Better windshields

[vtgrenadier]

I use a product called WindshieldSkin which is a DIY install kit on most of my vehicles. They make a pre-cut one for the Grenadier which I ordered and had it at sitting at home to ready to install when I brought the Grenny home from the dealer. It was really easy to install and is crystal clear you can’t even tell that it’s there. Before I started using this product I was replacing windshields almost every year on our daily driven vehicles.

In my state there is constant road construction and gravel trucks on the interstate so driving home that first time was like running a gauntlet. Every summer the road crews come out and “lower the manhole covers” by rock chipping the roads, worst part is they let the loose gravel sit for 30+ days to settle before they put a final sealing coat on top of it so there are literally 6 weeks each year where if you own something you don’t want damaged you leave it a home and drive a beater.

I honestly think there are folks who love it when roads are freshly chipped and ignore the “Drive Slow” signs just so they can flip gravel and shatter someone’s windshield. If you live in a state where this is approved road re-surfacing process you have my sympathy.

Thanks for this lead... I just ordered. They have a "buy one, get one 50% off" deal going now, @DualGrennyGuy (you're the only one I know on the site who would benefit).

 

[Dual Grenny Guy]

I don’t have any stake in the company - I’m just curious whether any of these breaks also had exo-shield

I was waiting for some answers like you, so take it with no answers that non of the breaks had the exo applied

 

[pmatusov]

I've had great success with this kit as well, easy to do in just a few minutes... A lot of the Sprinter folks swear by them and have been known to pull over immediately after getting a chip/hit to the windshield to fill it

I've used three of these kits by now. They don't work on star cracks, and they explicitly state that it's a kit for bulls-eye damage.
Since then, I've purchased these two: THIS and THAT. I used the second on the star crack previously repaired with the RainX kit you mentioned - not really much of a difference, but by now the resin from the first kit effectively blocks new resin from entering.
The second kit (that came first so I tested it first) comes with quite a bit of resin, so it should cover many repair jobs.
John Lee from Expedition Exchange suggested keeping some of these kits in the truck at all times, as you'd keep rudimentary tools and spare parts.

 

[DaveB]

One other thing... Jeep offers "Gorilla Glass" as an option. If I recall, it's $150.00 or so... who wouldn't check that box?

I wonder what's so special?

Gorilla glass was used on mobile phones.
It's so people with large hairy paws can use touch screens

 

[DaveB]

I am going to be on my 3rd windshield. Maybe start making them in China and not Germany

Chips and cracks in windscreens is an extremely common problem in Australia due to our rubbish country highways/tracks and gravel roads
Important to get chips repaired as soon as possible so they don't spread.
I have had two repairs so far.

These are typical roads near where I live so chipped and cracked windscreens are highly likely

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XymxunxltoY

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oX_zsj4u62A

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XymxunxltoY

 

[SkiBum1]

My dealer installed a window protective screen similar to an iPhone screen protector. It is called Exoshield and it works great. I have taken two hard rock hits on the window and it did not crack it just left a tiny mark in the protective shield, so it works great. I have 6800 miles on my grenadier now.

It isn’t cheap, but seriously works!

 

[pmatusov]

My dealer installed a window protective screen similar to an iPhone screen protector. It is called Exoshield and it works great. I have taken two hard rock hits on the window and it did not crack it just left a tiny mark in the protective shield, so it works great. I have 6800 miles on my grenadier now.

It isn’t cheap, but seriously works!

Are there traces of windshield wipers?

 

[SkiBum1]

Are there traces of windshield wipers?

No the wipers work exactly as if the film wasn’t there. This film literally solves the problem!
I now know that you can buy the film yourself and put it on. I had my dealer do it and it is perfect but it cost $2400. I guess you can buy the film and do it your self for about $700

 

[CrazyOldMan]

No the wipers work exactly as if the film wasn’t there. This film literally solves the problem!
I now know that you can buy the film yourself and put it on. I had my dealer do it and it is perfect but it cost $2400. I guess you can buy the film and do it your self for about $700

I didn’t think it was nearly that much - I think we have the same dealer (Knauz). I had it done last spring but thought it was much less - but I can’t find the invoice so maybe it was and I just forgot? I was thinking it was more in the $600 range - but again, just can’t remember. But I have a similar experience. Only effect I notice is a slight rainbow effect when I wear polarized sunglasses. But I’ve taken some direct hits with no damage so far (fingers crossed).

 

[OzyGrenie]

I wish they would make them just a little bit thicker.

Ok my 2nd after 12 months - a small chip ( highway driving ) top of drivers side developed a crack gradually all the way down. It's more vertical than most the windscreen repair company advised, more prone to chips.

 

[SkiBum1]

I didn’t think it was nearly that much - I think we have the same dealer (Knauz). I had it done last spring but thought it was much less - but I can’t find the invoice so maybe it was and I just forgot? I was thinking it was more in the $600 range - but again, just can’t remember. But I have a similar experience. Only effect I notice is a slight rainbow effect when I wear polarized sunglasses. But I’ve taken some direct hits with no damage so far (fingers crossed).

I can’t find my income either. I just remember what I thought was the cost.

 

[parb]

I will add this to my Grenadier as soon as it is delivered!

I have exo shield on my grenadier. I think it has saved my windshield a bunch of times.
Tock a hard rock to it a few weeks ago and have a 2mm crack. It's kind of invisible and I hope it won't grow.

I fully endorse exo shield. Good stuff

 

[DaveB]

You need to get chips fixed straight away AUD$80 to fix a chip and stop it becoming a crack is worth it.

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

I’ve bought aftermarket heated windscreens for an Impreza, an Elise and even mk2 escorts before, I’d love one for the grenadier.

 

[AnilJ]

I am going to be on my 3rd windshield. Maybe start making them in China and not Germany

I’m in the UK and waiting for Autoglass to get a necessary trim from Ineos before they can replace the windshield. 2 stone chips and crack on passenger side from base

 

[C-Mack]

What are folks thoughts on the exposed edges of the windshield along the bottom and two sides getting chipped by small unnoticed stones leading to a crack later on being an issue? I thought I saw a post where someone had attempted to protect the edges with some generic self-adhesive moldings?

The main problem I see is the upright windshield takes almost all debris head-on where with a lower angle windshield, if you are lucky, it becomes more of a glancing blow. About the only thing that works is protective films (I have one installed) but if the stone is big enough, with the right angle and momentum it’s still going to crack the windshield even with the film installed.

Protective films will increase your chances of getting away with it by a few percentage points each time you are hit. Paying for an expensive windshield, glass insurance coverage or not, is always a hassle. Likewise, getting a windshield repaired can risk more damage to vehicle by a less than attentive installers or worse you end up with a leak and they have to redo it. Either way, none of it is fun!

 

[Zimm]

its the angle of attack. think of it like tank armor. a windshield at 15* less rake from vertical is effectively thinner if made from the exact same depth material. it's not just the force vector. a thicker windshield WOULD prevent some cracking.

 

[shiv.nandak]

I use a product called WindshieldSkin which is a DIY install kit on most of my vehicles. They make a pre-cut one for the Grenadier which I ordered and had it ready to install when I brought the Grenny home from the dealer. It was really easy to install and is crystal clear you can’t even tell that it’s there. Before I started using this product I was replacing windshields almost every year on our daily driven vehicles.

Clean your window thoroughly they provide a scrubbing pad just for that. Also, make sure to mix your wetting solution correctly they recommended, of all things, baby shampoo. Keep the entire window and film wet before laying on the windshield then slowly squeegee it out applying more solution as needed. I’d pick a day when it is warmer or if you have a heated garage even better.

In my state there is constant road construction and gravel trucks on the interstate so driving home that first time was like running a gauntlet. Every summer the road crews come out and “lower the manhole covers” by rock chipping the roads, worst part is they let the loose gravel sit for 30+ days to settle before they put a final sealing coat on top of it so there are literally 6 weeks each year where if you own something you don’t want damaged you leave it a home and drive a beater.

I honestly think there are folks who love it when roads are freshly chipped and ignore the “Drive Slow” signs just so they can flip gravel and shatter someone’s windshield. If you live in a state where this is approved road re-surfacing process you have my sympathy.

This film seems to be quite thick (8mm/12mm), do you think it lowered wind noise at high speeds?

 

[C-Mack]

This film seems to be quite thick (8mm/12mm), do you think it lowered wind noise at high speeds?

The thickness of the film is “8 mils” not “8mm” I think they just listed it wrong on their website. It comes rolled up in a nice heavy duty cardboard tube ready to install.

I don’t think I noticed any interior sound difference with it installed but when smaller debris hits the windshield you can tell the film is taking the brunt of it as opposed to the loud hard sounding crack of an unprotected windshield.

I mainly went with this kit as it was DIY and I’ve had good success with it on other vehicles. If your vehicle is a daily driver don’t expect any film kit to last much beyond 18 months or 2 years. Hot sun, road debris, wiper usage eventually degrade any film type.

Most installers charge the same price again as the kit costs to get it installed. If I’m going to have to replace it every couple of years I figured I would learn how to get good at installing it and save myself the fees to put toward replacement kits down the road. The pre-cut kits make it so much easier for DIY as that is where the installers true skills come into play is when they are using bulk material and custom cutting it to your vehicle.

 

[Clark Kent]

This film seems to be quite thick (8mm/12mm), do you think it lowered wind noise at high speeds?

That film thickness caught my eye also. They clearly mean mils not mm (millimetres). 1 mil = 0.001" (just to completely mix up the units).