only the gun makes noise. TV and movies make you think otherwise.
Stone chip causing a small crack, that expand quickly in time, and sudden temperature changes.
Or bad seal around the windshield that cause stress and explode.
Could be a chip or most likely small crack that has exceeded the level of stress the glass can take. It happens, rarely bit it does happen and with laminated glass like we have here, it just looks like it instantly fogged. In Europe where they have tempered glass, it just falls apart in a million pieces.

[Mattones]

Two years ago a friend and i were driving down Dundas in Oakville and suddenly someones sun roof flew off and 50 feet into the air and shattered on the other side of the road nearly hitting a car. No iudea how that would happen but wow. Just seeing it fly off his car (He was about 4 car lengths ahead going 80km)

[ES_Revenge]

Spontaneous glass shattering has been known to happen though it's usually more common on sunroof glass than other vehicle glass. Was it a Cooper convertible by any chance or was it just a normal model?

[actng]

lol did he blame you for rear ending his window?? lol

[mkerian]

So I'm driving to work this morning (Mon, Sept 14th around 8:20am) and I stop at a stoplight. I'm behind this Mini Cooper. I'm fiddling with the radio and then I hear this soft popping noise. I look up and the Mini Cooper's rear windshield has a huge hole in it and the glass is shattered ("frosted")!

The dude finished his turn and then pulled over to the side (obviously not hurt). This was at Huntingwood and Vic Park.

Anyone willing to hazard a guess at what could have happened?

So how exactly did it happen??

[e-man]

Spontaneous glass shattering has been known to happen though it's usually more common on sunroof glass than other vehicle glass. Was it a Cooper convertible by any chance or was it just a normal model?

I would assume it was a regular Cooper since the back was all glass...but I can't be sure since I wasn't really paying that close attention (until the glass broke).


So how exactly did it happen??

I think that's what I'm trying to find out!

The good news is that I went past the same intersection this morning, and the glass did not shatter on anyone's rear windshield (as far as I know). :D

[theguyz]

Stone chip causing a small crack, that expand quickly in time, and sudden temperature changes.

Or bad seal around the windshield that cause stress and explode.

+1 It happens, like they say small item can lead to expensive fix later on. Just a small stone chip, $30-$50 to get fixed. Can cause this later. Replacement, $300 +

I've had this happen on a Ford Explorer, small chip ( saw ) coupel weeks leater hit a bad pothole and pressure cause it to go pop.

[Anonymouse]

Stone chips are rather unlikely on the rear glass. Typically, there's a stress line in the glass that lets go when the frame flexes a bit.

All cars use safety (tempered) glass by government edict; it's not just on Euro cars.

[taro-chan]

Maybe it was just typical shoddy German build quality on the glass. My boss use to have a MINI and the silly thing(brand new) leaked rain in from the front windshield for no apparent reason.I had this exact problem. I had to get my entire sunroof assembly replaced due to bad seal. =\

So I'm driving to work this morning (Mon, Sept 14th around 8:20am) and I stop at a stoplight. I'm behind this Mini Cooper. I'm fiddling with the radio and then I hear this soft popping noise. I look up and the Mini Cooper's rear windshield has a huge hole in it and the glass is shattered ("frosted")! I haven't seen this in the Mini forums yet... but I'll keep an eye out. It's probably defective glass.

[chickenbones]

saw this guy on the DVP south bound yesterday morning it was a blue mini I think. The back window was still shattered, he didn't have bother to tape it. He could be scattering little pieces of glass all over the road. (Granted it's little round pieces from these type of glasses, but still).

[e-man]

saw this guy on the DVP south bound yesterday morning it was a blue mini I think. The back window was still shattered, he didn't have bother to tape it. He could be scattering little pieces of glass all over the road. (Granted it's little round pieces from these type of glasses, but still).

I wonder if it was the same guy. I thought it was a black Mini, but maybe it was a dark blue.

[jasonkwan86]

Theres a black one here at MINI Markham/Town+Country. Was the one you saw black? Cuz the one here is black with the back window shattered. They are saying that maybe whoever it was left the rear window defroster on for an extended period of time in the middle of the summer (maybe accidently hit the button) and so it overheated and the whole window shattered. I have couple pictures I can put on when I get home, license plate excluded for privacy reasons. Definately something I have not seen before.

[chickenbones]

Shouldn't the defroster have auto off after sometime?

Theres a black one here at MINI Markham/Town+Country. Was the one you saw black? Cuz the one here is black with the back window shattered. They are saying that maybe whoever it was left the rear window defroster on for an extended period of time in the middle of the summer (maybe accidently hit the button) and so it overheated and the whole window shattered. I have couple pictures I can put on when I get home, license plate excluded for privacy reasons. Definately something I have not seen before.

[jasonkwan86]

I was thinking the same thing. Thats the limit of my diag abilities unforunately lol.

[DLFB]

New cars should have an auto-off on the defroster. I doubt that was the cause.

[e-man]

Theres a black one here at MINI Markham/Town+Country. Was the one you saw black? Cuz the one here is black with the back window shattered. They are saying that maybe whoever it was left the rear window defroster on for an extended period of time in the middle of the summer (maybe accidently hit the button) and so it overheated and the whole window shattered. I have couple pictures I can put on when I get home, license plate excluded for privacy reasons. Definately something I have not seen before.

Yeah, it was a dark colour, most likely black. The hole was on the closer to the driver's side, mid- to lower-part of the window (assuming that another hole didn't also appear). The rest of the glass was completely "frosted", meaning that it was clearly broken but just hadn't fallen apart.

I find it hard to believe that it was the defroster. The temperature about 14 degrees or so. It was at 8:20-30-ish in the morning, and typical for a Fall morning. Assuming that that is indeed the real reason for it breaking, I'd be very pissed if I the owner.

Maybe you can ask the owner if it happened when he was stopped at a stoplight at Huntingwood and Vic Park :).

It has to be the same guy. The timing is spot on, and the location suggests it is the same person too.

[BradT]

Our Mazdas don't have auto shut off for the rear defroster. If the Mini is still under warranty, would it be covered?

[taro-chan]

I never knew leaving the rear defroster on can break a window. Maybe I'll leave it on on the drive home and see.

Jason, was this covered?

[actng]

I never knew leaving the rear defroster on can break a window. Maybe I'll leave it on on the drive home and see.

Jason, was this covered?

yeah it can. make sure you turn on your AC too while you do that.

then tap the gas pedal three times quickly, followed by the brake pedal.

then go up up down down left right left right B A B A select start

and then your rear window will explode!!!!!!!!!!!

[ES_Revenge]

I never knew leaving the rear defroster on can break a window. Maybe I'll leave it on on the drive home and see.

LOL so you're trying to break your window? :lol: Funny guy.

Oddly enough the defroster should be more likely to break the backlight in the winter rather than the summer. In the warmer period the glass is already hot, heating it more doesn't really change it's temperature much. However in the dead of winter when you activate an element to heat the glass when it's like -20C outside, that's a bit more thermal shock for the glass to handle.

Realistically glass doesn't [commonly] break in the winter becuase of the defroster though. The real reason the glass broke in this case is either some kind of structural defect in the glass and/or just one of those freak accidents (as I said it has been known to happen). The defect in the glass could have developed in use of the vehicle or it could have been there from the time or manufacture; also it could be something microscopic in nature, that you'd never have any clue about. The defroster, especially in summer, shouldn't cause you any problems at all.

[noob666]

this seems like a common issue with german car

i have a few friend with the same problem, nothing was on and all of a sudden the glass just crack.

[taro-chan]

yeah it can. make sure you turn on your AC too while you do that.

then tap the gas pedal three times quickly, followed by the brake pedal.

then go up up down down left right left right B A B A select start

and then your rear window will explode!!!!!!!!!!!I think you are forgetting about shifting into 3rd to 4th to 2nd.!!

on a serious note, I was just wondering if it turns off automatically. I forgot to even turn it on on the way home. Short term memory FTL.

[jed]

Nope, a bullet makes very little noise, a small crack as it breaks the sound barrier. Only the gun makes noise. TV and movies make you think otherwise.

Could be a chip or most likely small crack that has exceeded the level of stress the glass can take. It happens, rarely bit it does happen and with laminated glass like we have here, it just looks like it instantly fogged. In Europe where they have tempered glass, it just falls apart in a million pieces.

The rear glass on the wife`s Envoy blew out too, and it was definitely tempered. Fronts are laminated for sure, and pickups & SUV`s rears are tempered.

[macnut]

this seems like a common issue with german car

Yes, there is a fair amount of anecdotal evidence of spontaneous glass breakage with Audis, BMWs, Minis, VWs.
Not sure about MB's, Porsches, Saturn Auras and Astras.

Could be:
- the way the windshield/backlight/sidelight/sunroof is manufactured
- the way the glass is fitted and retained
- the way German cars are transported (vis a vis Japanese, for example)

Appears that if it is going to happen, it will be while the vehicle is still quite new.
The precipitating event doesn't have to be immediately prior - could have been that drop down the high curb out of the mall the previous day.

[actng]

Yes, there is a fair amount of anecdotal evidence of spontaneous glass breakage with Audis, BMWs, Minis, VWs.
Not sure about MB's, Porsches, Saturn Auras and Astras.

Could be:
- the way the windshield/backlight/sidelight/sunroof is manufactured
- the way the glass is fitted and retained
- the way German cars are transported (vis a vis Japanese, for example)

Appears that if it is going to happen, it will be while the vehicle is still quite new.
The precipitating event doesn't have to be immediately prior - could have been that drop down the high curb out of the mall the previous day.

right...
i suppose the germans should stop AIR DROPPING their vehicles to us. parachuting a 2 ton metal brick is not good for the glass!! the japanese TELEPORTING method is much better.

[jed]

Sarcasm +1

[ES_Revenge]

right...
i suppose the germans should stop AIR DROPPING their vehicles to us. parachuting a 2 ton metal brick is not good for the glass!! the japanese TELEPORTING method is much better.
LOL no kidding. I can tell you first hand that the cars are shipped no differently. The only thing I'd add is that Audi/VW/Porsche are probably the best protected in shipment cars of all the mainstream brands. They're the only cars where nearly every vehicle is shipped in a blanket (car cover). Yes that's right even the Rabbits/Golfs are now shipped in blankets since MY08. This way the whole vehicle is protected--there being no chance for water damage due to windows left open (except the driver window), very little chance for scratches or chips, and significantly reduced chances for rail dust paint contamination. In addition, even under the blanket, some of the "tape" protection is used as well (just like on most other car brands).

However I agree with that one point that if there is a defect in manufacturing, it will probably show up when the vehicle is newer as opposed to 5yrs down the road (where it's more likely it would occur for another reason, possibly glass damage that occurred while driving/use of the vehicle).