Exo Shield

[scorpionsix]

Recently had a new windshield installed and now I wish to have a protective film installed as there are only a few safer bets in this world than a Wrangler in Colorado cracking a windshield. I'm leaning towards Exo Shield. Who has experience with this product?

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[rahtx]

Following for opinions as I'm looking at that as well. I'm just about to get my first windshield replacement at under 9,000 miles. Mine cracked with one solid hit. It had the Corning Gorilla Glass from factory and all 3 layers of Windshield Defense still on. I was on a 1,500 mile road trip and about to remove the first layer and enjoy a fresh view again, and then got hit 10 minutes from home

 

[scorpionsix]

Following for opinions as I'm looking at that as well. I'm just about to get my first windshield replacement at under 9,000 miles. Mine cracked with one solid hit. It had the Corning Gorilla Glass from factory and all 3 layers of Windshield Defense still on. I was on a 1,500 mile road trip and about to remove the first layer and enjoy a fresh view again, and then got hit 10 minutes from home

Windshield defense was another product I was considering but given your experience...............
I found out through the Exo Shield that the place who installed my windshield is on their installer list. I sent an online inquiry for a quote. I'll let you know what they come back with for comparison purposes.

 

[Medsker]

I had @exoshield on mine. I'm pretty sure it saved me quite a few times. It lasted two years before it got scratched up enough to remove it. I didn't take very good care of it. You could still see through it okay but it was getting there. Since then I have gotten free windshield replacement with my insurance company so I decided to wait until I need a new windshield and then have them put another @exoshield on the new one. I figure it is probably easier to install when the windshield is new.

I highly recommend it.

 

[Ratbert]

I had @exoshield on mine. I'm pretty sure it saved me quite a few times. It lasted two years before it got scratched up enough to remove it. I didn't take very good care of it. You could still see through it okay but it was getting there. Since then I have gotten free windshield replacement with my insurance company so I decided to wait until I need a new windshield and then have them put another @exoshield on the new one. I figure it is probably easier to install when the windshield is new.

I highly recommend it.

You're thinking it was worth the money? I'm thinking I'd rather have a brand new windshield yearly than having to look through one that's scratched. Assuming the cost is similar, of course.

 

[Javwohl]

On my first wrangler on my way home from the dealer I got a rock hit the corner of my gorilla glass eventually it spread all the way across after I got it replaced I did Exoshield. I heard several rocks hit off it and no damage to the windshield that I was for sure would have been a chip in it. The wrangler I have now I went back to the same place to have them do the Exoshield on it even though te website says there an authorized dealer they no longer do the Exoshield. If I remember correctly it had to do with the warranty fixes. Now the do a ppg clear layer instead. I haven’t done this yet cause I already got a rock chip in the this windshield.
Overall I think the Exoshield worked great but it does take a lot more upkeep with it to keep it lasting a long time.

 

[Medsker]

You're thinking it was worth the money?

It wasn't really scratched, it was the same type of pitting (sandblasting) that happens with a straight glass windshield. Is it worth the money? The first time I did it it was $350. This time the price was $550. I guess I decided it wasn't worth it since I didn't get it done. I think a lot of it depends on your glass insurance. I don't know what a windshield costs if you have the built in antenna like I have in my 2024 but I assume it's $$$

 

[scorpionsix]

It wasn't really scratched, it was the same type of pitting (sandblasting) that happens with a straight glass windshield. Is it worth the money? The first time I did it it was $350. This time the price was $550. I guess I decided it wasn't worth it since I didn't get it done. I think a lot of it depends on your glass insurance. I don't know what a windshield costs if you have the built in antenna like I have in my 2024 but I assume it's $$$

My State Farm policy doesn't cover glass until you exceed your deductible, which for me is a grand. The windshield I just had installed was $550. It was supposed to be generic, but when I picked it up, the windshield had the Wrangler icon and such in the one corner. If a protective film is going to cost almost as much, maybe I'll just have some tint installed, which I need anyhow in this area, and call it a day.

 

[exoshield]

Recently had a new windshield installed and now I wish to have a protective film installed as there are only a few safer bets in this world than a Wrangler in Colorado cracking a windshield. I'm leaning towards Exo Shield. Who has experience with this product?

Thanks for considering us.

Honestly, there are probably few safer bets in this world than a Wrangler eventually finding a rock

It's great to see you hearing from real owners and getting a variety of perspectives. Threads like this are one of the best ways to understand the how the film has performed for different drivers and different use cases before making a decision.

Happy to answer any questions as you evaluate what makes the most sense for your vehicle.

 

[exoshield]

I had @exoshield on mine. I'm pretty sure it saved me quite a few times. It lasted two years before it got scratched up enough to remove it. I didn't take very good care of it. You could still see through it okay but it was getting there. Since then I have gotten free windshield replacement with my insurance company so I decided to wait until I need a new windshield and then have them put another @exoshield on the new one. I figure it is probably easier to install when the windshield is new.

I highly recommend it.

Really appreciate you sharing your experience and recommending ExoShield!

You’re spot on that it’s easier to install when the windshield is new, and also that the film is sacrificial by design. It’s there to take the abuse so the glass underneath doesn’t have to.

Longevity can definitely vary depending on mileage, road conditions, wiper use, weather, and how much debris the windshield sees.

Proper windshield care can also make a difference. Keeping wiper blades in good condition and cleaning debris off the glass regularly can go a long way toward maximizing the life of the film.

 

[rahtx]

Windshield defense was another product I was considering but given your experience

In all fairness to Windshield Defense, it was pretty much a worst case scenario in that something hit towards the edge of the windshield, which any of these products are going to have a hard time stopping.

That said, from my limited experience, I found another con. Since I am getting the windshield replaced soon anyways, I figured I'd go ahead and try pulling off the outer layer of plastic to see how that goes. I'm glad I did, because doing so left these weird long straight lines on the underlying (second) layer. It's hard to describe, but I thought it was maybe just adhesive, like when you don't remove a sticker cleanly. However, I spent a good 10 minutes in a small section with a microfiber and isopropyl alcohol, and couldn't remove the lines.

Maybe I did something wrong, but I followed the instructions in a video from their YouTube channel. The video shows basically an effortless peel, yet mine was stuck on so hard that I had to put some bodyweight behind it to get it to remove. If there is a chance of the outer layer damaging a layer underneath during the removal, it completely defeats the purpose of a multi-layer system.

@exoshield does your product get scratched easily by things like gas station windshield scrubbers? I was happy with how my first layer of Windshield Defense was holding up, but it went from essentially no noticeable degradation in ~6 months to being hazy to the point of distraction from a 1500 mile road trip where I had to use the scrubbers often - the bugs were just crazy. The main thing that makes me nervous about Exoshield is that it's a one layer system. Once it's degraded, that's it.

 

[SSCR]

Exoshield is 100% worth it, and I know saved my windshield numerous times with a rock quarry right down my road.

Great product and company when I had questions, definitely recommended.

 

[SSCR]

@exoshield does your product get scratched easily by things like gas station windshield scrubbers? I was happy with how my first layer of Windshield Defense was holding up, but it went from essentially no noticeable degradation in ~6 months to being hazy to the point of distraction from a 1500 mile road trip where I had to use the scrubbers often - the bugs were just crazy. The main thing that makes me nervous about Exoshield is that it's a one layer system. Once it's degraded, that's it.

With the bugs I get here in Kentucky, I scrubbed the hell out of my windshield with the gas station scrubbers and no scratches, the product is like glass.

 

[scorpionsix]

With the bugs I get here in Kentucky, I scrubbed the hell out of my windshield with the gas station scrubbers and no scratches, the product is like glass.

No telling what some gas stations are putting in those windshield washing stations. Maybe some are using the formula marketed for really getting bugs off and the "active ingredient" is no bueno for protective film.

 

[SSCR]

I'm lucky to come across just clean water at these gas stations, but good info on the "active ingredient" when I need to pick up washer solvent next time.

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