When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
My windshield has a different quality where the wiper touches. I know this is because of the dirt which inevitably gets on the windshield and is dragged by the wipers. The windshield does not look scratched and, in fact, the area under the blades almost looks clearer. Two questions:
1) Is there a coating on the windshield which the wipers + dirt are removing or is the glass just micro-scratched.
2) Is there a way to make the whole windshield uniform again (short of rubbing it all with dirt lol) - for example, will clay work.
FYI, the following pic is after a complete hand wash and the windows cleaned with Invisible Glass spray cleaner.
Last edited by spindlewood; 03-02-2019 at 11:28 AM.
I'd say it's just micro-scratched. Over time mine gets sand pitted (looks like tiny stars when driving into the sun).
Up where I live, you only get ~2 years out of a windshield, so it's not an issue for me. Rubbing dirt would definitely solve it! I wonder if some of the windshield treatments wouldn't work on polishing it out (or filling in the micro scratches)?
I'm only about 7 hours from you so I know what you mean about a 2 year windshield due to thrown rocks and gravel. I've got my adaptive cruise set on "far away" for this reason.
With some more reading, I've realized that clay is only a solution for contaminates (which is not likely my issue), glass is too hard to take out scratching without ruining it, and all the other online solutions are hoaxes. Guess it's called live with it. It's not that big of a deal.
As the area under the wipers looks much clearer, seems very likely that the affected glass is etched from (hard) mineral rich water / road spray that has dried on the glass. If it has been like this a long time, or is severe you really can't get it off. Using clay can help if the minerals haven't chewed their way too far in to the glass, so worth a try to start with. There are specialist car detailing products, eg Griots, for polishing glass. May be better to have a (highly respected) car detailing professional do this though.
I'd tackle it in the following steps. If this doesn't work, choices are to deal with it or replace it
1 wash window
2 use razor blade at about 45 deg and scrape. Use soap or glass cleaner to lubricate.
3 clay window
4 glass polish on a rotary (could try a drill attachment) or DA
5 seal with rainx or similar product
Sounds like a good plan for the OP. But careful with step 5, as Rain X can cause problems with the front mounted camera due to light dispersion / refraction. Audi, at least in my user manual, specifically warn against these type of products on the windscreen.
Sounds like a good plan for the OP. But careful with step 5, as Rain X can cause problems with the front mounted camera due to light dispersion / refraction. Audi, at least in my user manual, specifically warn against these type of products on the windscreen.
Woa.. thanks for pointing that out. I missed that line in the user manual.
I've had rainx on my windshield since day 1 and have had no issues with the auto high beams. Seems to me that if anything, it would make it work better as water isnt pooling infront of it?
I've had rainx on my windshield since day 1 and have had no issues with the auto high beams. Seems to me that if anything, it would make it work better as water isnt pooling infront of it?
Not just high beams, but that camera is used for the Active Lane Assist. If it gets glare, it would increase the ping-pong effect of control.
03-02-2019, 11:16 AM
Restoring the windshield's uniform appearance
I wonder if some of the windshield treatments wouldn't work on polishing it out (or filling in the micro scratches)?
