[Winemaker2]

Has anyone noticed how soft the glass on the new BMW's is getting? I accidentally dropped my wiper blade arm on the glass and it destroyed the windshield. The replacement has now shown scratches from relatively new wiper blades and a cat crawled up the windshield when I parked outside and left a fine thin scratch. Today I treated the window with Rain X hoping it would add some resiliency. This never happened with all the BMWs I have owned before. Any thoughts on how to keep the windshield looking new or removing the fine scratches?

[CP911]

So the wiper blade's rubber strip that makes contact with the windshield scratched it? Doesn't sound right at all. What older BMWs are you comparing it to? My uneducated guess is that regulations for laminating the glass could be changing and are to blame here.

[jmwilson125]

Originally Posted by CP911

So the wiper blade's rubber strip that makes contact with the windshield scratched it? Doesn't sound right at all. What older BMWs are you comparing it to? My uneducated guess is that regulations for laminating the glass could be changing and are to blame here.

The rubber wouldn't, but a fine grit under them like sand or dirt could.

I've gone through 3 windshields in 4 years which is crazy. One was a rock chip on the highway. Seemed like the smallest little ping.

The no the other 2 times were for no apparent reason. once it was cold outside and I had the defroster on....but that shouldn't be enough to cause a crack.

[Winemaker2]

Given the fine scratches that match the blades travel, as you say probably just a bit of sand. But cat claws...c'mon. My previous BMWs were a 2004 E46 330i, 2006 E46 vert 325ci and a 2007 E90 325i. Never had to replace a window. I'm thinking that the glass may be more porous also for safety reasons.

[Redsauce]

I cracked the windshield on my '03 Z4 while changing blades. The bladless arm came down under spring tension after I nudged it accidentally.

[XutvJet]

A strike with wiper arm minus the wiper will almost always break the windshield. I've done it and many other people I have done it. My M235 is closing in on 3.5 years of ownership. The windshield has a few chips. That's it. I have read of very few instances on this forum of people having to replacement windshields on a routine basis.

[harma24]

Originally Posted by jmwilson125

The no the other 2 times were for no apparent reason. once it was cold outside and I had the defroster on....but that shouldn't be enough to cause a crack.

This happened to me as well, but after taking a close look, the crack started at what was likely an existing chip in the windshield. However, it did curve right around the defrost vent from there.

Otherwise, I've had no issues. I've taken some hits from stones / whatever that have been kicked up from cars in front of me off the windshield without any damage. 58k miles on the original windshield and it only had mild pitting and no scratches.

[Winemaker2]

Anybody try to polish very fine scratches out of their windshield or just settled for it's just a windshield get over it? I was going to try to polish with Brasso as it has worked on a table I had.

[Zwei]

I have polished windshields with my buffer. I used windshield specific polishing compound. Both times I spent half an hour of actual polishing and it made a noticeable difference in windshield clarity.

[MerlinMc]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

A strike with wiper arm minus the wiper will almost always break the windshield. I've done it and many other people I have done it. My M235 is closing in on 3.5 years of ownership. The windshield has a few chips. That's it. I have read of very few instances on this forum of people having to replacement windshields on a routine basis.

Just happened to me on my 2020 M240i. While cleaning the wiper blade, the arm slipped free a few inches above the windshield and struck the windshield. It will need to be replaced.

Did you use the dealer for the replacement? Thanks.

[Uwrwilke]

Originally Posted by Winemaker2

Anybody try to polish very fine scratches out of their windshield or just settled for it's just a windshield get over it? I was going to try to polish with Brasso as it has worked on a table I had.

Bras so is too abrasive. Use a finer polish.

[AndDown]

Lesson learned from these posts: place a towel over the windshield before replacing the wipers.

[MerlinMc]

Originally Posted by Uwrwilke

Bras so is too abrasive. Use a finer polish.

You can buy glass polish made explicitly to polish glass. See this for an example: https://www.griotsgarage.com/product...ks&from=Search

[MerlinMc]

Originally Posted by AndDown

Lesson learned from these posts: place a towel over the windshield before replacing the wipers.

I was simply cleaning the wiper blade when the blade slipped off releasing the arm back onto the windshield. At first a loud sound and then a starburst of cracks.

An expensive lesson.

[MarcoZandrini]

Originally Posted by MerlinMc

Just happened to me on my 2020 M240i. While cleaning the wiper blade, the arm slipped free a few inches above the windshield and struck the windshield. It will need to be replaced.

Did you use the dealer for the replacement? Thanks.

I don't think that dealers actually replace windshields. They have an account with a windshield replacement company. Insist on an original equipment replacement and not a cheep replacement. Your insurance company will balk but be firm.

[MerlinMc]

Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini

I don't think that dealers actually replace windshields. They have an account with a windshield replacement company. Insist on an original equipment replacement and not a cheep replacement. Your insurance company will balk but be firm.

Thanks.

That's the plan. My deductible is high, so no push back on OEM as it will probably still be < than the deductible.

[BM235iW]

Living in Southern California there is sand and desert just about everywhere. After a couple of drives through the surrounding desert my windshield is pitted and requires replacement. I'm curious if anyone has tried using a windshield protection film. I ran across this project by "CLEARPLEX", any thoughts or users?
http://www.clearplexap.com/clearplex/story/8896/1287336

[Winemaker2]

Originally Posted by MerlinMc

Thanks.

That's the plan. My deductible is high, so no push back on OEM as it will probably still be < than the deductible.

I had to pony up the difference between AAA's cheap glass and OEM. If I recall it was about $100 more.

I just renewed my insurance and checked the box to replace any damages with OEM parts. I should have the quote for this change tomorrow.

I am going to try the referenced glass polish and see if it handles the fine scratches.

Speaking of scratches, what product has anyone found to gently polish the bright shadow line plastic around the side windows?

[fmzip]

Originally Posted by CP911

So the wiper blade's rubber strip that makes contact with the windshield scratched it? Doesn't sound right at all. What older BMWs are you comparing it to? My uneducated guess is that regulations for laminating the glass could be changing and are to blame here.

My Audi shows the same type of scratches from the wiper blades....Must be cheap German glass, needs to be re-engineered with better space-aged polymers

[Shovelman]

American cars may have better glass but it wasn't invented in Germany so it's not going to get considered for us. So that OEM replacement might not be the best call.

[John in VA]

Originally Posted by fmzip

...Must be cheap German glass, needs to be re-engineered with better space-aged polymers

Not cheap, just "soft" - this has been an issue with the German windshields in my 2002tii, E30, E39 and E46s.

[RoundelM3]

It's not just BMWs...I've owned Porsches with the same problem. Seems to be common to German cars, and possibly other European makes.