Windshield rock chips

[sergey_ja]

Friends, this is somewhat odd. I keep getting my windshield chipped. No cracks, rather several “craters” and marks all around.
Is this only me or others have also seen their cars being a rock magnet?

at some point, I thought of changing it, but it really makes no sense.

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[andb]

Taycan windshield is pretty soft, I got a small stone that left a mark, luckily not on my side.
But more annoying is that I get the rear doors stone chips when going over debris. Its the first car with this issue, Panamera is not affected, maybe its body design issue or the 21 inch wheels.

 

[Capt Mike]

Friends, this is somewhat odd. I keep getting my windshield chipped. No cracks, rather several “craters” and marks all around.
Is this only me or others have also seen their cars being a rock magnet?

at some point, I thought of changing it, but it really makes no sense.

I just got a small one yesterday...of course right in the line of sight of the driver! Porsche says it's about $3500 to replace insurance not withstanding. I front rear view mirrors the camera init so needs to be calibrated along with other safety features. I wonder if the sloping front doesnt
contribute to being hit by stones. Of course this was coming up to a dirty ass dump truck!

 

[PTProspect]

This just happened to me yesterday. It will result in my third windshield replacement in 3 years.

 

[SoccerMan94043]

Resurrecting a dead thread

My car spend it's first 500 miles in Arizona and while the paint is in decent shape (even better after correction), there are tons of these very small pock marks (really pin pricks) in the windshield. I can barely see them while driving (only in exactly the right light/angle) and only find them as I've been detailing my car. I've never seen that on any other car windshield glass before (coming from BMW, Audi and Tesla over the last 25 years) so I assume it's more about the environment in AZ than anything else. That coupled with soft glass.

I have 5 years of Porsche windshield insurance and I wonder if they will eventually replace the windshield for me (I think you get one change as part of the plan). If not a decent size crack might show up unexpectedly.

 

[Fun TC Driving]

If there is one common complaint among most car forums, it is that windshields have gotten softer the last five to ten years. Different glass compositon used by OEMS to save weight? And/or is is that road compostion material has changed and the newer road materials are sharper-edged or more prone to cause chips; and/or that as more and more vehicles are using stickier summer performance tires than even a decade ago, that the stickier tires now greater catch, then release the rock chips?

I will investigate Porsche’s windshield insurance, though our insurer Safe Farm as been excellent on both windshield replacement when needed and rock chip filling (when the chip is the right size to benefit from such kind of repair). Of course, also relatively new is windshield PPF material. I have it on my Z06 and so far, 11,000 miles on it with not one rock yet getting through the PPF and into the windshield itself (But can seen when washing it about 35 PPF impact marks.

 

[SoccerMan94043]

If there is one common complaint among most car forums, it is that windshields have gotten softer the last five to ten years. Different glass compositon used by OEMS to save weight? And/or is is that road compostion material has changed and the newer road materials are sharper-edged or more prone to cause chips; and/or that as more and more vehicles are using stickier summer performance tires than even a decade ago, that the stickier tires now greater catch, then release the rock chips?

I will investigate Porsche’s windshield insurance, though our insurer Safe Farm as been excellent on both windshield replacement when needed and rock chip filling (when the chip is the right size to benefit from such kind of repair). Of course, also relatively new is windshield PPF material. I have it on my Z06 and so far, 11,000 miles on it with not one rock yet getting through the PPF and into the windshield itself (But can seen when washing it about 35 PPF impact marks.

I'm not sure you can buy after sale. I was just going to add glass coverage to my auto insurance policy, but the Porsche version was cheaper. Granted the Porsche version doesn't cover anything outside of the windshield, I'll just use compressive coverage for other things if needed.

I was watching a fix video of a pretty bad chip with a little but of a crack forming. It was pretty incredible how well it filled in everything, but the impact spot of the rock. That was clearly visible and was right in the middle of the driver line of site. I wonder if Porsche windshield protection will replace the windshield for that :\

 

[Shadowfax]

So just purchased 2025, waiting on delivery and plan on getting Xpel windshield film fairly new product but I hate all pockmarks that any windscreen eventually picks up. Glad I read this, reinforces my decision to move on it. Watching the YouTube videos and although it’s only been out a year the detailers seem to like it.

 

[Mr.Smith]

So just purchased 2025, waiting on delivery and plan on getting Xpel windshield film fairly new product but I hate all pockmarks that any windscreen eventually picks up. Glad I read this, reinforces my decision to move on it. Watching the YouTube videos and although it’s only been out a year the detailers seem to like it.

I won't drive a mile without windshield PPF. I can't stand pockmarks! Xpel pretty solved distortion and it works.
Ceramic coated it as well. I don't drive in the rain, but if you use the wipers a lot, its a good idea to change it every 2 years if you use wipers.

Average cost in California is $600. Install is very easy compared to other solutions like ClearPlex

My first 350 miles, I should have had my windshield cracked twice on the same day. No trucks around, 70mph driving on the highway.

 

[69Mach390]

I won't drive a mile without windshield PPF. I can't stand pockmarks! Xpel pretty solved distortion and it works.
Ceramic coated it as well. I don't drive in the rain, but if you use the wipers a lot, its a good idea to change it every 2 years if you use wipers.

Average cost in California is $600. Install is very easy compared to other solutions like ClearPlex

My first 350 miles, I should have had my windshield cracked twice on the same day. No trucks around, 70mph driving on the highway.

Curious about your experience with windshield ppf.

I’m about to have my windshield replaced and was thinking about doing ppf, but some of the online remarks make me question it- in particular those who say it scratched easily with windshield wipers and they had to remove it within a year.

 

[ebarron]

+1 on the Windshield wiper concerns - particularly in snowy areas? I have no data beyond what you read online - which always skews negative. But it seems like getting caught outside in one ice storm on a ski trip - running the wipers in the sand and grit from the car in front of you on the highway - would be enough to scratchup even the toughest plastic. But again, just fear, no data.

 

[jkoya]

I've had the Xpel windshield PPF on the Cross Turismo for a year now and would not hesitate to have it installed on future cars. Since it is ceramic coated, water basically beads off on the highway. I just make sure the wipers are not covered in dirt and grime before I turn them on. I have not noticed any scratching so far...

 

[Shadowfax]

Hate to bring this up as it’s apparently controversial, but some of us take care of our cars in I guess a good term is semi garage queen conditions. I usually clean off bird/bee droppings etc when I get home from driving about using waterless wash. I live in So Cal so don’t have to worry about snow but I never let dirt or grit build up on my car, especially the windscreen. I’m getting the cross turismo so I should be able to drive it on dirt roads in our back country. This will be a new experience for me and I guess will have to let OCD tendencies go so I can really enjoy the driving experience.
From everything I’ve read the Xpel works well but does have to be replaced within a year or two. I’ll let you know how it looks after application. BTW there is also UV protection for your skin with this product and it’s supposed to keep the car cooler. Has anyone placed it on the panoramic roof? Mine doesn’t have the smart glass option.

 

[jkoya]

Has anyone placed it on the panoramic roof?

I decided to have the regular Xpel Ultimate Plus installed on the panoramic roof and not the windshield PPF. I wanted the most protection against rock chips, but it is not clear like the windshield film. I didn't care since I have a mesh screen covering the inside of the roof anyway. I didn't want the panoramic roof, but had no choice with Cross Turismo.

My car stays in the garage and I'm just careful with dirt and grime on the wipers. It is driven frequently in the rain, but has not seen snow or ice. It is still as clear as the day it was installed.

 

[Mr.Smith]

Curious about your experience with windshield ppf.

I’m about to have my windshield replaced and was thinking about doing ppf, but some of the online remarks make me question it- in particular those who say it scratched easily with windshield wipers and they had to remove it within a year.

TL;DR
Worst case, expect to change the windshield PPF every 6 moths at a cost of approximately $600 each time.


My RS E-Tron GT (has Taycan windshield) had the Stek PPF windshield at new. It had some distortion, it lasted 2.5 years and was trashed due to hundreds of rock chips and pockmarks from canyon driving.
2 larger pebbles clipped the PPF and only left a pockpark when the PPF was removed to install the Xpel the last 6 months of the car.

I've never used the wipers on the RS E-Tron GT or the Taycan, but if the wipers are used a lot, especially if i ts dirty, you will start to see scratch in the PPF.
In the heavy wiper scenario I would expect to replace the PPF every 6 months.

To me its worth $1200 a year to have a perfect, untouched, OE windshield. Some people don't care at all or would rather have their insurance company just replace the windshield.

In places like FL, CA, AZ with heavy sunshine, ceramic coating and maintenance is a good idea because it saves time when replacing the PPF. It becomes brittle, increases removal time, which can cost more money when replacing.

I use a quick detailer infused with carnuba wax after every drive to keep it pristine. When the PPF was replaced, it came off in 15min and wasn’t discolored after 2.5 years.

In my use case, I'll get 3 years out on the Xpel windshield PPF.

Anyone in Southern California is welcome to sit in my to see if there is distortion and how it looks

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