Windshield Pitting
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
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From: MD
2007 C230 and 1985 Monte SS
Windshield Pitting
I do a lot of highway driving, and the windshield is getting pitted up. They are very small spots, well under a millimeter in diameter... but there are alot of them and it is very distracting when the sun shines on the car. I know that it is not something that can be cleaned off, as I scratched a few of them that were in the corner of the windshield, and you can feel the divot.
I talked to a window tinting place, and they said that the glass his dye in it, and that there's not a film that can be removed and replaced... even though the glass is darker where it is not nicked.
So long story short... has anyone ever experienced this? Is there a glass polish that I should try?
TIA!
I talked to a window tinting place, and they said that the glass his dye in it, and that there's not a film that can be removed and replaced... even though the glass is darker where it is not nicked.
So long story short... has anyone ever experienced this? Is there a glass polish that I should try?
TIA!
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
What is your insurance policy on glass? Maybe you should talk with them?
Edit: At 59,735 miles, my car has spent nearly 36,000 miles on the road in the past 13 months and I don't have any pitting. How many miles do you have?
Edit: At 59,735 miles, my car has spent nearly 36,000 miles on the road in the past 13 months and I don't have any pitting. How many miles do you have?
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From: VA
THE C350
i have the same problem with my windshield at least i only notice it when driving towards the sun. mb puts way to good of windshields on these cars. i keep hoping that a rock will hit it and crack it. they keep hitting it but the dam thing will not crack. last week a huge rock hit it and only left a small scratch. it did more damage to the wiper blade even after it slid down the windshield. i almost want to find my sledge hammer and take it out.
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
i have the same problem with my windshield at least i only notice it when driving towards the sun. mb puts way to good of windshields on these cars. i keep hoping that a rock will hit it and crack it. they keep hitting it but the dam thing will not crack. last week a huge rock hit it and only left a small scratch. it did more damage to the wiper blade even after it slid down the windshield. i almost want to find my sledge hammer and take it out.
You could always.. ahem.. nevermind.
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: VA
THE C350
hey now that is uncalled for my 2001 has been great! your just jealous of my superior car.
i know that their is something that is more reliable on my car then yours and when i think of it i will post it. lol
"You could always.. ahem.. nevermind."
btw what was your idea??
i know that their is something that is more reliable on my car then yours and when i think of it i will post it. lol"You could always.. ahem.. nevermind."
btw what was your idea??
Last edited by samaritrey; Sep 2, 2009 at 02:22 AM.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Strategically apply a ball peen hammer & claim on insurance. Or do it the American way - frozen turkey before Thanksgiving (who said that?)
Sir, I was driving to work & it just fell out of the sky - ready plucked & frozen
(who said that?)Sir, I was driving to work & it just fell out of the sky - ready plucked & frozen
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: MD
2007 C230 and 1985 Monte SS
I have a $500 deductible... but I just had a repair done to the glass that was covered under insurance, and that repair is guaranteed 100%...
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
I am on my 3rd windshield on my 07 with ~55K miles. The NW here is brutal to windshields and paint. Even my current windshield is less than a year old and is highly pitted. Not much you can do but replace it.
The glass for windshields in HARD (Magnitudes harder than your paint). You need a polish with some SERIOUS abrasives to even make a dent in it. Polishing may improve appearance slightly, and remove some light scratches, but won't do anything for the pitting.
A new OEM windshield will run you roughly your deductible installed, so may not be worth the claim.
The glass for windshields in HARD (Magnitudes harder than your paint). You need a polish with some SERIOUS abrasives to even make a dent in it. Polishing may improve appearance slightly, and remove some light scratches, but won't do anything for the pitting.
A new OEM windshield will run you roughly your deductible installed, so may not be worth the claim.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: MD
2007 C230 and 1985 Monte SS
I am on my 3rd windshield on my 07 with ~55K miles. The NW here is brutal to windshields and paint. Even my current windshield is less than a year old and is highly pitted. Not much you can do but replace it.
The glass for windshields in HARD (Magnitudes harder than your paint). You need a polish with some SERIOUS abrasives to even make a dent in it. Polishing may improve appearance slightly, and remove some light scratches, but won't do anything for the pitting.
A new OEM windshield will run you roughly your deductible installed, so may not be worth the claim.
The glass for windshields in HARD (Magnitudes harder than your paint). You need a polish with some SERIOUS abrasives to even make a dent in it. Polishing may improve appearance slightly, and remove some light scratches, but won't do anything for the pitting.
A new OEM windshield will run you roughly your deductible installed, so may not be worth the claim.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
Likes: 1
From: MD
2007 C230 and 1985 Monte SS
I went to Hunt Valley in Cockeysville.
The total was $408 for the trans flush and all of their BS shop fees, and a $27 set of spare tire lug bolts that my car didn't come with. I think the SA said the trans flush itself was $349.
The total was $408 for the trans flush and all of their BS shop fees, and a $27 set of spare tire lug bolts that my car didn't come with. I think the SA said the trans flush itself was $349.
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Be careful on shopping around for pricing on servicing the 7G. Almost ALL dealers quote the 5sp service. The 7G requires more parts to service. All the pan bolts must be replaced (Aluminum bolts, magnesium case), as well as the standoff fitting in the pan. Plus the pan on the 7G is bigger, and requires more fluid for service.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
I figured a ceramic material would be extremely hard to polish. I don't really understand this, I don't see anything nearly this bad in my paint, and I have a 25 year old car that has 200k+ miles on it, and the windshield is fine (or at least it was before it cracked and was replaced.) What is it about the MB windshields? I've never seen this on any other car...
I was talking about polishing the windshield in my last post, but yes, the ceramic clear on these cars is REALLY hard. But, with the right equipment and polishes, it is not too bad.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 526
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From: MD
2007 C230 and 1985 Monte SS
Sorry, I was talking about the windshield too, glass is technically a ceramic material (as opposed to a metal/organic/polymer) making it extreemely hard. I would imagine it has to be harder than the clear coat, which looks relatively pristine, compared to the windshield at least.
Are we sure that there isn't some sort of sprayed on coating? It really appears to be darker where the glass is not pitted...
Are we sure that there isn't some sort of sprayed on coating? It really appears to be darker where the glass is not pitted...
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
I agree. My 1991 Nissan Sentra had the original windshield up until a few months ago, and it has 250K on it. The pitting in that wasn't near as severe as my fairly new windshield in my C230. For some reason the MB windshields chip and crack MUCH easier than any other car I have had in the past. I am on my 3rd windshield in ~58K and 2.5 years on my C.
I was talking about polishing the windshield in my last post, but yes, the ceramic clear on these cars is REALLY hard. But, with the right equipment and polishes, it is not too bad.
I was talking about polishing the windshield in my last post, but yes, the ceramic clear on these cars is REALLY hard. But, with the right equipment and polishes, it is not too bad.
Hope you're enjoying it as much as I am. At 59,850 on my 2005.
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
Sorry, I was talking about the windshield too, glass is technically a ceramic material (as opposed to a metal/organic/polymer) making it extreemely hard. I would imagine it has to be harder than the clear coat, which looks relatively pristine, compared to the windshield at least.
Are we sure that there isn't some sort of sprayed on coating? It really appears to be darker where the glass is not pitted...
Are we sure that there isn't some sort of sprayed on coating? It really appears to be darker where the glass is not pitted...
On a more serious note - Pilkingtons make most of Benz's windshields. You should have a chat to them directly. The rule of thumb they have always given me is that if there are chips or scratches in/on the screen that you can feel with a finger nail - they are too deep to polish out. There are polishing compounds that will polish deeper chips & scratches out with industrial buffing machinery but they will cause distortions in the glass - this is according to Pilks SA. There is to my knowledge no external coating like a camera lens for example. The colour in the screen is in the laminate sandwiched between the two layers of glass. Side windows etc have through colour.
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From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Glass is also a liquid - so if you wait about 300 years the pits will fill themselves in slowly & the glass will become thicker at the bottom than the top.
On a more serious note - Pilkingtons make most of Benz's windshields. You should have a chat to them directly. The rule of thumb they have always given me is that if there are chips or scratches in/on the screen that you can feel with a finger nail - they are too deep to polish out. There are polishing compounds that will polish deeper chips & scratches out with industrial buffing machinery but they will cause distortions in the glass - this is according to Pilks SA. There is to my knowledge no external coating like a camera lens for example. The colour in the screen is in the laminate sandwiched between the two layers of glass. Side windows etc have through colour.
On a more serious note - Pilkingtons make most of Benz's windshields. You should have a chat to them directly. The rule of thumb they have always given me is that if there are chips or scratches in/on the screen that you can feel with a finger nail - they are too deep to polish out. There are polishing compounds that will polish deeper chips & scratches out with industrial buffing machinery but they will cause distortions in the glass - this is according to Pilks SA. There is to my knowledge no external coating like a camera lens for example. The colour in the screen is in the laminate sandwiched between the two layers of glass. Side windows etc have through colour.
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,403
Likes: 64
From: Camas, WA
2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 19,942
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From: Llandudno, Cape Town, South Africa
late 2009 CLK 350 Coupe Elegance, '65 Jaguar S Type wires
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,384
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2019 G70 6MT & 2022 Ford Maverick XL
Sorry Sickspeed..Took your advice in the 200 miles with the 2007 car today. Gave it more throttle. It ended up being much quicker than I remembered, but at 75% throttle it redlined the first three gears. I think I'd like it better with a 6MT. Seems.. shifty. But I definitely like the car as a whole. Made my 2005 seem a slight bit old.
