Iain MacLeod

Sounds like good stuff. Opinions? Also, any impact on the rain sensing feature? Thanks.

ceb

Aquapel is very similar to Rain-X except that it lasts longer. There are lots of things that can impact the rainsensor so try this.

Buy a small bottle of Rain-X, borrow a little from a friend or see if the local Autozone has free samples.

Put some on the area covering the rain sensor. If your sensor works without issues then you can use alcohol to remove the Rain-X, clay bar your windshield, wash it several times with glass cleaner and alcohol (until a clean cloth moistened with alcohol stays clean after wiping down the glass) and apply Aquapel. Do your windshield, then your driver side mirror and glass, passenger mirror and glass and finally your back window (at which time your applicator will be pretty much dry)

Iain MacLeod

Maybe it's prudent to just avoid the shaded area of the windshield altogether when applying the Aquapel?

ceb

That avoids that possible issue but may create others. You want to cover the entire area that is cleared by a wiper or else you'll get the possibility (probability?) of chattering and streaking.

I've applied Rain-X and Aquapel on multiple cars with sensors and didn't have an issue except on one car where the sensor would be wonky in drizzle, so I always test first just to be sure. What works on one RDX may not work on another given slight variations in sensor sensitivity and so forth.

Iain MacLeod

There's also the front sensor camera to wonder about. The manual reads "Never apply a film --- to windshield."

RSX_Takashi

I probably won't apply anything to the windshield. If you really want to try, I suggest apply to the side windows and mirror only. You always have the windshield wipers to clean it, but you can't open the door and clean the side windows when the car is in motion.

ceb

Film - as in plastic film. Not as in stuff like Aquapel.

dirleton

I have asked both Rain X and Aquapel if their products interfere with sensors/cameras. So far no answer. Bad sign.

ceb

It is unlikely that you will get a response as it is rain sensor dependent.

As far as cameras are concerned, these products will not negatively affect performance. They may, in fact, improve performance and all the cameras to work in conditions they otherwise wouldn't.

dirleton

Are you suggesting the coating will or will not interfere with sensors?

ceb

Coatings like Aquapel or Rain-X may affect the operation of the rain sensor. Hence my suggestion to try the temporary Rain-X as a test. Rain sensors work by detecting something (like a raindrop) on the surface of the glass immediately in front of the sensor. Coatings that dispel the water rapidly may fool the sensor into thinking that it is not raining.

Coatings like these will not affect the function of cameras except possibly in a positive way. Most cameras shut down in inclement weather due to snowflakes and raindrops impacting the cameras. The coatings may keep the cameras clearer longer - and thus operating longer.