Windshield Chip Protection - Finally found a solution
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 30,055
Likes: 351
From: Big Red Ne
I agree.
The point made by many above that insurance coverage for windshield replacement is cheaper than the film is irrelevant here. The film is for small rock chip protection which insurance won't cover. Similarly, the film is not going to protect against breakage caused by a larger, high-speed projectile, which is the what insurance will cover.
However, it is a bit too pricey in my view.
The point made by many above that insurance coverage for windshield replacement is cheaper than the film is irrelevant here. The film is for small rock chip protection which insurance won't cover. Similarly, the film is not going to protect against breakage caused by a larger, high-speed projectile, which is the what insurance will cover.
However, it is a bit too pricey in my view.
Although some might see this product as a good investment, I personally think it is over priced and not necessary. JMO!
Last edited by rkhegler; Aug 30, 2016 at 01:49 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 109
Then I learned about this do it yourself windshield repair stuff:
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-X-600001.../dp/B00IPS4APU
and for $10 or so I've fixed 3 subsequent dings on a couple of different windshields. It's easy. The stuff works well. Since it's best to repair any dings, cracks, etc before they get any dirt in them, I usually carry a kit on road trips (though I haven't actually needed it on a road trip).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,076
Likes: 86
From: San Jose CA
Well, this sounds like the tear-offs that race cars use. I researched this several years ago, and could not find any for regular cars. From what I've seen the race car ones have around 4 or 5 layers. But my main concern is the legality of this. I know it's illegal to tint windshields. Also, I think it would have to be around $100 per layer before most people would consider it.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 30,055
Likes: 351
From: Big Red Ne
I once had insurance cover a chip in the windshield -- actually a bit of a star. Then I found out that they chalk it up to your claims history and it endangers your hopefully-low premiums.
Then I learned about this do it yourself windshield repair stuff:
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-X-600001.../dp/B00IPS4APU
and for $10 or so I've fixed 3 subsequent dings on a couple of different windshields. It's easy. The stuff works well. Since it's best to repair any dings, cracks, etc before they get any dirt in them, I usually carry a kit on road trips (though I haven't actually needed it on a road trip).
Then I learned about this do it yourself windshield repair stuff:
https://www.amazon.com/Rain-X-600001.../dp/B00IPS4APU
and for $10 or so I've fixed 3 subsequent dings on a couple of different windshields. It's easy. The stuff works well. Since it's best to repair any dings, cracks, etc before they get any dirt in them, I usually carry a kit on road trips (though I haven't actually needed it on a road trip).
Interesting product, I will check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 478
Likes: 104
For windshield chips to become a serious enough problem to detract from the driving experience, you have to have 100k+ miles on the car or more. How many corvettes get driven for 100k+ miles?
I am not saying these sorts of products don't do what they advertise, but it adds no value to a sports car that is mostly driven with care on good days. If you are looking for ways to throw money at your vette, this sounds like a good avenue.
I am not saying these sorts of products don't do what they advertise, but it adds no value to a sports car that is mostly driven with care on good days. If you are looking for ways to throw money at your vette, this sounds like a good avenue.
Last edited by xxaarraa; Aug 30, 2016 at 07:40 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 213
Likes: 64
For windshield chips to become a serious enough problem to detract from the driving experience, you have to have 100k+ miles on the car or more. How many corvettes get driven for 100k+ miles?
I am not saying these sorts of products don't do what they advertise, but it adds no value to a sports car that is mostly driven with care on good days. If you are looking for ways to throw money at your vette, this sounds like a good avenue.
I am not saying these sorts of products don't do what they advertise, but it adds no value to a sports car that is mostly driven with care on good days. If you are looking for ways to throw money at your vette, this sounds like a good avenue.
Last edited by Team Player; Aug 30, 2016 at 08:16 AM.
Administrator
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If the price was more reasonable, it would definitely be something to consider. I've got little chips in the windshield on my C5 that something like this might have prevented had it been available years ago.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 31,802
Likes: 2,423
From: DFW/Long Island
I agree.
The point made by many above that insurance coverage for windshield replacement is cheaper than the film is irrelevant here. The film is for small rock chip protection which insurance won't cover. Similarly, the film is not going to protect against breakage caused by a larger, high-speed projectile, which is the what insurance will cover.
However, it is a bit too pricey in my view.
The point made by many above that insurance coverage for windshield replacement is cheaper than the film is irrelevant here. The film is for small rock chip protection which insurance won't cover. Similarly, the film is not going to protect against breakage caused by a larger, high-speed projectile, which is the what insurance will cover.
However, it is a bit too pricey in my view.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 31,802
Likes: 2,423
From: DFW/Long Island
For windshield chips to become a serious enough problem to detract from the driving experience, you have to have 100k+ miles on the car or more. How many corvettes get driven for 100k+ miles?
I am not saying these sorts of products don't do what they advertise, but it adds no value to a sports car that is mostly driven with care on good days. If you are looking for ways to throw money at your vette, this sounds like a good avenue.
I am not saying these sorts of products don't do what they advertise, but it adds no value to a sports car that is mostly driven with care on good days. If you are looking for ways to throw money at your vette, this sounds like a good avenue.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
It's a smart business model because if they get you fix one of those those "stars," they usually don't grow into cracks, which will keep growing larger over time. The resin fix takes them off the hook for replacement down the road.
On the other hand most of us are talking about all the tiny little chips about the size of a grain of sand that you pick up over time. That's what the film protects against, and insurance doesn't cover that, any more than they cover tiny rock chips in the paint. That's just considered normal wear and tear.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 25,583
Likes: 16,942
In major urban areas, with bumper-to-bumper traffic at all hours of the day and evening, it's not possible to allow enough space between you and vehicle ahead to avoid them. Moreover, there always seems to be an uncovered dump truck ahead with all kinds of crap flying at you.
I'm sure those folks living in very rural areas w/ little or no traffic have a hard time getting their heads around why so many wrap cars with XPEL and would be interested in solutions like windshield protection.
Last edited by Foosh; Aug 30, 2016 at 08:30 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Best Island in the U.S.
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '17
IMO this stuff is a solution, and an expensive one at that, in search of a problem.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 31,802
Likes: 2,423
From: DFW/Long Island
I live in one of those "very rural areas w/ little or no traffic" and drive my C7 to/from work and everywhere else unless the weather is really bad. I have Xpel Ultimate on it so I can certainly "wrap my head around" protection, which I consider a good investment. I won't, however, be paying $900 for any kind of windshield film. I have a '98 Jeep TJ that has right at 100k miles. It's been offroad and is my bad weather beater. The windshield is pretty much vertical so more prone to damage than a sloped C7 windshield. It doesn't have nearly enough little spots like you keep speaking about to impair vision or make me contemplate a new windshield.
IMO this stuff is a solution, and an expensive one at that, in search of a problem.
IMO this stuff is a solution, and an expensive one at that, in search of a problem.
i agree, i would think that rural areas have more issues with panels getting dinged by the tires kicking up rocks where xpel is a good investment, than being behind a string of tractor-trailers on a major highway all day every day as they kick up rocks from all 18 wheels back into your grill and glass as is my situation in NY/NJ/LI.
Robert
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 120
From: East Tennessee
Anywhere they do perpetual road construction you are going to get a lot of tiny chips.
I have had some quality screen protectors on my phone that after two years of hard finger swiping and they have zero scratches, I'm sure that same technology easily transfers to something larger. My concern would be air bubbles, at least I cant keep them away from a 5x3 inch screen
To me its not the cost of the replacement glass, its the hassle of getting it replaced and potential for the glass installer to mess something up. From what I have read the interior header panel has to be dropped down. Plus I would b pissed if I ended up with the double vision HUD like some have or a water leak after a replacement.
I have had some quality screen protectors on my phone that after two years of hard finger swiping and they have zero scratches, I'm sure that same technology easily transfers to something larger. My concern would be air bubbles, at least I cant keep them away from a 5x3 inch screen
To me its not the cost of the replacement glass, its the hassle of getting it replaced and potential for the glass installer to mess something up. From what I have read the interior header panel has to be dropped down. Plus I would b pissed if I ended up with the double vision HUD like some have or a water leak after a replacement.
