MK6 Front Tint to match factory 'Dark Tint' option

[Pepe]

+1 for having my dealer tell me the fronts couldn't be legally matched to the privacy glass... seriously, how can they get away with selling it like that? Surely leaving themselves open to trouble in the case of an accident? Oh well, got it in writing at least.

Anyway, tintacar have quoted me nearly $400 for Midnight Express on the fronts and clear UV protective tint on the rest of the car. Seems a lot, but apparently clear tint isn't cheap? ME seems pretty dark, and I swear the privacy glass really doesn't seem that dark. Would hate to end up with darker fronts than at the rear. Anyone gone down that particular path before?

[Corey_R]

There are many manufacturers who have the rear and rear side windows in "privacy tint" and then have the front side windows in 35%, being the darkest legal. For example, most Lexus' are sold this way. Although it appears to be a grey area in the law, there is no requirement to even have rear side or rear windows. Look at trucks and vans for example.

So it really is your passenger and drivers side windows which are most important.

The frustration is that VW only do some of the windows and not all the windows.
The other thing is that VW only say it's 65% light absorbing (which in itself means nothing, what TYPE of light... how much gets reflected, how much gets transmitted). It's such a bull**** specification.

Again, we've been over this so many times, I just wish VW would either do the job properly and also factor tint the front side windows (with a matching legal tint) or just not do it at all.

[hooba]

+1 for having my dealer tell me the fronts couldn't be legally matched to the privacy glass... seriously, how can they get away with selling it like that? Surely leaving themselves open to trouble in the case of an accident? Oh well, got it in writing at least.

Anyway, tintacar have quoted me nearly $400 for Midnight Express on the fronts and clear UV protective tint on the rest of the car. Seems a lot, but apparently clear tint isn't cheap? ME seems pretty dark, and I swear the privacy glass really doesn't seem that dark. Would hate to end up with darker fronts than at the rear. Anyone gone down that particular path before?

My dealer used these guys for the fronts and they are as good a match to the factory rears as you can expect.

Street Legal Window Tinting | Vehicle Protection with MotorOne

[Corey_R]

My dealer used these guys for the fronts and they are as good a match to the factory rears as you can expect.

Street Legal Window Tinting | Vehicle Protection with MotorOne

That's also the tint that Dermot said that Wangara VW in WA have found to be the best match locally.

[hooba]

That's also the tint that Dermot said that Wangara VW in WA have found to be the best match locally.

Ah yes, however Pepe is in Sid-er-knee.

[Pepe]

My dealer used these guys for the fronts and they are as good a match to the factory rears as you can expect.

Street Legal Window Tinting | Vehicle Protection with MotorOne

Thanks for that... will give them a buzz tomorrow and find out what they can do.

[DracZ]

That's also the tint that Dermot said that Wangara VW in WA have found to be the best match locally.

I had my fronts done with midnight express and I found them to be a poor match in terms of color. The privacy glass has a green tinge to it, most if not all local tints have a grey/charcoal tint. Extremely obvious difference especially in the sun, despite the match in "darkness". I've since removed the tint, rather have it clear then a different color.

[Corey_R]

Well that's good that Dermot has recommended a tint (confusingly called) "Street Legal", not Midnight Express.

[DracZ]

Well that's good that Dermot has recommended a tint (confusingly called) "Street Legal", not Midnight Express.

MEP Films, the distro for Llumar tints owns, and provides both Motor One and Tint a Car with their films. Street legal, midnight express .... basically your getting the same charcoal tints in slightly different variants. Bottom line is that neither of those companies supply a green based tint that completely matches the privacy glass found on VW vehicles.

[Corey_R]

Yeah, I know. The company that VW partnered with to develop a matching film-based tint for the fronts does not appear to bring the required tint to Australia. So "Street Legal" is apparently as good as it'll get here. There is no way I'd not have a tint due to heat and UV etc.

Yet another reason why VW should just not subject it's customers to a half-arsed job.

[coastie]

On the tint report my front transmission is 35% and the rear is 17% with only UV clear applied, so there will always be a mismatch in light transmission if they remain legal at 35% on the front.

[Corey_R]

On the tint report my front transmission is 35% and the rear is 17% with only UV clear applied, so there will always be a mismatch in light transmission if they remain legal at 35% on the front.

What brand and model "UV Clear" did you use? Because a "clear tint" will still only transmit a certain % of Visible Light (VLT). Even "clear glass" doesn't transfer 100% VLT.

For example, Solargard's LX70 only transmits 72% VLT when installed on 3mm glass and yet it is considered virtually invisible.

The reason I ask is that, the 17% VLT on your rear windows may be much lower than the Volkswagen Factory Tint would be without the UV Clear on it.

[dave_r]

Yeah, I know. The company that VW partnered with to develop a matching film-based tint for the fronts does not appear to bring the required tint to Australia. So "Street Legal" is apparently as good as it'll get here. There is no way I'd not have a tint due to heat and UV etc.

Yet another reason why VW should just not subject it's customers to a half-arsed job.

I wish they didn't fit it at all, I haven't bothered with tint for years so not really fussed. But the more I see cars with factory tint on the rear and nothing on the front the more I think it looks retarded.

I noticed a lot of people put those mesh shades over rear windows to stop sunlight hitting the precious kids (never did me any harm), its not something crazy like that is it?

[Corey_R]

No... the factory tint is in the glass itself, not even a film. So it has the potential to be better than a film tint. The issues are:

• Volkswagen have not published the specifications of the tint
• The tint apparently does not block all types of UV
• The tint apparently does not block anywhere near as much heat as many quality film tints
• The tint is only applied to the side rear and rear windows
• The tint is difficult to match in colour to the film tints available on the (Australian) market
• It costs about what it'd cost to get the entire car tinted with film anyway (where individually optionable)
• "Clear UV" tint film to increase the UV and heat blocking effectiveness of the VW tint is more expensive than regular tint and then means you lose all the advantages of having a glazed tint anyway!

So as I said... well done VW... you've done a bang-up job
*sigh*

[hooba]

I noticed a lot of people put those mesh shades over rear windows to stop sunlight hitting the precious kids (never did me any harm), its not something crazy like that is it?

It is more about protecting them from direct sunlight, when they are strapped in (can't move out of its way) and are too young to understand how to block the sunlight when it hits them in the face by themselves. The normally tell you this by crying / screaming, which annoys the crap out mummy / daddy who are probably already sleep deprived.