Sorry if this a stupid question...but how do you prevent glass rear-windows from breaking? I'm thinking about getting one, but looking at how my current plastic one is stored when the top is down, I can't imagine how you would avoid cracking the window every time....(!?)

My unzipped window is layed down onto the two-tiered rear shelf, but when the roof folds down into the lower section it bends the window quite a lot. I'm also getting small scratches in a line along the window (about 3" from the bottom) at the point where it bends.

Am I missing something obvious here? Do you unzip a glass window? Do you chock it up so that it's laid flat? (3/00)
No questions are stupid, although a few here on the list may think otherwise! Seriously, the glass rear window from Matt Clark http://freespace.virgin.net/mx5.mike/matt/ is not as tall as the plastic rear window, unzips and lays flat on the rear shelf. One of the best accessories for the MK1 (IMHO). (3/00)
Not a stupid question! I have very little space between my unzipped rear window and the brace bar but just enough. Last year I asked for help on the list with the added complication of the Moss/Oris windstopper. The answer is remove windstopper if you have one by "unplugging" and not just flapping into horizontal plane. But be assured on my 1998 Roadster VS (old shape) there is just enough space to get an unzipped glass rear window up and down - but beware trapping your fingers against the brace bar. Of course top-down you have to be careful what you put on the ledge behind the seats to avoid breaking or scratching glass. (3/00)

OK guys and gals, with the lovely weather coming etc just a quick observation about the lovely glass window we have installed by the factory in the MK2 ( NB ) model.

It is Glass, It Breaks, AND you can't get it replaced!

SO take cae if you put anything into the rear parcel shelf area and lower the hood - it could just break the glass - OR put something on the hood with it down! IF it does break it will cost in the region of £450 for a NEW HOOD , PLUS VAT , PLUS FITTING! OF course the new hood includes the new glass.

Now who's insurance company will stump up for a new hood on the occasion of the rear glass being broken, under the glass cover element of a fully comp. insurance OR are we going to get a 'Sorry that will have to be claimed on the main policy' and say good bye to your No Claims Discount. Nice decision by Mazda to generate new hood sales this way....

On and no I HAVEN'T done mine YET, but M1 window tears and large load carrying got me thinking... (6/00)
Hmmmmmmmmm. I bet Autoglass (or similar) can do it for a lot less. (6/00)
Would you like to put the £450 on it - been there done that - worn the tee shirt - Unless of course you would like a hard top glass in your MK2 soft top. Thanks for the thought :-) (6/00)
TRUST ME, THEY CAN'T! (6/00)
'Scuse my ignorance, but couldn't the chap who runs 'Matt Developments' sort something out? If he can put a glass screen into a Mk 1 hood surely he can do the same for a Mk 2 hood - or have I missed something? (6/00)

Hum .. these problem needs sorting as windows will be broken .. as I am just fitting a Mk2 roof I have had a good look and the Mk2 roof looks like the rubber surround is directly moulded on the glass and roof material .. while Matt's window has a steel U shaped sub frame with a standard rubber seal and the fabric bonded to the steel..

.. so it is a pretty horrible thing to solve .. really needs a mini rubber injection machine with all the jigs to create a new rubber surround/interface .. another solution is to cut the window/rubber out and then bond/sew an extension piece on to allow a steel frame to hold the right size window in place .. and this would cost not far short of the 200 GBP that Matt's costs .. so a new aftermarket roof will be not much more when they come into production.. so we may just have to live with the cost. (6/00)
I've not had my '5 long. I love it to bits already, but then it started falling to bits (ok, I exaggerate) - It's one of the oldest new shape ones and the glass window is coming away from the hood at the bottom. I guess I cd fix with glue, but I'd rather the garage do it, especially since it's under warranty still. Which leads me to a question: Anyone else had the same thing? *Is* it covered by warranty, or will I have to kick up/cough up a bit? (8/00)
It is a known type of problem with some of the very early ones, not sure what causes it but just take it back to Mazda dealer you got it from and ask them to replace the complete hood as the window is not replaceable on its own! (8/00)