BlankProc

I'm looking to get rid of some nasty sap/bugs/etc from my windshield and have heard clay bar-ing the windshield can be pretty easy to get the little microdots out.

Would this interfere with anything on my CLK 350- rain-sensing wipers or anything like that?

mguerrero

nope! I clay bar my windows when I clay bar my car - works great!

Airmousam

Yup, no worries

beejAMG

works just fine. just try to use a detailer than just plain water. then wipe dry after.

Rudeney

Yes, clay on the glass is highly recommended. Griot's sells a "glass clay". It's really just regular clay, but it;s blue so you don't confuse it with the clay you use on the paint.

BlankProc

Thanks guys. Planning on claying the windshield and then the car itself. I'm planning on bringing it to a professional for paint wax/polishing.

How soon before the paint polish should I clay the car, maybe the day/night before?

Fatz

The point in claying the car is to remove small debris from the surface so you don't scratch the finish during the polishing and waxing. It would be best to not expose the car to the elements between the clay and the polish. But if you have to, ensure a thorough washing before the polishing.

If you're taking the car to a professional, you might want to check with him beforehand. Claying the car may/should be part of his/her process, leaving what you do a redundant and probably unnecessary.

Rudeney

^ +1. I've never paid a professional detailer, I always DIY, and the job is wash, clay, polish, then wax - all in one linear process, without leaving the garage.

mguerrero

+1

BlankProc

Again, thanks for the help. I think I'm going to take care of the windshield myself and let the pros handle the paint.

However, having trouble getting the microdots off the windshield with the clay bar - tried twice in the past week and they just won't come out.

I don't know if it's sap, or the bug excrement, or whatever, but it's just not coming out. I know it came from a tree I parked under for a while (a few months - not years or anything like that)

Anyone else experience difficulty with this, and do I have any other backup procedures to try to take care of this myself? I've heard nail polish and razor blades - but the prospect of that spooks me a little bit.

mis3

Tree saps can usually be removed by clay.

For stubborn saps, try rubbing alcohol. You should keep the rubbing alcohol on the surface for 1-2 mintes before rubbing it off.

Fatz

You could also try a solution of vinegar and water, if the alsohol doesn't work. You need to make sure you don't get much of these cleaners on the moldings or other parts of the car. Apply a little at a time using a microfiber towel or applicator. I used this on my daughter's weather Honda a few years ago.

Another option, since you're having that professional polish and was your car anyway, you (or the professional) can use a light polish/wax (like Meguiars "Color-X") and polish the windshield.

I assume you have tried off the shelf glass cleaners... I haven't encountered anything "Rain-X" hasn't been able to remove and it beads water as well as advertised. I use the 3-in-1 product. I don't recall what the 3rd benefit is......

Let us know what finally works for you.

Rudeney

Polishing compound will work to clean glass. Another good glass cleaner is a cleanser called Bon Ami. It's similar to Comet Cleanser, but uses a finer abrasive. It's great on glass. Just be careful not to get it on the paint, or if you do, wash ti off with water - don't rub it with a cloth.

BlankProc

Hey all, an update here.

After trying every cleaning/scrubbing product under the sun, I took my car to get its exterior detailed (whole car paint waxed/polished/buffed) and the folks told me that the windshield is pitted and that the little microdots are unrepairable. Boy, the paint looks great though!

Strikes me as odd as I bought this last October and it didn't seem to have the quantity of dots it does right now until I started parking under trees near my office. I suppose it's possible to get some sap/poop on there and have it actually damage the windshield but I didn't know it could happen so fast.

I'm probably going to opt for an aftermarket windshield at this point as I've heard the OEM is about $1800 for a replacement. Anyone have an aftermarket windshield installed and see any oddities with how the wipers/etc works? I want to make sure whatever windshield I get will be protected from this in the future or at least know how I could prevent this moving forward.

Fatz

Thanks for the update. Those must be some serious pits. It is probably pretty hard to capture pits in a pic, but it would be interesting to see.

I've not looked for any, but you might try looking for windshield repair companies. Depending on how many of those pits you have, maybe the same stuff they use on small cracks will help.

Got any pics of the detailing?

BlankProc

Attached is a pic of the detail I had done a couple of weeks ago. She looks great - and for some reason brake dust is gathering on the front wheels slower than lightning speed which is nice.

I'm not 100% sold yet that the windshield is not treatable. I can't get a good pic of the dots as my cell phone camera seems incapable of capturing them well. They're so small, and I'm almost certain they're from sap/insect poop over the spring, and I don't know how they could cause pitting that fast, but then again I don't know much about pitting or windshield damage. Detailer called it "road dust" but I just don't get that. Haven't experienced it that rapidly with any other car.

Only thing I haven't tried yet is razor blades, which scares me. And getting a new windshield is not in the cards as I've read OEM is the only way to go and I don't feel like dropping that much on a new windshield. If I find a fix, I'll post it here for sure.

mis3

Is it possible that these are not saps but small rock chips?

BlankProc

If they are, there's thousands of them. There are about 5 or 6 that are easily discernable chips, they're pretty spread out and don't really bother me. It's the thousands of little guys on there that's the killer.

Storms can get crazy here in Atlanta though, I still am dealing with some feint acid rain spots on the roof even though you have to look closely to find them.

Need4Speed

I would recommend doing the following

take 0000 steel wool and clean the windsheild

then take rainx place it on a old sock and buff the window then wait until it hazes up and wipe it off.

itll clean the window and repel water for up to 6 months.

Timewarpone

I recommend trying 409 or Fantastic with a soft nylon brush. It works for me but don't get it on a painted surface. It will remove car wax.

zill

Dear MoneyVSOP,


Nothing is worse than those tiny pits. You could use cerium oxide to grind the glass smooth but that is a pain. I bought a 5lb bag and use it clean the glass like Rudney recommends with Bon Ami (feldspar and soap, their baby chick logo - hasn't scratched yet) good stuff.


If it is pitted throw it away.


The quote of $1800.00 is outrageous. Like new tires (IMO) nothing enhances the car look and feel like new glass. You should be able to buy aftermarket glass, Pilkington or PPG, for <$300.00 and have a good glass guy install for ~$200.00. I installed new glass on both my 80's diesel and 2004 SLK. I would do it again in a heartbeat.


Consider it and shop around.


Thanks,
Zill.