rain-x

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colorado
#1
anyone use rain-x, or the like, for their windshield? does it work as well as advertised? both positive and/or negative comments appreciated.
 
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New Jersey
#2
I'll give you the skinny on Rain-X.

Basically, it forms a semi-permanent bond to the windshield and is basically wax for your windshield. The bong to the glass makes the glass super slippery so that when you're driving, the water just beeds up and runs off the glass. It really only works at speeds of 40mph and higher so it's great on the highway. But don't think it will make your glass totally clear....you can drive on the highway without your wipers but the glass is not going to look dry or anything crazy like that. Around town and at slower speeds it does nothing, so it definitely will not take away the need for wipers.
The stuff lasts for a few weeks up to 3 months, depending on how much driving you do in the rain. So once the coat gets "weak" you just re-apply the Rain-X which is pretty easy and the stuff polishes up the glass too. One downside of Rain-X is that it makes your windshield fog up pretty easily.
Rain-X is basically one of those products you don't really need but once you start using it, you just continue to purchase and use it again and again. If you just keep your glass clean and replace your wipers regularly (and clean your wipers when they get dirty), it's cheaper and easier.

I would recommend Rain-X for only the following conditions:
-You're too cheap to replace your wipers
-Your wipers are broken and/or are not working properly and you need a temporary "fix."

Basically, Rain-X is worthless if your wipers are working fine and are in good condition, but it is a great product that should not be overlooked. Aside from the uses I stated above, it's great for other things. My father uses the stuff on his fishing boat because he often gets rained on while out fishing and his boat doesn't have any windshield wipers. I like to use the stuff on my headlights so that most of the water runs off for maximum illumination onto the road. It would also work well for the rear windshield on most cars (since most cars do not have a wiper there) so that the driver has maximum visibility of what is behind him/her.

If you find a good use for Rain-X it is definitely a great product.
 
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Location
Prattville, AL
#3
It works as advertised, good stuff, in a light rain while driving you may not even need the wipers. I now just use my car detailing polish, works almost as good, I always have some on hand so it's become ease of use (Klasse AIO).
 

Big Daddy

Senior Member
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PNW (Left) Coast
#4
I use it. I have excellent blades on the car and it rains a lot here in the Seattle area. At freeway speeds I do not need the wipers, the angle of the roadster windshield and the RainX causes the rain to run up and over the top of the car, nice! Around town it seems to keep the blades from squeaking and I would suspect they last longer than without the Rainx.

The cons are you need to really work it to get the windshield clear of all streaks and fog.
 
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New Jersey
#5
Big Daddy, you get a lot of rain in Seattle. Do you ever roadster around with the top down while it's raining? When I'm in Florida and I am driving the car I use there and it rains, I don't even bother to raise the top. As long as I'm moving, the rain barely hits me. I tried this after seeing that Z4 commercial with the guy driving through the rain with great results.
 

ctm78

New Member
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Chicago, IL
#6
Rain-X also makes a windshield wiper fluid. Summer version supposedly keeps bug guts from adhering well, winter version has a de-icer.

The washer fluid doesn't work as well when compared to applying Rain-X by hand several times a year, but it's the only fluid I use now. It's a nice middle ground between my laziness and liking to have water run off my windshield.
 

Big Daddy

Senior Member
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#7
MrElussive said:
Big Daddy, you get a lot of rain in Seattle. Do you ever roadster around with the top down while it's raining? When I'm in Florida and I am driving the car I use there and it rains, I don't even bother to raise the top. As long as I'm moving, the rain barely hits me. I tried this after seeing that Z4 commercial with the guy driving through the rain with great results.
Oh yes, I love that! I was on the leading edge of a thunderstorm in Montana once with the top down. I stayed just ahead of the heavy drops and I never got wet. The the speed limit was "reasonable and prudent" and I just kept speeding up to stay slighty ahead of the big storm. When I reached 95+, I finally pulled over and put the top up. At that speed one little drop felt like a bee sting!
 
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#8
Lol, that's funny. When I discovered this little "trick" I asked one of my dad's friends who lives in FL and has an Audi TT Roadster. FL gets a lot of "random showers" and he was telling me how if he's on the highway and has the top down and it starts raining, he just keeps going.
 
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#9
Hey does anyone know how to get RID of a coat of Rain-X on your windshield? I applied a coat a while ago while my wipers were chattering and skipping like crazy and they finally fixed it yesterday (replaced the wiper motors and the arm assembly). Today I was driving in the rain and the inside driver wiper (bottom half of the blade) was skipping. Either the problem is just starting up all over again or it's the Rain-X that is causing this so I wanna try to resolve the issue on my own.

Anyways, does anyone know if Detailer's Pride High Performance Glass Restorer or Auto Glym Car Glass Polish will get rid of it? I picked up a can of Bon Ami Cleanser as instructed by the Rain-X web site as one method to get rid of the coat, but cleaning my windshield with it would require more effort than the two products I listed above. Anybody got any ideas??? Thanks in advance.
 

Delroy666

New Member
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Location
Ontario, Canada
#10
I've been using Rain-X for a while and expecially like it on the side windows and mirrors. The water just beads up and rolls right off, making visibility much better in the rain and even snow.

Delroy666
 
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Prattville, AL
#11
Big Daddy, If you ever use Klasse AIO, try it on all the windows, goes on and comes off very easy and works just like rain-x, just easier to use and it'll also last longer per application.
 
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New Jersey
#12
Delroy666 said:
I've been using Rain-X for a while and expecially like it on the side windows and mirrors. The water just beads up and rolls right off, making visibility much better in the rain and even snow.

Delroy666
That's true but Rain-X makes everything fog up easily, which screws up your visibility anyways. I used the Bon-Ami Cleanser to get rid of all the Rain-X on my windshield and headlights today when I washed my car. Better off just using a real auto glass polish, it will have the same effect. Or just use Klass AIO as lpquick recommends.
 

aNoodle

1000 Post Club
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Athens, GA
#15
I use Rain-X for the front windshield and side mirrors. I think the draw back is that it makes your wipers grab the windshield more when you do have to use them. But past 40 you never need to use wipers. The trick is to hold of turning the wipers until you reach 40 mph. If you use the wipers alot with rain-x, I think it will wear it off quicker.

They also make Fog-X for the interior, but I wasn't that impressed to be honest. It was too hard to wipe out the streaks. And that concentrate they sell that you add to your windshield wiper fluid IMO is worthless. I'm not a big fan of that and I don't think it's a substitute for the real deal.

Some people say rain-x breaks down the rubber of your wipers. I have a hard time believing that, cuz I use rain-x regularly and I'm only on my second set of wipers and my car will be six years old this fall with 118,050 miles.
 
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Location
NY
#16
love the stuff.

In a down pour you will be the only one to have visibility. Yes, the downside is a bit foggy from the morning dew. abit of glare if it is drizzling, too. At higher speeds above 40-45 you don't need the wipers, the water just bead and runs off.
 


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