[steveindabmer]

Anyone know how to remove a scratch in safety glass. This is on the inside and looks to be in the film that makes it "safety glass".

[Billfitz]

If it's in the film there's no fix, that film is sandwiched between the inner and outer glass layers.

[steveindabmer]

oh ok well it cant be the inner film than as i can feel it.

i did it with my stupid watch when i was cleaning the window.

Ive heard of trying toothpaste. I have cutting cream too. Might try one of those but dont want to make it worse....thoughts?

Originally Posted by Billfitz

If it's in the film there's no fix, that film is sandwiched between the inner and outer glass layers.

[eleven11]

Check online about products from Novus.

[Billfitz]

Getting out scratches in glass is very difficult, time consuming, and can make it worse by causing distortion in the glass. And that's if you're an expert.

[Skyhigh]

Forget it! Nothing you can do on the inside. The outside can be polished, but you need a polishing machine, the right cutting compound (for glass!), the right pads and lots of patience! Nothing you can apply on the inside, unfortunately.

Toothpaste!? Really? At least it will smell better

[Onizukachan]

Classic Colgate is a very very fine abrasive.

Used to use it on plastics and such as a polish, back in the good old days… doubt it would do anything much on glass though.


I did use it on my iPhone to minimize the appearance of a scratch, but it won’t take it out amd requires elbow grease. What you have jsut learned is don’t wear a watch, jeans with studs, or a belt when cleaning your car.

[Billfitz]

I haven't worn a watch for going on 20 years, nor used a camera for the last ten. When you've always go a cell phone in your pocket where's the need?

I polish my windshield yearly with cerium oxide. A half an hour with a high speed buffer only takes out very minor scratches. Anything deep enough to be felt with a finger nail is permanent.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I haven't worn a watch for going on 20 years, nor used a camera for the last ten. When you've always go a cell phone in your pocket where's the need?

I polish my windshield yearly with cerium oxide. A half an hour with a high speed buffer only takes out very minor scratches. Anything deep enough to be felt with a finger nail is permanent.

How does that process work for all the pits these crazy soft BMW windshields collect over time?

What pads do you use? I've got a full set up for paint, but I've never taken on glass. After driving into the low sunrise this morning, I noticed all the pits in the glass really effects visibility.

[steveindabmer]

Its a matter of info and battery life.

Sometimes I only need the time and years ago i saw a post about "how to extend your smartphone battery". One tip was to wear a simple watch so there was no need to power up your screen just to see the time. I was surprised how effective that was. Some of us dont have the luxury of being able to plug in all the time. Ive been wearing a watch ever since. Prob dont need it now with much better android versions and better hardware but i dont mind it.

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I haven't worn a watch for going on 20 years, nor used a camera for the last ten. When you've always go a cell phone in your pocket where's the need?

I polish my windshield yearly with cerium oxide. A half an hour with a high speed buffer only takes out very minor scratches. Anything deep enough to be felt with a finger nail is permanent.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by Desertnate

How does that process work for all the pits these crazy soft BMW windshields collect over time?

Better than nothing, but deep pits can't be removed.

What pads do you use?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by Billfitz

I haven't worn a watch for going on 20 years, nor used a camera for the last ten. When you've always go a cell phone in your pocket where's the need?

I polish my windshield yearly with cerium oxide. A half an hour with a high speed buffer only takes out very minor scratches. Anything deep enough to be felt with a finger nail is permanent.

Offtopic, but - you reach for your phone in your pocket every time you want to know the time?
Very time-efficient time checking 😄

With smart watches, I also enjoy the reduced necessity to go for my phone.

This said - I remove my watch every time I don't really need it - whether it is when being at home or when detailing the car, where it can be dangerous as well, as proven. Or whenever it can get damaged, like today, when I was moving furniture all day.

[Billfitz]

I have clocks in every room of my house, I have a clock in my car. The average number of times a day that I need to know what time it is when I'm not in my house or car is around 0.3.

[Desertnate]

Originally Posted by steveindabmer

Anyone know how to remove a scratch in safety glass. This is on the inside and looks to be in the film that makes it "safety glass".

I noticed something else when looking at the pictures. You have the HUD an this scratch looks to be in/near the area it projects onto the windshield.

From what I understand, there is a special film on the inside of the glass to make the HUD work correctly. No way you'll be able to polish without damaging that film.


RE: Watches. I always wear one. Between my parents raising me to be nearly fanatical about being punctual in a time long before cell phones and a professional career which demanded it, I feel naked without one. There are MANY times I don't have my phone with me (intentional or not), but I'm rarely without a watch.

[steveindabmer]

Nah its honestly not really near the HUD...i think its an optical illusion. Think its just the angle i took the pic.

Originally Posted by Desertnate

I noticed something else when looking at the pictures. You have the HUD an this scratch looks to be in/near the area it projects onto the windshield.

From what I understand, there is a special film on the inside of the glass to make the HUD work correctly. No way you'll be able to polish without damaging that film.


RE: Watches. I always wear one. Between my parents raising me to be nearly fanatical about being punctual in a time long before cell phones and a professional career which demanded it, I feel naked without one. There are MANY times I don't have my phone with me (intentional or not), but I'm rarely without a watch.

[Skyhigh]

Originally Posted by steveindabmer

Nah its honestly not really near the HUD...i think its an optical illusion. Think its just the angle i took the pic.

The vicinity to the HUD plays no role. HUD equipped cars have a different windshield (all of it) with an additional reflective layer.