They are DEFINITELY rock magnets, I had mine just 2 days, thought I was getting shot at on the highway there was so much pelting, decided it was better to take the city streets when I can, especially during rush hour. Alot less teeth gnashing.

 

With the roof buckling, its because there is a support in the roof that has to be cut out when installing a panoramic moonroof. You cut out a support and well gravity tends to happen.

 

Pity the people with their moonroofs sitting at the bottom of a water-filled depression in the roof.

 

Makes you wonder.

Do they not have rocks in Japan? They have been driving these XB type cars over there a long time now. Seems like they'd have objected to cracked windshields, or found a way to keep them from cracking.

 

Two things about the bB in Japan, Jane: (1) The bB is mostly a 'city car' and sees it's major use at much lower speeds in metropolitan areas, and (2) it appears the Japanese highways are kept a lot cleaner and free of debris than the much vaster stretches of highway/freeway here is the US.

I doubt if their experience with the bB prepared them for the peppering the xB windshield gets on US highways.

In some ways, our highways are more like 70 MPH gravel roads than they are well maintained paved bands of concrete.

 

In looking at my roof, that support is a continuation of the B pillars over the top of the driver's head. I doubt that moonroof installers would cut this support for these reasoons:
1. It is obviously an important structural member that should not be cut.
2. It would interfere with mounting the frame of the moonroof, which needs to be in sheet metal, not crossing a structural member.
3. There is over 24 inches of clean flat metal in front of the structural member, more than enough to install a moonroof in the sheet metal.

 

I'm hoping my windshield was just a one time fluke. Keep your fingers crossed for me, 'cause I'm lovin' this car.

I creep the same 4 miles to and from work every day, traveling 35mph (except the mile in front of the USGS where I have to creep at 25mph and the two block stretch I can go 40). So I'm hoping I can avoid big rocks. I just don't want it to be a problem with "structural stress stuff".

 

Very true, But the Japanese do encounter some things on the highways that we don't:

 

You'd think so, but the 'panoramic moonroof' went from well forward of that major structural support to well back of it - 80% of the roof AND that beam were cut out and replaced with a huge slab of glass.

Later tries at a full moonroof involved putting in two large ones - one in front of the beam, one behind.

Tom

 

I didn't realize the panoramic moonroof was THAT big! But I see now that Velheru is right: even for the regular sunroof, the beam is removed. It is not cut because it just snaps out:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=32027

The description with this photo shows the regular sunroof fitting ahead of the support beam, which is removed during the installation by snapping it out, and it is not put back in, according to the thread:
https://www.scionlife.com/tech/image...24_75_full.jpg

I note that the installer says:
"... The sunroof is more structurely stronger then that thin butt beam that was going across this is becuase you have a small 3 inch wide bean that went all the way across. Now you have a 18" long by 30" wide piece in there which supports much stronger then the little butt beam."

Contrary to what the installer says, I would think even the regular sunroof would weaken the structure. First, a structural beam is removed. Then a large hole is cut in the roof diaphragm. Evidently the xB can survive a regular sunroof, but not that immense panoramic moonroof.

 

Update on Creak = Crack

Went to the dealer and the service advisor claims something hit the windshield. A call to 1-866-70-SCION yielded nothing more than the "service manager" saying he would "take a look" at it. A look by the insurance company authorized windshield replacement shop said that I might have a hard time filing a claim.

The bottom line:
I THINK I'M SCREWED !!

 

I believe if I had a regular sunroof installed and it was forward of the beam, I would insist it was reinstalled, better safe than sorry. That sucks about the windshield Dave, so far I havent had any problems driving the 65 miles of highways and backroads to work yet. well at least not in the Xb, did get the windshield shattered in the wifes car going to work last summer.

 

Well less than two months of ownership and the dreaded windshield crack shows up. It just happened overnight while sitting in my garage. Come out to get ready for work and there it is. I know it wasn't there last night before I went to bed. I washed it and garaged it. I did just just put in the envy green trd strut tower bar the night before, don't know if that has anything to do with it. The crack started at the top and j-hook down about 6-7 inches. I didn't see a rock chip, need examine it closer when I get home from work. Man this sucks. I think there is a gremlin my garage or at least in the xB, especially since mine is Envy Green.

 

Welcome to the club with the crack. That j-hook crack sound just like mine. It appeared out of nowhere just like yours. DON'T expect Scion to do anything for you.

Hey look on the bright side....... At least you got a strut tower bar to show for it. I don't even have that.

Let us know if you find a chip that caused the crack, and was there any strange creaking noises ????

 

Had my Xb since late Dec. and have 5300 miles on it, driving 70 down country black tops and oil/chip roads, no cracks, chips or any of the such....plenty of bugs though.

 

Got mine at the end of winter, and have 1500 miles on mostly country roads. Now that the weather is warming into the 80's, a few little bugs are beginning to appear in the air. I am surprised at being able to hear each impact on the windshield even though I can't see many of them. At one point, there were enough impacts to merge into a crackling sound. I can imagine what summer will sound like when the air is full of bugs.

 

And you no what....I always say no to Crack...

 

my friends xB got hit by a rock from a big rig passing him. causing a larger than a quarter size star crack. I think it is because our windows are so vertical.

 

I just wanted to add to the topic, got in the car today and there you have it nice 6 to 7 in. j hook crack at the top.Also I have not taken any rock hits Im sure the dealer would feel different and further examination from me shows nothing that I can see as rock damage I would have rather taken a rock hit and got a star crack that could be fixed it really sucks!