[aaaaaaaaaz]

Between my X5, previous X3 and my friend's X5, all with HUD, 4 windshield had to be changed from road debris. Seems very excessive, but road to tahoe are sometimes rough after storms.

Had never had issue with windshield crack after road debris or rock hit with other vehicles, usually it leaves a tiny pit, but in the Bimmers seems it always result in a big bull-eye and then crack all the way in next 20 miles.

Is it just bad luck, or is the bimmer windshield are weaker?

[dwwStL]

Between 3 X5's over 7 years, I had one windshield strike that required a repair, but not replacement. Maybe you drive a lot more, or bad luck, or I've had good luck.

Years ago I had a mustang that required an annual windshield replacement which I assumed was a design flaw.

[TurtleBoy]

Probably bad luck, angle of the windshield and possibly softer glass. Wouldn't think HUD as anything to do with it though.

[GerryC]

It's just random. I had a 2006 525 that survived 175k miles and 11 years on the original windshield. It was replaced with a 2017 330i that went through 5 windshields in 4 years. The current X5 recently got a new windshield after 2 1/2 years due to a single chip. Asked for a repair but it was too close to the edge, so it was replaced.

[Kgerry59]

I'm cursed as well when it comes to windshields. Took two chips in my '23 X5 within 60 seconds of each other. never owned a vehicle i didn't put at least one windshield in. My Lexus GX got three windshields in 2 years.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Probably bad luck, angle of the windshield and possibly softer glass. Wouldn't think HUD as anything to do with it though.

Heard some rumor that HUD windsheild is softer? than the non-HUD counterpart. Not sure if it is true though

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by aaaaaaaaaz

Heard some rumor that HUD windsheild is softer? than the non-HUD counterpart. Not sure if it is true though

That rumor shows up every so often but never have seen anything saying that is the case. The way windshields are made have changed, thickness differences etc. so perhaps it is coming out of that. I would think a softer windshield would result in less cracked windshields, not more.

[Heavyd]

My 50e is from August and it has multiple tiny chips in the windshield. No cracks. But it seems it doesn't take much to chip the windshield. And I don't do much highway or dirt roads.

[RNorb]

I wonder if ceramic coating would help with the smaller chips.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by RNorb

I wonder if ceramic coating would help with the smaller chips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMi5PtyqUI8

I guess not. These coating won’t do much for the head-on impact.

What might help is ppf - or any soft material that can help absorb the impact - but it’s not sth you can put on windshield I suppose

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by aaaaaaaaaz

I guess not. These coating won’t do much for the head-on impact.

What might help is ppf - or any soft material that can help absorb the impact - but it’s not sth you can put on windshield I suppose

There is a front windshield 3m protection film available

[Fuzzy Master]

ClearPlex® Windshield Protection Film by Madico®

[MADBMWX5MC]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Master

ClearPlex® Windshield Protection Film by Madico®

Interesting concept, I wonder if someone here has done this and what is the feedback.

[mp33er]

Got mine replaced in the 6th month...

[jad03060]

I wonder how a plastic film on the outside of the windshield would hold up…while it might help prevent damage to the glass, being softer, it would seem to tend to scratch from the windshield wipers, maybe get pitted with sand, and some plastics just don’t fare well over time with UV and start to turn yellow. There are some formulations that claim to be self-healing, but I did not see that indicated, but may have missed it on their website. Replacing it may start to get expensive and time-consuming.

I’d also be interested to hear from anyone that’s had it installed and used it for a while. Where I live, they use both salt and sand on the roadways, and while I can sometimes avoid trips when that’s around, it can take time for it to clear off the roadways, so some getting on your windshield is inevitable.

[rmorin1249]

Go with the NASCAR version. 15 layers of tear off film.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy Master

ClearPlex® Windshield Protection Film by Madico®

That does look very interesting. Anyone had hand on experience with these?

[SteVTEC]

The windshield is definitely weak. Mine is already chipped within a month of ownership, but it's far off on the right side and not even in the passenger's field of view, so will just leave it. I'm guessing it's on purpose and "weight-optimized" for a lower center of mass, blah blah blah. The windshield in my Suburban has taken tons and tons of hits from rocks including so bad that I've ducked, and no chips at all in 5 years and 95k miles of ownership. Just built to different standards and for different purposes. It's fine.