Got my windows tinted and regret it!!!

[Simmo_Sportback_S_Line]

Evening guys, I had my rear windows tinted yesterday and now I regret it!

The film has not stuck over the dot matrix elements on the rear quarters and rear screen, it looks terrible.

I have asked the guy if he can sort this issue out, if not then I want a refund. Can't see him giving me my money back, gutted £140 down the drain.

I wanted it to look like the factory glass but I honestly don't think that is possible unless you actually fork out for the replacement glass.

Just be aware if you are getting tints done that this issue is there.

 

[vorney]

Nothing you can do about it pal you just have to bare with it

 

[Simmo_Sportback_S_Line]

Nothing you can do about it pal you just have to bare with it

The bloke assured me that it would stick, it looks terrible, it has stuck in some parts but not others so it's not consistent around the glass, I'd rather not have it fitted if I knew

 

[marty.h]

it clearly has not been done correctly mate

 

[Simmo_Sportback_S_Line]

it clearly has not been done correctly mate

How can you get it to stick over the dots then?

 

[WAFTER]

I understand the common sense practicality of having a small tinted band at the top of a windscreen, but please somebody explain the thinking, & I use the word 'thinking' loosely, behind having back windows tinted? Even top of the range Fords are so equipped, how daft and naff is that?
Of course if you're a head of state or some air-head celebrity then I'm sure privacy and security is the issue.

 

[Simmo_Sportback_S_Line]

I understand the common sense practicality of having a small tinted band at the top of a windscreen, but please somebody explain the thinking, & I use the word 'thinking' loosely, behind having back windows tinted? Even top of the range Fords are so equipped, how daft and naff is that?
Of course if you're a head of state or some air-head celebrity then I'm sure privacy and security is the issue.

Reduces glare and UV into the car, anyway your missing the point, I want to know if the dot matrix issue can be solved, not argue the toss about why windows are tinted.

 

[s5joe]

there is a way of doin it start your car put your heated rear screen on wait a bit till its warm and press them out job done

 

[Artimus]

If the Guy that did it was a professional it would look like factory tints. He's made a mess of it and needs to correct it.

I've had a couple of cars done in the past and paid good money for the privilege! but an A3 fully tinted would normally cost upwards of £300 down this way = you get's what you pays for ...sorry.

and don't worry about anyone else not liking tints (unless they're wearing a blue uniform), custom cars need them.

 

[NHN]

I've used 1 company for 12 years now, not once had any sign of these issues, go back tell him to either correct the issue or remove the film & refund you.

One assumes you've let it settle as some need time to sink flat, depending on how bad it is.

I have tints for various reasons & its certainly not to look cool, uv, heat, security, better for kids, etc, pick a reason.

 

[Ash187]

Mate i pay £180 for my tints, which on my sportback is front, rear and boot windows... all look OEM! if you have to pay £300 then you are getting ripped off!
as for the dots it should look perfect, if it doesnt the guy that fitted it cant do the job, go back and tell him to refund and rip it off or just fix it properly

 

[NHN]

if you have to pay £300 then you are getting ripped off!

Sorry I disagree, £250-£300 is about the right price for a professional tint shop, I pay around this & my tints are always perfect, I even drive from East Sussex to Chertsey to have it done given how good they are, I always give them a tip for standard of work.

People I use let me use a car whilst its in, have all there overheads as they use an enclosed area & tbh the work involved in doing all 7 windows perfectly, its a very fair price.

 

[Ash187]

well then i must be getting a super sweet deal as i pay £180 for every car i have taken to my tint shop (5 cars now and all hatchbacks) and had all the windows tinted except for the windscreen of course and never had an issue, not to mention they all have lifetime guarantees on them.

 

[Simmo_Sportback_S_Line]

I can't leave the car like this, he either sorts it or refunds me, what are my rights if he refuses to refund me?

 

[mjr901]

Under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 any item you purchase from a retailer should be as described, of a satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. This means that if a product turns out to be damaged or faulty at the time of sale, or if a fault emerges over time, you are entitled to a refund, repair or replacement from the retailer.
It's worth bearing in mind that when you return an item the retailer is likely to ask for proof of purchase. While the most ideal proof of purchase is your receipt, if you don't have this, a credit card statement or cheque stub for the sale may also be accepted.
If you return an item as faulty within 6 months of purchase then the onus is on the retailer to prove otherwise. However, after 6 months the liability shifts and you will need to prove that the fault was present at the time of sale before a refund will be granted.

 

[mjr901]

You shouldnt have a problem

 

[marv]

you pay for what you get these days, i have them for the reason of having kids in the car, and the sun blinds you buy are crap!

 

[Artimus]

Mate i pay £180 for my tints, which on my sportback is front, rear and boot windows... all look OEM! if you have to pay £300 then you are getting ripped off!
...

...any job\car is worth whatever you're prepared to pay for it, as long as you're happy with the quality of workmanship.

 

[NHN]

well then i must be getting a super sweet deal as i pay £180 for every car i have taken to my tint shop (5 cars now and all hatchbacks) and had all the windows tinted except for the windscreen of course and never had an issue, not to mention they all have lifetime guarantees on them.

I'm sure you are gettng a sweet deal, I'm sure if I pushed the point I'd get cheaper, buttt, I respect the time it takes to do the job, the fact they allow me to use a car that enables me to do work whilst in which can save me hundreds, flexibility of when, many reasons tbh, but overall, I know whats involved in the job & to get it to be as perfect as can be, takes skill as you know, I dont see any remnants of anyone fitting films onto the glass, as someone said, if you're happy with the cost & result, then good for you, but they've done many cars for me & work on some very expensive motors, I trust there work & I havnt got time to haggle for an extra £50 of, I want quality & prepared to pay for it, to a point

 

[downtothebone]

Sorry I disagree, £250-£300 is about the right price for a professional tint shop, I pay around this & my tints are always perfect, I even drive from East Sussex to Chertsey to have it done given how good they are, I always give them a tip for standard of work.

People I use let me use a car whilst its in, have all there overheads as they use an enclosed area & tbh the work involved in doing all 7 windows perfectly, its a very fair price.

Can you say who the tint supplier is in Chertsey?

 

[NHN]

Can you say who the tint supplier is in Chertsey?

No worries, Old School Windscreen services, speak to Eva, I can ring them for you if need be, great family business.

 

[downtothebone]

No worries, Old School Windscreen services, speak to Eva, I can ring them for you if need be, great family business.

Thx. Found them on the web - I have a cab and want the two small rear windows plus back glass done but with only a light tint.

DTTB

 

[Brodster]

Got mine done on Monday by Scot Tint Auto Tinting nr Edinburgh for £90 and all I can say is fantastic job......Was very aware of the dot matrix and not sticking but all 3 windows on my S3 seem to have stuck down no probs......35% tint which is I believe near enough to Audi tints. Take the car back and ask them to do them again

 

[Zak0123]

Got my back 3 on my 3 door done for £120 cash and am very pleased. What you can do is grab a damp cloth and slowly rub (and push quite hard) round the edge of the window. I was recommended to go to where I got mine done by the audi salesman (very nice guy) as he said he actually does it for audi but does not carry the audi price tag. This method was recommended by the salesman, let the tints settle for a couple of days then wherever theres dot matrix just rub it to make it sit better, mines looking perfect now had them in for 2 weeks and im very pleased!

 

[Simmo_Sportback_S_Line]

For the guys who said their tinter managed to cover the dot matrix, how is this achieved?

I have got in touch with the guy who tinted the windows and he said he is intrigued to know how they have managed not to have the white showing?!

He has agreed to sort the problem out but I honestly don't know how a decent grade film will stick over the dots?

 

[NHN]

If he has to ask these questions, then he obviously isnt a pro, so get it taken of & refunded & use an alternative who has experience.

 

[RobMorris]

I paid £120 for my rear 3 and im well happy!
there was a few little areas along the dots where mine didnt stick properly at first. he just told me to wipe over them with a dry cloth after a few days. looks sweet now.

 

[S Liner]

For all the guys that have had there rear 3 windows tinted without the dot matrix effect - can you please post some pics?

I have a 2012 s-line sb and would like mine doing (around 30% same as vw factory) but if it does not look perfect I'm not going to bother.

Thanks,

 

[NHN]

TBH sliner, it all comes down to the person doing, I've had numerous cars with all windows tinted for years never had any such issues on any of these cars.

 

[Sheikh]

Agree with the above. My mate got his done at a cheap place, £120 for 5 windows and the tint is rubbish. It's already peeling! Although he does give a life time warranty so no biggy.

 

[MattyW19]

Take it to an independent specialist, and get a second opinion off a professional - Can't go wrong there mate!

 

[Farhan]

It also depends, Ash you have pretty dark tints on your car maybe thats why the dots are not as noticeable. OP what shade of tints did you go for?

I had fronts, and 3 rears done on my last car, I specifically requested an OEM tint and the picture is not a true reflection of how light they were, The quality was ok...I was not impressed and being light mine showed up the dots but they were even it was not like some where showing and some where not. I paid circa £230 the companies set up was good clean booths and all done in a dust free environment but i found the company to be a bit up them selves when i was not happy about a few things.

In the end i ended up removing all of them not long after i did this myself and vowed i would never tint a car again as i so much prefer the factory tinted glass tbh.

Be extremely careful if you let them remove it side windows are ok as they can run a blade to remove the glue but the rear on mine was a nightmare and i did end up damaging some of the heating elements. That was with me being extremely cautious as its my own car....

 

[leach76]

The prices vary so much probably because of the film quality and how much that has cost,some films last a year or 2 then start getting stained or tarnished in with sun and other elements thats when the film starts turning purple ,more expensive films have a 10 year guarantee against this happening or it braking up and crazy pathing when it dries out

 

[S Liner]

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-...747-sports-back-rear-window-tint-queries.html

The black sportback half way down the page - how would people rate that?

There is still a greyish line around the dot matrix however it is definitely the best tint I have seen after searching around the forum.

Would still like some pics of good tints without the white lines/factory look?? E-mail them to me if you don't want to post?

 

[NHN]

That greyish line is the interior pillars mate, not the tints.

 

[S Liner]

I am talking about the rear (smaller) window, about an inch in, after the solid black glass? (where the dot matrix is on mine) If you look closely enough it continues around the back but is about 10mm in.

 

[VWAddict]

It gets so hot here that just about EVERYBODY has to have their windows tinted. The missus and I have had numerous cars tinted, and have paid a range of prices; and used everything from:

"we'll come to your house and do it outside for a hundred and fifty dollars"

...through...

"We do it under a collapsible sunshade round the back of our building"

...to...

"We drive your car into our clean, dust-free facility, and the film is automatically computer-cut from a database, for a perfect fit".

This last one was the most expensive. -But they GUARANTEE their work. My Audi and the wife's Merc were both done there.

On my Audi, the dot matrix is superbly done. It's just absolutely perfect.

It could be cheap film, since I believe that not all films are created equally, and not all films stick so well as they perhaps should... but it's more commonly down to the skill of the person applying the tint.... and a GOOD tinter will know which films are actually good and which ones are just 'cheap'.

Sounds VERY much to me like your tinter is either NOT very experienced, or perhaps just not at all skilled.

-And I got my Sportback done -INCLUDING tinting the open-sky roof front and back- for about $280 US, using Lumar ceramic tint. (NOT metaLlized, and NOT dye-based... dye based films can wash out and fade, and metallized films cut down on cellphone reception, though they're the only choice if you want a 'silvery' tint...)

Since just aboue everyone gets their glass tinted in these parts, GOOD places are easy to find, and there's a lot of competition for business, which helps keep costs down... but there's also a lot of pressure to be AT LEAST as good as your competitors, or start losing jobs. -the BEST places are the ones which do it right or your money back... and mine has a 5 year satisfaction warranty.

Since I started going to the place I use now, Ive been UTTERLY satisfied, and have never had ANY of the issues that I've had with other tinters... like dirt trapped under the film, 'scabbed' rubber where they've 'nicked' the seal with a kniefe while trimming the film etc, or bubbling or fading film... -Yes, I've had all of these problems over the years, but they STOPPED when I went to a GOOD tinter.

I'm with Nige here... -If your tinter has to ask how to do it without bubbling around the black dotty bits, he's not a skilled tinter, and if you want the job "dunrite"... he's not the man for you.

Can provide pics if required... though my car is a bit of a dirty mess today.

 

[VWAddict]

For what it's worth... a few photos. -Trying to show the dot matrix and also the 'labeling' on the glass... you know, the stuff with the Audi Logo and 'Pilkington' or whatever the glass-maker's logo is:

...and a shot of the rear window (sportback) bottom-right corner:

 

[hades-]

OP post a pic of your tints id like to see how bad they are ?

 

[Macster]

I've used 1 company for 12 years now, not once had any sign of these issues, go back tell him to either correct the issue or remove the film & refund you.

One assumes you've let it settle as some need time to sink flat, depending on how bad it is.

I have tints for various reasons & its certainly not to look cool, uv, heat, security, better for kids, etc, pick a reason.

Can you pm details please?