piton

how can you remove Water-Repellent coating from side windows - I really don't like how the water beads up. It causes too much reflection.

thx

GregCanada

It will wear off eventually.

Maybe try clay bar-ing the windows?

atoyota

You could also try something like Optimum Power Clean, or another soap/shampoo that has a tar and bug remover formula. Try posting this question in the Automotive Care and Detailing forum. There's a lot of knowledgeable detail enthusiasts there.

richard203

iTrader: (1)

Firdt time seeing people complain about the water repellent. I love it

dano

I'm pretty sure the rain repellant coating is applied during the manufacturing of the window and is "fired in" during the bending and tempering/laminating process. It's not like a super version of RainX. It's actually a chemical film that bonds permanently with the glass when it reaches around 1200 degrees. I've never heard of anyone not liking this feature.

spoogenet

Wow, quite different from my experience and opinion. I apply Rain-x on top to get extra beading. My understanding is they use a titanium silica glazing. Lexus claims you can contact them if it wears off. Naturally they don't give indications on how to remove it.

I'm not sure I understand your discontent with it and what you mean by "too much reflection." Under what circumstances does it reflect too much?

My experience with water beading and glass is that if you apply a good coating of bug guts or tree sap, the water will sheet instead of bead. Not sure that's what you're looking for...

bclexus

Where can the OP purchase a small container of high quality bug guts?

piton

thanks for putting it so succinctly spoogenet! that's exactly the alternative that I'm looking for, except not bug guts OR tree sap - I want both! :-)

spoogenet

Take a road trip, drive through Louisiana back roads in the evening, then go park under a tree for a few days.

That, or you can rush out to your nearest farm & pick up some bovine serum albumin...whatever that is.
https://phys.org/news/2014-07-nanopa...g-beading.html

Unfortunately a search for hydrophilic products didn't yield much result unless you have access to an ion beam or some other fancy gizmos not found in the typical garage.