Tint glare over defroster lines

kepford · 03-12-2007, 08:25 AM

I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere. I did a search and went through lots of threads but couldn't find this topic covered in them.

I got my windows tinted a few weeks ago and the rear window seems to be a problem area. They're going to have to redo it since I found a pretty big flaw that wasn't visible until the windows were finally cured. That will be taken care of by them but my issue is that now that there is tint on the rear window I'm seeing a lot of glare from headlights and street lights due to the tint over the defroster lines. The headlights kind of have a mirror effect up and down the defrost lines now. Is this common or did they just hose up the tint job? Like I said, they're going to redo it tomorrow but I was just wondering if this is something I'm going to have to live with to have tinted windows. I read in a lot of posts that the rear window is a PITA to tint so maybe this is just a known issue. Thoughts? Thanks!

joebaggg · 03-12-2007, 08:33 AM

sounds like a botched job... whats the weather like? and how longs a few weeks? if its cold out then it takes a longgggggg time for the tint to settle. the glare could be from it just not being dry yet. if its above 60 then get it retinted cuz it should dry in a week, and bring up that the fact that if they ruin ur defroster lines they need to replace them... good luck!

picus · 03-12-2007, 08:59 AM

I had this right after I got tinted, it went away when the tint fully dried. Weird yours is the other way around.

supernova · 03-12-2007, 09:04 AM

what percentage of tint did you get?

hhkim · 03-12-2007, 09:38 AM

i thought like theres no way to fix the distortion of light against the rear window because the defroster lines are elevated from the tint. so theres more refraction of light as it tries to pass through the window and therefore more light going up/down. hahah or at least what my tint guy told me. . . . O.O

kepford · 03-12-2007, 10:11 AM

I got 35% tint all around. It's supposed to be warmer, relatively speaking, this week so we'll be in the 50s and 60s. We'll see how they do with tomorrows re-do and I will definitely bring up the "don't screw up the defroster" point.

JIMD1709 · 03-14-2007, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picus

I had this right after I got tinted, it went away when the tint fully dried. Weird yours is the other way around.

+1. Mine went away in about a month or so.

razorduc · 03-14-2007, 06:36 PM

I get a little glare from the defroster lines. When i look closely, there is space around the defroster lines. Is that normal? Also the dot matrix stuff came out pretty bad at the top of the window. Should I have my guy re-do it? It's been about 3 weeks and weather is relatively warm in CA, altho I park inside most of the time.

BayernMuenchen · 03-15-2007, 12:14 PM

I have the same light deflection around the lines. I hate it and the dotmatrix crap looks like hell. I talked to another tint guy about the dotmatrix and his advice was to use a bunch of glue in that area. It will make it look good from the outside, but will be blury to look through from the inside. Anywho, if that light deflection thing is NOT normal I'm going back to my tinter.

NiVeDh · 02-04-2011, 09:35 PM

Going to go back to the tint guy to get felt tape installed in the side windows and the tint redone to get rid of those scratches.

I have this same issue too... My windows have been tinted for more than 7 months. Is this problem fixable or do I just have to deal with it? Should I even bother asking him about it?

Found a picture on Google that shows it perfectly:

Also, from another thread:

03-12-2007, 08:25 AM	#1
kepford Private 5 Rep 89 Posts Drives: Badly Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Madison, WI iTrader: (2)	Tint glare over defroster lines I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere. I did a search and went through lots of threads but couldn't find this topic covered in them. I got my windows tinted a few weeks ago and the rear window seems to be a problem area. They're going to have to redo it since I found a pretty big flaw that wasn't visible until the windows were finally cured. That will be taken care of by them but my issue is that now that there is tint on the rear window I'm seeing a lot of glare from headlights and street lights due to the tint over the defroster lines. The headlights kind of have a mirror effect up and down the defrost lines now. Is this common or did they just hose up the tint job? Like I said, they're going to redo it tomorrow but I was just wondering if this is something I'm going to have to live with to have tinted windows. I read in a lot of posts that the rear window is a PITA to tint so maybe this is just a known issue. Thoughts? Thanks!
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03-12-2007, 08:33 AM	#2
joebaggg E60 39 Rep 587 Posts Drives: Black Attack Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Middletown, NJ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 E90 [0.00]	sounds like a botched job... whats the weather like? and how longs a few weeks? if its cold out then it takes a longgggggg time for the tint to settle. the glare could be from it just not being dry yet. if its above 60 then get it retinted cuz it should dry in a week, and bring up that the fact that if they ruin ur defroster lines they need to replace them... good luck! __________________
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03-12-2007, 08:59 AM	#3
picus Brigadier General 125 Rep 4,172 Posts Drives: e92 SG 335i Coupe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (0)	I had this right after I got tinted, it went away when the tint fully dried. Weird yours is the other way around.
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03-12-2007, 09:04 AM	#4
supernova Private First Class 2 Rep 195 Posts Drives: E92 Coupe Black Metallic Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	what percentage of tint did you get? __________________ click it for myspace
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03-12-2007, 09:38 AM	#5
hhkim Lieutenant 40 Rep 481 Posts Drives: '10 335d Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: LA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325xi [0.00]	i thought like theres no way to fix the distortion of light against the rear window because the defroster lines are elevated from the tint. so theres more refraction of light as it tries to pass through the window and therefore more light going up/down. hahah or at least what my tint guy told me. . . . O.O __________________ MY10 335d: Montego Blue, Oyster/Black Leather, Aluminum Trim, Navi, ZSP with Paddle Shifters, ZCW, Alarm Order Placed: Aug 15th, In Production: Sept 1st, At Port of Exit & Awaiting Transport: Sept 15th, Sept 16th, At Prep Center: Oct 7th, Released to Carrier: Oct 22nd, Delivered: Nov 11
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03-12-2007, 10:11 AM	#6
kepford Private 5 Rep 89 Posts Drives: Badly Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Madison, WI iTrader: (2)	I got 35% tint all around. It's supposed to be warmer, relatively speaking, this week so we'll be in the 50s and 60s. We'll see how they do with tomorrows re-do and I will definitely bring up the "don't screw up the defroster" point.
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03-14-2007, 06:36 PM	#8
razorduc Private First Class 5 Rep 143 Posts Drives: e92 335i Sparkling Graphite Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [0.00] 2002 Ducati 748S [0.00]	I get a little glare from the defroster lines. When i look closely, there is space around the defroster lines. Is that normal? Also the dot matrix stuff came out pretty bad at the top of the window. Should I have my guy re-do it? It's been about 3 weeks and weather is relatively warm in CA, altho I park inside most of the time.
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03-15-2007, 12:14 PM	#9
BayernMuenchen Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 247 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Coupe Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Encinitas, CA iTrader: (0)	I have the same light deflection around the lines. I hate it and the dotmatrix crap looks like hell. I talked to another tint guy about the dotmatrix and his advice was to use a bunch of glue in that area. It will make it look good from the outside, but will be blury to look through from the inside. Anywho, if that light deflection thing is NOT normal I'm going back to my tinter. __________________ 2007 335i Coupe
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02-04-2011, 09:35 PM	#10
NiVeDh Major General 422 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	Going to go back to the tint guy to get felt tape installed in the side windows and the tint redone to get rid of those scratches. I have this same issue too... My windows have been tinted for more than 7 months. Is this problem fixable or do I just have to deal with it? Should I even bother asking him about it? Found a picture on Google that shows it perfectly: Also, from another thread:
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