Tiguan Tinting

[Arctra]

For those who are looking for tint, you should need to look for someone with experience on Tiguan. I had mine done with reference with a friend of mine but it was not a happy experience.
<snip>
cracks the plastic parts
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found a screw floating around my back seat while I was cleaning. It end up it was a screw they forgot to put back when putting back the door trim.
Thirdly, I found my back door can't open from inside. They claim it was something slip while they put back the door trim.
<snip>
passenger window winding up slower than the other 3 windows today.

Jeez mate, that's crazy! Why the hell did they remove anything in the first place? When I had mine done I watched and he didn't have to take anything off, and the tint covers all visible glass. Please tell everyone who did yours so they know not to go to them!

[donweather]

VWs often have 2 "diversity" antennas - the radio chooses the one with the greatest signal strength. Its a solution mainly for compact antennas in the city where reflection, dead spots and interference is common.
Tiguan has a roof whip antenna (or shark fin with RNS510 option), and a printed metallic strip on the top of the rear liftgate window (so called "glass antenna") masquerading as a rear demist wire

As I'm about to get my new Tiguan windows tinted, the above comments concern me somewhat, although I am a little confused?? So Sanman, can you please shed some light on your comments above. Can you use a metallic tint on Tiguan's....particularly the back window. And by metallic tint I don't mean the look, I mean the physical make up of the tint.

[Maverick]

As I'm about to get my new Tiguan windows tinted, the above comments concern me somewhat, although I am a little confused?? So Sanman, can you please shed some light on your comments above. Can you use a metallic tint on Tiguan's....particularly the back window. And by metallic tint I don't mean the look, I mean the physical make up of the tint.

Rear window shouldn't be a metallic tint. Sides windows can be metallic.

[mickofoz]

Wow, you people amaze me. For the sake of saving $100 you risk getting your $50,000 car ruined.

[Sharkie]

I have never had a completely satisfactory experience with aftermarket tinting.

Even the VW dealer supplied 3M with lifetime warranty I had on the GTI had bubbles etc that got worse over time ...

I'd rather be without to be honest

[Sanman]

Rear window shouldn't be a metallic tint. Sides windows can be metallic.

+1 (what he said is correct)

[T&M]

As others have said, the small difference between the cost of having it done at the dealer (where they will be able to rectify anything should there be problems) vs getting the tint done aftermarket is just not worth the mucking around and stress!
Tick the box where is says: 'Window Tint' when you order.

I went to "check" Tint-a-Car at Kedron today and asked how many Tiguans they have done - answer = 1.
I asked if they had to pull panels off doors and trims etc... - answer = yes!
I asked if they use a metallic film for the rear tailgate and they said yes we have "so far noone has complained"
Cost=$465
Dealer cost=$480

I walked out as fast as I could.

[Maverick]

As others have said, the small difference between the cost of having it done at the dealer (where they will be able to rectify anything should there be problems) vs getting the tint done aftermarket is just not worth the mucking around and stress!
Tick the box where is says: 'Window Tint' when you order.

Couldn't agree more. Dealers have ready access to items like clips etc if they're damaged and can have them replaced on the spot. The tint places aren't going to send someone to a VW dealer to pick up a $1 clip if they damage one but will put the trim back minus the clip. Same with any damage to the car, they'll generally cover it up.

A few problems I've seen recently.

- In Brisbane an R32 with ~$4000 in damage from a tint company (trim damaged, hacked and even scratched window).
- An R32 and GTI in Melbourne had all the trim around the rear window scratched up and around the front tweeters. Tint place paid for the rear trim to be repaired with spray paint which to be fair matched but I can see long term durability being affected.
- A number of R32's and GTI's have had leather scratched and other damage to trim that the tint installers have denied and claimed they were pre existing.

And the list goes on and on. I know that if I have problems with any trim or missing clips that I can take it back to my dealer for them to fix and if there is a problem with the tint I can get it fixed at a service plus I get a loan car. Even if you pay a few hundred dollars more it's worth it for the piece of mind it brings.

[donweather]

I'm not so sure I agree with you guys. My two previous cars (both of which I bought brand new and still own) were both tinted by non-dealers and the first car is 16 years old and the tint is as good as the day it was installed.

My dealer has quoted me $595 for tinting, of which she can't even tell me what the specifications of the tint are (ie heat reduction etc) nor tell me what manufacturer of film they use. Have any of you guys actually seen the dealers physically installing the tint? I'd be extremely surprised if they are actually doing it at the dealers, and my bet would be they'd have a deal with the local tinter down the road (tintacar for example) and all they do is drive it down the road, get the tint done and drive it back. A fair waste of $300 extra IMO. Yes I've got a quote for $295 from a car tinting place, where they are more than open and honest about telling me all of the specifications of their various tints and film manufacturers.....$300 cheaper for exactly the same tint job.

The girl at the dealers told me their tints were world class with 80% heat reduction and 100% fade protection. I asked her if they were metallic or non-metallic tints. She said non-metallic (which is one good piece of news, given the antenna in the rear window). Can someone please find me any worldwide NON-METALLIC tint that get's anywhere near the above specifications, as I truly believe the girl at the dealers didn't have a clue what she was talking about. All she was worried about was getting her $300 commission for driving my car down to the nearest tintacar place.

[Arctra]

I believe VW Aus (or Chatswood Classic Cars at least) use StreetLegal brand tint (http://www.motorone.com.au/car_care/...ow_tinting.php). I called them up directly to ask for a quote and they said they only provide the tint through dealers.

Hope that helps?

[Torn]

Correct me if i am wrong, but no dealers i know of actually tint cars, they sub it out to a tinter that either does the work onsite in their workshop or takes the car.

I used to work for a tinter and this is how it worked.

May be different in the bigger cities,

Though it is easier to get things fixed through the dealer!


I got my Tig Done through the dealer at the local tinter around the corner for $495

Clear UV on back as had factory tint and Same brand tint on from but at 35%

[Maverick]

My dealer has quoted me $595 for tinting, of which she can't even tell me what the specifications of the tint are (ie heat reduction etc) nor tell me what manufacturer of film they use. Have any of you guys actually seen the dealers physically installing the tint? I'd be extremely surprised if they are actually doing it at the dealers, and my bet would be they'd have a deal with the local tinter down the road (tintacar for example) and all they do is drive it down the road, get the tint done and drive it back. A fair waste of $300 extra IMO. Yes I've got a quote for $295 from a car tinting place, where they are more than open and honest about telling me all of the specifications of their various tints and film manufacturers.....$300 cheaper for exactly the same tint job.

As Arctra pointed out it's Motorone that is often used and the installer generally installs the tint at the dealer.

I have Street Legal Tint on my car which I paid $100 for (negotiated free tint and paid the difference to upgrade).

All she was worried about was getting her $300 commission for driving my car down to the nearest tintacar place.

You can negotiate the price down with the dealer.

[T&M]

Hi all,
Personally, after doing the running around and talking to some staff at dealers that had no idea and then talking to staff at after market locations, that equally, had no idea, I firmly believe that if you can negotiate a better price at a dealer then great. If not, who cares.
Also I don't really care who "actually" applies the film to the car and whether it's metallic or otherwise. Life is too short to scratch around with minor blips like this! If the dealer screws it up, they can fix it. If the radio doesn't work, they can replace the film or do whatever they need to do.
I feel that I am a little more protected (via the dealer in this case) from the finger pointing that can happen when allowing people to work on your car who have zero experience on a particular model.

Q. Would you allow a Tint-a-car place to tint your vehicle if they have only done one other Tiguan - ever...? I bet you don't either!

[Maverick]

Q. Would you allow a Tint-a-car place to tint your vehicle if they have only done one other Tiguan - ever...? I bet you don't either!

A lot of the tint places seem to have a decent turnover of staff as well so even if the guy behind the counter says that they've done one it doesn't mean the person who is doing your tint has done one before. Plus limited supervision and using contractors if someone is off sick or there is an excess of work makes it too risky IMO to contemplate using them for anything but an older car that you don't care too much about.

There was a guy that was highly recommended in Sydney that worked for himself and had done a lot of Golfs etc but I don't know of anyone like that in the other states.

[BigMan]

thank god we got Rob in Sydney. I got 3 cars tinted by him, so far i have also recommended him to 3 mates.

when i get my tiguan guess who will be tinting it!