Cracked MIC roof action

[lakesinai]

He did not get lucky, rather he's part of the HUGE MAJORITY of MIC owners who have not experienced problems to date.

Agreed, I'm one of them whose MIC is fine, and it seems anecdotally that the majority are fine. But I wonder why some fail?

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[Ducati1098]

I'm quite aware of the construction of the Original MIC. Mine broke apart, delaminated, and I reconstructed it with a carbon-epoxy mixture. If what you are suggesting is true, That would make 3 styles of top:
1. MIC (original) with the color impregnated laminated outer sheet, and standard honeycomb core, heat press fused
2. MIC with a paintable (SMC?) Outer shell, otherwise constructed same as the original
3. Alternate fiberglass top, new laminate schedule, new structural design on the inside, painted. Do those have a SMC shell?

The MIC top has a thermoplastic outer skin molded-in color. It does not come painted and never has. The thin outer layer is why they have problems.

The painted hard tops have the same core structure, but with a thicker SMC outer layer which are then painted.
The newest painted top version released in 2024 have an improved inner surface material finish to look more clean unlike the MIC and original painted top which was just raw/unfinished.

 

[F-Spot]

Yes, I've read that, but what I see doesn't add up . . .

I think if you take a picture of this painted MIC top you are seeing, it will help clear up all confusion. It’s possible you are just getting mixed up with the terminology between MIC and MOD.

 

[swamp2]

The MIC top has a thermoplastic outer skin molded-in color. It does not come painted and never has. The thin outer layer is why they have problems.

The painted hard tops have the same core structure, but with a thicker SMC outer layer which are then painted.
...

Not aimed at you, but there is a terminology problem here in this thread.

A composite is simply an assembled part made from multiple materials (ideally permanently integrated). Fiberglass is a composite (glass fibers and glue (resin)). A cardboard core with a outer resin layer is a composite. Carbon fiber is a composite as is concrete. In short every single Bronco top is a composite construction.

Anyway as to your claims above (bold), it is my understanding that this was still largely speculative. In this thread we both contributed to, along with some links, provided some clues, but I'm reasonably sure your claims have never been actually verified...

Last but not least (again not directed at you), these lawsuits won't gain much traction until folks with a top failed and was replaced under warranty, have another similar failure, outside of warranty.

 

[Ducati1098]

Anyway as to your claims above (bold), it is my understanding that this was still largely speculative. In this thread we both contributed to, along with some links, provided some clues, but I'm reasonably sure your claims have never been actually verified...

Certainly possible. But that’s the information that seems to keep coming up everywhere I look from people that know far more about this than I do.

Either way, all I’m trying to get across here is that the MIC top isn’t and hasn’t ever been painted. That’s verifiable

 

[Ducati1098]

@swamp2

Not sure if you’ve seen this or not. Also can’t verify the information obviously, but I’d assume it’s inside knowledge as this came out prior to the broncos release:

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...h”-and-confirms-removable-rear-windows.12915/

Likely where a lot of the information floating around came from.

Also found this article:

https://aocformulations.com/en-amr/...smc-solution-for-ford-broncos-removable-roof/

 

[Rydfree]

He did not get lucky, rather he's part of the HUGE MAJORITY of MIC owners who have not experienced problems to date.

Don't worry, all of us that have had 2-4 replacements are making up for those mythically good tops.

 

[Rydfree]

Well... maybe I did get lucky. Seems like I've avoided a bunch of problems so far. The 2.7 + auto seems fine with no problems, no SW glitches, and decent gas MPG.

MICs are "Composite" -- makes you wonder about all the jets (airliners) being produced out of composites.

Still wonder if all the MICs come out of the same factory.

Do not confuse the airlines definition of "composite" with Ford's. One uses carbon fiber and the other cardboard.

 

[lakesinai]

I think if you take a picture of this painted MIC top you are seeing, it will help clear up all confusion. It’s possible you are just getting mixed up with the terminology between MIC and MOD.

Yes, time for a field trip. Good idea.

 

[2023bronco]

Don't worry, all of us that have had 2-4 replacements are making up for those mythically good tops.

My latest top looks fine most of the time. But after it rains and minerals settle in the cracks, you can see the trainwreck that is unfolding. I suspect a lot of people don't notice what's happening to their tops.

 

[Eldowerks]

Don't worry, all of us that have had 2-4 replacements are making up for those mythically good tops.

As the owner of a Jan ‘24 build Badlands with a nearly 2 year old MIC top which is perfect (so far), what worries me is all you guys with multiple MIC top replacements.
To keep drawing multiple bad MICs, statistically you just can’t be that unlucky if bad tops are really that small of a percentage.

 

[J-Lugster]

As the owner of a Jan ‘24 build Badlands with a nearly 2 year old MIC top which is perfect (so far), what worries me is all you guys with multiple MIC top replacements.
To keep drawing multiple bad MICs, statistically you just can’t be that unlucky if bad tops are that small of a percentage.

That's my worry as well.

I have a 2024 Wildtrak that I took delivery of with rippling and honeycombing in the hardtop already there. No cracks that I can find under any kind of lighting.

I just didn't know about the issue until I got on the forums.

When I learned that many people had their tops replaced under warranty and discovered the new top to be worse than the old top, I decided to hold off doing anything about mine for fear of having the same thing happen.

I am about half way through the 3 year warranty and am watching the top like a hawk for cracking.

I think the tagline on the forums regarding the MIC top by most members has been "It's not a case of if it will fail but when".

 

[Eldowerks]

Maybe some MIC tops have zero cracks, but also maybe some people don't realize the cracks are there.

Oh, I for one know how to look. Luckily my nearly 2 year old MIC is still good when looked at under a variety of lighting conditions, especially under oblique light.

Just the other day I saw these cracks in an unlucky owner’s MIC top when looked at using indirect light from an angle:

If that starts happening to mine, the question is: risk getting another dicey MIC top under warranty, or get my existing MIC fortified/protected with 65 mils of Line-X and a UV topcoat.

 

[Rydfree]

The outer surface of my 2-door MIC hardtop is cracking. Not wild cracking like some folks, but it's there for anyone looking closely.

I'm into vehicles and know what to look for, but no one in my family realizes the top has cracks. Maybe some MIC tops have zero cracks, but also maybe some people don't realize the cracks are there.

I have found that is certainly the case in the 2drs that I have looked at. I don't checkout 4 drs but I think since they have smaller back sections with smaller side windows, they may actually have some without cracks. All, and I mean every 2dr I have looked at has cracks in some form. A co-worker and my salesman at the dealer both did not know their own Broncos had the issue until I pointed them out. The salesman said "Oh 5hit, it is cracking !". I'm getting ready for my 4th in 17,000 miles so no one can tell me I just keep getting the bad ones.

 

[swamp2]

@swamp2

Not sure if you’ve seen this or not. Also can’t verify the information obviously, but I’d assume it’s inside knowledge as this came out prior to the broncos release:

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/“bronco-dealer-playbook”-describes-mic-and-mod-modular-top-differences-shows-larger-“gunner’s-hatch”-and-confirms-removable-rear-windows.12915/

Likely where a lot of the information floating around came from.

Also found this article:

https://aocformulations.com/en-amr/...smc-solution-for-ford-broncos-removable-roof/

Thanks. There are many SMC claims. It looks like that one is just another forum quote, right?

The thermoplastic seems Ford or supplier verified for MIC.

It's also not clear if the second link applies to MIC or Painted?

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