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Tint over defroster lines, night driving

Guest BMF136

By Guest BMF136
in Window Tinting - General Discussion

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Guest BMF136

Guest BMF136

Posted
Posted

Hi, I just had my windows tinted on a 2003 Jetta. The shop did what appears to be a great job, I just have a question about the rear window. At night, other cars headlights now distort. In other words, rather than see just the headlights, I see a reflection in each of the defroster lines. I've had tinted windows before but have never had this happen :trustme . Is there anything that can be done about this or is it a common Jetta problem? If it makes a difference the tint is the maximum legal, 20% in the rear windows, 30% for the front two but the problem is only with the rear window.

Thanks for any help with this!

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TintWizard

TintWizard

Posted
Posted

some cars will do this with some films...every once in a while a customer such as yourself will post this common question. Unfortunatly there's nothing you can do about it, not the tinters fault. It's the reflectivity of the headlights hitting the metal in the film and refracting the light in other directions where the film rides over the defroster lines. Different cars have different widths and thicknesses of lines. You will eventually get used to it and the many benifets of your tint outway this one side affect. Hope this helps :trustme

Guest Litespeeds

Guest Litespeeds

Posted
Posted

That is a normal thing to see some refraction of light coming from the defrost lines. It is even more noticeable on vehicles like Lexus or others that have very thick defrost lines.

What is happening is the tint has to flex up and over the line and there is a slight air pocket between the defrost line and window film. When headlights shine on the tint, it refracts the light on top and bottom of that line causing it to have that multiple headlight effect.

What you need to do is stop staring at the rear view mirrow at the rear window but to learn how to glance at the rear view mirror and look through the film. This will help you to adjust to the window tint and it won't bother you anymore.

I have been tinting for about 16 years now and I had only one customer that complained about this problem and just couldn't live with it and had me remove the film.

Guest thetintshop

Guest thetintshop

Posted
Posted

do what new car dealerships tell their customers.

I had a friend buy a new chevy truck. it had this little rattle going on that was hard to hear, but it would drive me nuts if it was mine. he took it back and the OWNER of the dealership said "turn the radio up". :trustme

so my advice is the same as OT's, stop looking in your mirror.

Guest asmythe1

Guest asmythe1

Posted
Posted
That is a normal thing to see some refraction of light coming from the defrost lines.  It is even more noticeable on vehicles like Lexus or others that have very thick defrost lines. 

What is happening is the tint has to flex up and over the line and there is a slight air pocket between the defrost line and window film.  When headlights shine on the tint, it refracts the light on top and bottom of that line causing it to have that multiple headlight effect.

What you need to do is stop staring at the rear view mirrow at the rear window but to learn how to glance at the rear view mirror and look through the film.  This will help you to adjust to the window tint and it won't bother you anymore.

I have been tinting for about 16 years now and I had only one customer that complained about this problem and just couldn't live with it and had me remove the film.

That is a normal thing to see some refraction of light coming from the defrost lines. It is even more noticeable on vehicles like Lexus or others that have very thick defrost lines.

What is happening is the tint has to flex up and over the line and there is a slight air pocket between the defrost line and window film. When headlights shine on the tint, it refracts the light on top and bottom of that line causing it to have that multiple headlight effect.

Man, I have 04 Acura TL and I'm having a same problem. It's driving me up the wall. I thought the situation will get better with time, but I guess not. Will getting a non metallic tint help? Or will it still be the same? TIA.

Guest Litespeeds

Guest Litespeeds

Posted
Posted

Non-metal films are thinner and might not show as much refraction of light but it all comes down to how thick the defrost lines are. I do the tinting for 2 of the Acura dealerships up here in the Bay Area and I haven't had any customer's complain about this small problem.

Just glance at your rear view mirror instead of looking through it. If you drive the speed limit, the cops won't be behind you. :trustme :inot

Guest Blade

Guest Blade

Posted
Posted

Seriously now....if it was just tinted, give it a couple weeks. It might be curing still. I've heard complaints of this, but never with a Jetta.

It is even more noticeable on vehicles like Lexus

BINGO..... :trustme :inot :lol

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