Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

[benjl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close benjl]

Guys,

Late last week I thought I would get in contact with my dealer (2 weeks from delivery) - "When can I pick the tinting type for the vehicle?" - I have Window Tinting as an option on the purchase/invoice of the vehicle. The reply came back "As for tint, the glass has a slight tint but you can add the darkest legal tint for around $350 if you like.".

I feel somewhat mislead and annoyed with this, as my vision of tinting involved being able to select a grade of window tinting as the option. This is the first negative thing the dealer has done in my eyes.

Is this a common experience with other buyers? Was I not clear enough? Have I been mislead?

I'm inclined to force the issue but wanted to see what has happened with others first.

Regards,
Ben

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

What's the question?

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Guys,

Late last week I thought I would get in contact with my dealer (2 weeks from delivery) - "When can I pick the tinting type for the vehicle?" - I have Window Tinting as an option on the purchase/invoice of the vehicle. The reply came back "As for tint, the glass has a slight tint but you can add the darkest legal tint for around $350 if you like.".

I feel somewhat mislead and annoyed with this, as my vision of tinting involved being able to select a grade of window tinting as the option. This is the first negative thing the dealer has done in my eyes.

Is this a common experience with other buyers? Was I not clear enough? Have I been mislead?

I'm inclined to force the issue but wanted to see what has happened with others first.

Regards,
Ben

Talking to my dealer, he said all dealers have a local third party installer. If its not listed as factory tinted, it'll more than likely be tinted by your dealers choice of local tint installers. To name a few: Le Tint, Tint Professor, Tint a Car...

After sealing the deal, there is usually a person who speaks to you about aftermarket stuff, such as paint protection and tints. If you chose to get it tinted with them, I'm sure they would have asked you what shade you wanted. If not, I'd say its bad salesmanship on their part.

It's dodgy that they are asking you to pay an extra $350, when it costs $350 to get a full tint on a completely untinted car. I'm not too sure why you went for a dealer fitted tint as they overcharge you for what is basically the same thing if you were to go get it tinted yourself. My bet is that your Prado has already been to the tinters, they've realised that they've stuffed up and they want you to cover the cost of a re-tint.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

[Capt Crash Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Capt Crash]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

I believe, although I may be wrong, that all new cars these days come with UV tinting in the glass. this is not primarialy to keep you and your car cool, it is to assist your local friendly suregon to remove said glass in the unfortunate event that it may be embedded in parts of you ( after a bingle, (( Not Lara)). They use a black light type thingy to make it visible. Is this the tint they are refering to on your invoice? I thought this would have been standard on all cars and not itemised on your invoice as it is not an option.
I would be asking them to "please explain"

Cheers


Peter

[benjl Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close benjl]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Capt Crash, William - thats what I've always thought. Please explain is next.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

On a GXL it only has a slight tint like all new cars it is NOT a full dark tint, if u want the darkest legal tint which is T35 u will have to pay, I think u could get it cheaper than 350 though. The Vx and Kakadu r tinted dark on the back windows only.

[LaoK User account deleted at own request. Find all posts View Profile Close LaoK]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

I have a Kakadu. The rear glass is only privacy tinted/stained. I was offered the film tinting when I was introduced to the "accessories" guy during the purchase but I never use the dealer who will slug me "middle man" fees for something I can get done myself. Anyway, I like to choose the quality of film and the colour, etc.

I went to my own window tinter. I wanted the front door glass the same as all of the rear glass. He suggested that I tint all of the glass as the privacy glass is not UV filtering or heat resisting. My front door glass is stamped UV. The rear glass is not. I even had the front windscreen treated with film and passengers in my vehicle have remarked on how they don't feel hot from the sun's rays. We get a lot of sunshine over here in W.A. We have weather similar to California and it gets very hot and you can get a tan/burn from just driving.

[babs Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close babs]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

I have a Kakadu. The rear glass is only privacy tinted/stained. I was offered the film tinting when I was introduced to the "accessories" guy during the purchase but I never use the dealer who will slug me "middle man" fees for something I can get done myself. Anyway, I like to choose the quality of film and the colour, etc.

I went to my own window tinter. I wanted the front door glass the same as all of the rear glass. He suggested that I tint all of the glass as the privacy glass is not UV filtering or heat resisting. My front door glass is stamped UV. The rear glass is not. I even had the front windscreen treated with film and passengers in my vehicle have remarked on how they don't feel hot from the sun's rays. We get a lot of sunshine over here in W.A. We have weather similar to California and it gets very hot and you can get a tan/burn from just driving.

I have a 2006 GXL with privacy glass fitted - The dealer had the front windows tinted to match when I purchased it in sydney - but failed to explain the privacy glass had no UV / heat protection without the special clear film they can put on.................

Anyway after realising this for myself a bit later down the track - I had it retinted to T35 on the privacy glass and super dark on the front two windows to match - cost was $250 including removing the original front tint

Now it looks super awesome :mrgreen: :mrgreen: and when the new 150 series VX turns up shortly it will be getting the same treatment.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

I got the impression that most automotive glass stops nearly all UV radiation. Prior to my Prado being tinted on the front only (the Grande had privacy glass on the rear), the tinter got the UV meter out and checked the front untinted glass and the rear privacy glass. There was not much difference in the UV readings between the 2. In addition, there was a significant reduction in UV radiation between glass and no glass. i.e. on a sunny day, it is best to wind your window up if you don't want to get sunburnt.

I am led to believe that tinting is useful in deflecting infra red which is the major cause of heat build up on a parked car. IR is more than 50% of sunlight. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared

So a clear film or a slight tint over the privacy glass is useful in preventing heat buildup if the film has IR rejection properties.

[Riv39 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Riv39]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

For what it's worth, I would never ge a tint job done through the dealer again. It costs far more than it should and (in my experience anyway) you get a crap job as the dealer always finds the cheapest tint company they can to improve their profit margin.

[William Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close William]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

For what it's worth, I would never ge a tint job done through the dealer again. It costs far more than it should and (in my experience anyway) you get a crap job as the dealer always finds the cheapest tint company they can to improve their profit margin.

Luckily I have a good relationship with my dealer and he told me they would have gotten it done at X-place for Y-profit and that I may as well do it myself to save $400+. He actually called up some local tinters for me to confirm what I could get if I had done it myself (the best quote was $330 for darkest legal). I later had the obligatory sit-down with the aftermarket saleswoman who tried to off load a tint for $800. What a joke LOL :lol: :lol:

[Silvo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Silvo]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

is window tinting something you paid for as an option? you mention it is on the invoice - the GXL does not come with tinting as standard, so, if they are trying to say it isn't included, however it is listed an an option on your invoice, i would be pushing the point that they aren't including it. getting your own choice of tint might be another question though, as other have mentioned, a dealer normally has their local guy who comes on site and does it, using the same stuff for every car.

good luck

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Bought my 150 from Windsor Toyota in western Sydney, negotiated the tinting through them for $300- from Sportstint, and a good job at that.

Yowie.

[butch_75 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close butch_75]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Hi guys,

Just bought my new Prado today. As for the dark windows in the back of the VX and Kakadu another poster was correct. It is only security glass not tint. As I previously owned an 2007 GXL it also came standard with security glass. So if have VX or Kakadu you will need tinting clear on back 5 windows and darkest legal of front. I got mine with tint today for $350 wouldn't throw it in as part of the cost. Apparently getting it at cost price.

[green_rex Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close green_rex]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

One thing to consider if the Dealer organises Tinting!
I had a WRX tinted by the dealer. The glass then got scratched by a failure within the door. When Subaru replaced the glass, the dealer was obliged to re tint the glass as well at their (warranty) cost.
A fellow WRXer had the same issue on the same year and model car, but had his tinting done after purchase, and the dealer did not, and would not pay for tinting. (Same dealer, 6 weeks later)
My rationale was if the dealer gets it done, and it is invoiced by the dealer, then it is part of the original sale, and therefore included in the warranty.
And I only paid 'normal' price at the time, done by Tint a Car, and same price if I had it done after sale.
Tim