Any windscreen preservation technique tips ?
Discussion
One of the Newcettes is having her third windscreen replacement in 12 months. These are all cracks from stones being thrown up from in front. She commutes on mostly 50-60 mph A-road / dual carriageways with some short B road stretches, but the damage has occurred at random places, not a specific road.
Are there any good defensive techniques she could adopt to reduce this ? She's not hooning along 2mm off the back bumper of the car in front, but the traffic is moving along smartly and leaving a 4-chevron gap will just mean someone pulls into it and closes the distance anyway.
Are there any good defensive techniques she could adopt to reduce this ? She's not hooning along 2mm off the back bumper of the car in front, but the traffic is moving along smartly and leaving a 4-chevron gap will just mean someone pulls into it and closes the distance anyway.
One of my friends is always complaining about this and has had several new windscreens fitted over the past decade or so.
I do twice his annual mileage and have never needed a new windscreen.
The only difference is that he constantly drives much closer to the car in front. Not close enough that it would annoy anyone or be dangerous but it seems to be enough to make a difference.
I hang well back and if the odd car slots in, who cares, two or three car lengths is irrelevant over the course of a journey. Much more chilled out way to drive.
I do twice his annual mileage and have never needed a new windscreen.
The only difference is that he constantly drives much closer to the car in front. Not close enough that it would annoy anyone or be dangerous but it seems to be enough to make a difference.
I hang well back and if the odd car slots in, who cares, two or three car lengths is irrelevant over the course of a journey. Much more chilled out way to drive.
Red9zero said:
I have seen companies putting PPF on windscreens. Might be worth trying.
That was my first thought - I’m sure there is / I may have seen a similar offering to that which they use on Le Mans Cars / F1 Helmets, with multiple layers that can be peeled off when the outermost layer is buggered?
Every day a journey said:
If she WAS following at 2mm behind the car in front there would not be the space for stones to fly up so I would encourage her to adopt this approach
Jaybee1981 said:
Only other things i can think of is staying our of lanes that are obviously covered in crap or if the state of the roads she use are very poor.
Yeah good point, I might drive it with her and see if there are particular debris collection spots to be avoided. Snow and Rocks said:
I do twice his annual mileage and have never needed a new windscreen.
The only difference is that he constantly drives much closer to the car in front.
Yes same for me, one screen in last 15 years. I don't think she's that close but maybe she could be consistently one or two metres further back. I'll put on my best back seat driver hat and go out with her. The only difference is that he constantly drives much closer to the car in front.
Luck of the draw I think. My daughter lost a screen to a conker last autumn which was annoying!
For what its worth, my Merc CLS with ACC seems less chippy than the last one I had without it, because it leaves a big old gap.
But yes, the windscreen PPF would seem like a good solution if it works. Its not cheap though, albeit probably a lot less than a new OE screen fitted by someone who knows what they're doing.
For what its worth, my Merc CLS with ACC seems less chippy than the last one I had without it, because it leaves a big old gap.
But yes, the windscreen PPF would seem like a good solution if it works. Its not cheap though, albeit probably a lot less than a new OE screen fitted by someone who knows what they're doing.
gotoPzero said:
I would suggest a dash camera.
HTH.
Not sure how a dashcam will help. If my car flicks a stone up and it damages your windscreen, then how I am liable because I haven't been negligent. Unfortunately windscreen damage is one of the hidden costs of motoring like punctures and supermarket dings. HTH.
Does the OP's daughter drive a MINI or other cars with very upright windscreens that are prone to damage?
But the only way to minimise damage is to hang back as much as you can.
vikingaero said:
Does the OP's daughter drive a MINI or other cars with very upright windscreens that are prone to damage?
Is this from experience or is there evidence to support it? Asking respectfully because I've seen this mentioned before once or twice and as far as I know, Mini windscreens are not a fast moving stock item. Glassman said:
vikingaero said:
Does the OP's daughter drive a MINI or other cars with very upright windscreens that are prone to damage?
Is this from experience or is there evidence to support it? Asking respectfully because I've seen this mentioned before once or twice and as far as I know, Mini windscreens are not a fast moving stock item. georgeyboy12345 said:
This is the best advice. This will definitely decrease the possibility of stone chips and cracks.
Not sure, judging by the poster two posts up, there is every likelihood a tree will come crashing down and smash the windscreen if the car is parked. Best not to have a car at all. That’ll show those pesky windscreens!vikingaero said:
gotoPzero said:
I would suggest a dash camera.
HTH.
Not sure how a dashcam will help. If my car flicks a stone up and it damages your windscreen, then how I am liable because I haven't been negligent. Unfortunately windscreen damage is one of the hidden costs of motoring like punctures and supermarket dings. HTH.
Does the OP's daughter drive a MINI or other cars with very upright windscreens that are prone to damage?
But the only way to minimise damage is to hang back as much as you can.
Firstly, allows Mr OP to look at how his kid is driving - not just going off what he is told.
Secondly if a vehicle is dropping stones, for example, thats their problem. I see it all the the time a wagon with a load of MOT on the back dropping constant streams of limestone off the back.
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