[AndyA.]

Well, just had my first inro to the wonderful world of window tinting...

To be honest - it wasn't as bad as I had originally thought. Although the result wasn't quite perfect! I'm still quite pleased.
The sliding door windows were the easiest actually, probably because they're so easy to get at... Still have to do the tailgate window, but I'll have to buy a few more metres... They just don't give you enough to 'practise' with!

A few points to keep in mind - Use loads of solution and watch out you don't scratch it as I have - spray solution on both sides before squeegying........

Anyone experienced with removing this stuff after a while..? As I may go darker... Light smoke is nice, but the next shade looks better in hind-sight!




Cheers
Andy

 

[walsi]

Hi ya, i havent tried to remove it but i would think a window scraper would do the job fine. A word of warning about the rear window, if it curves in both directions it will be impossible to do with standard tinting film. The experts use stuff that shrinks when heated slightly apparently. I tried and tried to do the rear window on my old Previa but no joy, it just wouldn't work with the double curve of the window.

Cheers Martin

 

[TANNERS]

JUST DONE MY REAR WINDOW F**CKING NIGHTMARE IT LOOKS SHIT

still got sides to do

advice needed

 

[VitoSurfer]

In addition to what walsi said about the convex curve of the window ................the pros cut the sheet roughly to shape and then lay it on the OUTSIDE of the rear window, its then heated until the vinyl reaches a temperature high enough for the material to lose its 'memory' and matches the curve of the glass, let it cool and then fit internally.

It is possible to do the heating part with your wife/g'friend's hair dryer, but try an off cut first, as you can overheat the vinyl!
hth

 

[AndyA.]

Yeah!
I had seen this mentioned somewhere before - but I'm going to have to wait until I move house at the end of the month as I park miles away from my 1st floor flat!

I've got a heat gun which is aparently better than a hairdrier for this. Let's hope it doesn't look like the wing of my model glider!
Hmmmm... I wonder how easy it is to melt the rubber and paintwork... Oooer, this could get interesting...



The more I look at it, the better it is... I think I'll stick with the light smoke!

 

[Sarge786]

Insurance after tinting !!

Just a word about INSURANCE!

What you got to remember is that the front doors and the front windscreen are usually pre-tinted to the specifications of the law !

IF you tint the front doors and god forbid you were involved in an accident, the insurance can be nulled, as I my brother found out recently! He has a Vauxhall Zafira and the insurance took one look at his car and said it wasn't covered!

SO, bear that in mind guys!

Oh you can tint the rest of the vehicle to your hearts desire, but not as mentioned above.

TO REMOVE them, you will need to peel it off, which is a fiddly process and then clean the residue with something like white spirit or thinners....just need some elbow grease

 

[AndyA.]

I was under the impression that there was a limit to how dark you were allowed to do the rest of the windows - probably something about the police being able to see how many drug dealers we actually do carry about in the back...
Or something like that.

Although I have noticed almost every tint you can think of out there.

That issue with insurance is pretty scary... Ouch!

 

[Benz Bling]

I had my windows tinted a couple of years ago by a local company and the bloke who did them said the general rule of thumb seemed to be, as long as the front windows appear lighter than the rear there is never usually any problems. I have a 50% tint on the rear windows and a 5% tint on the driver and passenger windows. That isn’t including whatever percentage of tint was done my Mercedes-Benz and I haven't experienced any problems from the filth...yet! :monkes:

Benz Bling

 

[Sarge786]

The Cops don't usually care unless the have too in this matter.
If you have a look at the glass on the doors there is a number mark that tells you if the windows are tinted and to what level.

The insurance assesor showed me that on my 13 year old Nissan Serena, that I had tinted myself, there was no number on the glass, therefore I could tint it without any problems, on the 6 year old Zafira however, there was a number next to the BS kite mark that showed the glass was tinted to the max level a manufacturer can.

Have a look at these 3 sites!!
There is also a document attached !!

The Law On Window Tinting | Road Tests, Auto Features


16-02-04 Blackout Blitz


Pentagon UK: The latest changes to window tinting legislation in the UK. Car window and security glass law

 

[nail it]

copper carri a light meter and 75% of the light must pass through the glass any less you are nicked thats the front windows only 4 of my mates got done

 

[[email protected]]

Mirrored windows are now illegal but tinted behind the drivers seat is unregulated - after all the ultimate tint must be a van with solid sides.

tailgate not regulated PROVIDED there are 2 outside rear mirrors (1 on each side) that are clean and in good condition (again think of a van)