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Windshield Scratches

Old Oct 19, 2021 | 07:27 PM
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Default Windshield Scratches

My 992 is about six months old with 4000+ miles on it. I drive it mainly recreationally on back country roads-- very little interstate driving. My windshield has an enormous number of tiny scratches in it that are invisible on the outside, but become very apparent and annoying with the sun is shining directly into the windshield. When the sun is to the side of the car, the scratches are not apparent. They are very tiny-- not much bigger than a hyphen, and I can't feel anything when when putting a fingernail to them. Lastly, I have only used my wipers once or twice since getting the car, so I strongly doubt that is the culprit. My question is whether others are experiencing this, and secondly, is there something that can be bought to polish out these micro abrasions? I'd appreciate some advice.
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Old Oct 19, 2021 | 07:42 PM
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I planned on taking my car to this guy, to remove micro pitting that was present when I bought my car as CPO...wound up doing it myself, but I think I got the compounds/chemicals recommendations from the Ammo NYC vid(s):




Last edited by colnagoG60; Oct 19, 2021 at 07:45 PM.
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Old Oct 19, 2021 | 07:47 PM
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Coming up to 27k miles, back roads, mountain roads, and long road trips, I have a couple of tiny surface chips, but that’s it. They’re so small that I would have to point them out to you. I haven’t experienced what you’re seeing.

I clean my windshield using an autoglass specific lint free microfiber cloth and an aerosol autoglass cleaner. I used to use newspaper back when I got a physical paper — it’s the best thing to use even if you feel like a hobo doing it. .

What’s your windshield cleaning regiment? It’s possible that you’re introducing them with how you’re cleaning the windshield.
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Old Oct 19, 2021 | 09:55 PM
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If you mean typical road rash/sand blasting then yes I have that too. Lots of micro chips, only visible in direct sunlight from inside as you'd expect. The car has 8900 miles on it but the chips started showing pretty early on, I was surpised at how soft the windscreen is to be frank.
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Old Oct 19, 2021 | 11:18 PM
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Originally Posted by detansinn
I used to use newspaper back when I got a physical paper.

Well, damn. Now I see the issue. I read the paper on my Kindle and have been using the Kindle to clean the windshield.
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 05:20 AM
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Unfortunately they get chips and scratches. Mine got chips from the dealer dropping it off after not fixing the door rattles, at 750 miles on the clock :-(

It’s either live with them or see if the insurance are willing to pay for a screen change, not sure I’d trust a screen polisher but having never used one I defer to those that know.
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 08:14 AM
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After my first crack 4 months into ownership and having to wait 10 weeks for a replacement windshield from Germany, I had Clearplex put on. It saved me the first week after a huge rock hit my windshield and gouched the film but didn’t crack the glass. We have a lot of gravel trucks spewing rocks up and down the highway so I would install it on any new car I buy going forward, whether it’s a Honda or Porsche. I also tint the inside of my front windshields so I have to pay to redo that every time I get a new windshield. Replacement windshields are free in Florida but waiting months and months is a nuisance. Plus side is I don’t even need my wipers in heavy rain above 50mph.
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 10:28 AM
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I keep a windshield repair kit around to fix window chips. If you catch the chip early and repair it, it's preferable to a full windshield replacement. Here's a repair that I did a couple of years ago on one of our cars.





The kits are super easy to use and require precious little skill. You can find them under $15 at auto parts stores or Amazon. I keep one in the car for when I am traveling on longer road trips.
Amazon Amazon

Nice how-to video can be found here...
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by OwingsMills
My 992 is about six months old with 4000+ miles on it. I drive it mainly recreationally on back country roads-- very little interstate driving. My windshield has an enormous number of tiny scratches in it that are invisible on the outside, but become very apparent and annoying with the sun is shining directly into the windshield. When the sun is to the side of the car, the scratches are not apparent. They are very tiny-- not much bigger than a hyphen, and I can't feel anything when when putting a fingernail to them. Lastly, I have only used my wipers once or twice since getting the car, so I strongly doubt that is the culprit. My question is whether others are experiencing this, and secondly, is there something that can be bought to polish out these micro abrasions? I'd appreciate some advice.

Just wondering whether putting a tint film on the front windshield would help/reduce the light refraction from tiny chips in the window? Know anybody that’s tried this?
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by CodyBigdog
Just wondering whether putting a tint film on the front windshield would help/reduce the light refraction from tiny chips in the window? Know anybody that’s tried this?
I spoke to someone who's had multiple ClearPlex installs, who said their installer told them, "it could/should help with some micro pitting, as the adhesive fills in the divets...somewhat...it depends".
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by colnagoG60
I spoke to someone who's had multiple ClearPlex installs, who said their installer told them, "it could/should help with some micro pitting, as the adhesive fills in the divets...somewhat...it depends".

Is that an exterior film?

I don’t need it (yet), but it would be nice to know if there was another solution than having to replace the windshield? Thx.
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by CodyBigdog
Is that an exterior film?

I don’t need it (yet), but it would be nice to know if there was another solution than having to replace the windshield? Thx.

For the micro pitting, which my 30k mile CPO car had much of, I found many different detailers who have posted "windshield polishing videos". I was personally able to reduce a good deal of mine however I was not as aggressive with the pressure as some, who were able to remove some deep/severe wiper scratches.





"ClearPlex" is a protection film for windshields, but I'd opt for Alchemy's "Exoshield" (because "ball bearing video"), after removing pits, or just replacing windshield.

I also applied "Cerakote" ceramic based plastic trim restorer (clear liquid on pre-soaked wipes) to my trim pieces, but also to one of my fog light lenses, as it was starting to show signs of cracking/hazing/crazing, as a proof of concept of "filling in the pits with adhesive for ppf". It seems to be less hazy, and sort of proved that a very thin substance can fill in those small scratches/pits, but I did not polish first, so some of the deeper/harsher defects till show. Again, lens does appear a bit clearer than the other.

That said, in the vid I posted, I forgot about the protection chemical added after the polish...wonder if that would have the same effect for imperfections not removed by the polishing process, and avoid having to install an actual film.

Last edited by colnagoG60; Oct 20, 2021 at 12:38 PM.
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 01:32 PM
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I'm the OP. What I have cannot be called "damage". It is completely invisible on the outside, and invisible on the inside, too, unless the sun is directly shining on the glass. These scratches are very, very small, and almost qualify has a light haze. I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I only use a high quality microfiber to dry the windows after washing. I do have some of this phenomenon on my other cars, but not quite as bad-- and I thought that ceramic coating the windows a couple of times would at least give me a fighting chance of avoiding this problem, but clearly that hasn't worked.
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by OwingsMills
I'm the OP. What I have cannot be called "damage". It is completely invisible on the outside, and invisible on the inside, too, unless the sun is directly shining on the glass. These scratches are very, very small, and almost qualify has a light haze. I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I only use a high quality microfiber to dry the windows after washing. I do have some of this phenomenon on my other cars, but not quite as bad-- and I thought that ceramic coating the windows a couple of times would at least give me a fighting chance of avoiding this problem, but clearly that hasn't worked.
Could it be the ceramic coating which is disturbed, causing the light refraction?
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Old Oct 20, 2021 | 01:52 PM
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Originally Posted by colnagoG60
Could it be the ceramic coating which is disturbed, causing the light refraction?
I have never heard of that happening, but I guess I should ask my detailer. Thanks.
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