Windscreen damaged by wiper fluid????

[richduc]

Hi all

Recently joined and introduced myself after buying a E280CDI, 58 plate 100k on the clock.
Generally pleased and got lots of useful info from this forum when I wasnt sure if I had a problem or not!
Anyhooz - cleaning it today and noticed streaks on the windscreen which will not come off with cleaner or polish. I have decided that the previous fluid has removed a layer off the glass making cleaning pointless. Is this possible? I had already drained the fluid reservoir as I had noticed discolouration of the seal and put it down to the fluid also. These seem to have come up ok after cleaning but its like a film of limescale residue.
Any ideas/pointers/advice appreciated!
Thanks, peeps
Rich

 

[Dec]

Fill the washer bottle with hot water and flush it all out through the windscreen spray with the bonnet closed.

Then clean the windscreen glass a few times with Cif, the kitchen cleaner, its corrosive to bear metal so rinse it off well, and let us know the outcome.

Dec

 

[PobodY]

I doubt it's removed a layer of glass, but it's quite possible that it's etched the surface of the glass.

I've never tried Cif, but if it works that's a great tip!

 

[richduc]

I recon something has taken a layer of whatever the glass is finished with. I will try Cif (or Jif to old gets like me) in, as they say, an inconspicuous area and let you know.
thanks
Rich

 

[whitenemesis]

Unless the screen been coated with something like Rain-X?

 

[richduc]

right, rain-x - how could I tell? Can it be removed? Its a right pain, you cant really see the streaks too much from the inside but water tracks down a big streak right in the line of vision! You can really see it from the outside, there are lots of seperate streaks across the windscreen. Is it not possible that a factory coating has been corroded or debonded from the substrate?

 

[whitenemesis]

No factory coatings applied to the glass but could be a multitude of after-market offerings, Gtechniq for example..

 

[richduc]

oh ok, then I might be in with a chance of getting it back to something approaching acceptable? I will try Cif and take it from there. Thank you all for your advice. I will let you know the outcome. Other than this minor issue I am very happy with the car!

 

[Dec]

Was the car recently waxed, sometimes streak from the roof, after rain, run down the glass after the car has been waxed.

Dec

 

[richduc]

dont think so - as far as I know its come from an auction passed through the dealer to me - no evidence of a recent wax or polish! Although saying that the inside is in excellent condition - like new really - so the previous owner(s) certainly looked after the car, I think, so maybe its occured a while back...

 

[richduc]

update - clayed glass, elbow grease and auto glym glass polish and result - all gone. Dont know why it worked second time round, but very happy thanks all

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Found this vid useful for windscreen cleaning tips with a blade, starts @5min...

[YOUTUBE]-IjoKjwQEDI[/YOUTUBE]

update - clayed glass, elbow grease and auto glym glass polish and result - all gone. Dont know why it worked second time round, but very happy thanks all