BAD Light Refraction w/ Window Tinting - HELP!
 

I tried searching through for other people who have had this problem, but I couldn't find anything.

I got my 99 Bonneville SE tinted on Friday and I am completely happy with it (a couple of small bubbles on the front left window, but it is barely noticeable - and no, I have not rolled down my windows yet! ;)) EXCEPT for the rear window. The problem is I am getting horrible glare from headlights to the point where I can't see clearly out of the window. I don't know how else to describe it, but it's as if light is shining on all of my defroster windows.

I'm really unhappy about the glare, but I don't know if this is normal for tinting or not or if this is something that will go away if I wait a little longer. Does anyone have any help or ideas before I go back to the shop and complain?[/i]

Go to the wrecker and get an electrochromic (auto-dimming) rear view mirror from a Bonneville or Cadillac equipped with one. We'll help you install it. I did this on my SLE because I'm so addicted to this great feature in the SSEi.

Let me be a little more clear on the problem. Here is a sample picture I stole from another website which illustrates the problem. I guess it is more of a "refraction" issue than glare.

http://www.sjsuchalc.org/tint.jpg

The quality of the tint film they used sucks balls. But the mirror I mentioned will help reduce the effect.

They used Llumar.

I also went outside just know to take a closer look at the rear window. It looks like there are tiny gaps where the defroster lines are. Not hugely noticeable, but when you get real close, it is definitely visible, especially at the edges of the window. Could this be part of the problem?

From what I read, the problem is from the defroster lines themselves and "ridges" that occur there with the film. But, I don't know if I have t live with this now forever.

I would ask them to re-tint it as it looks like there is some issue with the tint itself. Here in Texas, we have every vehicle in our immediate family tinted and I have had all my vehicles tinted since 1984 and I have never seen 'distortion' or 'refraction' like that no matter what brand of tint or how light or how dark. Good luck with having that taken care of without having to go somewhere else and incur more expense.

The little lines along the defrost elements are normal, and should MOSTLY dissipate over the next week or so.

Llumar is top shelf tint. Have you tried to operate the rear window defroster to help shrink the tint around the defroster grid lines?

The problem will go away. I would take it back to the tint shop and show them the air bubbles as those can be removed.

I haven't tried to turn on the rear defroster yet, but I'll try it. I think I'll wait a little longer to make sure it dries completely (though I am parking it in the sun and it has been really sunny down here lately).

I'm gonna wipe down my windows today (using just water and some soft soap) and see if maybe I can get rid of some of the fingerprints I put on my window. ;)

So, is it normal that the tint doesn't go over the rear defroster lines? Because I just noticed that it doesn't on my car. It's almost as if the tint was put in on strips. I'll try to take pictures and post them to show you.

Plus, on the edges of the back window, where there are "dots", the guy didn't put any tint whatsoever. That's not that big of a deal for me, but I did notice it.

Urgh, why do I feel like I got taken here on this tint job? :( :(