Xpel's Windshield Protection Film

[Westside Guy]

Has anyone installed Xpel’s Windshield Protection Film yet?

How much did you pay and are you pleased with the results?

https://www.xpel.com/products/windsh...rotection-film

[Rokoz]

Curious on this too

[c1pher]

I got quotes for a competitor. I felt at $900 and the fact that it is much softer than glass, meaning it will need to be replaced quite frequently depending on how much you drive, I felt it was just better to replace the glass once I felt it was time or it cracked. You also lose some optical clarity and you really do not want to use a windshield wiper on them. This is more for a show car that might have to go on a road occasionally. Maybe if there was like a gorilla glass option but then you know it will cost more than your windshield would. While I have full PPF, and I did full PPF because the car is black, I typically just do the high impact areas and that has worked perfectly for me. My 911 just has the track package on it.

[MisterSmith]

Originally Posted by c1pher

I got quotes for a competitor. I felt at $900 and the fact that it is much softer than glass, meaning it will need to be replaced quite frequently depending on how much you drive, I felt it was just better to replace the glass once I felt it was time or it cracked. You also lose some optical clarity and you really do not want to use a windshield wiper on them. This is more for a show car that might have to go on a road occasionally. Maybe if there was like a gorilla glass option but then you know it will cost more than your windshield would. While I have full PPF, and I did full PPF because the car is black, I typically just do the high impact areas and that has worked perfectly for me. My 911 just has the track package on it.

I have gorrila glass on my wife's 2024 Wrangler. Cracked windshield yesterday with a small rock getting kicked up. Would not recommend gorrila glass and won't be replacing it with it. The guy that is doing my windshield says he sees just as many of them crack as normal windshields

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Man we got screen protectors on windshields before GTA VI

[Mo2002]

I called for a quote and it was about $500 for a G90. The shop told me they haven't installed it yet on any cars and dont know how well it works. Im getting the carpro windshield film installed on my M340i.

[BroDoze]

I’ve got windshield PPF on 2 of my cars. Not xpel, however.
It keeps you windshield pristine, but the wipers scratch it and leave permanent streaks when the sun hits. There’s no way to prevent this. I’ve tried ceramic coating the film, rains, other stuff - doesn’t matter.
So far, it’s easier to tolerate than tons of pits. I’ll have to replace the film every couple of years. Cheaper than a windshield, by far.
YMMV

[nazali]

IMHO, glass is designed to break the same thing as Tesla door locks (or anyother make) which can't be easily opened from the outside.

In an emergency, you want a 1st responder to get you out of a car.

Any part of your car or the whole car can be replaced, thats why you buy car insurance.
YOU, your family, your passengers are not replaceable.

ANYTHING that hampers or slows down a rescue attempt is not worth it.

Decades ago I was looking at window film for the house and car, after I was burgled. Then it was brought up to me if there was a fire in my house, I had collapsed or the car rolled over, how would a 1st responder or a citizen get me out QUICKLY

Please dont, your life is not worth it

In other news XPEL is an awesome product I used there PPF on my 2 series's body

[nazali]

Also a windscreen is designed to shatter, in a certain way, that is a important safety feature DONT DEFEAT IT

[slilley]

Originally Posted by nazali

Also a windscreen is designed to shatter, in a certain way, that is a important safety feature DONT DEFEAT IT

Woa, I think you are totally wrong about windshield PPF - it's not going to prevent a first responder from breaking the glass if necessary! The windshield PPF is incredibly thin. When you actually touch the film, it's impressive that it's able to (mostly) prevent damage. I'm on my second windshield PPF (neither one was Xpel, that's a new product from late 2024), and this is on my weekend car that sees light track duty. Larger rocks and street debris will pierce the film, but 99% of the time the film does the job and prevents the object from marking the windshield.

Probably not a good option for a daily driver, as you'll be replacing the film every year (two years at most, if you use your wipers sparingly). But there's no windshield that's better than a factory-installed windshield, imho.

[Topcarbon]

I have expel on my daily driver and have had it for about two months. the roads here in Mexico(Los Cabos) are not as clean as in other countries(lots of little rocks and other stuff that gets kicked up by trucks and cars). I love the protection as it has saved my windshield many times from chips. As I get little rain here it's ideal. For me, in this environment, I would recommend it.
I would try it. It's not that expensive and you are heading into summer. I f you dont like it just remove it.

[Data Fox]

I e installed my own twice. It never lasts more than 2 years and needs to be replaced often. Windshield wipers sometimes chatter depending on the brand and how pitted it is. The window PPFs are usually a different material from regular PPF and usually don't self heal. So overtime they get scratched and pitted and damaged.
I'm not a fan personally.

[BroDoze]

It's the lesser of two evils (so far) for me. People don't realize that cars can get damaged while getting a new windshield. I've had what is the highest quality windshield shop in town damage the hell out of my roof and A-pillars trying to get an old windshield out. Every car I've owned getting a windshield replaced has gotten damaged in some way - a few quite badly due to the old sealant acting as a permeant adhesive.

Not to mention staring through pits for years. At least I get 6 months or so of mostly perfect viewing out of the PPF before it gets wiper-rash.

Also, with most windshields costing anywhere from $1,500-$3,000 on mainstream cars now, that means an automatic insurance claim/deducible for most of us.

This is very highly location-specific too. The road gravel and sand year-around in CO is horrendous. They pretty much got rid of street-sweepers after dumping gravel during snowstorms. It'll trash a new windshield in a few days top a few months. Not joking.

I literally see sand and small stones bouncing off the PPF when I'm driving - those would've all been brand new pits in the glass.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by BroDoze

It's the lesser of two evils (so far) for me. People don't realize that cars can get damaged while getting a new windshield.

Yes, because getting cars damaged while replacing windshields is NOT at thing.
I've had windshields replaced in multiple cars over the years (mostly BMWs), pre- and post- glued-on structural windshield era. Former were simpler and cheaper than the latter, but both can be done without any damage to the car itself. When done properly and competently.

Originally Posted by BroDoze

I've had what is the highest quality windshield shop in town damage the hell out of my roof and A-pillars trying to get an old windshield out. Every car I've owned getting a windshield replaced has gotten damaged in some way - a few quite badly due to the old sealant acting as a permeant adhesive.

Perhaps you need to look for another glass shop?
Removing windshield that has been urethan-glued is not hard, usually done with a wire, then cleanup. Trim may, or may not, survive. I usually paid for new trim either way.

Originally Posted by BroDoze

Also, with most windshields costing anywhere from $1,500-$3,000 on mainstream cars now, that means an automatic insurance claim/deducible for most of us.

This is a bit misleading on two (3) levels:
- Most insurance policies carry separate glass-only coverage with minimum or zero deductibles (frequently state mandated).
- Glass claims are treated as no-fault, thus no premium increases
- Most glass still costs $600-900, unless you have HUD on yours (or you own a Tesla).

Originally Posted by BroDoze

This is very highly location-specific too. The road gravel and sand year-around in CO is horrendous. They pretty much got rid of street-sweepers after dumping gravel during snowstorms. It'll trash a new windshield in a few days top a few months.

Fair point.

YMMV,
a

[BroDoze]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Yes, because getting cars damaged while replacing windshields is NOT at thing.
I've had windshields replaced in multiple cars over the years (mostly BMWs), pre- and post- glued-on structural windshield era. Former were simpler and cheaper than the latter, but both can be done without any damage to the car itself. When done properly and competently.



Perhaps you need to look for another glass shop?
Removing windshield that has been urethan-glued is not hard, usually done with a wire, then cleanup. Trim may, or may not, survive. I usually paid for new trim either way.



This is a bit misleading on two (3) levels:
- Most insurance policies carry separate glass-only coverage with minimum or zero deductibles (frequently state mandated).
- Glass claims are treated as no-fault, thus no premium increases
- Most glass still costs $600-900, unless you have HUD on yours (or you own a Tesla).



Fair point.

YMMV,
a

“Most” insurance? Maybe half, at best. USAA does not, many others don’t, many do. I never said they treat it as “at-fault” and raise rates.

Your replacement cost numbers are way down. All the newer drivers assistance stuff has significantly increased windshield replacements across the board. I know Subarus are $1,200-$1,400 glass replacements due to cameras and re-calibrations. G87’s w/HUD are over $2,000. List goes on.

Yes, damage to A-pillars, interior trim, headliner etc is absolutely a thing. Some cars are easier than others, generally speaking, the newer the car, the easier / softer the sealant is to cut through. Multiple cars, multiple different shops, doesn’t matter. Family, friends etc have all experienced this before.

We all go through a LOT of windshields in CO. It’s huge business here. I think you’ve gotten lucky.

[Westside Guy]

Thankfully, I live in Florida where there is a state mandated $0 deductible!

[ipilcher]

I'd much rather replace the film every year or two than risk the possible damage (and sensor recalibration issues) of having my windshield replaced.

[BroDoze]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

Thankfully, I live in Florida where there is a state mandated $0 deductible!

Wow - that’d be awesome. It’s a racket in CO - they’d never pass it here.

Originally Posted by ipilcher

I'd much rather replace the film every year or two than risk the possible damage (and sensor recalibration issues) of having my windshield replaced.

Exactly!

[CSBM5]

BMWNA MSRP windshield for a 2025 M2 is $868.49; you can get it for $539.77 from Ziegler BMW's online site (plus shipping).

A G80 M3 one MSRP is $914/$568.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by ipilcher

I'd much rather replace the film every year or two than risk the possible damage (and sensor recalibration issues) of having my windshield replaced.

My 11/14 production F80 windshield is 11-years old. I have HUD. It's still very good, after polishing the glass a few years ago before ceramic coating glass for water beading. In retrospect - I should have polished the glass sooner, 90+% of the nicks dissapeared! Potential cost to replace? Maybe $1.5-2.5K, but to me only $50.00 with my glass deductible on the insurance.

Ignoring the annoyance from having the film constantly scratched by the wipers, replacing it every 1-2 years (lets call it 1.5 years) at $900 / per application would have cost me: 11/1.5 * 750 = $6.6K.

I see no value and no point in PPF-ing the glass (or the car, for that matter).
You do you!

HTH,
a

P.S.: Owned ~20 cars to date. Replaced windshield glass on 4 of them (E30, E90, i3, Tesla).

[ProwlerxG42]

I just had this installed on my M240 this last Monday along with full front PPF. So far no complaints. I was told to go back in 2 weeks for them to do a detail check to see how everything is sitting.

I paid $500 out here in Los Angeles at a reputable shop. As far as maintenance goes, they told me not to use the wipers unless it’s raining and to hand clean it if it’s dirty with windex and wipes.

Since my car is ceramic coated, I’ll take it to a wash every 2 weeks or so just to use the high pressure sprayer to knock any dust off then I’ll run the air dry.

I cracked my last windshield on my previous car and had to have it replaced. It was never the same. I didn’t want to run that risk with this car.

[BroDoze]

Originally Posted by ProwlerxG42

I cracked my last windshield on my previous car and had to have it replaced. It was never the same. I didn’t want to run that risk with this car.

Yup - they never are. At a minimum, if there is minimal to no damage, the gaskets around the glass never have a perfect factory look to them, either. Usually there’s a portion (or worse, the entire gasket) that’s off because of a 1/16th or greater gap somewhere.

Let us know in 3-6 months how the film is holding up once you’ve had no choice but to use your wipers on it.

They’re bringing out new windshield film constantly - usually improving it. With everything there’s trade-offs. Some of the film is super-durable, but the clarity sucks. Other film is crystal clear, but it’s delicate and scratches if your fart near it.