Must be the Softest windshield Glass in the Industry

[Mark813]

I will say that two of my past cars, a 1997 Taurus and a 2005 Passat had windshields replaced and both developed leaks. I'm in FL and I'm guessing the heat shrunk the windshield caulking and water got through. Both were put in the garage overnight to cure.

So any future windshield replacements I will wait until the cold months in FL and have it installed at 4pm and drive straight home to hide in the garage or maybe have it towed home under a reflective cover lol

Coincidences I'm sure, but I like this windshield film solution as a preventative.

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[JoeyD]

having just bought a house in Arizona, I can totally see then need for ppf. My 2025 Equinox EV already have several nicks on the front end PPF...But as I have free windshield replacements that don't count as claims and I can see the distortion on every single kind of film, I will just replace the windshield when it is gets damaged..

YES on the PPF. My '21 Mach-E with no PPF that I had for 3 years definitely looked sand blasted across the entire front and some on the hood (windshield was fine). I had my '24 front end PPF'd along with the windshield protection film as soon as I bought it. It's almost 1.5 years later and the entire front end and glass look great.

I forgot to mention in my previous post, a couple of months ago we had a freak hail storm. My car is parked in a lot with about 50 other cars and when the storm was over, guess who's windshield did not crack? Mine. There were actually very few cracked windshields but the new Lexus to the right of me and an old Escape to the left cracked. Unfortunately both my hood and roof were heavily damaged.

 

[markboris]

All window films will show some distortion. ALL..whether or not you are susceptible enough to see it is another thing..

I have no doubt they do because you are adding a film over the glass. Just like tinting your windows gives distortion. Of course I don't notice anything but that doesn't mean much. Like I said, I don't want anyone touching my windshield. I have seen too many issues with it being replaced here on the forum and elsewhere where wrong ones were installed, they could not get the OEM glass, improperly sealed and leaking, windshield camera not properly calibrated, etc. No thank you. I will keep my OEM windshield and live with the distortion I cannot see.

 

[Mr. Toejam]

I have no doubt they do because you are adding a film over the glass. Just like tinting your windows gives distortion. Of course I don't notice anything but that doesn't mean much. Like I said, I don't want anyone touching my windshield. I have seen too many issues with it being replaced here on the forum and elsewhere where wrong ones were installed, they could not get the OEM glass, improperly sealed and leaking, windshield camera not properly calibrated, etc. No thank you. I will keep my OEM windshield and live with the distortion I cannot see.

Hey Mark,
Did the camera need calibration after the film was installed?

I currently have ceramic tint on the inside of my windshield (shhhhh….). Even though it is almost clear, there is slight distortion, but only if I look for it. I am guessing another layer with “some” distortion will add up to…well, double of some distortion ( I is good at math) and probably a little too much to tolerate.

does the protection film have any heat rejection capability?

 

[GreaseMonkey]

@markboris is 1,000% correct. The windshield is a structural component of the vehicle, not just any other piece of glass. Auto plants use precision robots to apply adhesive that is temperature controlled using sophisticated pumps and very accurately place the windshield where it needs to go to ensure the right structural rigidity. Contrast that to a low-wage dude in a van coming to your home with suction cups, hand tools, a tube of adhesive, and a floss wire. To do a replacement right, ambient temperature has to be within a certain range, adhesive has to be applied in precise quantity, and the vehicle has to stay STATIONARY for a period of time (temp dependent, but over 24 hours).

Plus (and this is very important) replacement OEM parts will often not be identical in quality to the ones that get delivered to the plant. I don’t care where you buy it from. It could come with Jim Farley’s personal signature on it. The best quality parts get delivered to the plants. Replacement parts are often (not never) a little inferior in quality. This is why you might be better off buying from a junk yard than your dealer (situational, of course).

I had my share of windshield replacements over the years. I’d be thrilled to spend $500 to avoid all the above.

Mark, you’re creating a list of projects for me that I never intended to take on! Will call my detailer who tried to convince me to install it when I wrapped the front end.

 

[markboris]

Hey Mark,
Did the camera need calibration after the film was installed?

I currently have ceramic tint on the inside of my windshield (shhhhh….). Even though it is almost clear, there is slight distortion, but only if I look for it. I am guessing another layer with “some” distortion will add up to…well, double of some distortion ( I is good at math) and probably a little too much to tolerate.

does the protection film have any heat rejection capability?

Spence, No the camera does not need calibration after the protection film installed.

About the ceramic tint inside your windshield, I have it on all my windows including the windshield (70% tint) and I think it looks great. I have had many people drive my car (friends and members) and no one has ever asked or noticed I had and inside tint and outside film. I keep my windows very clean and I can tell you that my windows clean with inside and outside films looks 100% clearer than someone that has the slightest dirty windshield.

The protection film does not have head rejection. That is why we are using the ceramic tint inside. It only has UV protection which is basically not needed with the inside ceramic tint which has 99% UV rejection.

 

[markboris]

@markboris is 1,000% correct. The windshield is a structural component of the vehicle, not just any other piece of glass. Auto plants use precision robots to apply adhesive that is temperature controlled using sophisticated pumps and very accurately place the windshield where it needs to go to ensure the right structural rigidity. Contrast that to a low-wage dude in a van coming to your home with suction cups, hand tools, a tube of adhesive, and a floss wire. To do a replacement right, ambient temperature has to be within a certain range, adhesive has to be applied in precise quantity, and the vehicle has to stay STATIONARY for a period of time (temp dependent, but over 24 hours).

Plus (and this is very important) replacement OEM parts will often not be identical in quality to the ones that get delivered to the plant. I don’t care where you buy it from. It could come with Jim Farley’s personal signature on it. The best quality parts get delivered to the plants. Replacement parts are often (not never) a little inferior in quality. This is why you might be better off buying from a junk yard than your dealer (situational, of course).

I had my share of windshield replacements over the years. I’d be thrilled to spend $500 to avoid all the above.

Mark, you’re creating a list of projects for me that I never intended to take on! Will call my detailer who tried to convince me to install it when I wrapped the front end.

Hey Steve, the protection film I've had put on my vehicles is made my Ceramic Pro. I know that within the last year or so, Xpel has come out with a film that is supposed to be as good if not better. The link to Ceramic Pro's WPF is in my first post in this thread and here's a link to Xpel's.

https://www.xpel.com/products/winds...6JzXfre39YJbndlc9SovneOL1G889MdaBk6qmbQrk2HPC

 

[GreaseMonkey]

Hey Steve, the protection film I've had put on my vehicles is made my Ceramic Pro. I know that within the last year or so, Xpel has come out with a film that is supposed to be as good if not better. The link to Ceramic Pro's WPF is in my first post in this thread and here's a link to Xpel's.

https://www.xpel.com/products/winds...6JzXfre39YJbndlc9SovneOL1G889MdaBk6qmbQrk2HPC

Thank you. As you might remember, I bought my car a couple of weeks after you did. I drove it straight to the detailer and he was telling me about a new product that hit the market. I had the front end wrapped with xpel, so I bet he was talking about that, not ceramic pro. I had a great experience with the xpel wrap for the body, mirrors, b-pillar trim and headlamps. Someone scratched my 22 premium right at the corner and the film completely protected it.

 

[markboris]

Thank you. As you might remember, I bought my car a couple of weeks after you did. I drove it straight to the detailer and he was telling me about a new product that hit the market. I had the front end wrapped with xpel, so I bet he was talking about that, not ceramic pro. I had a great experience with the xpel wrap for the body, mirrors, b-pillar trim and headlamps. Someone scratched my 22 premium right at the corner and the film completely protected it.

Next vehicle I get, will definitely look at Xepl for the PPF and WPF but for now I am very happy with what I have been using for the last few years.

 

[ipca204]

I have no doubt they do because you are adding a film over the glass. Just like tinting your windows gives distortion. Of course I don't notice anything but that doesn't mean much. Like I said, I don't want anyone touching my windshield. I have seen too many issues with it being replaced here on the forum and elsewhere where wrong ones were installed, they could not get the OEM glass, improperly sealed and leaking, windshield camera not properly calibrated, etc. No thank you. I will keep my OEM windshield and live with the distortion I cannot see.

I could tell you how to EASILY see the distortion that the film produces, but I am not a dick, because once you see it, you can not unsee it...I am a big home theater guy and we had a similar thread about dlp projectors and "rainbows"...and I frikkin' HATE they guy that told me how to see them...lol..
This is a time were "ignorance is bliss". Just be blissful..

 

[Mark813]

I could tell you how to EASILY see the distortion that the film produces, but I am not a dick, because once you see it, you can not unsee it...I am a big home theater guy and we had a similar thread about dlp projectors and "rainbows"...and I frikkin' HATE they guy that told me how to see them...lol..
This is a time were "ignorance is bliss". Just be blissful..

Lol similar happened to me. My friend and I discuss home theater and TVs. A few years ago I tell him how my 4K TV doesn't have the "dirty screen effect".

So the next time he comes by we're watching ice hockey which is where you'll easily see this effect. So he has me look at my TV screen from a ridiculous angle and then I can see the effect on my TV.

And of course when I go back to sitting on the couch dead center I can still see this dirty screen effect. Thankfully only hockey still.

 

[markboris]

I could tell you how to EASILY see the distortion that the film produces, but I am not a dick, because once you see it, you can not unsee it...I am a big home theater guy and we had a similar thread about dlp projectors and "rainbows"...and I frikkin' HATE they guy that told me how to see them...lol..
This is a time were "ignorance is bliss". Just be blissful..

Thank you for not telling me how to see the distortion.

When you say "WE" had a discussion about home theater was that you and me? Because I'm a big home theater guy also however I don't remember our discussion. I did at one time have DLP projectors but not anymore.

 

[ipca204]

Thank you for not telling me how to see the distortion.

When you say "WE" had a discussion about home theater was that you and me? Because I'm a big home theater guy also however I don't remember our discussion. I did at one time have DLP projectors but not anymore.

Wasn't with you, friend here in IL. I used to be HUGE into home theater, upgrading things nearly every year. My first projector was a Sony 3 gun CRT that weighed over 200 pounds, it also doubled as a space heater. Current system in the IL house is a Epson Ls12000, Tonewinner processor running 7.4.6 Atmos system with industrial Crestron amps pushing out over 200 watts rms per channel. The ".4" are 15" dual opposed Epik Empire Subwoofers with a total of 8 drivers...

 

[ipca204]

Lol similar happened to me. My friend and I discuss home theater and TVs. A few years ago I tell him how my 4K TV doesn't have the "dirty screen effect".

So the next time he comes by we're watching ice hockey which is where you'll easily see this effect. So he has me look at my TV screen from a ridiculous angle and then I can see the effect on my TV.

And of course when I go back to sitting on the couch dead center I can still see this dirty screen effect. Thankfully only hockey still.

yeah... your friend is a dick....lol. YOu should have told him that you can't see it on your tv AND you don't want to learn how..
After I saw rainbows on EVERY dlp projectorI looked I had to swith to JVC or Epson...

 

[markboris]

Wasn't with you, friend here in IL. I used to be HUGE into home theater, upgrading things nearly every year. My first projector was a Sony 3 gun CRT that weighed over 200 pounds, it also doubled as a space heater. Current system in the IL house is a Epson Ls12000, Tonewinner processor running 7.4.6 Atmos system with industrial Crestron amps pushing out over 200 watts rms per channel. The ".4" are 15" dual opposed Epik Empire Subwoofers with a total of 8 drivers...

Glad I'm not loosing it completely! Was trying to think when we had this discussion.

Back in the day, I first had an Advent projector, then Runco, then all the later years were JVC DLP's projecting on a Stewart 165" screen. These were in my dedicated theater room that I built in 1991. 26'x18'x12' Speakers were all JBL professional theater speakers. Don't remember model numbers but the 3 fronts where 3 way 15' woofer, horn mid and ring tweeter. Between them were 2-18" subs. The 4 surrounds were 3 way 10" speakers. 9 separate speakers/channels and each one had a dedicated Denon 500W amp. Had a million processors and like you upgraded every year when new ones came out. Started with Pionner LaserDiscs and went from there.

10 years ago moved from that house into a much smaller one and now just converted a bedroom into a small theatre. Has a 98" mini-LED flat screen, KEF in-wall and free standing speakers and one 12" JL Audio powered sub. 12 channel system powered by Yamaha CX-A5200 processor and MX-A5200 Amp. I miss my 3 Row, 12 person capacity theater but this little 6 seater has been doing just fine.

Somewhere on this forum some of us got into a home theater discussion and shared lots of photos and got much more technical but that is not for this thread as we are now way off topic now.

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