MK6 Front Tint to match factory 'Dark Tint' option

[Corey_R]

What % was the tint Davel?

I've had 35% tint on my car for 10 years, and I find it fine at night. HOWEVER, if it's a dark, wet, night and my windows and mirrors are dirty, then it can be a pain (so clean the car! lol).

But I've been in friends cars with a lower % tint (10, 15 and 25) and think that it's too dark for the driver or front passenger windows. You can't see properly at night. I think that it's less of an issue on the rear side windows and rear window though - as I've said elsewhere, some trucks and vans don't even have any windows there!

So I think I'd be happy with 35% for the front passenger and drivers windows, and 20% on the rest

[nicandlance]

This is with T35 on the front and UV clear on the rears. The sun shining in from the front and no tint on the windscreen also gives a slightly lighter appearance to the front windows.

Where do you get T35? Is that Tint a car, or somewhere else? Looks good!

[nicandlance]

Getting my GTI done with Formula 1 at Tint-a-car on Monday .... 35% fronts, 15% rears. I was going to go midnight express but was sold on the better formula 1 ... got a decent discount for cash which closed the gap in the cost

Got any pics of the finished job?

[Corey_R]

This is with T35 on the front and UV clear on the rears. The sun shining in from the front and no tint on the windscreen also gives a slightly lighter appearance to the front windows.

See that's the thing.... if it's 35% on the front passenger and rear side windows, and you're saying that the fronts match the rears (apart from appearing slightly lighter in the picture due to the front windscreen obviously not having tint, then it really isn't 'privacy tint' which VW are installing.

The next concerning thing is that you've also put UV clear on the rear windows. Is that because the VW 'Privacy Tint' doesn't filter for 'solar heat'?

You see that's the thing. The 'privacy' tint costs $400, yet it's not really privacy tint, it's just 35%. And to rub salt into the wound, you need to put UV clear film over the 'privacy tint' to also block solar heat.

My recommendation to everyone would be to NOT get the VW factory Tint, and just get the entire car done by the dealer or a local using the best quality 35% tint all around, or put 20% on the rear and rear-side windows if you truly wish to have 'privacy tint'. It should cost under $400 installed for the entire job.

[nicandlance]

Good suggestion, except I got the privacy tint as part of the sport pack for my tsi. It wasn't something that came as an add on or extra.
I am currently looking around for a reputable person in or around my area - Rowville - Glen Waverley once I pick up my car from the dealer for tinting to match the privacy glass.
Had a few suggestions but interested in speaking to someone who has had it done nearby and happy with the job they got.

[dopey]

See that's the thing.... if it's 35% on the front passenger and rear side windows, and you're saying that the fronts match the rears (apart from appearing slightly lighter in the picture due to the front windscreen obviously not having tint, then it really isn't 'privacy tint' which VW are installing.

The next concerning thing is that you've also put UV clear on the rear windows. Is that because the VW 'Privacy Tint' doesn't filter for 'solar heat'?

You see that's the thing. The 'privacy' tint costs $400, yet it's not really privacy tint, it's just 35%. And to rub salt into the wound, you need to put UV clear film over the 'privacy tint' to also block solar heat.

My recommendation to everyone would be to NOT get the VW factory Tint, and just get the entire car done by the dealer or a local using the best quality 35% tint all around, or put 20% on the rear and rear-side windows if you truly wish to have 'privacy tint'. It should cost under $400 installed for the entire job.

Err, Ok.

The standard glass, even without the tinting, is listed on the spec sheet as "Heat Insulating" This would lead me to believe that it does in fact help block some UV.

Where did you get "Privacy Tint" from? The factory tinted rear glass is a part of the Sports Pack, and is not listed as Privacy Tint. In fact the specification sheet reads:

"Dark tinted rear side windows and rear window, 65% light absorbing" - so yes it is "35%" and they aren't advertising it as anything other than just that.

The blurb on the brochure states that it provides added privacy - which, of course it does. It's not available as a factory option on it's own - it is part of the Sports Pack only. Any other tinting is a dealer option and therefore would be aftermarket film sold with a heavy markup.

Quite frankly, you're a sucker if you get window tinting done at the dealer, and it's stupid to pay anything over $200 for a hatch to be tinted - even with the best film.

[nicandlance]

Err, Ok.

The standard glass, even without the tinting, is listed on the spec sheet as "Heat Insulating" This would lead me to believe that it does in fact help block some UV.

Where did you get "Privacy Tint" from? The factory tinted rear glass is a part of the Sports Pack, and is not listed as Privacy Tint. In fact the specification sheet reads:

"Dark tinted rear side windows and rear window, 65% light absorbing" - so yes it is "35%" and they aren't advertising it as anything other than just that.

The blurb on the brochure states that it provides added privacy - which, of course it does. It's not available as a factory option on it's own - it is part of the Sports Pack only. Any other tinting is a dealer option and therefore would be aftermarket film sold with a heavy markup.

Quite frankly, you're a sucker if you get window tinting done at the dealer, and it's stupid to pay anything over $200 for a hatch to be tinted - even with the best film.

Thanks Dopey,
I agree with you and that's why I have told the pushy 'after sales' girl that I'm not prepared to pay $330 for 2 windows to be matched with the privacy glass. I'd hate to think how many people she sucks in with her 'pay for what you get' ramble.
(As I've discussed with another forum member, paying for what you get is fine - but the way this woman sells it, you'd think VW were actually doing the job themselves, when they don't at all!)
Just got to find someone I can trust......
Wish I could find the tinters Barloworld actually use..... Hmmmm....
Might need to investigate further!

[gtimal]

Wish I could find the tinters Barloworld actually use..... Hmmmm....
Might need to investigate further!

There company shirts were black with a yellow pin strip on there sleave's is that Tint A Car .

Cheers

[nicandlance]

There company shirts were black with a yellow pin strip on there sleave's is that Tint A Car .

Cheers

How do you know that? Have you seen them there?
I know there's no Tint a Car in Glen Waverley anymore, and she says they have a 'factory up the road', so not sure.....
she said the tint is called 'carbon' something or other....

[Corey_R]

Err, Ok.

The standard glass, even without the tinting, is listed on the spec sheet as "Heat Insulating" This would lead me to believe that it does in fact help block some UV.

Where did you get "Privacy Tint" from? The factory tinted rear glass is a part of the Sports Pack, and is not listed as Privacy Tint. In fact the specification sheet reads:

"Dark tinted rear side windows and rear window, 65% light absorbing" - so yes it is "35%" and they aren't advertising it as anything other than just that.

The blurb on the brochure states that it provides added privacy - which, of course it does. It's not available as a factory option on it's own - it is part of the Sports Pack only. Any other tinting is a dealer option and therefore would be aftermarket film sold with a heavy markup.

Quite frankly, you're a sucker if you get window tinting done at the dealer, and it's stupid to pay anything over $200 for a hatch to be tinted - even with the best film.

Well thanks.... this is my point mate.
I don't know why everyone is calling it Privacy tint, because it's not! So we agree.

I also know that most cars these days have heat insulating glass, although the quality and amount of heat they insulate varies, but that is why I was questioning why coastie needed to get UV Clear on the windows that had the factory tint optioned on them.

Anyway - the summary of this all is, do not pay for the dealer OR factory tint as it's much better to get elsewhere.

(So ok, it's part of the 'sports pack' for the 118TSI/103TDI, but it's an individual option for the GTI).