A4lien

I hopped on the highway in my 2001.5 A4 1.8T a few days ago and a truck in the lane next to me hit a bump and spilled a bunch of pebbles onto the road. Of course, one jumped up and put a nice 'star' on my windshield. Luckily, it didn't spread and I had it repaired today.

Well, wouldn't you know it? Hopped on another highway today and a truck kicked up a small rock and smacked my windshield causing a pit which quickly spread into an out-of-control crack.

I've heard before that the Audi glass is soft, but dismissed that as just an unsubstantiated wive's tale. However, I have never had this kind of luck with a windshield.

What's up with this? Is it just coincidence?

Thanks.

jussnb

I say NO. I picked up two little stars within a week of each other. It's the Audi windshield curse.

Mark P

purchased car in Nov
got small chip in dec
decided to wait through winter before replacing
got another chip in jan/feb
in march, got a chip that instantly spread to 3", and within the day to ~10" (pictured below)
replaced the windshield at that point (glad I waited out the winter). I used PPG glass as was recommended by many others.
from then (march '00) till may '01, I never got one chip the size of any of those other 3. And trust me, I was hit pretty hard - the kind that make you literally cringe down in your seat at the moment of impact - left some white dust, but no scars

<img src="http://ctny.audiworld.com/mark/a4/maintenance/windshield/mvc509f.jpg">

<img src="http://ctny.audiworld.com/mark/a4/maintenance/windshield/mvc510f.jpg">

Hokie_Audi

If it were soft you wouldn't get a crack rapidly spreading across the windshield. I think the problem is that the glass is quite thin, and since glass has a crappy fracture toughness anyway...

jussnb

the design/aerodynamics as much as anything.

[ej257]

i had the same exact crack in the same exact place on my 98.5...damn audi glass

Mike-01A4

Hmmm, I actually got a chip in mine after about a month...don't even remember an impact though.

ILLusive

I just bought my 99 1.8TQMS last Saturday and on Monday I was on 101S and boom! a rock got kicked up, hit the windsheild, and now I got a star dead center! Ain't that a bitch!!!

Wir fahr'n auf der Autobahn

I'll vouch for the PPG too after the flimsy OEM got stoned