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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - ZR rear windscreen just broke for no reason

I was just driving along at about 30mph and the rear windscreen of my ZR just broke for no apparent reason at all. Didn't hear any sort of impact, nothing in the vicinity that could have hit it. Can't see any stones/pellets or anything. Just heard a sort of pop. Looked behind and there was a hole about fist size about half way down, one third across, and the entire winscreen shattered as they do when they go.

Rang Autoglass, lady said that a note was showing that rear windscreens on ZRs that break for no reason should be referred to the dealer to be fixed on warranty. She couldn't give any more information, but it felt like a known problem.

Anyone heard of this sort of thing happening before???
Gonna have to give the dealer a call tomorrow. Real pain, got far too many other things to do.

Andy
VE02 RHO, ZR TD+

Andy

Had this happen to me on a new Morris back in the 1970s. Also the side rear 1/4s on a newish Montego in the 1990s. Both replaced under warranty. It is not that unusual and has happened with many cars. Not certain but I suspect with bonded type screens as well as normal types, screens settle with some level of stress permanently set in. Maybe some glass panels are stressed unevenly during manufacture too. It's only a matter of time before body movements transmitted through the car from rougher road surfaces causes the glass to craze or even shatter.
John McFeey

Was your HRW on? If so, I have heard of other Z's doing this so there looks like there's an issue for the glass manufacturers, which is why they'll want to look at the car. (Batch no's, etc)
Mind you, A Class Mercedes are doing this all the time, HRW on or not.
Dave

Yep, HRW was on. went out for a late drink at about 10pm, bottom of the screen was frosted up with quite a deep frost.

Well done to Stour Valley Rover for having it all organised and fixed by 11:30 today.

Cheers!
Andy
Andy

Andy

Have heard of this happenning on a ZR160. I believe that it exploded not long after the HRW was turned on. Not sure what the outcome of any enquiries to MGR but will try to find out.

Pete
P Wilkinson

There could have been a small chip in the glass U were unawre of, then on warming up it shatters!! I dad this on mini once! Stone hit the screen and survived, several hours later the screen shattered as the sun warmed it up!!

Kelvin
Kelvin

The cracked rear heated screen on my 1970s Morris also occurred on a very sharp frosty cold late evening ...... the car was stationary at the time .... figures ....
John McFeely

P.S. Morris was only 2 months old at the time ....
John McFeely

This thread was discussed between 03/01/2003 and 04/01/2003

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