Recommendation Windshield Protection

[F1 SML8R]

I have a new I4 and my XPEL Dealer used their new windshield product……he made it known, over time the wipers, if old and dirty, could scratch the film………now that said, my Emira is a weekend car, and for the few hundred $’s added while getting the PPF done…….it’s a steal. I had to replace a front windshield on my Evora…….prefer to avoid those issues (availability, someone that has done a lotus prior……..etc….)

A few weeks in, optical clarity is awesome and I don’t even know it’s there…….if it gets scratched or used up…….dealers says it’s an hour to replace it with a new one…….i was skeptical, but, so far so good!

I have the same product. I had PFS in Santa Ana, CA install it. They did all my other film work as well.

BTW, I've done this on every sports car I have owned. Like you, all it took was one windshield replacement early on. Frankly, if you don't track or follow cars on the canyons, spirited drives, etc., you really don't need it. However, if you do any of the preceding, all it takes is a small piece of gravel at speed and voila, cracked windshield!

 

[netsinah]

I posted this elsewhere but it's more appropriately posted on this thread.

My detailer installed "Ultafit Evo" for my Emira's protective windshield film, saying it was amongst the best out there right now. I was used to paying ~Can.$200 for windshield protective film on my other sport cars, but paid Can$500 for the Ultrafit Evo. So far, it's proven effective. I did get one nasty rock which left a mark on the film surface, but didn't touch the glass. By the sound of that rock strike, I suspect it saved my windshield. The film is thicker so there is some minimal distortion on the edges, but nothing serious or that causes any vision problems, and I'm likely the only person who notices it.

As others have said, any film will wear out over time, moreso with windshield wiper use. My detailer recommended I consider installing teflon-coated windshield wipers, so the Ultrafit Evo would last longer. When I tried to find them (through my dealer, then aftermarket), I wasn't able to. They're simply not made in the Emira sizes. It's difficult enough to find aftermarket blades that match those 23" and 25" sizes, let alone a specialty item like teflon blades. Of interest, my dealer said it hadn't had anyone requesting blades yet, so it hadn't sourced out an aftermarket set. Its preference was to sell aftermarket for something that's "wears out" and replaced over time, rather than ordering from the UK. I'll be interested in hearing what others are able to find, for Emira aftermarket wiper blades.

My dealer also asked Lotus if the OEM blades had any teflon, but (surprisingly) Lotus said it didn't know...

I did find one posting by Crestima on a Forum thread entitled "Windshield Wipers Stuttering", where he purchased a set of blades 1" shorter than OEM (he bought 24" and 22" blades, and silicone which prevented stuttering); made by "Wowiper" and he was OK with them. I'd rather get the proper size for the best water removal, but perhaps only OEM will give you that (?). And maybe silicone will reduce wear on the windshield film (?). Food for thought.

 

[crestima]

I posted this elsewhere but it's more appropriately posted on this thread.

My detailer installed "Ultafit Evo" for my Emira's protective windshield film, saying it was amongst the best out there right now. I was used to paying ~Can.$200 for windshield protective film on my other sport cars, but paid Can$500 for the Ultrafit Evo. So far, it's proven effective. I did get one nasty rock which left a mark on the film surface, but didn't touch the glass. By the sound of that rock strike, I suspect it saved my windshield. The film is thicker so there is some minimal distortion on the edges, but nothing serious or that causes any vision problems, and I'm likely the only person who notices it.

As others have said, any film will wear out over time, moreso with windshield wiper use. My detailer recommended I consider installing teflon-coated windshield wipers, so the Ultrafit Evo would last longer. When I tried to find them (through my dealer, then aftermarket), I wasn't able to. They're simply not made in the Emira sizes. It's difficult enough to find aftermarket blades that match those 23" and 25" sizes, let alone a specialty item like teflon blades. Of interest, my dealer said it hadn't had anyone requesting blades yet, so it hadn't sourced out an aftermarket set. Its preference was to sell aftermarket for something that's "wears out" and replaced over time, rather than ordering from the UK. I'll be interested in hearing what others are able to find, for Emira aftermarket wiper blades.

My dealer also asked Lotus if the OEM blades had any teflon, but (surprisingly) Lotus said it didn't know...

I did find one posting by Crestima on a Forum thread entitled "Windshield Wipers Stuttering", where he purchased a set of blades 1" shorter than OEM (he bought 24" and 22" blades, and silicone which prevented stuttering); made by "Wowiper" and he was OK with them. I'd rather get the proper size for the best water removal, but perhaps only OEM will give you that (?). And maybe silicone will reduce wear on the windshield film (?). Food for thought.

I still have those aftermarket blades and never again wanting to go back to the OEM. Believe it or not, while I myself was skeptical about the swiping coverage area when I first ordered them, and as a matter of fact, I couldn't even tell the difference.

 

[F1 SML8R]

I did find one posting by Crestima on a Forum thread entitled "Windshield Wipers Stuttering", where he purchased a set of blades 1" shorter than OEM (he bought 24" and 22" blades, and silicone which prevented stuttering); made by "Wowiper" and he was OK with them.

So I was looking at replacements as well and RainX wipers with teflon kept coming up as the "best." However, to your point, they don't make them in 23 and 25 inch. So, I went out to my car and looked where each wiper ended all along its wiping radius. I believe you can actually run 24 and 26 inch wipers which are readily available in all of the high-end after-market brands. So, I'll likely order longer instead.

I'd rather have more than less wiper coverage. Remember, you are really only extending the wiper surface from its original location by half an inch on each end by going up an inch in size. There appears to be more than enough surface area everywhere to accomodate this.

 

[crestima]

So I was looking at replacements as well and RainX wipers with teflon kept coming up as the "best." However, to your point, they don't make them in 23 and 25 inch. So, I went out to my car and looked where each wiper ended all along its wiping radius. I believe you can actually run 24 and 26 inch wipers which are readily available in all of the high-end after-market brands. So, I'll likely order longer instead.

I'd rather have more than less wiper coverage. Remember, you are really only extending the wiper surface from its original location by half an inch on each end by going up an inch in size. There appears to be more than enough surface area everywhere to accomodate this.

Just a constructive word of caution. When I replaced mine, I also tried ones an inch longer, but found that because the lower outer edges of the windshield have somewhat of a pronounced curvature, the longer wiper blades stuck up on the outer bottom edges, not entirely hugging the glass (more pronounced on the passenger side), thus the reason I opted for the 1" smaller than OEM size. To be fair, this was the case with my particular silicone blade brand but, of course, the fit of longer blades may vary depending on the design/brand you choose.

 

[F1 SML8R]

Agreed, where it sits at the bottom on the passenger side is definitely the spot that's close both from the curvature perspective you mention and clearance to the A pillar. However, even if it doesn't lay perfectly flat here, I'd rather live with that than trimming the wiping radius coverage. Everywhere else, it's win win.