My C6 windshield seems very prone to fine pitting. I'm not sure if it's due to the position of the windshield or if this glass is just "soft".

Either way I have a little over 4,000 miles on an '07 C6 and the windshield looks like a star field when the sun's low on the horizon and causing glare.

I'm considering using a glass polishing kit but I've read they can themselves cause glare or "fogging"

Does anyone have any experience with windshield polishing?

I'd love to get rid of the morning and evening glare.

Thanks,
Al

 

Al, Are those highway miles? My Daily Driver lives on the highway and the road grit pits out the windshield very quickly. About time I catch a stone and get a new one.
JU

 

2. Polishing Glass (Stage Two Surface Corrosion):
Once the glass surface has been washed and cleaned (detailers clay) any minor imperfections can be removed with an abrasive glass polish (Autoglym Car Class Polish or DP High Performance Glass Restorer) This thick citrus-based cream safely pulls contaminants out of the glass, including alkaline mineral deposits, and then smoothes out etched glass (http://www.autogeek.org) Be aware the some imperfections cannot be removed and you may have to replace it. If you can catch your fingernail in the scratch 0.4 Mil (0 .004 –inch deep) you should consult a professional glass repair / replacement company.

A replacement windscreen can sometimes be claimed on an insurance policy without loss of no-claim bonus, dependant upon coverage (check first with insurance company).
Some windscreen ‘glass’ is actually a plastic resin and will scratch easily, consult your dealer to find out what material was used for the OEM windshield.

Heat caused by abrasive polishing can soften and damage glass; foam pad and product used must minimize heat build-up. Since glass is a poor heat conductor any friction heat built up from polishing must be kept to a minimum by using sufficient product and regular misting of both the polishing pad and glass surface with water.

Methodology:
•Clean glass to remove dirt, dust or road grime from surfaces (also see note 1)
•Apply clay (Magic Clay®) and lubricant solution (WooliteTM / Water 5:1) onto the glass surface (Do not apply to plastic as dulling may occur.)
•Apply a quarter (coin) size amount of Autoglym Car Glass Polish™ or Iz Einzette Glas Polish to a damp cutting / polishing foam pad (LC Orange or White) attached to a Porter Cable HS rotary polisher set at speed 1200 rpm.
•Apply to half of the windshield, polishing first in an up and down motion then in a left-to-right motion and then repeat on the other side, proceed to other glass surfaces.
•Go over the glass several times in each direction, glass will polish virtually residue free.
•Wipe off any residue, and polish with a clean dry 100% cotton Micro fibre cloth.
•Inspect glass for clarity and smoothness. Repeat if necessary.
•If the glass has PPG Industries Optech clear coating a more aggressive polish may be required

Alternative products / methods: a) Apply Zaino Z-12 with a damp cotton cloth to cool glass, apply to small sections at a time and allow to completely dry, buffing with a clean dry cotton towel. If there is any smearing or residue left just use Stoner’s Invisible Glass or any good quality glass cleaner to remove excess residue.
b) Janvil Scratch Remover (JV-326 / Glass Renew JV-325)

Alternative pads- these 4-inch ‘Metal Polishing Pads’ are made of course, 600 grit nylon (Scotchbrite®) and are designed for hard / rough surfaces like aluminium diamond plate, pitted aluminium, chrome, and glass. http://topoftheline.com

Note: Do not use an abrasive polish on Targa ‘glass’ tops as they are actually a plastic (Lexan) and an abrasive will remove the tint Suggested product- Plexus (BTI Chemicals Plexus® Glass Polish & Cleaner)

a) Glass Polishing Kit for Deep Scratches:
Most glass polishers contain Cerium Oxide an optical polishing compound (belonging to the group of elements known as rare earth) all necessary precautions should be used with regard to the dust produced, removes deep scratches from automotive glass and save the replacement costs. This abrasive system literally grinds away imperfections until scratches disappear, works best with a HS Rotary set at 1500-2000 RPM.

Warning- this system removes glass, maintain a wet surface and keep pad moving to avoid heat build-up an avoid causing optical distortion Eastwoods kit includes: self-adhering hook and loop pad, coarse, medium and fine abrasives. (Pro Glass Polishing Kit (40011) and instructions from Eastwood.com) http://www.eastwood.com/shopping/pro...&keyword=40030

Notes:
1.Do not use on Lexan, Plexiglas or clear plastics (See Polishing Plastic).
2.Do not use abrasive glass polish on after market-tinted glass or you will probably scratch the surface
3.For deeply etched water spots' or pits (caused by sand or road stones) in the glass surface, do not attempt to polish them out, consult an automotive glass vendor as glass used on later model cars is soft and thin (this may vary by manufacturer) due to weight / cost savings by vehicle manufactures and polishing could cause glass to crack.
4.Do not use on glass with either internal antenna or defroster elements.
5.Some windshields and mirrors have a tinted plastic coating or a blue tint that will scratch or be damaged, only polish or use synthetic wool on uncoated glass.

Knowledge - [We know a subject] [We know where to find information on it] the most highly valued; [knowledge that is both held and shared]

 

I have over 10,000 miles on my Z windshield and it looks pretty good. I have a few tiny pits here and there but very few. Everything else is clear as a bell. Where are you driving?

 

WOW, This is weird. I was just going to post this identical problem for some feedback tonight when I read this. I am having exactly the same issue. Mine is a 2005 C6 with 25,000 miles. But I don't drive it in the kind of conditions that would cause a lot of hits on the shield. I have almost zero pits in the front bumper and hood. But I have dozens in the front glass. I tried the Zaino glass polish, a couple of times now. But nothing is working. The pits are too deep for the polish to touch. You can feel them with your fingernail. I just wonder if there is some issue with those windshields in the C6's