Bought a great 2006 S4 Avant 2 years ago. While the car was being hand washed this week, the tinted back window explodes into a million pieces. Anyone in the GTA Toronto have any similar experiences? Have seen a number of examples of this in earlier S4 and A4.

 

welcome... lol rather unusual way to introduce yourself, but howdy nonetheless.

That exact same thing happened to my dad's van a few years back... but that happened during the middle of the summer on a really hot day.

Congrats with the S4 avant... it's a beautiful car!

 

DITTO... welcome to the forum.. Have never heard of the unexpected exploding window thing before. What does your insurance company say?

 

I have not spoken with them yet. Unfortunately, I keep a high deductible so I believe I am SOL with the insurance company!

 

My parents had the same thing happen to their old Volvo. I've only ever heard of it happening to the rear window, so I'm guessing it has something to do with the defroster heating element. Likely the rapid and / or repeated temperature changes introduces thermal shock. Newer "Pyrex" type glass dishes have had similar failures when exposed to high heat in an oven and then placed on a cold or wet surface.

 

that's nuts.

Good thing it was during a handwash...not an automatic car wash. You'd have a flood damaged car on your hands if so.