UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Is there anyone who's having issues with their windshield pitting. My car is a year old and already needs a windshield replacement due to pitting (according to the glass repair shop). I do a lot of highway driving and work in an industrial area with a lot of trucks flinging bits and pieces of sand from the road. When I get my windshield replaced is there a polish/sealant I can use that will protect the glass to prevent this from happening again?

Modern automotive windscreen glass does seem to be quite prone to damage - some have even described the glass as being quite ‘soft’. It’s also quite thin - presumably to help save weight? With your screen, does the pitting affect the driver’s view forward or is it possible that the glass repair shop Is touting for business by suggesting that your screen needs to be replaced?

Cars in the UK that are over three years old have an annual inspection (the MOT test), and the condition of the windscreen forms part of that inspection. My car is almost 51 months old and I have a few minor marks on my screen that could be described as pit marks, but they’re not in the driver’s field of vision or bad enough for the screen to need replacing, and my car passed the annual MOT test. I do always try and maintain a sizeable gap between my car and the vehicle in front to minimise the risk of that vehicle in front flicking up stones and other road debris at my car that could damage the screen or paintwork.

I see you’re located in South Africa. If you have a similar annual vehicle inspection in South Africa to the UK’s MOT and the condition of the windscreen forms part of that inspection, if the pitting isn’t affecting your view forward, I’d ask a garage or inspection centre that undertakes the inspections for a second opinion before getting the screen replaced.

I’m not aware of any product that can be applied to the exterior surface of car windscreens to minimise the risk of pitting. I’ve read on other forums that improving / removing minor marks through polishing can create ‘hollows’/ low spots in the glass that might cause distortions when looking through the screen if the glass polish used is too abrasive or too much pressure is applied during polishing. Polishing hollows might also impede the ability of the windscreen wipers to fully and effectively wipe the screen.