The windshields are about the same quality independent of the manufacturer.

Consider the windshields the same as tires. They are just consumables, no added value with the originals.

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S320L -97

The problem that we are all trying to address is the glare on the inside of the windshield.

It is correct - all windshields pit over time.

However, the pitting in itself doesn't affect vision as badly as what gets INSIDE the pits.

Because of water conditions or environmental conditions, what settles inside the pits tends to be such a different material that it causes enormous light refraction as it enters the windshield.

What BJSC and others have been trying to do is to remove the material inside the pits (by the way, the diamondite system BJSC uses is essentially paint cleaning clay).

Removing the material inside the pits will actually help.

Now the glass will never be as clear as a new windshield, but it will help.

In addition, not all replacement glass is the same as the original. Differences in thickness, differences in optical clarity is VERY frequent as replacement glass (even if made by the same manufacturer as your original). In addition, I can understand why some people want to resist replacing windshields. Most shops today are just awful in installation and end up with creaking noises or worse yet, leaks.

I hated getting rid of my "original" windshield... Sure it was heavily pitted and driving at night or at dusk with it was borderline dangerous, but i eventually had to do it... Replacing the windshield is never the same as the original.. Now with the new windshield "sekurit" i believe, whenever the wiper goes beyond a 45 degree angle from the center of the car the outer most edge of the blade loses contact with the windshield and makes a very sloppy wiping edge.. My conclusion is the windshield they put in was either not shaped properly or not seated properly and the glass was slighty twisted enough to cause this problem... I have replaced the windshield wiper and no fix.. So a few months later after replacing the windshield im going to try another Glass Manufacturer to see if i can get a closer to OEM match or better fit.. picky benz owner

I wonder what folks have to pay for insurance that covers the $250 or so for replacing the windshield ?

Here in Houston, I can't afford anything less than $500 deductible, and if you even CALL the insurance co to ask about a potentially filing a claim, that is logged as 'an incident' and your premium goes up.

File a claim (any claim) and your rate goes up to completely cover that claim in 2 years of increased premiums.

(I argee that PPG glass is as good as it gets and $250 will get just about any windshield replaced with OEM or better quality, installed in you driveway or work parking place.)

I have 2 cars now that will get replacements this month--from pitting. All the construction for housing, buildings, and on the highways here keeps the roads covered with sand and fine gravel.

While this may be true or at least debatable, again you miss my point. My car has already been sold for the last time. I don't care what its actual NADA, etc. value is. The original windshield has a tremendous amount of value to me.




Deal with it how? By trying products to make it better, finding out that the products actually do work, and then posting as much for the benefit of others, only to then have the very points you've made in your posts (that seemed concise) reiteratively represented in and out of context as original thought, and ultimately missed anyway? Jeeze louise! You can lead a horse to water...

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

Windscreens are, generally, replaced under the comprehensive part of auto insurance and it's cheap. I carry a "0" deductible on my comprehensive and it is a good buy.

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N. Hodges
1994 S350
1987 300 SDL (for sale)

You might try this:

http://www.janvil.com/glass_restore.htm

I have some but have not used it yet. I bought it with the intension of polishing the pits out of my headlights. They are very shallow and probably no deeper than a scratch. Claims to be superior to cerium which I found to be pretty ineffective. Maybe some diamond paste like they use to polish granite countertops would work better?

No, I don't think the paint analogy applies here. I have no idea how this thread became such a lecture session.

What BJSC has tried out has NOTHING TO DO WITH polishing and abrading the glass. The product he tried out removes impurities that get embedded in the pits that forms on the windshield. The material embedded in the pits causes much of the glare - over and beyond the glare that the pits cause themselves.

The material can be removed NOT by harsh abrasive polishing action, but rather by a cleaning clay that acts similar to paint cleaning clay.

No one is disputing that badly pitted windshields should be replaced - just that in certain cases, simply removing material from the pits in the windshield can make quite a difference in itself.

Thanks roadsession. I should've just pm'd you. I'm not sure what is going on with this thread either and was posting primarily for your benefit, as I said I would, but thought the results would be good stuff for the archives - big mistake...

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1982 Mercedes-Benz 300CD
1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D - stick

no prob...however this forum is so darned valuable - I mean it is simply the best resource for MB owners on the web that's not about just about adding 22" wheels.

All the forum members here have posted something useful at some point that I've found invaluable in my opinion...

So today, I took some paint cleaning clay and clayed my windshield. I would say on a scale of 1 to 10, (10 being very dramatic improvement) I saw about a 7 in terms of improvement of reduction in glare on the commute home.

So it was certainly worth the 20 mins I spent, and I'm glad I didn't have to go thru the time and trouble of a complete windshield replacement.

Thank you everyone.

(especially BJSC)