Window tint problems

[MrGadget]

Hi guys, just need some opinions on my window tinting issues. I've had the tint on for a week now and there are some small bubbles still visible. The other issue is that the tint on the front windows haven't gone to the edge of the glass (edge closest to the side mirrors) so there is about a 1 cm vertical strip of visible untinted glass. Apparently it couldn't be done unless the door trims were taken off and I wasn't keen on doing that.

So am I being too fussy about this and these things are normal? Bear in mind that I went to a respected tinter.

I am seriously considering going back to the car dealer to have it redone. Just feeling a bit upset by it all to be honest

Thanks.

[candy_wagon]

I remember having bubbles in mine for about 2 weeks after the tint was done. But the company assured me that bubbles are normal for the first 30 days. Try leaving it in the sunshine (if you can find some) as much as possible - apparently that helps.

As for the gap, that sounds like a cop out. There are no gaps in mine anywhere and no panels were removed on my car. If anything I would have just thought that they might just remove the triangular cover panel from the mirror mount which would not worry me.

[QBDentFree]

My other half had a couple tiny bubbles for about 2 weeks after I had hers done as well, and only in one window. They did go away by themselves.

Can I ask why you didn't want the door trims removed? For the sake of about 5 mins work you could have avoided the issue. The tinter probably cracked it at being told how to do his job

[GTD Dubber]

I agree. Ask to have it redone. On mine there is no gap and the tint goes right up to the edge of the glass. I also asked do you need to take the door cards off these days, they said no. They put a wedge in somehow between the glass and the door card and it works perfectly. It did on mine at least. Good luck.

[brad]

If you go back to the dealer they will simply sub-contract the work.

If you got Rob Tait to do the work then I'd suggest you let him get on with the job rather than have him jump through hoops.

Bubbles- give it a month & find some sun.

You have a 12 month warranty on workmanship don't you?

[MrGadget]

I don't want to name the tinter because I am still in the middle with working this out and i know lots of people have recommended him. The tinter originally thought he had done Octavia before, but we when I arrived there he realized that he had only done other Skoda models so we both agreed on leaving the door trims in place.

I'm happy if the bubbles go away but that gap sounds like it should not be there. He said something about the tint will crease if he did it right to the edge?

I won't go into detail about my email exchanges but he offered to take all tints off (with full money refund) and I should go elsewhere! I was a little shocked at this since he didn't even offer to look at it first and I wasn't not rude at all in my email with him.

The tint is otherwise very nice and I'd rather not take it off because then I'd have to go through all this again with another tint guy. Sounds like he just can't be bothered to redo the bits in question?

[MrGadget]

I remember having bubbles in mine for about 2 weeks after the tint was done. But the company assured me that bubbles are normal for the first 30 days. Try leaving it in the sunshine (if you can find some) as much as possible - apparently that helps.

As for the gap, that sounds like a cop out. There are no gaps in mine anywhere and no panels were removed on my car. If anything I would have just thought that they might just remove the triangular cover panel from the mirror mount which would not worry me.

Does that cover just come off by applying a little force?

[BottomScratcher]

The tinter originally thought he had done Octavia before, but we when I arrived there he realized that he had only done other Skoda models so we both agreed on leaving the door trims in place.

As others have said the bubbles are normal and should go in anything from a few days to 3 or 4 weeks.

As brad said, if you go back to the dealer they'll get a third party contractor to do the job, and charge like a wounded bull.

As for the untinted edge. My tint covers the glass. The door trims came off. I know the quality of work that my tint guy does, and didn't have an issue with the trims coming off a then 1 week old car, because I trust him. The quote above says it all. In other words, on all the other cars he does the tinter would normally take the door trims off in order to be able to do a satisfactory job, but in this case it was agreed not to take the trims off in case something got broken, and hope for the best. A good tinter with the confidence to take responsibility for removing Octy door trims was who you should've gone to in the first place after giving over your own concerns about what damage could be done to your new pride and joy. I feel your disappointment and frustration, and don't mean to sound over critical of your choice, but purely and simply, it was your choice.

Also, if he hadn't done an Octy before then I doubt he would've already had a template or pattern ready to go. It's possible that the film was cut wrong to start with. The cutting is important, because a lot of people don't realise that what is being done is applying a flat film to a curved glass. It has to be done right. A good tinter will apply film like laying out a rug. They use plenty of lubricant, start at the top edge of the window, then roll it down smoothing out air bubbles with squeegees and teflon cards to smooth out edges and work the tint into the areas below the weatherstripping so that the tint covers fully no matter if the window is up, down or partway open. Anything else is simply just not good enough.

EDIT: I'd take him up on the offer to remove and refund and seek someone else who can do it to your satisfaction. It might bug you for the rest of the time you keep the car if you don't.

[MrGadget]

A good tinter with the confidence to take responsibility for removing Octy door trims was who you should've gone to in the first place after giving over your own concerns about what damage could be done to your new pride and joy. I feel your disappointment and frustration, and don't mean to sound over critical of your choice, but purely and simply, it was your choice.

Yes, this is why I went to him in the first place because he said he had done half a dozen or so Octavias before. So I felt ok about the trims being removed. However when it was realized that this this was not the case in hindsight I should've not gone further and just said sorry but I'll take it somewhere else.

So now if I decide to get the tint off I need to find someone else confident with removing Octavia door trims and not damaging them. I've heard too many stories of scratched interiors, broken door clips etc.

[brad]

I had a look at mine.

There are no gaps & I know there was no trim removed. It was the first Octy done by Rob of Hunters Hill Window Tint.

[BottomScratcher]

I've heard too many stories of scratched interiors, broken door clips etc.

brad has made a recommendation that's worth checking out. It'll cost you the time it takes to make a phone call.

I don't want to sound like a narc about it, but on one hand you're concerned about what a professional will do to your car, while on the other you're asking people on an anonymous forum how much force to use to pull a plastic cover off. DON'T TOUCH IT! Have a little faith, and get on the phone.

[brad]

brad has made a recommendation that's worth checking out. It'll cost you the time it takes to make a phone call.

I don't want to sound like a narc about it, but on one hand you're concerned about what a professional will do to your car, while on the other you're asking people on an anonymous forum how much force to use to pull a plastic cover off. DON'T TOUCH IT! Have a little faith, and get on the phone.

I'm in Sydney like you.

[MrGadget]

I'm in Melbourne.

[BottomScratcher]

Sorry mate. So, if you didn't use Rob Tait, or another tinter recommended on the other thread give him a call.

If you did then go back and start from scratch. Sometimes the written word can be taken the wrong way. You seem reasonable, and a pro will always listen to reasonable people. Nothing to lose in giving that a go.