Windshield Defense - A little insurance goes a long way

[AllMoparParts.com]

OK- update: The company Race Optics reached out to me, and with >20 years in business - I was finding it difficult to think it was bunk. So - installation eng tech called me and went over EVERYTHING. In fine detail. In this day and age, a merchant to do that is unheard of - and that impressed me. They are sending a new film set ASAP, and gave some other pointers as well as patience to see if the solution will continue to dry an extra day or two and see what happens before I reinstall.

Excellent customer service so far is all I can say - and let's see the film next week - will send update.

Also Pro tips they gave on install: Keep the mist atomized - don't let it develop any 'rain runs.' Same on the film backing when you peel it off. ~30 seconds hold to stabilize slipping around on the windshield - and pressure activates the adhesive. Apparently you CAN use too much solution...

And SQUEEGEE HARD. I thought one knee on the hood pushing both sides to squeegee was enough...but keep going.

Hi,
Any updates on this? If there are specific install steps missing or not clarified we would like to outline them for others. In the meantime if there is anything we can do let us know and I will reach out to R.O.

Thanks,
- Benny

Sponsored

 

[JTdiRtyD]

Wait, $200 and it's not even permanent? They are just tear offs? So thats $200 every 1.5 to 2 years if you want to stay protected? And what about winter? I can't imagine these holding up well to salt and ice.

Glad I have full glass coverage.

 

[DennyInDayton]

I don't think the new windshield I had installed was much over $250....so what's the point? The glass guy did say Jeeps are one of the most common windshields to replace, in part because they are so flat and because where some go. But they are one of the cheapest if you don't have all the sensors. I think one of the biggest causes of broken windshields are all these damn construction zones that never get finished...

 

[RubiNewbCB]

Yes - the bubble pictures looking outside appear as if it wasn't pressed down at all or squeegeed. But if you see the night before in the garage...no bubbles...just that weird film trapped in-between.

Did they eventually go away? I have the ExoShield and the same happened to me but they went away after about 7 days.

 

[VA6489]

I've gone through 6 windshields in 5 years. So I thought - what a great idea....BUTTTTTTT.......Finally got this and Seriously disappointed in this product at the moment - installed last night, very few if any bubbles after install - they squeegeed out but had some weird haze or glue-like residue - I thought "It says cures in 24-48hrs" so maybe that's what it is.......
...... Wake up to check it - and wham - full of bubbles, none of which squeegee out now. Writing the company to see if something was amiss, adhesive issues or what. But I can't see out of the window safely and feeling like I wasted my $250+ dollars. And before you all say installation was wrong, I'm an engineer, fix most things myself (correctly)...watched the video 4 times, used the solution etc etc, had a helper, and had all the materials and did it as instructions state. Talk about frustration. Anyone else have this experience? Posting some pix...

Yep Same thing happened to me. Reached out to Benny.... MOPAR Dealer, no help there had to go back to the manufacturer . No joy there either. Did buy a second filum. This time it worked. seems hit or miss with filum and install. I guess it matters how long it sits around?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Question - how does your FCW, ACC and so on work with this?
If you have to have an area free of the film for those to work - I'll throw in the examples of my own broken windshields where the rock hit the area where the sensors are and the crack spread down from there.

Hard to imagine not causing any issues at all with the FCW and so on.

 

[KX L]

Ruh Row, already ordered. And very disappointed the 50% off was just for shipping.
1. In this day and age anything over $50 should have free shipping.
2. Not going to get a lot of orders from the forums without a real discount---10-30% off plus free shipping.
3. If a guy who is used to installing all his own additions and follows the instructions and watches the install video can't make it work then the product sucks.

Praying this doesn't happen to me.

3 weeks in and I still don't have it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

3 weeks in and I still don't have it.

Over a MONTH for me to see another MOPAR official accessory shipped - they seem to be putting carts before horses. Approving these third party things - and those third parties don't have the capacity to handle it.

 

[VA6489]

Question - how does your FCW, ACC and so on work with this?
If you have to have an area free of the film for those to work - I'll throw in the examples of my own broken windshields where the rock hit the area where the sensors are and the crack spread down from there.

Hard to imagine not causing any issues at all with the FCW and so on.

FCW ACC???

I do not have any windshield sensors. The auto light sensor still works fine.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

FCW ACC???

I do not have any windshield sensors. The auto light sensor still works fine.

Yes, the light sensor will work - it's not a tint.
I'm asking will this work with FCW and ACC..............
If you don't have those, then it won't matter.
But anything that can change the OPTICS can impact the camera array up there.

Note - I didn't quote you - was asking in general.

 

[Mcguyvr]

Yep Same thing happened to me. Reached out to Benny.... MOPAR Dealer, no help there had to go back to the manufacturer . No joy there either. Did buy a second filum. This time it worked. seems hit or miss with filum and install. I guess it matters how long it sits around?

Question - how does your FCW, ACC and so on work with this?
If you have to have an area free of the film for those to work - I'll throw in the examples of my own broken windshields where the rock hit the area where the sensors are and the crack spread down from there.

Hard to imagine not causing any issues at all with the FCW and so on.

So, race optics (the mfg) had me a new kit over the weekend since my first issue. Great service and the tech/eng answered ALL my questions in a phone call with install advice.

The existing install took another 2 weeks to dry out MOST of the rest of the bubbles - as the film will continue to let them evaporate the tech said. Hard to believe it took that long in this Phoenix 110 degree days let alone what temps the glass got to.

There is still a scattered film/ like faint oil rainbow in mostly the middle that remains. It’s been just too hot to do the new install + I’m driving so much lately - no time. I’m living with orig film and have restored most visibility - at least a few more weeks til it cools down. I’m storing the replacement in the house also though the tech said my month of storage in my PHX garage wouldn’t have hurt.

SP - to answer your question, no noticeable difference in the FCW/ACC thus far!

I’m up north in mtns a bit this week with rain and disappointed in the wipers performance on the film(70%-80% clearing power), but the wipers are 2 yrs PHX old so it’s prolly a toss up.
I’ve a new set to install and will see if that’s an improvement, and will send an update.

Happy Labor Day all

 

[Mcguyvr]

These are 1.5wks in…

Some of these are bugs tho! Lol

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So, race optics (the mfg) had me a new kit over the weekend since my first issue. Great service and the tech/eng answered ALL my questions in a phone call with install advice.

The existing install took another 2 weeks to dry out MOST of the rest of the bubbles - as the film will continue to let them evaporate the tech said. Hard to believe it took that long in this Phoenix 110 degree days let alone what temps the glass got to.

There is still a scattered film/ like faint oil rainbow in mostly the middle that remains. It’s been just too hot to do the new install + I’m driving so much lately - no time. I’m living with orig film and have restored most visibility - at least a few more weeks til it cools down. I’m storing the replacement in the house also though the tech said my month of storage in my PHX garage wouldn’t have hurt.

SP - to answer your question, no noticeable difference in the FCW/ACC thus far!

I’m up north in mtns a bit this week with rain and disappointed in the wipers performance on the film(70%-80% clearing power), but the wipers are 2 yrs PHX old so it’s prolly a toss up.
I’ve a new set to install and will see if that’s an improvement, and will send an update.

Happy Labor Day all

Wonder if RainX would work on that stuff..........

Sponsored