[1FastKitty]

Anyone have any type of windshield protection film installed?
Thinking it may be worth it if it saves you from a windshield replacement.

Windshield Protection Film | ExoShield

ExoShield is a nanoceramic windshield protection film that stops rock chips in their tracks and prevents expensive windshield replacements.

www.getexoshield.com

Windshield Skin™

Windshield Skin™ Award winning windshield protection materials can withstand sharp and-or stone, rock impacts, helping to nearly eliminating any damage. Developed together in 2004 with Madico and Clearplex, since 2010 manufacturing our own front windshield protection film.

www.windshieldskin.com

 

[ScLeCo]

I have the ceramic stuff because it's supposed to help keep the car cooler. I don't know if it actually keeps the car cooler, if it does it's not my much at all.
Visually unless you really look closely at the windshield you can't tell it's on, but I don't know how well it protects against rock chips. I do think it would help mitigate damage though.

 

[Knuckles]

I have the ceramic stuff because it's supposed to help keep the car cooler. I don't know if it actually keeps the car cooler, if it does it's not my much at all.
Visually unless you really look closely at the windshield you can't tell it's on, but I don't know how well it protects against rock chips. I do think it would help mitigate damage though.

doesn’t protect from rock chips but great for rinsing off the summer bugs.

 

[Yzfguy06]

I have the ceramic stuff because it's supposed to help keep the car cooler. I don't know if it actually keeps the car cooler, if it does it's not my much at all.
Visually unless you really look closely at the windshield you can't tell it's on, but I don't know how well it protects against rock chips. I do think it would help mitigate damage though.

I believe it does. My charger doesn’t have it and it seems hotter. Imo

 

[baabootoo]

I don't understand this thread. So, a coating to protect against something that can be replaced? Sounds like a gimmick just like the ceramic coating for paint. Who keeps cars for 30 years, except for the Roadkill people?

 

[Yzfguy06]

I don't understand this thread. So, a coating to protect against something that can be replaced? Sounds like a gimmick just like the ceramic coating for paint. Who keeps cars for 30 years, except for the Roadkill people?

I think this thread may be a bit off track. I think some of us are talking about tinting the inside of our windshield.

 

[jchristena]

Mine is on the inside of the glass...and it definitely keeps the car cooler.

 

[Unavowed]

I think this thread may be a bit off track. I think some of us are talking about tinting the inside of our windshield.

Correct. He's asking about ExoShield, which is like a screen protector for your smart phone. It's a clear film that goes on the outside of the glass to protect against rock chips that could lead to a windshield replacement. Now that many new cars have cameras mounted at the top of the windshield for collision warning, lane keep, etc., replacing the windshield requires all of those things to be recalibrated, and I've heard horror stories.
I looked into it for my G8, as getting the o.e. glass is now virtually impossible. My detailer who did my ceramic and PPF isn't thrilled with the product. It's not easy to install and it does apparently cause some distortion of the glass. I like the concept but it seems the execution isn't quite there yet.

 

[jchristena]

Correct. He's asking about ExoShield, which is like a screen protector for your smart phone. It's a clear film that goes on the outside of the glass to protect against rock chips that could lead to a windshield replacement. Now that many new cars have cameras mounted at the top of the windshield for collision warning, lane keep, etc., replacing the windshield requires all of those things to be recalibrated, and I've heard horror stories.
I looked into it for my G8, as getting the o.e. glass is now virtually impossible. My detailer who did my ceramic and PPF isn't thrilled with the product. It's not easy to install and it does apparently cause some distortion of the glass. I like the concept but it seems the execution isn't quite there yet.

Ahh ok.

 

[Yzfguy06]

Correct. He's asking about ExoShield, which is like a screen protector for your smart phone. It's a clear film that goes on the outside of the glass to protect against rock chips that could lead to a windshield replacement. Now that many new cars have cameras mounted at the top of the windshield for collision warning, lane keep, etc., replacing the windshield requires all of those things to be recalibrated, and I've heard horror stories.
I looked into it for my G8, as getting the o.e. glass is now virtually impossible. My detailer who did my ceramic and PPF isn't thrilled with the product. It's not easy to install and it does apparently cause some distortion of the glass. I like the concept but it seems the execution isn't quite there yet.

I could see that not being optically correct. Then you add polarized sun glasses to the mix it could be ugly.

 

[Hemi_Life]

I heard that stuff will scratch over time with the wiper blades. Hard pass for me, but good luck if you try it.

 

[GBLWRMR]

Sounds like a gimmick just like the ceramic coating for paint. Who keeps cars for 30 years, except for the Roadkill people?

Never owned a black car before, I see. Or at least one that you cared enough about for it not to look like a 87' Escort after it's third wash..

 

[MJS73]

I have Glassparency. How is it? OK, I guess.

 

[White Trash]

Save your Money
It don’t work

 

[Reaperhwk]

I have that external film on my car. It was $400 installed, I'd do it again for sure.

I bought a film that also blocks UV and IR, so it keeps the inside cooler as well. I do a lot of highway driving and didn't want little "pits" on my windshield from small rock chips. You ain't replacing a window for those marks and I wanted to keep my JB pristine as possible.

This is what I got from this place:

WINDSHIELD PROTECTION | Acap Films

acapfilms.com

Any specific questions about it?

I have no issues to date with it scratching, wipers work perfect. The only tradeoff is that there is a slight distortion under some conditions where it looks like heat waves BUT I only seen this a few times under extreme sun conditions and to me it's worth the trade off.

I was told also that it may need to be replaced every 2-4 years, it's not as long lasting as PPF which has a guarantee for 10 years.

 

[frictioncircle]

I had exoshield on my Durango...optics were ok but in sunlight and with sunglasses (pretty rainbows)....true story even with the shield I got a rock hit the outer edge of the glass and got the dreaded growing crack so had to replace the glass anyway...I can't imagine using an ice-scraper in winter..so for me it was a failed experiment..

 

[Reaperhwk]

I had exoshield on my Durango...optics were ok but in sunlight and with sunglasses (pretty rainbows)....true story even with the shield I got a rock hit the outer edge of the glass and got the dreaded growing crack so had to replace the glass anyway...I can't imagine using an ice-scraper in winter..so for me it was a failed experiment..

Yeah if I was going to use the car in any snow or winter conditions, I'd skip the film. Mine is stored in winter........

My optics aren't nearly as F'd up as you describe!

 

[JRam76]

I’m getting ready to do that on my Demon. My old windshield was pitted with rock chips, luckily the rest of the car had PPF. From what I researched, the external protection film is thick enough to absorb small rock impacts. The downside is that it’s not 100% flawless like a naked windshield, which is expected. Also, if you drive where there’s a lot of rain or snow, turning on the wipers will eventually mark up the windshield. The Demon windshield is unique to the vehicle with the burnout logo so I may not be able to get a replacement like that in the future which is why I opted for the film. I also don’t drive in the snow or rain, especially in that vehicle. So it really depends on how badly you want to preserve the windshield at the expense of the downside characteristics.

 

[1FastKitty]

I don't understand this thread. So, a coating to protect against something that can be replaced? Sounds like a gimmick just like the ceramic coating for paint. Who keeps cars for 30 years, except for the Roadkill people?

You seem to be easily confused
Some people would rather not replace windshield.
How is ceramic coating a "gimmick?"
Really no need to keep a vehicle 30 yrs. to reap benefits of ceramic coating or glass protection.

 

[1FastKitty]

I’m getting ready to do that on my Demon. My old windshield was pitted with rock chips, luckily the rest of the car had PPF. From what I researched, the external protection film is thick enough to absorb small rock impacts. The downside is that it’s not 100% flawless like a naked windshield, which is expected. Also, if you drive where there’s a lot of rain or snow, turning on the wipers will eventually mark up the windshield. The Demon windshield is unique to the vehicle with the burnout logo so I may not be able to get a replacement like that in the future which is why I opted for the film. I also don’t drive in the snow or rain, especially in that vehicle. So it really depends on how badly you want to preserve the windshield at the expense of the downside characteristics.

Thanks for the info!
From what I understand, it's not permanent, needs to be replaced periodically depending on various driving/weather factors.