Windshield Protective Film

[gte105u]

Too many times I've watched some chucklehead blow down the highway 10 feet off a loaded dump truck's tailgate. Good starting point.

Then, in general, keep distance to other traffic, both front & side, specially on multi-lane highways.

When possible, avoid gravel roads or roads with loose stone, and reduce speed when necessary.

Sure, you can still get a chip or cracked windshield, but at least you can stack the deck in your favor.

So my windshield cracked a couple weeks ago. Driving from Houston to Dallas, Semi cuts me off no blinker and then takes to the shoulder to pass a slow wide load. Sprayed my car, got a crack and chip.

Two years ago, at a stop light on a surface road. Truck in front of me starts up, shoots a rock out while I'm still stopped. Huge divot and several cracks. It sounded like a gun shot when it hit.

People who drive in big cities its pretty common. You leave space, it's filled immediately. People who drive rural as well, lots of loose gravel. I don't tailgate, haven't had an accident or ticket in a decade plus. But I've had 3 replaced windshield and a current one is cracked. But thanks for the tip... Can't imagine why people want a product to protect their windshield when it's so easy to just prevent it...

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[forkspider]

Ppf isn’t cheap, one of those things you gotta pay to play. My truck eta is Dec 26-1st. I plan on doing full front end and windshield as soon as I get the truck.

 

[OrangeBlue]

You're making excuses.

So my windshield cracked a couple weeks ago. Driving from Houston to Dallas, Semi cuts me off no blinker and then takes to the shoulder to pass a slow wide load. Sprayed my car, got a crack and chip.

Two years ago, at a stop light on a surface road. Truck in front of me starts up, shoots a rock out while I'm still stopped. Huge divot and several cracks. It sounded like a gun shot when it hit.

People who drive in big cities its pretty common. You leave space, it's filled immediately. People who drive rural as well, lots of loose gravel. I don't tailgate, haven't had an accident or ticket in a decade plus. But I've had 3 replaced windshield and a current one is cracked. But thanks for the tip... Can't imagine why people want a product to protect their windshield when it's so easy to just prevent it...

 

[volksnuts]

You're making excuses.

Can’t tell if serious….

 

[inline_five]

My first Maverick got a nice size chip, it took Carmax nearly a month to get a replacement… (after I sold it to them)

On my current Maverick I did two things
Bought the windshield warranty thing from the dealer…. It was less than the cost of one replacement windshield so I figured it would be worth it long term
On top of that I had PPF installed on the windshield to help from ever having to use the windshield warranty
I figure the film will protect from little stuff and the warranty will cover me from a huge rock impact

I drive a lot and have cracked every windshield in every vehicle I’ve owned in the last 10 years
Since this one should be a keeper I figure why not add some protection (also did full frontal PPF so I won’t get paint chips)

Three months in and no rock chips on the windshield

Followup post if you are still around, how is the windshield ppf doing after being on for a year? Would you do it again?

If so, any idea what product you used?

 

[volksnuts]

Followup post if you are still around, how is the windshield ppf doing after being on for a year? Would you do it again?

If so, any idea what product you used?

The shop installed the same material they used for the front end which didn’t work well for a windshield
I ended up peeling it off after less than a year as it got scratched to hell by the windshield wipers
Saved me from a few rock chips but recently got hit with two rock chips in a week

 

[inline_five]

The shop installed the same material they used for the front end which didn’t work well for a windshield
I ended up peeling it off after less than a year as it got scratched to hell by the windshield wipers
Saved me from a few rock chips but recently got hit with two rock chips in a week

Yeah that is what I figured

I use rain-x and ceramic coatings for my windshield so rarely if ever use wipers, so it might work better for my use case.

They make windshield specific film but I can't imagine it's any better. You can buy a 30m roll for about $300 which is good for 19 installs. That's the lower end film but maybe it's like a semi-yearly thing, if install isn't too hard.

I just absolutely hate chips in my windshield.

 

[wax87]

I'll freely admit I know nothing about windshield film, but it just sounds like a bad idea, and a poor "value".

I would think a change in driving habits would help prevent windshield damage more than anything.

They use them in NASCAR

 

[ricwan]

Question for all my associates out there in Maverick Land. I'm still in the waiting mode for my 23MY Maverick. Projected build week is now at Jan 02, 2023. I was wondering if any of you out there in Maverick Land has installed the 3M Windshield Protection Film? I'm getting tired of my windshields constantly getting smacked by kicked up rocks/gravel. Sure, the insurance company will pay for the fix and if necessary, replacement of chipped or broken windshields. The fix jobs from Safelite do prevent the windshield from cracking but also is still visible. More recently my 2021 Toyota Venza got smacked a good one which resulted in the need to replace the windshield. Can you believe this . . . been two (2) months waiting for the replacement windshield to come in. Parts are finally in and now I need to wait a couple of weeks before I can get my car in for the repair. This time of age with constraints and labor shortages is driving me crazy. Anyway getting back to the subject of windshield PF. I want to get the PF on my Maverick after it arrives because I don't want to have to wait for 2-3 months or even longer to get my windshield fixed if I get another "smack". About $250 to get the PF installed. Yes I know, free for insurance paid "repairs" but its the wait and inconvenience that is driving me crazy on my Toyota. If a Toyota windshield is constrained at 2 months, who knows what the Ford Maverick windshield sound deadening windshield will be? Enough of the rant, back to my original question. Thoughts and experience(s) with windshield PF, in particularly 3M? I understand the "Paint Protection Film" will NOT work on windshields and a special PF is needed. Not very many places sell and install this item. Because of this I'm wondering why???? Pros and Cons appreciated. Thanks.

Pro's: your windshield likely will not get cracked/chipped. Con's: as the time this is written (7-26) in my area (S/E VA) cost was $450. while the film is clear, there is some 'waviness' to it which may or may not bother you. installation and windshield prep have to be near flawless. mine has some kind of streak in a couple spots which appear as scratches that catch light. I'm taking it back asap to get that rectified. shop has done many great tint jobs for me, so I believe they can fix this.

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