[Chill59]

Is there anything special about BMW glass?
My 4 series has VERY fine water droplets on the outside of the windows most mornings in winter.
It's opaque and looks like just like condensation you might get on the inside of a car in certain conditions.
Non of the other cars on the street look the same (their windows are clear) except for one of two other BMWs on the road.
I wondered whether there might be some sort of coating that might have been applied, maybe as an option?
Where the wipers sweep is perfectly clear (before using them).
I've tried cleaning them thoroughly but no different.
No massive problem, just intrigued.
TIA Chris

[RobUK]

I'm not aware the BMW 4 Series windscreens have anything special applied to them at the factory or dealership by default.

[Chill59]

It's not just the windscreen, it's every window and rear screen.

[RENT-A-GOAT]

The glass might have been treated with a ceramic/hydrophobic coating.

[Chill59]

Originally Posted by RENT-A-GOAT

The glass might have been treated with a ceramic/hydrophobic coating.

Ah, maybe. That would explain why the areas where the wipers wipe doesn't fog up like the rest.
I've tried cleaning half the rear screen with concentrate detergent and it didn't make a jot of difference to the fogging.

[Chill59]

Originally Posted by RENT-A-GOAT

The glass might have been treated with a ceramic/hydrophobic coating.

If it is this coating is there a way of removing it? I could do without squeegeeing the windows off every day

[Chill59]

A photo.
It's normally even more opaque than this.

[fantanas]

Originally Posted by Chill59

A photo.
It's normally even more opaque than this.

To me it looks like condensation from the inside. But it is not very clear from the pictures. I have an f33 as well and it never looks like this. Maybe you have a leak from the convertible roof?

[ian332isport]

Originally Posted by Chill59

If it is this coating is there a way of removing it?

Nothing you can wipe on - wipe off. Modern glass nano coatings need to be removed by machine polishing.

[SuperHamz]

Do you mean something like this?

[Ashm3_uk]

My 330e is exactly the same. I have the only BMW in my road and it's the only one like this on occasion.

I use the PRE-heat feature so it's usually clear before I get in and drive away.

[Sasquartch]

Looks like the glass has been treated with Rain-X

The water blows off the windscreen, sometimes you dont even need to use the wipers when it's raining. However it does seem prone to creating the sort of fine mist seen in the picture

[Wills2]

The fine mist is covering the car so whatever is causing it is on the paint as well, although for me it's atmospheric conditions not any coating, my car does that some mornings as well it's not unusual to have condensation on your car during our damp winter months.

[TiredGeek]

Where does your gas boiler flue point? This looks like atmospheric condensation and condensing boilers put out quite a plume, if it's blowing towards the car or collecting in the area to the front of your house this could easily be the cause.

The Citroen over the road seems to be affected the same as yours btw

[Chill59]

Originally Posted by fantanas

To me it looks like condensation from the inside. But it is not very clear from the pictures. I have an f33 as well and it never looks like this. Maybe you have a leak from the convertible roof?

It's on the outside. Clear/dry inside.

[Chill59]

Originally Posted by Wills2

The fine mist is covering the car so whatever is causing it is on the paint as well, although for me it's atmospheric conditions not any coating, my car does that some mornings as well it's not unusual to have condensation on your car during our damp winter months.

Thanks. But this is EVERY cold morning and other cars on road are not affected.

[Chill59]

Originally Posted by Sasquartch

Looks like the glass has been treated with Rain-X

The water blows off the windscreen, sometimes you dont even need to use the wipers when it's raining. However it does seem prone to creating the sort of fine mist seen in the picture

Could well be Rain-x but I would have thought the water would run off rather than form tiny beads.
The paintwork does seem to have the same tiny beading so I'm thinking whole car was treated with some sort of ceramic / nano coating.

[Chill59]

Originally Posted by TiredGeek

Where does your gas boiler flue point? This looks like atmospheric condensation and condensing boilers put out quite a plume, if it's blowing towards the car or collecting in the area to the front of your house this could easily be the cause.

The Citroen over the road seems to be affected the same as yours btw

Good idea but the flue is very high up on the side of the house.

[Chill59]

Thanks for all your input guys.
I think I'll hand polish a small corner of the glass and see if it is definitely a coating.
Then I might research what compounding polishes are safe to use on glass. I want to compound the whole car in spring anyway.

Thanks again for all suggestions