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Help! I got a brand new VW over the weekend. Unfortunately, someone must have used something abrasive or a dirty rag on the outside and the windshield has a number of faint but noticeable scratches over one half of it. I can't feel the scratches with my fingernails, but I can see them. So far I tried Cleaner Wax and ScratchX 2.0 by hand with no improvement. I know and understand that glass is much harder than paint, but this VW windshield must be real soft because it is obvious that the scratches were made by hand, not by machine or the windshield wipers. So I am trying to use the least aggressive methods first. Since ScratchX 2.0 did nothing, would it be worth it to try Ultimate Compound or is that almost the same and a waste of money? Should I try one of the headlight polishing kits instead? thanks.
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Re: Help-New Car-Windshield scratches
I have a bottle of CarPro Ceriglass cleaner, I don't have scratches on my windows, but depending on the severity of your scratches, this may work for you?
"STRIFE" aka Phil
2005 Infiniti G35 Coupe (IP/ aka White) the Toy
2011 Subaru Impreza (SWP/ aka White) the DD
2017 Subaru Forester (CWP/ aka White) Wifey's -
Re: Help-New Car-Windshield scratches
Welcome to MOL!
Scratches in glass can be extremely difficult to polish out simply because glass is so much harder than paint, as you've already pointed out. Even though these scratches may have been inflicted by hand, that doesn't necessarily mean the glass is "soft" - the mechanism involved in creating a scratch is vastly different than the process used to remove that scratch, regardless of the material that has been scratched. The scratch is caused by something hard with a very small surface area being dragged across the surface, whether that's the cotton loops of an old terry towel being dragged over paint, a small piece of debris being caught in an otherwise safe towel and then dragged over the paint, or a similarly hard but very small object being dragged over the glass. It's harder to cause a scratch in glass this way, but it can certainly be done. The problem is the polishing process, which is essentially a leveling of the surface through an abrasive process rather than simply cutting into the surface. Think about creating a scratch in a stick of warm butter - take a sharp knife and gently drag it over the top of the butter stick and you'll easily cut into it, basically causing a scratch. Now do the same thing with a very sharp knife and a very tender steak. It's still pretty easy to make a shallow cut, or scratch, in the piece of meat. Now try to make that stick of butter flat and level again on top. Pretty easy just by gently dragging a flat blade over it, leveling the surface flat again. Try that with the steak and you're going to really struggle with the process!
Fine scratches in glass aren't going to go away with ScratchX 2.0 or Ultimate Compound (at least we'd be pretty shocked if they did and were in fact actual scratches in the glass) - they just aren't designed to do this. Unfortunately, we don't make anything specifically for polishing glass. There are glass polishing kits on the market, however, and almost all of them use cerium oxide as the abrasive component because it's one of the few things that can effectively polish glass. Even so, doing it by hand still be quite a challenge. You might want to do some Google searching for glass polishing kit and read some product reviews before choosing one.Michael Stoops
Senior Global Product & Training Specialist | Meguiar's Inc.
Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.
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Re: Help-New Car-Windshield scratches
Since this is a brand new vehicle....you might want to contact the dealer and see about getting the windshield replaced. They might be willing to work with you. Worth a try anywayBlack......the ONLY color!Comment
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Re: Help-New Car-Windshield scratches
I've Polish glass with Cerium Oxide here's a random link on it http://www.gtglass.com/glass-scratch...FayPPAodPA8A1Q
and you can get polishing pads from Auto Detailing Solutions and then have other glass stuff too.
And don't use any headlight restoration system, that's for plastic, glass is a whole other animal.
So you should be able to polish out light scratches, I have beforeComment
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Re: Help-New Car-Windshield scratches
do a search here and you'll find more posts on polishing glass
here's a random one
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Re: Help-New Car-Windshield scratches
I was working with the dealer since I found the issue, 2 days after I bought the car. They had a glass company come by and try to polish the glass, but they decided to just go ahead and replace the windshield. Not all that happy about getting the windshield replaced in a brand new car, but it is what it is. I'll inspect the glass much better the next car I buy... :-)Comment
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Re: Help-New Car-Windshield scratches
Well, I can see your frustration. I would just hope they are going to use OEM VW glass, and then there isn't too much of an issue. I think it is good news they are replacing it for you, but I sympathize that it's a bummer to go through that on a new car.VWs are always nice to drive! Enjoy it!Originally posted by Gtechy View PostComment
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Re: Help-New Car-Windshield scratches
Yes, it is VW OEM glass, the glass company did a very good job on it. They had the car sit for 4 hours before allowing it to move, which tells me that they problably used the right adhesives vs. the 1 hr quick ones. All in all, the new glass makes a big difference at night. What happened to the original one and how it got so scratched up, I'll never know. I was so focused on checking the paint and since I've never had a problem with a new car glass didn't give it a thought. Word to the wise, check the glass on any new car. 45 years old and still learning life leassons...Comment
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