Has anyone figured out a solution for greasy windshields?

[stampchez]

The windows of my car are fogging up with some oils coming out of the interior plastics/glue/whatever. My 2008 1 did the same and my 3 series did it to a lesser extent. Has anyone figured out a way to abate this?

[Pyrat 2]

Life's a b%$^ch when you have to wipe down the windows on your brand spanking new 135is baddest machine on the road.

Just noticed the same on mine today but had recently put plastic protector on it.

[IDBMW]

Clean the inside windows on a regular basis. My Toyota Tacoma did the same thing for the first three years but my 135i is five years old and still fogging up.
Usually when I wash my car I take one of the damp towels from drying the car and take a minuet to wipe the inside of the windshield. That keep is looking good.

[Bimmer B]

Are you guys parking yours outside or the car spend a lot of time in the sun?
I haven't heard of this, I'm just wondering what the cause is...

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by stampchez

The windows of my car are fogging up with some oils coming out of the interior plastics/glue/whatever. My 2008 1 did the same and my 3 series did it to a lesser extent. Has anyone figured out a way to abate this?

That's the interior plastics outgassing... Pretty normal, really.

What I've found that works really well in removing it is Stoner's Invisible Glass.

[JimD]

I also use invisible glass inside and outside but I use the version with rain repellant in it. Inside it obviously doesn't matter.

Jim

[Suprgnat]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

What I've found that works really well in removing it is Stoner's Invisible Glass.

+1

[rking117]

What windshield? I kicked mine out... no more problem, just have to contend with the bugs now. hahaha

[631twentyeighteye]

Rain x the inside and out every time i wash the car, which is every week just about.

[Gray_Panther]

When i ONR wash my car I should take the damp mf towel and wipe down the inner windshield. Thanks for the ideas guys

[doublevanosrc]

Hmm never had this issue before.

[fullboost]

Originally Posted by Bimmer B

Are you guys parking yours outside or the car spend a lot of time in the sun?
I haven't heard of this, I'm just wondering what the cause is...

I'm not sure if it's the sun or just the heat but it causes the interior plastic, mainly the dash to off gas this greasy "stuff" that is a bear to clean off. Probably not very prevalent in Vancouver. I don't really get it in SD either. I drove to Vegas a couple of weeks ago and just being there 4 days smoked out my windshield.

When I lived in AZ people would use dash mats and it would almost completely stop it from happening. I doubt anyone is going to run out and buy a dashmat for their 1er though. lol.

[bmw1racer]

Originally Posted by fullboost

I'm not sure if it's the sun or just the heat but it causes the interior plastic, mainly the dash to off gas this greasy "stuff" that is a bear to clean off. Probably not very prevalent in Vancouver. I don't really get it in SD either. I drove to Vegas a couple of weeks ago and just being there 4 days smoked out my windshield.

I think car interior plastics outgas all the time... The heat just exacerbates it.

[Allencic]

For the nearly sixty years I've been driving getting the windows (exterior and interior) clean, streak free even with the sun shining directly in has always been somewhere between difficult and a PITA.

After all this time I've finally found the way to do it but it takes time and is more complex than most would do but it works.

1) The only glass cleaner worth a darn is Invisible Glass. I've not used the one with rain repellant but didn't like the Rain-X cleaner it left a nasty film.

2) Use only soft cotton cloths like old diapers or believe or not, old 100% cotton women's underwear. When you wash these cloths never, ever dry them with fabric softener. Air dry. I've found microfiber leaves little sparkly fibers that shine in the sun.

3) Get a pair of white, soft all cotton gloves. Wear the gloves when cleaning so the oil from your skin doesn't touch and leave a smear while you work.

4) Clean the inside of the WS with cleaner to get the gross dirt off.

5) Use denatured alchohol to go over over the WS to remove any greasy film. Use a clean cloth for this

6) Spray Invisible Glass on another clean cloth and clean the glass. Don't spray directly on the glass.

7) Repeat #6.

8) The final step is to take still another clean old cotton cloth and polish the inside of the WS. No spray cleaner, just clean cloth.

9) Drive into the sun and be amazed at the lack of film and streaking

Yes this is a pain to do and takes a while but it does work.

Wash the gloves and cotton cloths before you use them again.

[bbbbmw]

German cars have always been the worst for this, in my experience. The early 1970's Mercury Capri was terrible - people thought it was some sort of mildew. Windex (blue stuff) with ammonia seemed to do the best job of removing it, or white vinegar mixed with water. But it always comes back, since it's coming off the vinyl.

[fullboost]

Originally Posted by bmw1racer

I think car interior plastics outgas all the time... The heat just exacerbates it.

Yeah, that's probably true.

[jkoral]

I've been using these glass cleaning towels for 17 years and I swear by them:
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...s+150+count.do

After washing, I can use one towel to clean both the exterior and interior glass. Then I spray liberal amounts of 1Z Einszett Cockpit Premium on the same towel to clean the interior.

I also use Griot's Window Cleaner (http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...r+35+ounces.do), but have used Invisible Glass in a pinch (since it can be bought locally). I prefer Griot's, but they are pretty equivalent and I always found the towels to be more important than the actual glass cleaner.

I don't notice any outgassing, but I think that's because I clean the car so often (glass included), it never builds up. I'm a real stickler for perfect glass, to the point where I won't even use the windshield washer (except in the winter if necessary), and will clean the windshield by hand at stops or when I get home.

[Allencic]

You're right about the towels or rags being the most important. I haven't found any paper towels that will leave the glass smear free. I too have used the Griot's Garage wipes and they are great.

The very best glass cleaning cloths I've ever used were linen dish towels woven in Poland. The older and more worn they got the better they worked until finally they just disintegrated from so much use.

As I said in my prior post I think the worst thing you can do, whether for window cleaning or drying the exterior after a wash is to use towel, microfiber or cellulose sponges that have been dryed with fabric softener sheets. Even drying in a dryer that has used f.s. sheets will leave the cloths with something that smears.

After washing your cloths, etc. just let them air dry

[JimD]

It isn't terribly practical but coffee filters will also clean glass without leaving residue or lint. I've used them when working on a "perfect clean" for tinting film application.

Jim

[PA135i]

Aquapel makes an anti-fog spray that keeps the inside windows clear. They also make the best rain treatment. It lasts 4 - 6 months. I'm still getting tight beads and applied it in April.