Polishing out windscreen microchips

Tony B · 05-06-2022, 09:29 AM

Doe anyone have any experience on polishing out the 1000s of micro-chips/pitting that accumulate on the external surface of the windscreen?

I am talking about the kind of chips which only really show up when you are driving into a low sun (and are then a real pain).

The OEM glass is notoriously soft, and prone to this sort of damage - does this also mean it would respond to some sort of machine polishing?

tbuck · 05-06-2022, 02:23 PM

New OE glass for the win. Not cheap but worth it every time. Have done that on many of my cars over the years. Should have seen my E36 M3 windshield, millions of pits.

SnohoRaptor · 05-06-2022, 08:56 PM

You won't be able to dig out the salt and pepper chips. Replace the windshield and then decide if your a candidate for DYNOflex PPF.

Tony B · 05-10-2022, 10:51 AM

Agreed - a new OE screen is the best solution in an ideal world.

However, I do not have full faith in the ability of installers to do the job without creating problems (paintwork damage, glue/sealant gaps, etc).

Hence, initially looking for a less invasive solution.

I think the sun protection screen is pretty expensive here, too….

Just checked - £818 fitted - gasp….that’s near on $1000…..

Helmsman · 05-10-2022, 02:15 PM

Replaced mine twice, lovely feeling everytime. Never experienced a car that get this amount of (tons of small) chips, is it softer?

05-06-2022, 09:29 AM	#1
Tony B Lieutenant 84 Rep 451 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3, MW, ZCP, 6MT Join Date: May 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Polishing out windscreen microchips Doe anyone have any experience on polishing out the 1000s of micro-chips/pitting that accumulate on the external surface of the windscreen? I am talking about the kind of chips which only really show up when you are driving into a low sun (and are then a real pain). The OEM glass is notoriously soft, and prone to this sort of damage - does this also mean it would respond to some sort of machine polishing? __________________
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05-06-2022, 02:23 PM	#2
tbuck Captain 1186 Rep 946 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3, 2016 F23 M235i Join Date: Feb 2020 Location: Huntsville iTrader: (0)	New OE glass for the win. Not cheap but worth it every time. Have done that on many of my cars over the years. Should have seen my E36 M3 windshield, millions of pits. __________________
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05-06-2022, 08:56 PM	#3
SnohoRaptor First Lieutenant 535 Rep 364 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E92 ZCP 6MT Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Snohomish, WA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2021 Toyota Tacoma [0.00] 2020 BMW X5 [9.00] 2020 Subaru WRX [0.00] 2019 Ford Raptor [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	You won't be able to dig out the salt and pepper chips. Replace the windshield and then decide if your a candidate for DYNOflex PPF. __________________ AW 2011 E92 ZCP 6MT single hump w/speed cloth. Alpine Stage 2 \| Apex Manufacturing X-Pipe \| Corsa \| BayOptiks \| Haimus Racing CF Plenum MW 2020 G05 X5 with delicious coffee interior
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05-10-2022, 10:51 AM	#4
Tony B Lieutenant 84 Rep 451 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3, MW, ZCP, 6MT Join Date: May 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Agreed - a new OE screen is the best solution in an ideal world. However, I do not have full faith in the ability of installers to do the job without creating problems (paintwork damage, glue/sealant gaps, etc). Hence, initially looking for a less invasive solution. I think the sun protection screen is pretty expensive here, too…. Just checked - £818 fitted - gasp….that’s near on $1000….. __________________ Last edited by Tony B; 05-10-2022 at 10:57 AM..
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05-10-2022, 02:15 PM	#5
Helmsman Major General 4465 Rep 7,110 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Stockholm, Sweden iTrader: (0)	Replaced mine twice, lovely feeling everytime. Never experienced a car that get this amount of (tons of small) chips, is it softer?
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