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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

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Beedub
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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by Beedub » Fri Aug 05, 2022 6:16 pm

Well after reading on ZPOST and then speaking to my dealer, it is infact true, original windscreens are now taking 12 months to land so...... it gave me the kick up the behind to get mine properly protected as i simply do not want a pattern screen or the risks associated with changing it out, thought you guys may want to see the process!! Really enjoying making content with my Z4///M.
Fitting is not the easies of tasks as you've got to get the right amount of stretch to get round the curvey screen, but not to much they you distort the film, Not an easy task, one that takes lots of experience with clear film installations. During product testing with a dead screen, we actually fired ball bearings at the screen and it did ZERO damage, not for everyone , but i cant lie, its nice to be able to use the z4 as a demo and deck out with the best products on the market :driving: :driving: Whats your thoughts guys, WASTE of time or worthwhile product? obviously this is not aimed at your average joe that simply doesn't care about screen replacement... Also for all the guys mentioning my flickering videos , ive sorted the issue :) :D


https://youtu.be/R3I3gLVKXKE
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3gGT01
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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by 3gGT01 » Sat Apr 22, 2023 5:11 pm

Would be great if you are tracking the car too!

~Tom
2007 Z4MC Interlagos Blue Metallic w/Light Sepang Bronze Nappa interior. 'Emma'

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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by Chris_D » Sat Apr 22, 2023 5:43 pm

That DOES look impressive and I assume this might also benefit a badly scratched screen. (?)

BUT, what's to stop the edges drying out, curling up and then spreading? There will be a lot of wind pressure obviously and if the bottom edge starts to de-laminate it's just going to lift/spread upwards.

Wouldn't a more thorough solution be to remove the scuttle and rubber windscreen surround strip, then apply the film and then replace the scuttle and replace the rubber windscreen strip with a new one. They're only about 30 quid.
This would then anchor the film in place underneath the scuttle and strip and prevent any edge deterioration of the film. At the very least I think the leading/bottom edge of the film should seat underneath the scuttle.

Just my thoughts.
Otherwise, Im seriously tempted.
Please give an example of a scratched windscreen before/after if possible.

Edit: removing the wipers would have made it a bit less of a faff I think. I held my breath when you were lifting the film over them. :o
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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by Rockhopper » Sat Apr 22, 2023 6:10 pm

I had a Pilkington screen fitted just the other week. Looks absolutely perfect to me and there is no obvious way to tell its been replaced. Its identical to the one that came out. Who made the original screen?

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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by 3gGT01 » Sat Apr 22, 2023 7:45 pm

I had never heard of the Pilkington screen, but sounds interesting too.

My experience is that the rubber seal is glued down with the mastic when the windshield is installed. At least when my windshields have been replaced, that seemed to be the case. Not sure on the BMW cars though.
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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by Beedub » Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:28 pm

Chris_D wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2023 5:43 pm That DOES look impressive and I assume this might also benefit a badly scratched screen. (?)

BUT, what's to stop the edges drying out, curling up and then spreading? There will be a lot of wind pressure obviously and if the bottom edge starts to de-laminate it's just going to lift/spread upwards.

Wouldn't a more thorough solution be to remove the scuttle and rubber windscreen surround strip, then apply the film and then replace the scuttle and replace the rubber windscreen strip with a new one. They're only about 30 quid.
This would then anchor the film in place underneath the scuttle and strip and prevent any edge deterioration of the film. At the very least I think the leading/bottom edge of the film should seat underneath the scuttle.

Just my thoughts.
Otherwise, Im seriously tempted.
Please give an example of a scratched windscreen before/after if possible.

Edit: removing the wipers would have made it a bit less of a faff I think. I held my breath when you were lifting the film over them. :o
THREAD revival but nice to see as this is literally one of best selling products at work and one i really enjoy installing.

hi chris

i appreciate your questions / thoughts... On this area, this is my expertise, and most your observations are pretty much typical of a consumer that basically hasn't got a clue ( no disrespect intended ) . so lets get into it....

We WANT the film to dry out.... once these glues are activated and set, i can assure you they aren't failing and curling up at the edge and if they do..... the fitters done something very wrong / faulty film batch and its needs to be replaced , simple. Im now on around 40 of these screens most in trade / race settings and not one has failed in the way you mention.... once the film is installed its near invisible to the eye, i use this car to demo for customers and i often have to hold white paper behind it to highlight an edge and STILL they cant see it. The edges don't deteriorate and wind cant lift it..... at all.... a jet wash at point blank range struggles to pick it up let alone the wind! lol. The only way to reactivate the glue with a very serious steam setup set to blister your skin mode! The screens films die after they are massively damaged by stones pinging on them for 3-4 years on the average customer vehicles, longer terms for garage queens like my z4, or less for trade / race use.

Installing this behind a scuttle or seals is basically pointless, it sits nice and close to the edge and you will not see it.
The Film NEEDS to be accessible, it needs to be easy and quick to replace, we don't want to have to stripping a vehicle to replace , replacing seals on an item that's seen as disposable , its a sacrificial layer for the screen, it will wear, it will scratch and it will get pot holes in as its saving the glass underneath. Sticking ANY film in a position where its been sat under something with create more chance of a failure as the dirt builds under seals / cowlings, the manufacturer will simply not warranty a film that's been installed that way, this is not a cosmetic enhancement and as mentioned once installed is near invisible.

installing with the wipers on is ZERO faff, some vehicles they need to come off, some they don't.... My whole skillset in installing PPF / screen protection film is to do it with minimal strip down, lots of skill..... Last week i was at Ferrari installing one of these screens to an LAF Aperta.... not something the client or i want to mess around with, on the other hand, teslas, i have to take the wipers off as the simply don't move out my way enough, but in a ideal world we want to install quickly and efficiently.

Lastly nothing is perfect, but these screen installs are pretty close.... the complete PPF game is imperfect the car in this video is full of PPF imperfections their simply no decent or available patterns for this platform due to age so the complete install is hand made to the body ( anything hand made has its quirks ) , meaning cutting FREE hand to the car which is so difficult, some of the lines are off, some are abit ugly to be quite frank to my eyes but , the car is properly protected and i did my best i could do and ive learned to love the imperfections are are keeping my paintwork as good as it can be., not to mention im extremely lucky to be able to install these high end films to my cars for material cost only ( still mega money )

Example of this film saving my clients big time.

One of my biggest return contracts for this product is a high end limo company , So far we've covered 16 of these on limousines for this company and so far not one , has had a damaged screen since our windscreen Protection film install NOT ONE. Before this , they were being replaced at an alarming rate ( 2 a month ) due to the sheer miles these things do, they literally never stop moving from one end of the country to another , all day , everyday. When the screens are damaged they have vehicles off the road for around a week, loose bookings, and money. Our trade/ race clients receive trade pricing to allow them to install on a more regular basis due to the huge miles and damage the screen film sees ( we are talking Vitos / maybachs with 350k miles / or race cars getting rocks hitting these on vmax) . These films are strong enough to withstand a ball bearing shot to the screen.

thanks for being here guys! really appreciate the comments and suggestions, we do very well from these!

FYI- if anyone interested, ill throw a screen on one of the shop cars and abuse the crap out of it and video it..... i need to install one on my lotus engined metro GTI as that has the orginal screen with the plate etched into it.
Last edited by Beedub on Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by Beedub » Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:33 pm

oh also one other great feature is the film is 99% uv resistant. it will cover scratches on the screen but if your screen has chips, they will be visible almost like a chicken pock style mark, so the glass needs to be chip free ideally or at least out of view of the drivers sight imo. Im really happy to have the original glass in my car protected.

if you install this to a new screen, you can peel it off 3 years down the line and the glass underneath will be like the moment it was installed... Unless someone hits it with a hammer :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by Beedub » Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:35 pm

3gGT01 wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2023 5:11 pm Would be great if you are tracking the car too!

~Tom
install for race teams regularly! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: interestingly we layer up 3 screens and they peel them off as the race goes on at certain pit intervals if they get damaged!
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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by Chris_D » Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:55 pm

Thanks for the clarifications and good to hear it's robust at the edges.
Do you have any photos of a scratched windscreen pre- and post-application as this is all I would be really interested in it for. The main product benefits would be a bonus but I want to remedy the wiper scratches on my windscreen without going down the polishing route.
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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by Beedub » Sun Apr 23, 2023 6:52 am

Chris_D wrote: Sat Apr 22, 2023 10:55 pm Thanks for the clarifications and good to hear it's robust at the edges.
Do you have any photos of a scratched windscreen pre- and post-application as this is all I would be really interested in it for. The main product benefits would be a bonus but I want to remedy the wiper scratches on my windscreen without going down the polishing route.

Hi Chris, I'm just in the process of removing the screen from my metro , to replace the rubber seal which has cracked and aged, once this is done I'll do a before and after for you as that screen is a s@#t show 🤣.
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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by Rockhopper » Sun Apr 23, 2023 10:22 am

Pilkington are a huge UK based (Japanese owned) glass manufacturer and make OEM screens and glass for many hundreds of cars. With the Z4 being American built its possible that the glass is made by someone else such as St Gobain or Triplex but there have likely been many makers over the years.
The only difference would be that a BMW supplied one would have a BMW sticker on it, come in a BMW box and probably cost three times as much.

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Windscreen protection film! YT video install process!

Post by paddy wright » Sun Apr 23, 2023 10:27 am

Great job
Z4 2.2 sterling grey,Msport seats,retrofit cupholders,cruise,footwell lights,sound gen and mfsw,18"ellipsoids,xenons+light washers,ZHPknob,folding mirrors,3"stubby,update wheel caps,gateway300 ipod, wind deflector to keep the wife happy!

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