MK6 Front Tint to match factory 'Dark Tint' option

[WhiteJames]

Dealer tells me that the Street Wise Blue/Black Tint (Solaire) most closely resembles the factory privacy glass. Here is the NSW RTA guidelines for the window tinting:

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi03_rev3.pdf

Most glass window manufacturers state that their glass prevents up to 98% of harmful UV rays.

Max legal for NSW is 35% VLT.

Cheers.
WJ

[dopey]

No, dopey, there is a factory tint option that uses tinted glass on the rear window and the rear passenger windows. The fronts always come with clear glass from the factory. The trick is to match the tint film for the front with the tinted glass on the rear windows.

Oh well there you go... it seems nobody around my area has fancied the tint option then! As mentioned before, I had only seen them with completely untinted glass on all windows.

[MurphyTheElf]

I spoke to a rep from the dealer tint company. He was a little cagey to give me full details, but he did tell me that it was a 35% green tinge tint - and I finally got him to tell me it was a Llumar product.

A quick search for these details gave me this forum, that details a product called Llumar AT 35 Green. Whether or not it still has the same name, I can't be sure.

The factory privacy glass is a 17% so they can't legally match it, but this looks pretty damn close to me.

Hope this helps someone.

[Corey_R]

The factory privacy glass is a 17% so they can't legally match it, but this looks pretty damn close to me.

You see - this is what I hate about the factory tint, because there is just not enough specs on it.

Firstly, VW is only calling it 'Dark Tint', not privacy glass. I've searched but cannot find any reference to 'privacy glass' in VW documentation made publically available.

In the Golf brochures VW state it's 65% light absorbing - which in itself is probably a rubbish statement. But most people, myself included, have taken that to mean 100-65 = '35% Visible Light Transmittance'. Of course, if it really did absorb 65% of light, then you'd also have to take out what it reflects to reach how much it transmits, amoung other factors too technical to think about.

But this new figure of 17% is something new. I personally doubt that as none of the photos posted would seem to show it as being that dark. Although admittedly it's always hard to tell from photos.

Does ANYONE have any specifications for the VW factory tint?

[G-rig]

I'd just get it as dark as you have to to match it, not from the dealer.

Sucks the privacy glass is so dark and differing intensity tints look crap IMO.

20% would prob be fairly close, as long as it's a green tinge.

Given the choice i'd give privacy glass a miss as the UV properties aren't as good as normal tint either from what i gather.

[emuexport]

unfortunately the privacy tint glass comes with the Sports pack!

Will be having a look when it arrives and definetely re-read this to find out the best option!

[G-rig]

No, dopey, there is a factory tint option that uses tinted glass on the rear window and the rear passenger windows. The fronts always come with clear glass from the factory. The trick is to match the tint film for the front with the tinted glass on the rear windows.

I thought you could get GTI's with no tint at all (ie dont tick factory tint and later you can get dealer tint ie all windows match?).

Seems like you have to with the sportspack on the 118TSI, and the Golf R is rumored to come with it stock as well.

[kennyc]

I have ordered dealer tint when i get my car.
They will tint it when the car comes in.

[G-rig]

Anyone got some more pics of 'dark glass' and dealer tinted front windows? As long as the colour is the same i dont mind if it's slightly lighter, as it would be obviously illegal if you matched it up.

I'm not sure if this is no tint or 35% on the front windows:
(don't know why manufacturers bother with privacy glass, doesn't seem to offer much/any UV protection as well as costing $400):

[Corey_R]

G-rig. All the photos I've seen the tint has matched. As I said on the previous page, this IS NOT privacy glass and I have NEVER seen ANYTHING from VW which says that it is. The VW specs say '65% light absorbing', and everyone so far has considered this to mean '35% tint'.

The post yesterday from MurphyTheElf is the first time anyone has posted anything about it being anything else. I'm still waiting to see anything to backup the remarks though (not doubting Murphy, just what he has been told).

[G-rig]

Cheers Coreying, just need to see a pic of this 'dark glass' with the dealer matched tint (seems like it's pretty close). It's also true that more light comes in from the front windows.

Just hope it's not as dark as the pic above, but i'm guessing the front windows in that pic aren't tinted at all. Don't want too dark on the front (ie >= 20%) as it's a pain to see out of and a safety issue.

I got Sungard Eclipse on my last car, and it was stunning and very easy to see out of. Being a bit reflective it rejects a lot of heat, and was surprised when i was in the back of my sisters Mazda 3 which had tint, seems like i could feel the heat. Perhaps the aircon wasn't blowing in my face etc).

[G-rig]

G-rig. All the photos I've seen the tint has matched. As I said on the previous page, this IS NOT privacy glass and I have NEVER seen ANYTHING from VW which says that it is. The VW specs say '65% light absorbing', and everyone so far has considered this to mean '35% tint'.

Yeah call it what you like, i meant to say 'Dark Glass'.

So what kind of glass is on the back of that GTI?

Here's on the the R, which is dark glass is meant to be standard isn't it? With a camera it wouldnt be that much of a big deal tinting the front a 'bit' darker than 35% if it matches well.

[MurphyTheElf]

The post yesterday from MurphyTheElf is the first time anyone has posted anything about it being anything else. I'm still waiting to see anything to backup the remarks though (not doubting Murphy, just what he has been told).

Yes, I was just passing on the specs given to me by the tint rep. My dealer has an in-house tint company since they are so large. He said the factory tinted glass was 17%, which they can't match with film for legal reasons. Not sure where his figures come from.

[WhiteJames]

^A couple of dealers have told me that they cannot legally match the front windows with the rear privacy glass on the MKVI GTI; which suggests to me that the rear glass has lower light transference than 35% - the legal limit for tinting windows. This creates a grey area in the regulations if the rear privacy glass has a lower VLT (17% as mentioned above) on the rear three windows.

I'd imagine that the over-riding ADR certification allows for these windows to be darker than allowed with an aftermarket tint, providing that they are the rear three windows only as stated to be the case in Europe.

Where does that leave us with tinting the front windows?

I can't see any rule or regulation in NSW not permitting tinting the front windows up to 35% VLT with rear privacy glass of (possibly) 17% VLT. My argument for this is that the vehicle is ADR certified and NSW RTA say I can tint front windows as much as 35% with no mention of max factory tint on the rear windows - the grey area in the law.

Normally the front side windows appear to be a lighter shade in colour due to the clear front windscreen. Having a slightly mismatched tint from front-side windows to rear-side windows should not impact too much on the overall look of the Golf; although its important to have the closest match in terms of colour. The pics poster earlier seem to show a Black colour on the GTI and Green colour on the Golf R.

I prefer slightly less light transference (higher VLT) as it aids visibility.

Putting clear expensive tint is going a bit overboard ... esp in my case as the GTI is garaged at home mostly and undercover at work when driven to work.

My 2 cents worth.

Cheers.
WJ

[Corey_R]

Yeah - I mean, technically you don't require a rear or side rear windows AT ALL! Just look at trucks and many vans. So having side rear and rear windows tinted with values less than 35% VLT is no issue with me. Other companies (Toyota/Lexus etc) do it, but they also have the front side windows tinted in 35% to match the rear glass either.

My issues with this dark tint are:-

• Volkswagen do not seem to be able to disclose what the specifications for their factory 'dark tint' is.
• 65% 'light absorbing' is not a useful figure on its own.
• It does not reject all types of UV
• It is only the rear 3 windows and the front windows are left untinted.
• Finding a matching tint is difficult and limits your options
• Members who already have it have stated that it does not provide comparable heat rejection to other aftermarket film tints
• If the previous is correct, the cost of 'clear tint' (which actually uses real gold in the manufacturing process) is much more expensive than good quality dark film tint.

It just seems like too much hassle.

I'd prefer to just not have it, and then be able to use the tint that I'd like instead.

It'll also be much cheaper than $400 to get the entire car tinted, instead of just those rear 3 windows like the VW option