I took my IS to a reputable window tinting shop a couple months ago, and now all 4 of my door windows (that roll down) need to be redone for a 2nd time (3rd time in total). Lexus made the wipers / lower window molding VERY tight. In order for the tint to go below the wipers, the tinter has to push the wipers down. Normally, the wipers automatically flip back up when the window is rolled down and up the first time (after the tint has cured for a couple days). However, these don't.

When I rolled my windows down for the first time, the wipers on all four doors only partially flipped back up. This created a hard corner on the wipers that created little vertical scratches in the tint. When I noticed the scratches and investigated, I noticed that part of the wipers were still folded down, so I pulled the rest of them back up with needle nose pliers. I also took it back to the tint shop to have the windows fixed.

The scratches came back again, even though the wipers were fine! I decided to remove the door panel so that I could see what was happening. It turns out that there are TWO wipers in parallel (see below), and BOTH of them were having the same problem folding back up! Now I'm taking it back to the tint shop with all 4 door panels and lower molding removed, so that the installer can make damn sure that this doesn't happen again. I suggest you do the same before taking yours in for tinting (the first time). I'm sure the Lexus dealer wouldn't make this mistake, so that might be justification for paying the extra money.

EDIT: Before everyone posts "It's the tint shop's fault" ... I KNOW THAT! The dealer's tint people will not make this mistake! I'm just wanting to share my experience with other owners that aren't having the tint installed by the dealer. This issue has cost me 3 half days of time, and I'm wanting to save others from the same.

 

Ready to go back...

 

that's your installers fault, i have no problems with my window tiniting.

 

Yeah, I have to agree with ****. The dealer tinted mine prior to delivery (which I'm sure they farmed out) and don't have any problems with it what so ever.

 

Of course it is! Did I imply otherwise? I'm just passing this along to others that take their cars to tint shops that haven't done a 2IS before. My tint shop is not charging me for this, and the tint WILL be fixed. I just wish I had the 3 extra half days of my life back.

 

I loved these responses, especially after the last line of your OP that stated you already know it's the installers fault, and that you're posting for informational purposes.

I wonder what they did to cause that permanent damage. Did they use a heat gun at all?

 

What kind of film did you use?

 

I'm bringing mine to a my local Lexus dealer this Friday. Hope everything will be fine!!!!!!
Thought about getting the tint from a local shop; however, since I heard about removing the panel of the door, no way I would give my 2IS to a local shop....rather pay a bit more for the quality and assurance.

 

I posted about this a while back. Same scratches, but only to my front two windows.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=220551

 

I had the squeaks and residue as well. I guess I should have mentioned them...

 

I had my tinter remove the door panels.......Of course I own the tint shop!!!!!

 

good info nonetheless. Crazy to see the 2IS with the door panels off. Hope it gets resolved soon for you.

 

how much more does the lexus dealer charge than the local tint shop? i'm thinking about doing this also.

 

yea this happened on my bros car (not a lexus) the wipers were bent down and it scratched the tint, i popped them (used a chopstick) back out and no more further scratching

 

I think the dealer wnated over $300 to tint it, but I'm sure every dealer is different. I wish I had just gotten them to do it.