Panoramic roof exploded

[2smitha]

Hi all I'm new to here so hi, has anybody had or heard of the panoramic roofs exploding on x5's ours is 3 months old done 2000 miles and the wife had it explode on her today whilst travelling on the motorway, she is adamant nothing hit it, I've found a few things to do with e90 sun roofs going but not x5's . The cars been recovered into Swindon BMW today so waiting there assessment now

[Horizon]

WOW, I bet that frightened the life out of her . I'm surprised the sunroof glass isn't laminated, it looks like a windscreen from the 1970,s
I would have thought it would be toughened glass or at least laminated. I can see the sourounding  cracks too, wonder if someone threw a brick from a motorway bridge or the like to cause that much damage.
Maybe a bad batch of glass, due to the early life failure.

[2smitha]

I have no idea she is adamant she wasn't under a bridge or no cars were in the close proximity of her, we will see what BMW Swindon have to say, must say assistance roadside were great they took the car away within the hour and a replacement x5 is being delivered tomorrow am

[graemeX5]

Hi,

Sorry to hear the news and pleased to hear all are safe, even if a bit shaken from the incident.

That is a new one on me, I don't think in the five years on the forum I've heard of this before it's usually a case they stop working. As Horizon says it looks like something has hit it to cause the glass to shatter into pieces.

As you have found other incidents, then best to see if they are the same type of event, what was the caused of it shattering and see if on a similar car, year, make ,model etc with the same roof or batch of roofs, or it could be completely unrelated.

If it was a safety issue i.e. A braking problem then iirc from what X5Sport says you can check VOSA website for manufacturers recalls and any safety notices.

Also it may be worth asking you wife to recall her route she took and at what point in the journey it happened. Then have a look on google maps satellite view to see if a bridge or a pedestrian walkway/ bridge in the vicinity. The reason for saying this is there have been cases where items have been dropped off bridges with disasterous consequences for the vehicle below.

If there are no bridges or pedestrian walkways, then speculating, I can only think it could be a stone, whether large or small being flicked up and landing on the roof. All it would take is a stone (probably angular shape) to do this as it's being projected at speed if on a main road like a dual carriageway or motorway and it hits the roof.

We all know stones can cause small holes or cracks in the laminated windscreens screens, and on a toughened piece of glass then it could result in the effects in the picture, which is not a nice experience for anyone.

I could understand the same effect if it was icy and someone had decided to clear it by pouring hot water / or a kettle full over it, as the extreme cold and the hot water would then cause a screen to crack or a toughened glass to shatter into pieces.

Glad you are getting a replacement car, and keep us posted of developments.

Graeme

[X5Sport]

Never come across it on a BMW but have on other cars and it was found to be a flaw in the glass and how it was made or assembled into the roof assembly.  A tiny bit of pressure in the wrong place will cause tempered glass to do this.

Very scary and a good thing the blind was in place!

[2smitha]

Good news all covered under warranty apparently the sun roof rails have been found to be twisted this causing the glass to smash. So it's complete new roof mechanism being ordered from Germany for fitting, must say so far from calling assistance to getting a car to dick Lovett in Swindon everyone has been great, Matt in the service department  there has gone well above his call of duty, looks like the car will need to be repatriated to Newcastle as it won't be sorted until the new year

[graemeX5]

Hi

That sounds like a good result and glad to know it was the twisted rails.

Graeme

[GeeRam]

Not uncommon on the X5 it would seem.....there's a few threads on the F15 Bimmerpost forum about identical exploding pano roof panels.

[MrThornell]

This thread is spooky to say the least. At the exakt same day 22/12 my wife was driving our brand new X5 and experienced the same exploding pano roof.

Do you have any more details around the investigation/incident? My BMW dealer is certain that the incident was caused by a stone chip. I am a bit worried that's not the cause especially after reading about your misfortune.