Golf 'R's glass clarity???

[virusR]

Can someone please verify what the glass clarity (if it's called this) is on the Golf R for all windows?

I heard that there is a difference when the car has 18" and 19" rims?

1) heard that 18" has AS2 glass all around.

2) that the 19" has AS3 all around.... is this right?
Or is it just the 2 rear side windows that is 'darkened'? (including the smaller panel?)
What about the rear (hatch) window?

3) Also if its a tint (meaning a film/vinyl) that I can remove?
OR is it a darkened clarity glass?

If you guys would be so kind, can you check ALL your windows (windscreen, front side, rear side, small rear side and hatch), somewhere at the bottom corner bit should state the glass clarity. whether its an AS1, AS2 or AS3?


4) For those in Switz., do you know if you can opt for the 19" just to get the black headlight surrounds, and CHOOSE not to get the 'darkened' glass?

And for those in the UK where privacy glass is standard, can you CHOOSE not to have the 'darkened' glass, may it be 18" or 19" rims?

What about those from Australia?

I want to know whether VW Wolfsburg has some kind of restrictions in place.

If you are finding my enquiry 'weird', it is because my dealer in Brunei here is telling me (AFTER I had placed my deposit), that VW HQ is saying that 19" rims would have the 'R' carry the 'darkened' glass.

They went as far as to state that its not a tint but the glass clarity would be AS3 for ALL windows. HUH???

The legal requirement here for vehicle car glass clarity is max. AS2 grade.
AND says that VW Wolfsburg says its not negotiable (basically saying if 19" rims, get me the 'darkened' glass-AS3), thus effectively indirectly telling me in the end that I cannot have the 19" rims.

Any help/advice.. anyone?

I need to know if it is possible at all to opt for the 19" but NOT WANT the 'darkened' glass.

[REXman]

Im not an expert on what your asking but I can shed SOME light to your questions.

It is only the back half of the car (Windows, rear windscreen) that are dark.

Its not a film, but actually something inside the glass.

I wasnt aware that the 19's or 18s changed the window tint.

There is a great thread though that shows the different available tinting option to try and get a close match.

Something about HP Supreme tints which have that greenish tint in them and are pretty close to factory (but not perfect).

Your best option for perfection might be to replace the windows with some windows of the normal GOLFs.


Good Luck.

[nat225]

doesn't the law in Brunei require untinted windows on all cars? similar to malaysia?

in indonesia, there is no rule, you can tint as dark as you want, even on the front windscreen!

[Corey_R]

Can someone please verify...

My dealer is telling me...

Hi mate. We're all in Australia. This forum is specifically for Australian VW fans. Whilst international VW fans are also welcome, please note that no one here will be able to confirm what the standard and optional items are for Brunei. I suggest if you don't trust your salesman that you contact another dealership.

[DDTW]

doesn't the law in Brunei require untinted windows on all cars? similar to malaysia?

in indonesia, there is no rule, you can tint as dark as you want, even on the front windscreen!

There is no speed limit in Indonesia too =). Would love to try that some day....

[virusR]

doesn't the law in Brunei require untinted windows on all cars? similar to malaysia?

in indonesia, there is no rule, you can tint as dark as you want, even on the front windscreen!

Yup... untinted is the legal requirement here.... unless you are a VVIP or very close to one of them....

[virusR]

Hi mate. We're all in Australia. This forum is specifically for Australian VW fans. Whilst international VW fans are also welcome, please note that no one here will be able to confirm what the standard and optional items are for Brunei. I suggest if you don't trust your salesman that you contact another dealership.

Yes I realize this is an Australian forum that caters mostly to Australian forumers....

Unfortunately there is no VW office here... the dealer is the one and only rep for VW here in Brunei... being a small country...

I was thinking since Australia is close to Brunei itself, has the same spec (tune down) engine as in SEA countries... PLUS one of the few regions where there's quite a number of ppl that has gotten the 'R'.

Hence I thought of trying out my luck here to see if someone can help me out, since there's as actual VW main office there, unlike over here where it's only a dealership.

Coming back to my enquiry, from my 'searches' so far, I think it's fairly accurate for me to say that with 19" rims the 'darkened' windows, it is a standard, regardless of region. What I am hoping to know whether in Australia, that one can opt to get the 19" rims and CHOOSE to NOT want the 'darkened' glass.

I know, who wouldn't want that especially if its free, right? I guess I am just vainly hoping that someone over there did ask the same thing of VW Aust., and somehow VW Aust. confirms it's doable. Now that would be interesting news that I can present to the VW rep here.

Having said that, I understand if some of you find my efforts too far fetched and a waste of time.... but still many thanks for posting a reply, regardless of content relevance.

[Corey_R]

Your next best bet would to then contact Volkswagen Head Office in Germany to confirm the spec which gets sent to Brunei then.

In Australia we have no choice about the windows. It also doesn't matter whether you've got 18" or 19" - it doesn't change the windows spec. In the "Comfortline" models, the tint is part of the Sport Package. Again you have no choice - if you want the sports package you HAVE to have the tint. The only people who can "chose" are the GTI and GTD customers where it's a $400 option.

New Zealand, right next to us, is different too. As are the UK (another RHD country). Hence why I don't believe you can make any assumptions based on the advice we're able to provide here.

[virusR]

Oh.... now that is news to me... I did not realise that the GTI and GTD can be had for an option cost.... interesting...
I assume that the tint shade is within the limit over the in Aust. (in all states?)

Yeah... I know that what I am hoping to achieve is a 'long long shot' ....

Anyway... if you would be so kind to give me an email or fax or mode of contact to the relevant VW Wolfsburg where I might be able to get the comfirmed spec? I tried googling but to no avail.... just got me to the VW germany website and left a msg on their general enquiries.....

[Corey_R]

The tint is within the legal limit for all Australian states - but it's only for the rear side windows and rear window. If it also tinted the front side windows, then it'd be illegal in at least one of the states....

The option isn't very popular btw, as it's a PITA to match with "regular film tint", and more so, it costs more than getting your entire car tinted aftermarket anyway. So I'm not sure how much longer it'll be an option even to the GTI and GTD buyers.



As for contacting VW in Germany, you'd either need to find a "contact us" link on their site.... or you could try sending an email to martin.winterkorn@audi.de - who is the head of VAG world wide. One of his assistances will hopefully pass it to the right place!