Pain in the Glass

[Tucson_Jim]

Driving back from Phoenix the other morning, took a rock hit to the windshield. Fortunately, I had the thermal/noise laminate so no penetration to the cabin.

No wonder our insurance costs are going up! OEM replacement $2k. Recalibration (Safelite says only Porsche can do it) $615. Reapply 3M crystalline $350.

Can’t wait to get my renewal premium notice ?.

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[ciaranob]

Wow that is quite a hit alright - any guesstimate of how big a piece hit you? I've had finger nail sized chips hit my screen but the Stek protection resulted in zero damage to the windshield.

In this case I'm not sure if even Stek would have helped as it looks like a 1" pebble or bigger hit you!!

Have to say though that I am very confident that in at least 2 occasions the Stek has paid for itself (not just cost but replacement headaches included!).

 

[SergeyIndy]

Really sorry you got hit by the rock to the windshield. Very helpful you sharing the costs and the process and none of us are immune to something like this. I wonder what is 3M Crystalline. I paid for Exoshield Ultra that is very thick, hard to apply perfectly, and $800 to do so at our PPF shop by the trained personnel who had to go to Las Vegas for training. I do not think any windshield protection would have helped here.

 

[Tucson_Jim]

I appreciate your condolences. In 60 years of driving, this was the biggest object to ever hit my windshields. Two lane highway going 70+ each direction and I'm sure it got tossed up by an oncoming truck.

To answer your question, I didn't have any film on the outside of the glass. I've read too many stories about wiper smear and distorted visibility. The 3M crystalline is a 30% tint that blocks IR and UV. Almost a necessity down here in the desert.

 

[SergeyIndy]

I appreciate your condolences. In 60 years of driving, this was the biggest object to ever hit my windshields. Two lane highway going 70+ each direction and I'm sure it got tossed up by an oncoming truck.

To answer your question, I didn't have any film on the outside of the glass. I've read too many stories about wiper smear and distorted visibility. The 3M crystalline is a 30% tint that blocks IR and UV. Almost a necessity down here in the desert.

Makes sense, that is the inside tint film. I have Thermal Glass and decided not to tint the inside, but my wife prefers 70% windshield tint although we are not in a very sunny state.

There are other forum members that have Exhoshield and very happy with it on Taycan and now Macan. Looking closely, you can see it on the edges (intended installation), but the goal here is protection of expensive replacement and calibration vs. perfection on the look. There are some imperfections you can see from the inside, but they are minor and not bothersome. No issues with visibility. I would highly recommend it.

 

[ciaranob]

I appreciate your condolences. In 60 years of driving, this was the biggest object to ever hit my windshields. Two lane highway going 70+ each direction and I'm sure it got tossed up by an oncoming truck.

To answer your question, I didn't have any film on the outside of the glass. I've read too many stories about wiper smear and distorted visibility. The 3M crystalline is a 30% tint that blocks IR and UV. Almost a necessity down here in the desert.

For ref - 2 years with same Stek exterior film - 100% clear (no tint), zero distortion and zero wiper streak and have done absolutely nothing special/specific in respect how I clean it - works like a charm (I too have thermal/noise insulated glass which already has a very slight inbuilt tint).

 

[jld1]

I swear there is something about the windshields in this car. A lot of us here have had to replace. In any car I owned before, I only replaced a windshield once and it was due to a direct impact (nut fell off a tree while driving).

A person I spoke to who is knowledgeable about cars proposed that the heavy and low lying battery might cause the windshield to vibrate more than cars with ICE. He though maybe the top end of the car might be moving more than what we can perceive as the heavy bottom remains stable. Not sure how true this is, but seemed like a reasonable theory.

To the point: I already had a decent sized crack in the top of mine over the summer without any collision or impact. Literally happened when the car was parked, according to my dashcam.

After replacing it in the summer, last week I got hit by a tiny rock that caused a chip...

?

 

[Tucson_Jim]

I swear there is something about the windshields in this car. A lot of us here have had to replace. In any car I owned before, I only replaced a windshield once and it was due to a direct impact (nut fell off a tree while driving).

A person I spoke to who is knowledgeable about cars proposed that the heavy and low lying battery might cause the windshield to vibrate more than cars with ICE. He though maybe the top end of the car might be moving more than what we can perceive as the heavy bottom remains stable. Not sure how true this is, but seemed like a reasonable theory.

To the point: I already had a decent sized crack in the top of mine over the summer without any collision or impact. Literally happened when the car was parked, according to my dashcam.

After replacing it in the summer, last week I got hit by a tiny rock that caused a chip...

?

I hate to admit it, but the fragility of the glass, combined with how insurance companies are raising rates and tightening their underwriting, has me thinking about going back to an ICE with a few less sensors and safety features. I'm missing my C7 Z06.

 

[tayCanadian]

Makes sense, that is the inside tint film. I have Thermal Glass and decided not to tint the inside, but my wife prefers 70% windshield tint although we are not in a very sunny state.

There are other forum members that have Exhoshield and very happy with it on Taycan and now Macan. Looking closely, you can see it on the edges (intended installation), but the goal here is protection of expensive replacement and calibration vs. perfection on the look. There are some imperfections you can see from the inside, but they are minor and not bothersome. No issues with visibility. I would highly recommend it.

Yep... I got exoshield... you can def see the difference with it, but the goal is to protect my windshield and for $600, it does that.

 

[lwc1001]

I got my roof and windshield replaced. Also OEM and porsche recalibrated the cameras and did an alignment as well. Apparently an alignment is needed after windshield replacement. Insurance covered everything $100 out of my pocket and $12k from the insurance.

 

[snstevens]

I hate to admit it, but the fragility of the glass, combined with how insurance companies are raising rates and tightening their underwriting, has me thinking about going back to an ICE with a few less sensors and safety features. I'm missing my C7 Z06.

I disagree. The technology you have today is saving lives (and might save yours), and given the rise in distracted driving I consider it essential.

Also, this is exactly what the insurance you are paying for is for. I've had to replace a windshield and recalibrate it on every car I've owed, and the rates don't seem to be tied to those events. There is a trend to higher premiums driven by technology across the board, however, but if you reduced the tech in your car you'd still be subject to those trends.

The good news on this thread is that @Tucson_Jim took a big hit and walked away safe and sound.

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