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Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Hi guys,
Been here for a while educating myself, just got a brand new GLC Coupe and decided to give it the protection it deserves to keep it shiny and new as long as possible.So I went to a reputable detailer and we agreed to put coatings on almost any surface. I wouldn't spam with the complete list, but all the products used were G Techniq.
The post is about something I experience with my wipers.
So the windshield was polished and coating applied - G1 Clear Vision Smart Glass. Also same coating put on the wipers.
I got the car from the detailer yesterday, it was raining and when I used the wipers they started to chatter and skip. When I use wash fluid or there is some more water on the windshield it is fine, they glide and clean flawlessly, but when I put them on rain sensor and there's less rain drops they always chatter and skip.
Talked with the detailer, he thinks it might be that the wipers have some extra protection by default and couldn't absorb the Smart Glass coating. However I researched a bit more and a lot of Benz customer are complaining of GLCs skipping OEM wipers. I would also be driving it to the detailer in a week or two and we'll try to apply some more coating on the wipers only and see if that would fix the issue.
So my question is could it be that the car is really really new, only 250km on it when I applied the glass coating? I mean should I give it some time for the wipers to break in ? I drove it just once in rain before I got it to the detailer and didn't really notice any chattering, so I think it is the coating and the wipers that were not able to absorb it.
If the second coating and the break in doesn't work I guess we would need to remove the coating or maybe try to get better wipers. I think Benz OEMs wipers are Bosch and not many people are impressed with them.
Any experiences you can share or solutions different than the ones above?
Thanks!
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
I’ve had that before and usually goes away in a couple weeks. The one time it wasn’t getting better I replaced the wipers with Bosch Icon blades and all was great after that.
Try to use the wipers less often and let the coating repel the water as you drive.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bruno Soares
I’ve had that before and usually goes away in a couple weeks. The one time it wasn’t getting better I replaced the wipers with Bosch Icon blades and all was great after that.
Try to use the wipers less often and let the coating repel the water as you drive.
Thanks, yep, I will try to give it some time. Car was actually ready last Thursday, so that's around 4 days with applied coating , sitting , waiting for me. Will give it a chance till next rain. The detailer said that Bosch in general are bad due to some special coating they have on them, probably he had issues before with that brand.
And what about wipers - you should coat them as well , right? I mean if I would change, it is good to apply the glass coating on the new ones as well?
Regarding your suggestion - I tried to use them less often, but sitting in stop and go city traffic and in general in city traffic it's kind of dangerous not wiping and relying only on repel. I can hardly reach higher speeds to repel the water effectively.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Due to spotty experiences, windshields and wipers are the one place I never mess with. The products seem to work great when there is a hard rain, but when you get into a thick, wet, fog or misty/drizzle conditions there is the possibility of smearing and/or wiper chatter.
One thing I've noticed with my German cars is the OEM windshield glass seems to be polished and/or coated with something from the factory. Both my VW and two BMW's tend to bead water nicely and it blows right off. Cars from other makers don't seem to do the same. I've never felt the need to do anything to my German cars.
As for the Bosch wiper blades, I found the Icon's to be excellent and used them on my GTI for years. Highly recommend them if you can get the right fitment. They don't make them for my current car, but I've found the OEM's to be excellent and cheaper than Bosch if purchased from the right place.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
Thanks, yep, I will try to give it some time. Car was actually ready last Thursday, so that's around 4 days with applied coating , sitting , waiting for me. Will give it a chance till next rain. The detailer said that Bosch in general are bad due to some special coating they have on them, probably he had issues before with that brand.
And what about wipers - you should coat them as well , right? I mean if I would change, it is good to apply the glass coating on the new ones as well?
Regarding your suggestion - I tried to use them less often, but sitting in stop and go city traffic and in general in city traffic it's kind of dangerous not wiping and relying only on repel. I can hardly reach higher speeds to repel the water effectively.
I've coated several windshields before, never coated the wipers themselves. I've heard of people doing it but I haven't. Some did chatter for a bit but after a few rains or washes it was good. Some worked great from the beginning. And on a Hyundai I had to replace the wiper blades and that took care of the issue.
Due to how finicky coatings can be on windshield, some prefer to just use a glass sealant and apply it more often. You can't know which one will work best for you until you try. Fortunately it's just the windshield so even if you're not doing it yourself, it shouldn't be too expensive to get it re-done.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Desertnate
Due to spotty experiences, windshields and wipers are the one place I never mess with. The products seem to work great when there is a hard rain, but when you get into a thick, wet, fog or misty/drizzle conditions there is the possibility of smearing and/or wiper chatter.
One thing I've noticed with my German cars is the OEM windshield glass seems to be polished and/or coated with something from the factory. Both my VW and two BMW's tend to bead water nicely and it blows right off. Cars from other makers don't seem to do the same. I've never felt the need to do anything to my German cars.
]
^^ This. Most German cars and some Lexus come with a factory coating that seems to work VERY well. I did my Audi with a coating at first and it worked too but I'm not sure it really needed it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bruno Soares
I've coated several windshields before, never coated the wipers themselves. I've heard of people doing it but I haven't. Some did chatter for a bit but after a few rains or washes it was good. Some worked great from the beginning. And on a Hyundai I had to replace the wiper blades and that took care of the issue.
Due to how finicky coatings can be on windshield, some prefer to just use a glass sealant and apply it more often. You can't know which one will work best for you until you try. Fortunately it's just the windshield so even if you're not doing it yourself, it shouldn't be too expensive to get it re-done.
Like Bruno, windshields are tricky. I typically use NeverWet for Glass as a sealant/coating and it work pretty well. If I get some chatter, I first try a little Beadmaker to calm it down until the wipers can wear into the coating and remove the "Grabby" tendency of things. Only once has it resulted in me having to re-polish things.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Thanks guys, well what's done is done. Actually today I ran a few dry runs - no water or fluid on the windshield. Didn't hear anything else than the wipers motor, at the 6-7 run they started a bit of chatter, but I guess that would be no normal for perfectly dry windshield. We'll see at next rain, as Bruno said it would be easy to reapply or use other product. Detailer is happy to fix it if problem persists.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Desertnate
One thing I've noticed with my German cars is the OEM windshield glass seems to be polished and/or coated with something from the factory. Both my VW and two BMW's tend to bead water nicely and it blows right off. Cars from other makers don't seem to do the same. I've never felt the need to do anything to my German cars.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TTQ B4U
Most German cars and some Lexus come with a factory coating that seems to work VERY well. I did my Audi with a coating at first and it worked too but I'm not sure it really needed it.
Just wanted to ask you guys as you mentioned it comes with coating from the factory. I guess when we polished the glass we removed it , but we didn't really do any damage, it was just a factory coating , that would wear off after a while, right? Or there is some UV reflective coating that we might have damaged, this is what worries me. In general does the polishing do any damage?
And my second question would be just for future reference, E class can come with reflective foil coating that prevents heat generation due to solar radiation, some BMWs also have the solar film. If same procedure if applied , I mean if we polish the glass of a brand new car just to remove any stains or eventually scratches would that remove the special UV foil as well or it will be just the layer of factory coating on top ?
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
Just wanted to ask you guys as you mentioned it comes with coating from the factory. I guess when we polished the glass we removed it , but we didn't really do any damage, it was just a factory coating , that would wear off after a while, right? Or there is some UV reflective coating that we might have damaged, this is what worries me. In general does the polishing do any damage?
I've never noticed the factory glass properties wearing off, even after long periods of time. I owned my first BMW for 7 years and 130K+ miles and it never wore off. I owned my VW GTI for 6 years and 75K miles and the glass behaved the same across the entire time I owned it. My current BMW is 5 years old (I've owned it for almost 2) with 50K miles and it's still going strong. Maybe you can polish it off, but I'm not sure what is on the glass or what it would take to remove it.
Quote:
And my second question would be just for future reference, E class can come with reflective foil coating that prevents heat generation due to solar radiation, some BMWs also have the solar film. If same procedure if applied , I mean if we polish the glass of a brand new car just to remove any stains or eventually scratches would that remove the special UV foil as well or it will be just the layer of factory coating on top ?
I'm only guessing here, but I think those UV foils/blockers/etc are in between the layers of the windshield glass. I do know windshield glass has at least two layers and the safety film that keeps them from shattering like a beer bottle lies between those two layers. I would think that same foil would either be sandwiched in there as well or possibly applied to the inside of the glass as another alternative.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
For what it's worth, I find most glass coatings do or can make wipers chatter.
I always use Pinnacle Black Label Surface Coating. Works great, no chatter. After 30 mph water flies off the windshield.
The other thing I do and educate others on is when it comes to the windshield, because a RUBBER wiper is going to drag over the glass, it's going to micro-abrade anything you put on it off. It's reality. So instead of looking for a one-and-done or set-it-and-forget-it type product, I look for a product that quick and easy to re-apply.
I already know whatever I put on it is going to wear-off, so I find something that's quick and easy to re-apply.
Make sense?
Then after washing and drying my car, because the Surface Coating is quick and easy to apply - I simply re-apply. It only takes a few mists of product and it spread out and disappears as you wipe it.
Truly a versatile product. I also mist it over all the cars I detail after the initial coating install. It makes rubbery coatings feel slick, smooth and slippery. The stuff is bubba-proof.
FWIW and YMMV
:)
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Phillips
For what it's worth, I find most glass coatings do or can make wipers chatter.
Thanks Mike. I do experienced that when I got the car. The coating was also put on the wipers to avoid that rubber chatter, I will try it in the next days, but as I said - no issues with dry window , we'll see how it behaves in rain or when I change the wipers in 6-12 months.
But I guess you are correct - next time I'd rather put something that might last less and save myself the trouble of that chatter.
However I think I am more worried with the polish itself - is it something bad to be done on a new car windshield? We also polished the side and rear windows. We used G4 nano polish.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Desertnate
I've never noticed the factory glass properties wearing off, even after long periods of time. I owned my first BMW for 7 years and 130K+ miles and it never wore off. I owned my VW GTI for 6 years and 75K miles and the glass behaved the same across the entire time I owned it. My current BMW is 5 years old (I've owned it for almost 2) with 50K miles and it's still going strong. Maybe you can polish it off, but I'm not sure what is on the glass or what it would take to remove it.
Thanks, I guess all the properties lie in between the layers as you said, so maybe what's removed is just some kind of factory coating, if there is any at all.
So you are not using any coatings, but my question is - do you avoid polishing glasses as well ? You said 15 years of ownership, but I guess you did polish at some point to deep clean it?
The car came brand new, but had a lot of nasty stuff on the windshield - for example a number written with some kind of white chalk, and also some deposits. I guess the proper way to clean the windshield and all the side and rear windows, would be to polish and remove all of those nasty stuff? I mean we didn't do any harm , polishing is the correct way?
And one more - what about side and rear ? I think it's perfectly fine to polish and coat, right?
I guess it all depends on the detailer doing the job, but just to understand people's thoughts.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
However I think I am more worried with the polish itself - is it something bad to be done on a new car windshield?
We also polished the side and rear windows. We used G4 nano polish.
As far as I know, you're good. I've heard some car manufacturers put "something" on the OUTER SURFACE of their car's windshield but I don't know this as a fact. AND - to me it doesn't make sense as their engineers must be able to figure out what this working class dog posted previously - that is,
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Phillips
a RUBBER wiper is going to drag over the glass, it's going to micro-abrade anything you put on it off. It's reality.
Car manufactures have ZERO idea what's going to happen to their cars and specifically the windshields after they get pooped out of the assembly plant. Zero. So I don't know why they would insert the potential for problems and headaches by putting some type of coating on the glass. I'm sure there are filters sandwiched in-between the glass, but ON the glass?
Maybe someone somewhere has this answer?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
but my question is - do you avoid polishing glasses as well ?
You said 15 years of ownership, but I guess you did polish at some point to deep clean it?
I'm guessing you're new to Mike Phillips? I have MORE articles on glass polishing than anyone breathing. A few key words and using my first and last name on Skynet will show you this.
I posted this yesterday, hasn't received any attention, some articles do, some don't.
2016 Mercedes-Benz S550 4MATIC Coupe - Wolfgang Paint Correction and Ceramic Coating
Here's polished glass.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...c_S550_006.JPG
How to avoid staining plastic, vinyl and rubber trim
It's real simple - cover over the trim with some quality painter's tape. In this example I'm using the green 3M Brand.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...c_S550_007.JPG
I ALWAYS polish all glass on every car I detail. Then at this time, as a very last step to the car - I spray-on and wipe-off the PBL Surface Coating.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
The car came brand new, but had a lot of nasty stuff on the windshield - for example a number written with some kind of white chalk, and also some deposits. I guess the proper way to clean the windshield and all the side and rear windows, would be to polish and remove all of those nasty stuff? I mean we didn't do any harm , polishing is the correct way?
In my experience, mechanically polishing glass is the best way to get it absolutely clean.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
And one more - what about side and rear ? I think it's perfectly fine to polish and coat, right?
Yup. See the picture above. I also did the glass sunroof and the back window. Again - I do this for all the cars I detail and show it in my classes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
I guess it all depends on the detailer doing the job, but just to understand people's thoughts.
Sounds like he knows what he's doing.
It's natural for most people and most detailers to put a glass coating on glass. It's sold to us this way. All I know is my own experience. When I have done this in the past, the wipers chatter. People hate it when their wipers chatter. Customers complain. I reduce the potential and go with what I know. Been sharing the PBS Surface Coating with others on this forum for YEARS. And I get it people can be cynical, (not saying your cynical, just people in general), but at this time, it is in fact one of my favorite products. I use it on my wife's Infinity over the paint coating and on the glass. I use it on the glass on my car. I use a cleaner/wax on the paint for my car, it's just a ho-hum daily driver that sits outside 24x7.
Hang tight, I'll share a picture that will blow most people's minds...
:)
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Phillips
Hang tight, I'll share a picture that will blow most people's minds...
Here you go, cropped and resized the originals to 1000 pixels wide for everyone's viewing pleasure. I think I'm one of the last guys on earth that actually knows how to work with images on a discussion forum. :laughing:
For the record - the majority of people on planet Earth should not do this. At all. It's more work than words can describe and once you're committed, you MUST see it through all the way to the crystal clear end.
Machine sanding glass
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...g_Glass_01.JPG
Everything I used...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...g_Glass_02.JPG
There was a film on the inside of the glass so I hand polished it with the BLACKFIRE Water Spot Remover (good stuff but be sure to shake well before use)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...g_Glass_04.JPG
Then applied the PBL Surface Coating to the inside and outside...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...g_Glass_05.JPG
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...g_Glass_06.JPG
Not bad...
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...g_Glass_03.JPG
:D
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Here's a recent example of using the PBL Twins because I knew the owner would love how it looked and how slippery it makes the paint feel.
1972 Cutlass - Wet-sanded and Ceramic Coated - PBL Diamond Paint Coating
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...f_Buff_024.JPG
We used the PBL Diamond Paint Coating on the paint and then used the PBL Surface Coating OVER the paint coating.
And "yes" we used the PBL Surface Coating on all the glass after we machine polished all the glass.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...f_Buff_034.JPG
:)
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
Thanks, I guess all the properties lie in between the layers as you said, so maybe what's removed is just some kind of factory coating, if there is any at all.
The UV protection would be between the layers, but I'd think whatever makes the glass hydrophobic is on the exterior surface of the glass itself.
Quote:
So you are not using any coatings, but my question is - do you avoid polishing glasses as well ? You said 15 years of ownership, but I guess you did polish at some point to deep clean it?
No, I've never polished a windshield on any car other than one instance on an old Toyota SUV we owned a while ago in which I had a couple bug splatters I could not get off by any other means. For my German cars since the water beads up and sheets off so well, I've never had to polish them at all. I've kept them clean with normal maintenance and/or a clay bar and I've not had any issues with hard staining/streaking, so far. However, despite my best efforts, our Toyota Highlander is starting to see some staining on the side windows which will require polishing and my daughter's car we purchased used also needs the side windows to be polished as well. Neither of those seem to have whatever the German auto makers use on their glass.
I don't coat/seal glass based on experience with a Mazda I owned one. I used a sealant on the car for that windshield, and while it worked great in a hard rain, I found in misty/drizzzle/snowy conditions it smeared the water really bad. During the day it wasn't a problem, but at night it really hampered visibility. Cleaning repeatedly with a stong window cleaner and a clay bar helped.
On my current BMW I tried the Aquapel glass coating on the rear window. The window beaded/sheeted water pretty well already, but since it's a coupe and the window is at a steep angle I wanted to make it shed water faster. After applying the coating, I saw no improvement over what the OEM glass did from the factory, so I've not used it again. It might work better on US, Japanese or Korean cars.
Quote:
The car came brand new, but had a lot of nasty stuff on the windshield - for example a number written with some kind of white chalk, and also some deposits. I guess the proper way to clean the windshield and all the side and rear windows, would be to polish and remove all of those nasty stuff? I mean we didn't do any harm , polishing is the correct way?
I'm not a glass expert by any way, but I've used APC's, bug/tar remover, and a clay bar in the past to get some of that stuff off. It all depends on what it is. Polishing may have been the only choice if nothing else worked. I could see a car sitting on a lot for a long time having issues from sprinkler water and other contaminates in the air staining the glass.[/quote]
Quote:
And one more - what about side and rear ? I think it's perfectly fine to polish and coat, right?
Like Mike demonstrated you can do any of the windows if needed, I've just found the glass from at least two German automakers already has the same properties as a coating. As mentioned above, I'm going to need to do the side windows of my two Japanese cars, but they've just now got to that point after many years/miles. When I'm washing those cars, I will wipe down the side/rear windows with whatever QD I'm using to eliminate any water spots, but I don't do the windshield.
Quote:
I guess it all depends on the detailer doing the job, but just to understand people's thoughts.
Absolutely. Lots of variable and conditions, I'm just one person sharing how I approach the problem. I'm sure others will disagree with me and have very valid points for their approach, which is just fine. We all learn.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Currently experiencing the same thing. Wipers are close to new. Glass currently wearing Pinnacle glass coat. When i use the washers, they are fine. When it rains i will get dragging on the wipers. No noise, but you can clearly see them drag. So when weather permits this week, going to start from ground zero. Stopped by AA today and picked up Invisible Glass GLASS STRIPPER. Removes water spots, coatings, road film and contaminants. I have a bottle of DP coating prep polish that maybe would have been ok to use also? I will observe the results after the GLASS STRIPPER. Because you do final rinse of water after using the product. If i had to guess, this should work. Then if it does i am hesitant to use any more glass coatings on the windshield in the future. As mentioned above, using any coating will cause some amount of wiper chatter or drag.
Good read on the subject....Treated glass is so slick, it tends to GRAB the wipers.
Please Wait... | Cloudflare
Blades are designed to WIPE the glass surface free of water and whatever down to the glass. But if the surface contains wax and other compounds designed to "stay" or "adhere" to the windshield surface it's actually going to be a battle between the waxy compound and the rubber wiper blade. Thus the chatter.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pro 4x
Currently experiencing the same thing. Wipers are close to new. Glass currently wearing Pinnacle glass coat. When i use the washers, they are fine. When it rains i will get dragging on the wipers. No noise, but you can clearly see them drag. So when weather permits this week, going to start from ground zero. Stopped by AA today and picked up Invisible Glass GLASS STRIPPER. Removes water spots, coatings, road film and contaminants. I have a bottle of DP coating prep polish that maybe would have been ok to use also? I will observe the results after the GLASS STRIPPER. Because you do final rinse of water after using the product. If i had to guess, this should work. Then if it does i am hesitant to use any more glass coatings on the windshield in the future. As mentioned above, using any coating will cause some amount of wiper chatter or drag.
Good read on the subject....Treated glass is so slick, it tends to GRAB the wipers.
Please Wait... | Cloudflare
Blades are designed to WIPE the glass surface free of water and whatever down to the glass. But if the surface contains wax and other compounds designed to "stay" or "adhere" to the windshield surface it's actually going to be a battle between the waxy compound and the rubber wiper blade. Thus the chatter.
I don't use any true "coating" from the various makes as they all do cause issues. McKee's was the only one that didn't but it wouldn't last very long. I've since moved to Rust Oleum's Never Wet for glass and love it. Key is to prepare the surface. You'll know when you're down to virgin bare glass when the water "clings" and there are no areas of it not. Just polish with a basic glass polish (I use Griot's) and wipe with denatured alcohol. Hose down the windshield as a test. Here's an image from a blog I wrote a while back.
https://pbase.com/timothylauro/image...7/original.jpg
If it looks like this, then dry and prepare to apply the product. No chatter, works great.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
I have used Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Glass Coating for years and have never had chatter issues with the cars I have applied it to. I am running low but have recently purchased the PBL Diamond Surface Coating after reading many of Mike’s posts.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Phillips
I always use Pinnacle Black Label Surface Coating.
Is this the stuff that is $130 for the 8oz bottle?
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
jem7sk
Is this the stuff that is $130 for the 8oz bottle?
It is. I bought it during a 40% off sale for $78. A bottle will last a long time.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dan K
It is. I bought it during a 40% off sale for $78. A bottle will last a long time.
That's a great deal.. I've never seen a 40% off before. When does that usually happen? I also just realized it is a coating that lasts three years. Think I'll be getting a bottle when I catch it on sale (hopefully at 40% off).. I like how Mike describes it as being very slick... I like slick.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Those sales are few and far between. They had the house brands (Pinnacle, Blackfire, etc.) 40% off on March 25. Also regularly check the sites for those manufacturers (for example Pinnaclewax.com) as they have their own sales and sometimes will have pretty good sales.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Pinnaclewax.com is running a 30% off sale for Memorial Day.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Operation glass stripping done. Product with applicator was easy to use. Noticed water sheets off now. No beading. Used wipers to see any difference. Flooded with water and did not notice any more dragging. Next rain will be the test.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Guys and maybe especially to @Mike Phillips - issue is not going away :(
I did a really nice wash recently , then we had a heavy rain that got us on the motorway.
Yes, coating works nice to repel water, but in heavy weather conditions you still need the wipers.
I can hear them chatter and skip and it annoyed me so much that I used them only once when I could barely see.
Detailer is of course feeling bad about all this and offered me several options:
1) Apply coating on the wipers again
2) Change wipers as the rubber on the OEM ones might be just bad. I just don't really like that option, aesthetically they have the MB star on them, it just looks better. Call it vanity or stupidity, but after all it's brand new. Maybe I can change just the rubber and keep the MB caps?
3) Remove the coating from the windshield.
I am thinking to try 1) first. Just wanted to check with you if removing the coating might do any harm - I guess same method and machine as applying the coat would be used,but now it would be to remove it.
I am a bit concerned and definitely didn't expect such turn of events. He said it has never happened on any other car and I truly believe him, еspecially when I read all the MB forum threads on chattering wipers. Not sure if I should give them a few more months to settle in and a few more washes? I did wash only once after applying the coating.
You can clearly see on 0:10 the chatter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WAZupqLGGw
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
UPDATE. The stripping of the coating did indeed vastly improve the operation of the wipers. The product i used is also in store now.
Stoner Glass Stripper
But being a detailer, i wanted to try just a glass cleaner with repellant added. I had the Pinnacle on hand. This also worked really well. Light rain yesterday. And i noticed no chatter with just the Pinnacle. So no more glass coatings for me.
Pinnacle Crystal Clear Glass Cleaner with Water Repellent (autogeek.net)
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
Guys and maybe especially to @Mike Phillips -
issue is not going away :(
I feel your pain -Bill Clinton
I feel your paint -Mike Phillips :D
And "yes" that is my quote and parody of Bill Clinton. :)
Seriously. I'm going to stick with what I've already posted. The product I have had the best luck with for zero wiper chatter is the PBL Surface Coating. I use it on my own cars with success. I use it on my customer's cars with success.
And - I always machine polish the glass and then clean with a glass cleaner before application.
When I notice the water beading and water flying off the windshield diminishing - I simply apply some more.
:)
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Phillips
I feel your pain -Bill Clinton
I feel your paint -Mike Phillips :D
And "yes" that is my quote and parody of Bill Clinton. :)
Seriously. I'm going to stick with what I've already posted. The product I have had the best luck with for zero wiper chatter is the
PBL Surface Coating. I use it on my own cars with success. I use it on my customer's cars with success.
And - I always machine polish the glass and then clean with a glass cleaner before application.
When I notice the water beading and water flying off the windshield diminishing - I simply apply some more.
:)
Mike,
Curious why you don't use this Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Glass Coating on the glass, instead of PBL Surface Coating?
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bob m
Don't have much or any experience using it. I do have lots of experience using the All Surface Coating as I use it on paint, plastic (headlights and tail lights), and glass.
You see, this comes back to
A: Liking a product. I like the PBL Surface Coating.
B: It's multi surface and I like this attribute.
C: It makes the surface you apply it to slick and slippery - most coatings of ANY brand make the surface feel rubbery or tacky. I HATE rubbery and tacky when it comes to the surfaces on my cars.
D: It's fast and easy. I'm naturally lazy so I like fast and easy.
It might work, but I simply don't have any drive-time with it.
:)
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Phillips
I feel your pain -Bill Clinton
I feel your paint -Mike Phillips :D
And "yes" that is my quote and parody of Bill Clinton. :)
Seriously. I'm going to stick with what I've already posted. The product I have had the best luck with for zero wiper chatter is the
PBL Surface Coating. I use it on my own cars with success. I use it on my customer's cars with success.
And - I always machine polish the glass and then clean with a glass cleaner before application.
When I notice the water beading and water flying off the windshield diminishing - I simply apply some more.
:)
Thanks Mike!
Yep, the guy did all the polish with a machine and cleaned with G4 Glass cleaner before applying anything.
It seems like it is a common issue with the stock wipers, looking at all MBworld threads with similar complaints I guess he is correct. But for now I don't want to get anything aftermarket.
Anyway over the weekend I am going for reapplication on the wipers and see what will happen. If that doesn't fix it - remove the coating it is, he agreed.
Just a few questions Mike:
1) how long does the sealant you suggest lasts? Just roughly ?
2) for the side and rear windows ( rear if there is no wiper) - is it safe to put a ceramic glass coating or you would still use only a glass sealant ?
Just thinking if we ever go this way again , we would definitely skip windshield , but probably sides and rear can be coated with ceramic? After all there is nothing to chatter there and I think it definitely improves side visibility? Or just play it safe with all the glass and stick to the sealant every now and then ? What do you think? :)
Thanks!
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
Just a few questions Mike:
1) how long does the sealant you suggest lasts? Just roughly ?
Just depends on how much you use the wipers.
The problem with glass coatings on the windshield unlike any coating on any other surface is you have this rubber blade dragging and even RUBBING over the coating and this MICRO-ABRADES the coating off.
This is why I choose to use a product that is fast and easy to apply and then apply it as needed. It rains a lot here in Florida but instead of going by a TIMELINE - after I wash and dry my car, I simply mist a little of the PBL Surface Coating onto the windshield, spread until it disapears, (this happens fast), and move on in life.
What I don't want to use is a product that is complicated, time consuming and requires multiple steps.
I kind of share this in my first post in this thread,
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Phillips
For what it's worth, I find most glass coatings do or can make wipers chatter.
I always use Pinnacle Black Label Surface Coating. Works great, no chatter. After 30 mph water flies off the windshield.
The other thing I do and educate others on is when it comes to the windshield, because a RUBBER wiper is going to drag over the glass, it's going to micro-abrade anything you put on it off. It's reality. So instead of looking for a one-and-done or set-it-and-forget-it type product, I look for a product that quick and easy to re-apply.
I already know whatever I put on it is going to wear-off, so I find something that's quick and easy to re-apply.
Make sense?
Then after washing and drying my car, because the Surface Coating is quick and easy to apply - I simply re-apply. It only takes a few mists of product and it spread out and disappears as you wipe it.
Truly a versatile product. I also mist it over all the cars I detail after the initial coating install. It makes rubbery coatings feel slick, smooth and slippery. The stuff is bubba-proof.
FWIW and YMMV
:)
So my answer to your above question is basically a re-wording of what I already wrote. :cheers:
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
2) for the side and rear windows ( rear if there is no wiper) - is it safe to put a ceramic glass coating or you would still use only a glass sealant ?
I put the PBL Surface Coating on ALL the glass including side mirrors and sunroof glass.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
Just thinking if we ever go this way again , we would definitely skip windshield , but probably sides and rear can be coated with ceramic? After all there is nothing to chatter there and I think it definitely improves side visibility? Or just play it safe with all the glass and stick to the sealant every now and then ?
What do you think? :)
Thanks!
What I think is also what I do and share with others and what I do is I use what works for me and "to date" it's the PBL Surface Coating.
Some people think it's expensive at $130.00 for an 8 ounce bottle and that is a tick spendy. But tiny bottles of ceramic and graphene coatings cost more and you get a LOT less. So in context, it's a better price per ounce than most if not all tiny glass bottles of coatings.
In the past, I've created threads on this forum where there's HUGE sales and then in the thread included my favorite products so my forum friends can get the best deal possible. I could never really tell if it did any good?
So my advice to anyone reading this is to join the Autogeek newsletter. Each time you get one in your inbox - open it and read it. If you don't like what you see delete it. I do this with a LOT of the newsletters I get.
If you see something you like - then take advantage of the sale.
Hope this helps...
:cheers:
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
2) for the side and rear windows ( rear if there is no wiper) - is it safe to put a ceramic glass coating or you would still use only a glass sealant ?
Like I answered previously, I use the PBL Surface Coating on ALL the glass. As a part of any of my detail work I machine polish the glass before washing the car, or if not washing with the traditional water hose and bucket method, then I machine polish after doing a rinseless or waterless wash.
Point being - I ALWAYS machine polish all the glass. Take my word for it - if a car is a daily driver, parked outside and driven outside, (duh), then it gets a film on the glass.
After machine polishing all the glass then at the END Of the job, I apply the PBS Surface Coating to all the glass including - Sunroof Glass.
I took this picture a few days ago in the morning after it rained all night. This is the glass sunroof of our Infinity.
http://www.autogeekonline.net/galler...ng_Sunroof.JPG
See how the water beads and runs off? That is the PBL Surface Coating. It's also on the paint.
:)
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Thanks Mike!
I truly believe it is wipers problem and not the way the glass was polished or the coating that was put.
So my update is that we removed the graphite coating on the wipers completely with ethanol. Applied again G1 on the wipers, this time it seems like it was good, waited to dry, and result is unfortunately worse :)
I will be buying new non-OEM wipers , just to see if not applying anything to them might fix it. This might be another part of the problem - that we didn't need to apply anything to the wipers initially. If that doesn't fix it - we will just remove the coating and that's it. It would be easier than finding quick-fix solutions.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Phillips
Like I answered previously, I use the PBL Surface Coating on ALL the glass.
:)
Hey Mike, one more thing I didn't actually ask about :D
What about the two side view mirrors? I guess it's also nice to put something to repel water there and it's not gonna harm ?
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
If I remember, I'll give the wiper blades a quick alcohol wipe when I wash the car. It removes the grime and oxidized junk from the blades. No streaks and they last longer.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
SalmonPride
Hey Mike, one more thing I didn't actually ask about :D
What about the two side view mirrors? I guess it's also nice to put something to repel water there and it's not gonna harm ?
I normally polish the side mirror glass, especially if the pad on the polisher I'm using can contact the glass.
And "yes" - I always give the side mirror glass a wipe of the PBL Surface Coating.
:)
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Phillips
I normally polish the side mirror glass, especially if the pad on the polisher I'm using can contact the glass.
And "yes" - I always give the side mirror glass a wipe of the PBL Surface Coating.
:)
Even newer cars? I know many use plastic instead of glass on side mirrors and with abrasion the part that makes it a mirror gets damaged and you can end up having to replace it.
I never do anything to side mirrors other than cleaning them. Never even coated them just in case it becomes an issue.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Bruno Soares
Even newer cars? I know many use plastic instead of glass on side mirrors and with abrasion the part that makes it a mirror gets damaged and you can end up having to replace it.
I never do anything to side mirrors other than cleaning them. Never even coated them just in case it becomes an issue.
No, not new cars, just older stuff that uses glass mirrors.
New cars usually don't need the side mirror buffed as in most cases they are somewhat sheltered from the world.
I'm trying to think of he last new cars I've detailed, like a C8 Corvette, a couple of Mercedes-Benz... I don't remember them having plastic for mirrors?
There's a brand new 2021 C8 Corvette in the garage as I type, I'll go take a look. I'll look at Yancy's brand new 2021 Dodge Challenger Redeye, see what it has.
:dblthumb2:
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
They look about the same as glass but I think plastic is used to help with the heating element behind it, I think it’s easier to get plastic warm than glass. I remember someone saying they used 0000 steel wool trying to clean it like glass and scratched the film/coat that make the plastic give you a mirror image.
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mike Phillips
No, not new cars, just older stuff that uses glass mirrors.
New cars usually don't need the side mirror buffed as in most cases they are somewhat sheltered from the world.
Thanks Mike, so for side mirrors of new cars - no buff, but a wipe of PBL coating is fine?
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Re: Windshield coating - skipping wipers (new car)
Guys, some updates. So I just threw the OEM wipers in the trash as we put another layer of coating on them and it didn’t help, even made things worse. So I was on a waste money spree I guess but I bought another pair of OEM wipers just to try how it would work without coating, I wasn’t able to find aftermarket(price was similar) , didn’t want to wait and definitely didn’t want to order from Ali Express.
What happened - no issues at all on dry windshield and when using constant setting 1 or 2 ( only two constant on my glc and two rain sensing). But when I simulated rain - poured a bit of water on the sensor - first few strokes great, but after a while chatter started. So it seems like something messing with the rain sensor. What I mean is that when there is less water like rain drops the friction between the coating and wiper blades is just not good enough, not enough lube to glide smoothly. I guess water beads/sheets way too fast due to the coating. So it has to be either completely smooth - dry or there needs to be more fluid - like spraying a windshield washer fluid.
I really like the coating benefits. It was amazing in pouring rain on the highway last week, but I live in a big city , and with all the traffic jams and speed limit I cannot really see any benefit overall of the glass coating in town. I would need to use my wipers on rain sensor in case of rain/snow ( no intermittent function on the GLC ) and that chatter would only drive me mad.
So I saw some suggestions for wiper arm adjustment , but if it’s working fine on dry glass and constant motion I guess that’s not the problem. Seems like my only solution would be to remove the coating and hope bare glass would work just fine. Not sure I would go and use any other glass product at all if I manage to fix it, I’d rather enjoy my new car and protect only the paint - after all I’m not in the tropic, we do have rains, but as I said - it’s daily city driving mostly and the benefit of no chatter would be greater than water sheeting at high speeds.
Just so strange that only rain sensor function causes this... would be happy to hear your thoughts , but I guess I can only remove and see how it goes.