MGB & GT Forum

OK, My Windshield has a scratch from the previous owner not replacing his wiper blades on time [metal scratch on glass]

Yes, many old cars have this FAMOUS SCRATCH from NOT replacing the rubber wiper blade.

Can this scratch be repaired?

Usually not unfortunately.

BTW what is a '1979 MGB Mk1' (in your profile) ?

I've tried the glass polishing stuff, only limited success and only on very, very light scratches is it effective. Usually it can introduce a "haze" that is worse than the defined scratch. Unfortunately, the only real fix is to replace the glass...

---

74 MGB: APT VP11 cam, lifters, valve springs; 9:1; ported head; TT exhaust; vernier timing gear; wizard aluminum radiator; dizzy by Jeff S.; stock HIF4's; it goes on and on.....

There's a process used to polish windscreens on aircraft, unfortunately in this application the cost of a replacement would be less than having it done.

---

"One test is worth a thousand expert opinions"--Alvin "Tex" Johnston...Boeing test pilot.

"Who do you think you are? I am."...Pete Weber

73 MGB. Tires: Round, black, hold air. Oil: Sometimes old, sometimes new...always slippery. Oil filter: Yellow, usually full of oil. Carbs: 2 SU HIF. Distributor: Yes. Headlights: Not that bright but bright enough. A bunch of other stuff most cars have but not really important enough to itemize. Oh, wait...it has a cool sounding exhaust with stickers on the chrome tips. Really slays the ladies...

There is two ways to do it to address light scratches in glass.

The easiest is to fill the scratches with an acrylic scratch remover (multiple brands exist no sure which one is okay), which is applied as a liquid and dries hard and transparent. Please note in some specialist of windshield in Montreal G Lebeau, Doctor Parebrise, ... used that method with success. I went to G Lebeau to fix a significant scratch after one of my wiper decided to have an earlier retirement on the highway while driving in the middle of storm from North Carolina to New York. The scratch was perfectly aligned with my eyes and G Lebeau fixed it, so well it was not perceptible anymore.

For deeper scratches (or larger area of scratches), the most popular fix is buffing the glass with cerium oxide, a popular glass, glass, ceramic and metal polish (about 10 dollars an ounce or so and 1 ounce is a lot it is usually orangish). Add water to the fine powder and make the consistence of spaghetti sauce (thick enough but still liquid), then cover the damaged areas with the paste. Using a drill with a hard rubber polishing wheel attached, apply firm pressure to slowly grind the surface smooth. Mark the location of the scratch on the other side of the glass so you can keep track of where you should be working. It may take a while (nothing less than one hour), but keep the paste moist and add more cerium oxide as needed, and the result will be a smooth, scratch-free surface.

Don't use a metal scraper to remove the paste, wash instead with a windex bottle filled with water.

---

1977 MGB Red 'Victoria' and 2018 Jaguar XE 'Meghan'
All Classics:
Married, 2 children, MG MGB May to December, Jaguar the rest of the year.

You can try cerium oxide or bbq some steaks on the grill.
Both methods work equally well removing wiper scratches.
Using the bbq method you will at least have something to eat when you are done.

The windshield will have to be replaced.

Since you have insurance. My suggestion would be to contact Safelight and have then repair the window at no cost to you.