Window Tint - what to expect (quality)

[woofy]

I have had small bubbles in the past, but in the last few cars I had done. Our Skoda had none at all when done in 2008 by the Mazda dealer I used at the time who farm it out to the MotorONE guys a lot of dealers use. Rob Tait did my Hyundai in 2012 and I had not one skeric of anything. But he is reknowend for being a perfectionist. He also takes panels off etc. I don't think he will want to touch my Skoda from reports from others.

[wfdTamar]

Is he the bloke at Ringwood or Nunawading? What have you heard about what he thinks of Skodas?

[brad]

No noticeable bubbles in mine. I'm sure there are some but you simply don't see them and I'm noted as one of those "eye for detail" people.

The Octavia was done in the carpark at work 3 floors into the ground. It's not a busy car park - people park in the morning & leave at night.

The guy that did it spends more time cleaning the windows with scotchbrite than he does applying the film. He also sands the dots with wet & dry. He doesn't remove any panels.

Previous car was a Liberty that the same guy did in his garage - he doesn't even close the roller doors.

Maybe I'm just lucky

[woofy]

He is the guy at Ringwood, I have heard about him not liking VW cars before and when I asked him about Skodas in 2012 he pretty much said he won't touch them. I suspect Gadgetguy here may have used him recently, but haven't heard back from him about whether I am right. I feel sorry for you, to get one crap job is bad enough, but to cop it twice and across the strait is another thing.

[wfdTamar]

I wouldn't say it is a crap job (this second one), just not perfect. They may be fine about fixing it and I suppose it's my bad luck I'm not near them.

I wonder what the issue is with VAG cars? The type of glass? The antenna lines? The trim being in the way (though places I've dealt with say it doesn't need removing).

[woofy]

I don't think there really is an issue, my current Skoda was done fine with no issues. Rob reckons the clips all break on them but he pulls every panel off. I doubt any where taken off in our current Skoda and the dealers don't get them off either.

[wfdTamar]

I had heard he was very good, but he doesn't do the film I wanted.

Yes, those clips are a bugger. You can count on lots breaking when you take the panels off and if you're not careful (use panel tools) the plastic bit on the door panel that holds the clip can break too.

There are cheap clips on eBay, but heaps of rubbish Chinese ones. If you actually find some the right type, and get enough to replace them all each time you take the panels off, they can be ok. You need to make sure you get exactly the right dimension and with a rubber washer. The Chinese ones are made of very brittle plastic. The original ones are more supple, but can still break. Supercheap and Autobahn sell some types of clips - not sure if VAG ones are there and hate to think what they'd cost. You need to make sure you get the right type otherwise the panels never clip in properly and can rattle (which I hate).

[egene]

When I brought mine to Tint-a-Car and asked if they remove the side panels, they said that they rarely do that anymore (fear of breaking clips and hassle). Mine was done without removing any panels and it looks great.