Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

[stevensr34 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close stevensr34]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

The dealer had the front windows tinted to match...but failed to explain the privacy glass had no UV / heat protection without the special clear film they can put on.................

Sorry Babs,
Privacy glass (actually ALL glass used for the last 10 years or so) has about 80% UV protection.
Anyone who says it doesn't is trying to sell you aftermarket tinting...

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

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

Indeed. However, this is my rationale (with a Prado):
Tinting through dealer:
Initial cost - $800 (as quoted by the aftermarket sales rep at my dealership once signing the papers)
One window tint replacement: Free by dealer.
Total cost incurred after tint and repair: $800

Tinting directly from fitter:
Initial cost - $350 (I got mine done at this price - full tint all way round, darkest legal)
One window tint replacement: ~$60 at most.
Total cost incurred after tint and repair: $410

There's just no benefits in getting your tint done by a dealer. You're paying more for the same thing. As you can see, you could afford a complete retint at the price the dealerships are charging. However, by all means, if you can get the dealership to match the $350, definitely go with them as you get the warranty at no charge.

Cheers

[PradoLover Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PradoLover]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Hi Guys, please be careful with window tinting if you have a Toyota Navigation GPS system on board.
Many after market films are metallic films (microfine titanium) and they can block the GPS signal.
The Toyota owners manual hand book strongly recommends NOT to aftermarket window film if you have Toyota navigation system installed - standard equip on a Kakadu.I find the window tinting on my Kakadu more than adequate anyway. A personal friend of mine who does window tinting for past 25 years has actually told me not to bother tinting the Kakadu (waste of money and effort), after he window tinted every other 4WD that I have owned over last 20 years.

[Guest Close Guest]

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Hi Guys, please be careful with window tinting if you have a Toyota Navigation GPS system on board.
Many after market films are metallic films (microfine titanium) and they can block the GPS signal.

On the 120, the GPS antenna is under the dash and I assume it will be similar with the 150. It is illegal to tint the windscreen. So I can't imagine it will be a problem. However, in Malaysia, they have a clear tint on the windscreen and it messed with my GPS. So I had to buy an external GPS antenna and put it on the roof.

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

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

The dealer had the front windows tinted to match...but failed to explain the privacy glass had no UV / heat protection without the special clear film they can put on.................

Sorry Babs,
Privacy glass (actually ALL glass used for the last 10 years or so) has about 80% UV protection.
Anyone who says it doesn't is trying to sell you aftermarket tinting...

Thats ok - just quoting the dealer

I didnt fall for his bla bla bla anyway -

even if it had 80% - I still would get it done again - I love dark windows

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

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

[/quote]...
- I still would get it done again - I love dark windows[/quote]

I agree.
Once you go black, you never go back

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

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

I too got a quote from the dealer , but as I have dealt with him many times told me the mark up WOW so shopped around and got it done after. Also just brought the wife a car a Forrester and had one dealer told me after he quotes over $1000 for tint and I told him could save $700 and get it done myself . He then tried to tell me that it voids the warranty , looked into it and just a sales pitch . Moved dealers and recommend Wangara Subaru salesman name Ryan .

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

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Hi Folks

I have posted about this before but there is another issue to be careful about, when you tint wherever or whatever degree you choose you need to get a non mettalic tint as the radio aerials (AM and FM) are in the rear cargo areas. If you don't get non metallic you will reduce the radio reception severly, 3M have a great tint that is 35% and legal and still allows the original radio reception and has a national dealer guarantee.

Regards, Richo.

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

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Closing the loop on this one - weirdest thing - in the end the vehicle came with a great tint on it, which had an aftermarket warranty card in the glove compartment. So it was done by somebody in AUS - makes me wonder why I got the original answer I did. Happy with the tint though - not the way it was handled! To be honest in the end I didn't bring it up because they stuffed up on my BFG's and I'm driving the factory tyres for 6 weeks until the BFG's can be fitted at their cost. So I let the tint go

Wiser for next time - asking questions about EVERY bit.

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

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Closing the loop on this one - weirdest thing - in the end the vehicle came with a great tint on it, which had an aftermarket warranty card in the glove compartment. So it was done by somebody in AUS - makes me wonder why I got the original answer I did. Happy with the tint though - not the way it was handled! To be honest in the end I didn't bring it up because they stuffed up on my BFG's and I'm driving the factory tyres for 6 weeks until the BFG's can be fitted at their cost. So I let the tint go

Wiser for next time - asking questions about EVERY bit.

The BFG's would be a supply issue, as you can't get em, probably not the dealers fault!

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

Re: Toyota Window Tinting - Mislead?

Yeah 7 weeks prior when I ordered the vehicle, they indicated that they had sourced a set and held them for me. This was all in email. Two days prior to the delivery, they said they didnt have them anymore and I would have to pick something else. I was a bit annoyed because I had my mind set on BFG's. I thought about it .. then decided that it wasnt good enough and pushed them to honour the deal. Back at the beginning I proposed alternatives and they went down the BFG path. Ultimately they've done the right thing.

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

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.

Very interesting thread as I've a grande too. Just worked out it's dealer Privacy glass, not aftermarket tint that I always thought it had . Going to get the fronts done T35 to match the rear OE privacy glass which will have a clear metallic film put over to reduce the IR getting into the car! (heat). As Richo mentioned I may loose some of the AM signal but I don't listen to too much cricket anyway! Going to cost a little but I think worth it?????

Will reduce some heat on the beach. Also those solarscreens don't stick well to the quarter panels with the inbuilt radio aerial. Going this way I could always get some of those later if I really needed as they stick to aftermarket tint/film better.

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

Very interesting thread as I've a grande too. Just worked out it's dealer Privacy glass, not aftermarket tint that I always thought it had . Going to get the fronts done T35 to match the rear OE privacy glass which will have a clear metallic film put over to reduce the IR getting into the car! (heat). As Richo mentioned I may loose some of the AM signal but I don't listen to too much cricket anyway! Going to cost a little but I think worth it?????

Will reduce some heat on the beach. Also those solarscreens don't stick well to the quarter panels with the inbuilt radio aerial. Going this way I could always get some of those later if I really needed as they stick to aftermarket tint/film better.

Just make sure you keep those T35 front windows wound down or the cops will fine you for having an unroadworthy car. They do carry a Lahr meter for testing the light throughput. Also, you might just void your insurance of they decide that your illegal front window tint causes an accident because you couldn't see out of them properly.


Sent from my iPhone

[macaroon1 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close macaroon1]

Just make sure you keep those T35 front windows wound down .

Thx Symo. Quick update, the tinter assured me the TB35 was legal as the film they use reduces it down to @35%. The fronts were tinted but very lightly. This was removed and above put on fronts only. Clear metallic film on rear windows and rear door but clear poly on cargo windows, so I can still get my AM and FM reception....thanks Richo for the tip!

It's all a lot more uniform now, not the dark back and light front of past. Should help keep a lot more heat out of the car (Infra Red) but wallet feels a bit lighter. And I thought the privacy glass was tint...doh!!

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

I negotiated the darkest possible tint on the Front Divers and Passenger windows, and a clear tint on all other windows (privacy glass) when I bought my car. The local dealer owns the Tint-a-car franchise, so it was FREE.