I'm getting daughters windows tinted for her birtday. anyways we pick the car up with her and her boyfriend. he has a nice rx8 with some nice tint on the windows. anyways we start looking at hers and notice that they did not go all the way to the top of the windows. they left about 1/4 gap at top because they said if you take it all the way to the top, that the seal will catch it and start to pull it off. my 06 tundra was factory tinted and is all the way to the top, and bf's rx8 (not factory tinted)is all the way to the top, are they right or just bs'ing us cause the screwed up?
Window tinting question
- Thread starter Mark55
- Start date
Sounds like you were ripped off, never heard of such an excuse. Hope you didn't go too dark, I've been pulled over far too many times for mine and I can see through my windows to the other side. Just the other morning I was pulled over by a state cop, he even asked if I had ever been pulled over before for it and why I didnt take it off...ended up letting me go without any ticket...by the way I was also pulled over for going 15 over...oops :dig
But anyways, I would demand your money back so you can have it done by someone who knows what they are doing. I always have asked to see an example of their work.
But anyways, I would demand your money back so you can have it done by someone who knows what they are doing. I always have asked to see an example of their work.
sometimes installers short the top 1-4 mm especially if the windows burp when you open the door like on a bmw or porsche are you sure it is a 1/4 inch
i'm not entirely familiar with the rx but if the tint job is overall clean just have the two door windows redone if you can match the tint
llumar is the best tint product i have seen
i'm not entirely familiar with the rx but if the tint job is overall clean just have the two door windows redone if you can match the tint
llumar is the best tint product i have seen
AFAIK there's usually a bit of a gap at the top.
Your factory tinted windows probably weren't tinted in the usual fashion, i.e., it wasn't done by a film. Most OEM tinted glass is done via injection into the glass itself - so its more of a "dye" in the glass itself rather than a film.
Where do you live? It's best to keep it legal. Otherwise, try not to go under 15 at the most... especially with who I'm assuming is a young, beginning driver of yours. Nighttime visibility is paramount. I'd recommend keeping it around 30% or so for her.
Your factory tinted windows probably weren't tinted in the usual fashion, i.e., it wasn't done by a film. Most OEM tinted glass is done via injection into the glass itself - so its more of a "dye" in the glass itself rather than a film.
Where do you live? It's best to keep it legal. Otherwise, try not to go under 15 at the most... especially with who I'm assuming is a young, beginning driver of yours. Nighttime visibility is paramount. I'd recommend keeping it around 30% or so for her.
imported_sonyexec
New member
The last 4 cars I have owned have all been tinted and they always leave a gap at the top of the window so that the rubber in which the window slides into doesn't begin to peel the tinting sheet away from the window.
Look at your window and check out the top rubber part to see what type of seal you have. Some cars the window just plows into a rubber seal other slide BETWEEN 2 pieces (usuall a hard rubber). If your window is the latter (and i think it is) this is why they leave the gap, now a 1/4" maybe a bit much but that would be the tinter's discretion.
I don't think it's that big a deal, pretty standard.
Look at your window and check out the top rubber part to see what type of seal you have. Some cars the window just plows into a rubber seal other slide BETWEEN 2 pieces (usuall a hard rubber). If your window is the latter (and i think it is) this is why they leave the gap, now a 1/4" maybe a bit much but that would be the tinter's discretion.
I don't think it's that big a deal, pretty standard.
Alright, let me ask this to go with the orginal. They had a devil of a time with the rear window. could not get it with creases. after 2 tries they ran out of tint. told him i'd bring it back in a few days for hm to finish. he said he would have to try using 2 pieces to get it to lay right. this place does a decent number of tint jobs, what gives here?
What kind of car does she have? And where did her boyfriend have his windows done? I would complain about the side windows and have someone else do the back window...if they use two pieces than there will be a seam that will be visible forever. I had 20% done on my side windows of my 4-Runner to match the back factory tint and it looks totally stock...illegal, but looks stock. Stock tint is a laminate between two pieces of glass, the glass itself is not tinted.
J.J.
DEEP & WET
I have gap on my tint job as well. It's more like 5 mm though. When the window are up I can't see the gap so I don't care. If I could see the gap with the windows up, then - would have them redone. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother!
audicoupej
New member
Does the tint job look good? Was it cut to fit the window properly (minus the top gap)? Does it come with a lifetime warranty against, fading, peeling, and bubbling?
If so then you didn't get ripped off just because they left a gap. It all depends on the window tinter. Some leave gaps because it can eventually start to peel. Others take it right to the edge. The type of car makes a difference as well. Now that being said a good quality tint should be able to withstand peeling.
Now as far as the rear window goes; you do not want a two piece job done. It always looks like crap up close.
What type of car is it?
If so then you didn't get ripped off just because they left a gap. It all depends on the window tinter. Some leave gaps because it can eventually start to peel. Others take it right to the edge. The type of car makes a difference as well. Now that being said a good quality tint should be able to withstand peeling.
Now as far as the rear window goes; you do not want a two piece job done. It always looks like crap up close.
What type of car is it?
A true pro will never leave a gap. I drive a 350Z and in that car, the windows automatically lower themselves a quarter inch every time the door is opened to keep from colliding with the roof when the door is shut. Once shut, they automatically roll back up.
THAT is an installer's nightmare since there is no "don't roll down your windows for the 2-3 days to give the film time to dry". But the one I went to guaranteed there will be no issue with the auto up/down feature and sure enough, there wasn't. And yes, every mm of the window surface was tinted, no gap left on top.
THAT is an installer's nightmare since there is no "don't roll down your windows for the 2-3 days to give the film time to dry". But the one I went to guaranteed there will be no issue with the auto up/down feature and sure enough, there wasn't. And yes, every mm of the window surface was tinted, no gap left on top.
Joshua312 said:
That's surprising. We bought our Merc in Houston where everyone gets an aftermarket tint because the sun and heat are so brutal. Been in West Michigan for over 5 years and never had any trouble (knock on wood). You can still see the driver which I think is what they're concerned about. Cops don't want to walk up to a car they just pulled over and they can't see if the driver is pointing a gun at them. Roll your window down as soon as you stop, and have your hands on top of the wheel when they approach your car. Puts their mind at ease a bit.
If there's a millimeter gap on top of my windows that's it.
i12flytoday
New member
I had my Merc done with 20 all around, and had them use a ceramic coated tint for maximum heat blockage. Mine goes all the way to the top of the glass on all for windows. I also had my windshield done with 40 or 50, something in that range. I was afraid about it at night, but it's just like normal at night. I don't even notice it. But it blocks SO much more heat. Of course, the entire job is illegal as hell, but they don't bother me in the Merc. I live in Charlotte, NC, and they would ticket me if I was in a riced out honda, but they really don't bother cars like mine, unless they have a reason to, then they will use that as an excuse for more tickets. They sure love to get speeders here, no matter what you are driving.
When I had my tint done, it was a Sunday and the shop was normally closed. The owner was in doing only two jobs. One was mine, and another was a CMPD cruiser. The officer was having the tint on his new cruiser done at his own expense, and it was 20 all the way around, with 35 on the windshield. He was in the shop, and at first I was a bit worried, but he told me that it doesn't matter. He said that he wouldn't pull anyone over for that unless he had a another reason.
The only trick here is getting a guy that will give you the inspection sticker. Most of us don't have a problem with that though as everybody and their cousin has an inspection license now.
When I had my tint done, it was a Sunday and the shop was normally closed. The owner was in doing only two jobs. One was mine, and another was a CMPD cruiser. The officer was having the tint on his new cruiser done at his own expense, and it was 20 all the way around, with 35 on the windshield. He was in the shop, and at first I was a bit worried, but he told me that it doesn't matter. He said that he wouldn't pull anyone over for that unless he had a another reason.
The only trick here is getting a guy that will give you the inspection sticker. Most of us don't have a problem with that though as everybody and their cousin has an inspection license now.
You have any pics? If you can't see it when the windows are up I wouldn't worry about it. I have had some go almost all the way to the edge and others stock 1/8 inch back or so....like I said though, if you can't see it from the inside with the windows up then don't worry about it.
Tex_Ag_2003
New member
On each of my past few cars the window tint had a small gap at the top on windows that roll down, though not 1/4 inch. I think my installer wanted a bit more insurance that he wouldn't be replacing peeling tint anytime soon, so he left some margin there. From the sound of it, the installer you've chosen isn't the best. I don't know what kind of car you're trying to have done but a 1/4 inch gap on the windows and a two-piece rear windshield sounds silly. I'd probably keep the tint I got from this installer as-is and have someone else do the rear glass. Just my thoughts...