Hey all...got my windows tinted 37% all the way around with Llumar film. I noticed a small section on the back window where it appears distorted/rippled. Its not the whole window, but about the size of a softball behind the drivers head. I took it back to the tinter and he claims its the glass and not the tint. However, he's willing to take it off and put it back on. But if the problem lies in the glass, he's going to charge me for it. Any ideas on how to approach this? I would like to take it to the dealer and see, but they may void the warranty since I applied film to it. The tint shop wants $125 if the problem lies in the glass and he gaurantees the lines will be fine since he uses some chemical to remove the film. Any recommendations? Should I remove and replace, take to dealer or just live with it? I will try to take a picture and post it this weekend. Thanks in advance.

 

Tinting the windows doesn't void any warranty!!


Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan

 

I'm guessing the dealer will probably tell you it's the tint. I don't know if there's a way to tell until it's removed.

You'll probably have to take it to the tint guy and have him do his thing. If it is the window, pay the $125, then have the dealership swap the window under warranty, and then have your tinter re-install the tint on the new window (which I'm guessing is covered by the $125).

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

He'd actually be better making sure it's the glass first, since if the dealer had to replacce the window, they should retint it as well, that was my experience with my Mustang Convertible, they had to replace the rear window, which I already had tinted, and they re-did the tint as well! This makes me glad I bought my car with the dealer installed tint, they can handle both!


Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan

 

That's the million dollar question...how do I determine if its the glass or the tint? If I remove the tint and it is the glass, the dealer will fix it without retinting since it wasn't tinted when I brought it in. If I bring it with the tint, the dealer may pass judgement and say its the tint.

The other concern is should I allow the tinter to remove the tint? I hear a lot of horror stories about tint shops removing tint from the back window. I also hear a lot of horror stories about having the back window replaced and finding out that seals leak at a later time.

Such a Catch 22. I'm worried the tinter will screw up my back window to determine the problem.

 

why not just take half the tint off. If it the window bring it to the dealer explaining your predicament. Maybe the dealer will spring for re-tinting it. If it the tint then the installed can redo it right there

It sounds to me like its a tint problem. If there was a window problem you would have noticed it long ago

Jim
'03 Sedan
Brilliant Silver/Graphite
6MT/ Premium package
Sport tuned suspension
Aerodynamic Body Kit
Navigation and Satellite Radio

 

Say, I was wondering about the tint problem, is it something that is really obvious? I see some weird things in mine at certain light, on the rear back glass, looking in my mirror, but cannot see them on close inspection, I am probably going to run mine by the tint shop soon, but don't know what they will do if it's not that visible, it is a lifetime warranty on it, so who knows!


Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan/5AT

 

Make the tint shop prove it! The warranty should cover it! If it is the window, you may have to pay for the re-tinting as the dealer will probably not spring for it!

2003.5 G35C BL/GR, NAV, PREM, AERO, TINT, SPORT, Splash, V1

 

The flaw is about the size of a softball and its not that noticable. You can't really see it up close and in order to really tell, you have to have some objects behind it. For example, if a car was parked behind you, the window pillars in that area would be slightly jagged. I'm debating if I should live with it or not. I really hate to make a small problem bigger. The tinter claims that its an isolated area, and if it was the tint, it should be a larger section since the film was cut from the same roll. The charge to remove and retint is $125. I am pretty sure the dealer will not cover this since tinting is modifying the back window.

 

? - did you wait for the tint to "cure" usually a day or two, depending on the weather.

My windows had areas that didn't seem kosher, but disappeared within a couple of days as the tint shrunk (I guess that's how you'd say it?)



'03 Sedan 5a: BS/G, Prem, Aero/Body, Sport, Nav
Click for MODS or Vote at Online Showoff

 

Been 1 month since I've tinted the car and I've made attempts to park it outside in the sun as much as I can.

 

The card that came with mine said to wait at least 30 days before cleaning the tint, that takes that long to cure according to them! Maybe longer this time of year?


Brilliant Silver/Graphite '04 Sedan/5AT

 

They told me to wait 1 week before cleaning the windows and only 1 day to roll them down. The spot is still there. I am thinking of just biting the bullet and allowing the tinter to remove it. I would like to make sure that the flaw is the tint and not the window before my warranty expires.

Should I remove the seats and back deck before I allow them to work on the car or just take my chances and assume the tinter is able to do a good job?

 

Don't assume, make sure you ask the installer if they'll remove all of the glue left over from the glass. If not, it'll show when they retint the glass. The one problem area would be right behind the brake light. Tinters hate to redo their jobs because of so much labor required to do so. But if they had done it right the first time, they wouldn't coming into this problem at all. To be honest, it's not very likely that it's a glass defect, rather it seems like an installation problem. If you have warranty, then the shop is covered on the cost of labor since the manufacturer of the film will reimburse them for retinting if it's a film defect.

Pearl White 2003 Sedan & 2004 Coupe 6MT
Certified Window Tint & Detailing Specialist
Clearshield ("Clearbra") Authorized Dealer
Madico Authorized Dealer
www.machiii.net

 

If it is more likely a tint defect than a glass defect, I will try to live with it since I have a lifetime warranty on the film, it doesn't matter when I take it in for the removal.

Anyone have any information in regards to the chemical they use to remove the glue?