"Sparkle" effect windscreen? - Page 1 - Boxster/Cayman - PistonHeads UK

One other thing I mentioned to my OPC at service today was that when the sun is shining directly into the windscreen there are thousands of tiny imperfections in the glass, evenly spread, each of which diffracts the suns rays and appear as an all over sparkle effect. Not good for visibility. They're not stone chips, nor dust/dirt. Is this something anyone else has experienced and or is it another "they all do that sir" item?

I would hazard a guess that they are little bits of dirt and bugs that have battered and ingrained themselves into the windscreen. I had the same problem on my C2S and it got to the point I was considering a new windscreen!...... then I got one of these..... ....and poured a shedload of window cleaner on the screen..... and scraped away in short sharp blasts on small areas at a time....making SURE there was plenty of window cleaner on the screen where I was scraping. Worked a treat! Hang on..... there might be a video on you tube......found one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVUtdlzrktI

DJMC said: One other thing I mentioned to my OPC at service today was that when the sun is shining directly into the windscreen there are thousands of tiny imperfections in the glass, evenly spread, each of which diffracts the suns rays and appear as an all over sparkle effect. Not good for visibility. They're not stone chips, nor dust/dirt. Is this something anyone else has experienced and or is it another "they all do that sir" item? Is it inside the glass or on the glass? One of my old cars has a similar problem. The previous owner lived near a beach and my pet theory is that he drove through sand storms at high speeds which effectively sandblasted the windscreen over time. It's not that noticeable unless the sun is exactly on the horizon.

I find Porsche windscreens pick up tiny pin sized chips very easily - easier than many other cars. Maybe this is to do with how low the 911/Boxster sits compared to other vehicles? Or is the windscreen glass just harder and more prone to chips?

Surface pitting. Consistent with cars of high mileage, or cars which have seen high speeds. The surface has effectively been sand blasted.

Glassman said: Surface pitting. Consistent with cars of high mileage, or cars which have seen high speeds. The surface has effectively been sand blasted. Noticed it at 13k, and the previous owner was the most laid back driver I've met, unlikely a speed freak. I have a handled razor blade for the glass hob. Might give that a try. Thanks for the youtube vid above.

Glassman said: Surface pitting. Consistent with cars of high mileage, or cars which have seen high speeds. The surface has effectively been sand blasted. Ah yes, the Autobahn will do that

Has anyone tried 0000 grade wire wool, followed by rain x? I have not tried it myself but the videos seem to have good results.

I have had this!! The speckles were spread all over and only visible driving into the sun, I first noticed it at only a few hundred miles so I knew it wan't stone or sand damage. Went over the outside with glass cleaner thoroughly, it seemed very smooth and unmarked so I then concentrated on the inside. Using my normal Megs glass cleaner did eventually shift some of them when I rubbed and rubbed on a small part of inside the screen, by now I had the hang of seeing the speckles looking upwards from inside the car towards the lights on my garage ceiling. Encouraged by this I tried AG Glass Polish and this was much more effective - a couple of applications and some elbow grease later it was all gone - perfect clear glass! Seems to me it must have been there from the factory and not cleaned off by the OPC when cleaning the car for delivery. I wonder if there are lots of other Porsches out there with the very same problem?

DJMC said: Glassman said: Surface pitting. Consistent with cars of high mileage, or cars which have seen high speeds. The surface has effectively been sand blasted. Noticed it at 13k, and the previous owner was the most laid back driver I've met, unlikely a speed freak. I have a handled razor blade for the glass hob. Might give that a try. Thanks for the youtube vid above. Could be tree sap in that case.