Glass polishing

[Martinaston]

Has anyone tried polishing a windscreen ?

Is it worth the bother or should i just fork out for a new one, It's the original still in the car and the years of scaping by the wipers has made it a pain to see through while driving at night on the motorway due to the star effect created by oncoming cars.

[E30Adam]

Isn't the screen covered by your insurance policy?

Most have a Ԛ£50 excess and do not go down as a claim. You could knock it and claim a stone chipped it on a motorway journey?

[Martinaston]

I'm not too keen on having a new one fitted
If it's to come out i may as well leave it until i get the paint done.

I was just wondering how well the glass polishing works, if it leaves distorsions or ends up worse then before you started. I only need to do the piece the drivers wiper covers, maybe less.

[chu346]

Try using Autoglym glass polish. Great stuff!!!

[Martinaston]

How do you apply it ?

[toptints]

i can assure you that you will not get rid of scratches if you can feel them with your finger nail. Havin a new screen is an easy process, but if you are getting a spray job done i'd replace it then as there is a slight risk of breakage on removal. I suggest you call round the smaller windscreen companies as the big ones will generally quote you silly prices. Ask them for a price on a top tinted scrren if it takes your fancy. You can get one with a built in green sun band, or a blue.

[chu346]

How do you apply it ?

It's like normal polish. Wax on with one rag and Wax off with another once dried.

[Martinaston]

I was thinking of something a bit more abrasive like this, but knowing my luck i'll balls it up even more.

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8109

[chu346]

I've never seen a screen that was that bad before that Autoglym wouldn't work on.

If it's that bad you need another screen.

[Martinaston]

To look at it it's fine but at night oncoming cars cause a problem, how much is the autoglym ? it might be worth a go.

[chu346]

I bought 5 litres from halfords for Ԛ£12ish IIRC.

Or you can buy 500ml for Ԛ£6.99ish

[Brianmoooore]

Before the world went mad and started giving away TVs with cornflake packets (slight exageration), I used to recon and sell TVs.
Some of the best tubes on bought in stock were scratched ones, and I used to polish out these scratches with a foam pad in an electric drill using some very expensive pink powder made into a paste with water.
Quite hard work, but eventually you could remove some quite deep scratches, but I don't know what the optical quality would be looking through the glass.
I think I've read somewhere before, that OE BMW glass is soft and very susceptible to pitting by road dirt, and if your screen has to be replaced, to insist that they DON'Tt use genuine OE glass.

[A1BMW325iSport]

I was thinking of something a bit more abrasive like this, but knowing my luck i'll balls it up even more.

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8109

wow thats just what i need to remove a scratch caused by my wiper

[E30Mark]

I've used the frost kit on a MGB many years ago, took a while but i managed to remove a very nasty wiper scratch.

I've still got the kit here ready to have a go at my girlfriends Citroen when i can be bothered...

[A1BMW325iSport]

its gotta be worth a try on mine otherwise i'll have to get a new screen

[Martinaston]

Brianmoooore
Can you remember what the powder was called ?

E30Mark
How long did it take to remove the scratch on the MGB ?

Cheers

[E30Mark]

Brianmoooore
Can you remember what the powder was called ?

E30Mark
How long did it take to remove the scratch on the MGB ?

Cheers

Can't really remember, was about 10 years ago... i can't imagine i spent more than 2 hours on it, inc clearing up etc.

The red powder i believe is 'jewelers rouge'

[m3ben05]

A screen for a non M3 is only around 100 quid fitted, id just get a new one and save the hastle!

[Martinaston]

I know what your saying but i'm reluclant to let some gimp near the car,
The last time all i had done was three spot welds and the twit managed to set light to me tyre

[m3ben05]

Thats fair enough mate.

PS That is an awesome number plate in your pic

[Martinaston]

It's not real

Well it is but i've knocked off the other letters.

[daveyw]

e30mark is correct. it is jewellers rouge. i worked for autoglass for 9 years and people used to come in all the time asking if we would polish scratches out. we refused due to the time it takes and you never get it perfect anyway. have done a couple of my own cars with a drill and a buff.
its very messy as you need to keep it quite wet otherwise you will scorch the glass! it flies everywhere. if i where you, i'd go for the new glass. they are believe it or not the easiest windscreens to replace. honestly, easiest ever! just ask when you book it in that it is an nvq qualified fitter as there are plenty folk fitting who aren't. if you still don't want to go for the replacement, pm me your address and i'll send you some rouge as its like hens teeth and i have a little left over that i can post you. its not red this stuff is white but does the same job.

[Martinaston]

Thanks for the offer but as you say you never get it perfect, i got a quote today for Ԛ£100 +VAT for a top tint fitted.

Apart from that it's too damn cold

[daveyw]

pretty good price that! obviously not from autoglass!

[Martinaston]

Auto windscreens, and there two streets away

[daveyw]

heard they where getting quite competitive with their prices. didn't realise they were so cheap now.