Bought my IS 500 new in February. I hand wash with Maguires gold every two weeks. The exterior paint comes out super smooth. No issues. It is parked under carport in So Cal. I have been using invisible glass for windows for a few years. The car was open trucked here from Idaho. Now that the time has changed, I am doing more driving as the sun goes down. Believe it or not I saw my illuminated door sills for the first time last week. When the sun hits the front window, it looks like it is pitted. I'm thinking it might have picked up some environmental pollutants on its way here. The weather was bad on the way out. Any suggestions on safe ways to see if I can get rid of this stuff? Not anxious to take it to dealer I bought it from as I just did the first service a month ago and they are not particularly close by.

 

Unfortunately our front windshields get pitted very easily. Other than replacing it, there isn’t much you can do. Starting new with a ceramic coating may help, but won’t keep it from getting pitted

 

Clay and polish it.

If that doesn’t work, there are more agressive ways to polish it (cerium oxide). There are a number of ways to address this, it’s not hopeless by any means.

 

use a buffer and some light cutting polish.
as noted, pitting is generally irreversible, but you will notice the difference and it's just a few minutes given you have those tools.

 

I also noticed less clarity since I got a clear UV tint. The windshield is not as clear in certain lighting situations. Just throwing that in, just in case you or anyone also did the same.

 

For some reason our windshields are soft.

My Prius Prime with over 100k miles that has driven up and down the 5 freeway (NorCal / SoCal) is way more durable than the one in the IS.

As mentioned above, just clay and polish.

I use this once a year:

https://a.co/d/3QH2jne

 

0000 steel wool also works well. Do not use anything other than 0000 and make sure to have windex or some lubricant on the glass.

Also, do not use it on anything other than glass, that includes window tint.

Another alternative is Invisible Glass Stripper Kit.

 

Lexus windshields suck. They have lots of flaws from the factory when new. My 2017 MDX has a nicer windshield at 122k miles than my IS500 at 22k. I love detailing and as a hobbyist detailer, own enough stuff that would make any professional detailer jealous. I have tried so many things to get the flaws out of the windshield and it is very very difficult. This is my 3rd Lexus and all have been like that.

 

I did notice today with the sun in my face, part of the windshield is worse than other parts. That leads me to believe it is contamination and not pitting.

 

Adams Polishes has a glass specific polish that you can apply by hand (no machine required) and a glass ceramic coating/sealant to apply afterward. I have them both in my cart right now 😃 I am going to do both cars for the winter and see how they hold up.

 

Soft 99 also makes something like as well ^^^^^
you can get ppf for windshield now but obviously wait til you get new windshield before doing that or unless you just picked up the 500 or your windshield is still good

 

Here to echo the sentiment of using clay bar on the windshield.

If you are going to polish the windshield, you will want to get a glass specific polishing pad. https://www.google.com/search?q=carp...t=gws-wiz-serp

 

Four routine window cleaning all I ever use is 70% isopropyl alcohol. A clean and wipe with one microfiber and buff with a softer microfiber or waffle weave keeps the glass nice and clear, at least for me. But like others have said, a clay bar will help with heavy deposits and I do that 1-2 times per year. The little pits and dings get annoying, though. Especially when the sun hits them at just the right angle to make them sparkle like little stars.

 

That's it!!..Sparkling like little stars.that's what I'm seeing

 

My windshield is also pitted like crazy... it's really frustrating being a brand new car.