Take Care of Your Windshield!

[Northpointe]

Ooh, $950 is about double the many $500 references I've seen. I figured it would probably be a little above $500 now (those videos were often a year old) but hoped for close. $950 is getting up there a little. Probably still worth it, but adds up if done every 2-3 years. I'll call around and get a few quotes.

It's also going to vary based on the type of film used as manufacturers can have different grades. The ExoShield Sprint film ($500) that I went with is marketed to "weekend drivers." They also have a premium product (GT3+) and an off-road film (Ultra). Each film provides a different level of protection and durability and is priced accordingly. My recollection when I got my film was that the next step up was $750 but I can't recall if that was the GT3+ or Ultra. I'm not sure if Xpel has different grades of film or how they price their product.

 

[Altieb]

Update: Insurance approved the repair at $9,833. Perhaps the Lucid rep was correct.

 

[Altieb]

I carry two windshield repair kits in my Air. My plan is that if I ever get a chip, to repair it ASAP before it has a chance to spread. This is all theoretical, of course.

My wife scared the shit out of me the other day, when she came into the house all excited about the two big chips in the windshield! I ran right out and found two gobs of pine sap on the windshield. The wife is not allowed to talk about windshields any more.

It was crazy. Just a small spider crack. Parked it at the airport for two days, came home, it had gone all the way up the windshield. Heat & interior air expansion I'm guessing.

 

[slidingmike]

I have had to replace windshields every 2-3 years from both pitting and rock strikes driving in the Sierras in the winter, so I was considering a protective film (Exo seems much more resilient than Xpel). But... I also have to do a lot of scraping of icy windshields in the winter, and would have to assume that any film protection would have an issue in such an environment. Does anyone know differently?

 

[kae02]

Lucid should offer windshield protection plan similar to Tesla. Its subscription based and doesn't ding insurance premiums.

 

[Aka-none]

I have had to replace windshields every 2-3 years from both pitting and rock strikes driving in the Sierras in the winter, so I was considering a protective film (Exo seems much more resilient than Xpel). But... I also have to do a lot of scraping of icy windshields in the winter, and would have to assume that any film protection would have an issue in such an environment. Does anyone know differently?

This is a really great question
So far in one winter I’ve been able to keep inside when not being driven

 

[dbsb3233]

I have had to replace windshields every 2-3 years from both pitting and rock strikes driving in the Sierras in the winter, so I was considering a protective film (Exo seems much more resilient than Xpel). But... I also have to do a lot of scraping of icy windshields in the winter, and would have to assume that any film protection would have an issue in such an environment. Does anyone know differently?

One video I watched did say you should only scrape lightly, which is often all that's needed because ice supposedly doesn't stick as much to the plastic.

But since we're talking EVs, the easy solution is just to remote start and warm up the cabin first. The hard part is remembering.

 

[eelpout]

For anyone that installed a protective film, is it affecting the HUD image at all?

I have the Xpel. There are slight waves/ripples to any of these films. the HUD will have those variations as well. But I don't notice any specific effects to that image itself.

 

[DavidL]

I am here to tell you. A rock strike to my windshield, resulting in a small spider crack, has become a life-changing event. I parked the car at the airport, when to NY for two days, came home, and I guess heat build-up caused the crack to grow all the way from top to bottom, centered horizontally. This made repair more urgent. Lucid does not repair windshields. They refer this work to select body shops. Those body shops have varying understanding of the process of working with Lucid.

First, Safelite asked me to research the real name and manufacturer of the car, because it did not appear in their database. They asked me if I was sure the name of the car was Lucid.

The next shop told me the process would take 3 weeks, I'd need to bring the car in to have data downloaded and sent to Lucid, before parts could be ordered. Then, the car would have to be brought in for the actual work, then the car would have to be sent to the Lucid dealer to have the instruments calibrated. I should say that. the body shop, my home, and the Lucid dealer form a triangle with each side being approximately 110 miles = 2 hours. Then, he took over a week to ultimately be unable to answer the question of whether, after calibration, the car could be picked up at Lucid rather than back at his shop, again, which would save 220 miles of driving, more or less. Never did get an answer to that.

The next shop said they never heard of having to download data and send the car back for calibration - they had the equipment to do that, but they would not order the part (over $5,000) without my paying for it first. My insurance company does not do reimbursements of that sort - they pay shops directly,. So there was no way to have the work done unless I would pay for it. I am now on the third shop, who has required photos of the entire car, photos of the crack, photos of the VIN, photos of the registration, and of course, all insurance info. I am waiting for their quote.

All of this has taken over a month, and the repair work has not even begun. It will be 7-8 weeks beginning to end, if all goes well from here. YMMV of course, but I'd consider you windshield to be a precious asset. .Perhaps in 5 years, Safelite will have heard of Lucid, but I doubt it.

Im giung

I am here to tell you. A rock strike to my windshield, resulting in a small spider crack, has become a life-changing event. I parked the car at the airport, when to NY for two days, came home, and I guess heat build-up caused the crack to grow all the way from top to bottom, centered horizontally. This made repair more urgent. Lucid does not repair windshields. They refer this work to select body shops. Those body shops have varying understanding of the process of working with Lucid.

First, Safelite asked me to research the real name and manufacturer of the car, because it did not appear in their database. They asked me if I was sure the name of the car was Lucid.

The next shop told me the process would take 3 weeks, I'd need to bring the car in to have data downloaded and sent to Lucid, before parts could be ordered. Then, the car would have to be brought in for the actual work, then the car would have to be sent to the Lucid dealer to have the instruments calibrated. I should say that. the body shop, my home, and the Lucid dealer form a triangle with each side being approximately 110 miles = 2 hours. Then, he took over a week to ultimately be unable to answer the question of whether, after calibration, the car could be picked up at Lucid rather than back at his shop, again, which would save 220 miles of driving, more or less. Never did get an answer to that.

The next shop said they never heard of having to download data and send the car back for calibration - they had the equipment to do that, but they would not order the part (over $5,000) without my paying for it first. My insurance company does not do reimbursements of that sort - they pay shops directly,. So there was no way to have the work done unless I would pay for it. I am now on the third shop, who has required photos of the entire car, photos of the crack, photos of the VIN, photos of the registration, and of course, all insurance info. I am waiting for their quote.

All of this has taken over a month, and the repair work has not even begun. It will be 7-8 weeks beginning to end, if all goes well from here. YMMV of course, but I'd consider you windshield to be a precious asset. .Perhaps in 5 years, Safelite will have heard of Lucid, but I doubt it.

I have an Air waiting for a windshield. Neen 3 weeks. Fingers crossed.

 

[LucidGravityMike]

I have the Xpel. There are slight waves/ripples to any of these films. the HUD will have those variations as well. But I don't notice any specific effects to that image itself.

I’m scheduled to get the xpel windshield protection film done next week. They’re telling me to cover the entire windshield they’d need to bust out the big 60” roll and so would have to charge me about double what they would on normal sedans. For the normal price they say they can cover from bottom to right above where the visors attach, in which case the protection would be mostly there but we’d see a line over our heads. The size and curve they say will be a challenge but still confident they can do it.

Curious to hear your experience.

 

[dbsb3233]

I’m scheduled to get the xpel windshield protection film done next week. They’re telling me to cover the entire windshield they’d need to bust out the big 60” roll and so would have to charge me about double what they would on normal sedans. For the normal price they say they can cover from bottom to right above where the visors attach, in which case the protection would be mostly there but we’d see a line over our heads. The size and curve they say will be a challenge but still confident they can do it.

Curious to hear your experience.

I just scheduled Xpel for next week too (Thu). He said it shouldn't affect the HUD at all.

I asked about 48" (I think that's the common width), which should take it up roughly to the edge of the roof tint.

 

[LucidGravityMike]

I just scheduled Xpel for next week too (Thu). He said it shouldn't affect the HUD at all.

I asked about 48" (I think that's the common width), which should take it up roughly to the edge of the roof tint.

How much were you quoted and have they worked in the Gravity before? My guy was quoting $500 and it’ll be his first one. It’s a pretty competent shop in this neck of the woods though.

Are you doing any other tinting? I’m thinking of doing ceramic all around for UV and IR but decided to leave the roof and front windshield alone.

 

[dbsb3233]

How much were you quoted and have they worked in the Gravity before? My guy was quoting $500 and it’ll be his first one. It’s a pretty competent shop in this neck of the woods though.

Are you doing any other tinting? I’m thinking of doing ceramic all around for UV and IR but decided to leave the roof and front windshield alone.

They quoted me $700 which I know is a bit higher than the ~$500 figures I've seen reported over the last 3-4 years in reviews I saw (and most everything is up 20% from 3-4 years ago anyway). But these guys have a strong rating and great reviews, so I decided just to pull the trigger with them hoping they do a great job. They're conveniently close by too. Don't know if they've done a Gravity yet, although that seems highly unlikely.

$500 is probably a good deal for Xpel at this point.

 

[LucidGravityMike]

They quoted me $700 which I know is a bit higher than the ~$500 figures I've seen reported over the last 3-4 years in reviews I saw (and most everything is up 20% from 3-4 years ago anyway). But these guys have a strong rating and great reviews, so I decided just to pull the trigger with them hoping they do a great job. They're conveniently close by too. Don't know if they've done a Gravity yet, although that seems highly unlikely.

$500 is probably a good deal for Xpel at this point.

FWIW I think my guy’s only going up 42” so that could also be the difference. In any case as long as we take good care of it it all comes down to less than $1/day, not bad any which way.

 

[BrianBigNFun]

I wrapped mine with bubble wrap but proceeded to hit a parked car

 

[Halodde]

I wrapped mine with bubble wrap but proceeded to hit a parked car

Talk about stress relief! That sound at impact must have been so gratifying and satisfying! Gravityfying?

 

[eelpout]

How much were you quoted and have they worked in the Gravity before? My guy was quoting $500 and it’ll be his first one. It’s a pretty competent shop in this neck of the woods though.

mine was $500, that's all I had done. I think i was the second Gravity they did.

but the shop was good so I'd go back to them if I was to do anything else.

 

[LucidGravityMike]

mine was $500, that's all I had done. I think i was the second Gravity they did.

but the shop was good so I'd go back to them if I was to do anything else.

Awesome. Were they able to do the full windshield? Mine is actually being done right as we speak, but the windshield was too big to get full coverage so they’re going up to right above the visor line. Hoping that’s good enough for any debris kicked up from the front.

 

[dbsb3233]

Just picked mine up from having the XPEL installed. Looks pretty good. A couple of small blemishes, but that might have been the glass (I remember it having a couple of small pits already). I do see a little ripple effect looking through it, but for the most part it's good and clear. I assume that will get even better over the next week as any lingering moisture dissipates.

They used 48". It runs up to about 4" above the tinted glass line.

 

[dbsb3233]

24 hours later is looks even better. Can barely tell it's there. Just slight rippling in a few spots. Gotta really look for it to see it

And no impact on the HUD image that I can notice.