Applying rear window tint - ArgghhhhH!

[Dodgey]

Just tried applying a tint to the rear window. Tint now in bin :-p

It went on fine but in places it refused to stick down due to the "rough" black perimiter of the glass, and also the rough left and right edges by the electrical connectors for the screen demister. In these places the "unstuck bits"/bubbles then spread inwards. No matter how many times I squeegied them away they would return, until the point that they had dried out and squeegying caused creases.

The only solution I can see is to trim the tint to be very slightly smaller than it needs to be so it doesn't go over the rough stuff, but I can't imagine I can trim that neatly - it'll be a mess - there will be a thin "clear" line round the tint and unless it's perfectly uniform it'll look terrible.

I'm also doing the side windows tomorrow and I can see the same problem happening as they also have a rough perimiter.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Solarstat film ( http://www.solarstat.co.uk/ ) used to do a Limo Black, but now it seems you just add layers until it is the right shade. Solarfilm sticks by static alone, and can be removed and re-applied...a few people have used it on their Bongos with great success. Tinting the back can be a right doo-dah if you haven't the experience...I only did the sides on mine, and left the back as it was!
Cheers
Helen

[longhaul8]

Never tinted my windows my van came with them done, But i seem to remember the king of the pimp BDC said he takes the windows out to tint them can see that as a pain with the rear. And if it was not BDC opps i got it wrong

[8etty 8ongo]

might be worth getting someone else to do it? whereabout are you. the guy that did ours did a fantastic job - would highly recommend him

[Dodgey]

I'm down in Somerset. I'm considering paying to get it done. I know I will be able to do the sides... though there is doubt. My rear attempt was pretty close, but I'm a perfectionist and I won't accept little faults - hence I ripped it off. The sides have the same rough edging which gives me the doubts....

[8etty 8ongo]

I'm down in Somerset. I'm considering paying to get it done. I know I will be able to do the sides... though there is doubt. My rear attempt was pretty close, but I'm a perfectionist and I won't accept little faults - hence I ripped it off. The sides have the same rough edging which gives me the doubts....

if youre a perfectionist get someone to do it, otherwise youll not be happy. youve done everything else so have a break

[winchman]

I bought my film from Ebay not the cheapest, the back was difficult, I had to do one side and that was very easy as we took it out.
I feel we just didnt have enough water / soap mix on the back, I would suggest to do a dummy run and do the back twice as mine was difficult I even took it off twice until I got it on and was reasonably happy with it , its not perfect but cost me about £13 including a squegee. I may do it again in the summer
I pulled off the mesh and cut the film the same size as this and that was a good start.
I was quoted between £50 and £80 just to do the back so thought for £13 its worth having a go, its one of those things that you may only do a few times in your life but once you have done it its easy but you may never need to do it again!

[stuc]

You will struggle to do the rear perfect if you use cheap film as it doesnt shrinkwrap well. The way to do it is put it on the outside, with backing on but sticky side out. trim it to size, then use a heat gun to shrink it to the correct shape of the window. If you dont do this thats what causes creases. you then remove the backing and transfer to the inside using plenty of water with a bit soap, some use talc as well, then use your squeegee to push all the water out. I tried it a few times and made a right arse. Got someone else to do it in the end. Sides were ok with the windows out.

[cabte]

You will struggle to do the rear perfect if you use cheap film as it doesnt shrinkwrap well. The way to do it is put it on the outside, with backing on but sticky side out. trim it to size, then use a heat gun to shrink it to the correct shape of the window. If you dont do this thats what causes creases. you then remove the backing and transfer to the inside using plenty of water with a bit soap, some use talc as well, then use your squeegee to push all the water out. I tried it a few times and made a right arse. Got someone else to do it in the end. Sides were ok with the windows out.

As stu said you cant do this in a hole sheet whithout it being shrinkwrap film.
The only way to do it would be to do it in two section.
Spray the outside of the rear window place the film on and squeegy the water out .
Then with someone on the inside using a tourch shining out you will be able to see the black part of the window trim about 20mm over size. This will give you the shape of the window.
Then still shining the tourch cut the sheet in half in the middle following one of the rear window heater elements, you now have two sheats.
Now put the film on the inside with soapy water.
Makeing sure you over lap the heater eliment you used as a guidline.
Then do the same with the bottom sheet of film this time over lap the top film.
This is the tricky bit, with a very very sharp knife from one end start to cut through the over lapped films as close as poss to the heater element once you have done this remove the waste bits of film squeegy out the water where the join is and if done right you will have a perfect join near the over the element.

It wont be noticable from the inside / outside as the element hides it

[Dodgey]

Thanks. All. I've been quoted locally £60 to do the rear so I'll go with that.

As for the sides - did you do the tint all the way to the glass edge (going over the black stuff)?

[daveblueozzie]

My side windows were swapped last year for factory tinted, free swap for taking both sets out, and me and bigdaddycain then applied a blue tint to the inside of the windows going straight to the edge of the black on windows, dont think it will stick to the black, never tried it.
factory tinted from the outside.

blue tint on the inside.