i am not a fan a Tinted windows

the little bit of privacy to me isn't worth the safety

i am getting all 5 windows - 2x fronts, 2x rears, 1x rear window - removed


from messaging a few Tint shops, some Ford trucks have a problem where the Defroster lines on the Rear windows peels!


i would hate to have to replace a whole rear window or get the defroster lines fixed....anybody have any experience with the IS or any Lexus in general?


your help is much appreciated

 

The shop I had to my tint done (car toys) charged around $120ish just to remove the tint on my car.
I was going the other way than you, I wanted darker. Texas heat is no joke and I wanted good ceramic tint to cut down on interior heat. Anyways, they told me the same thing about the back window, they said they could try and remove it but there would be a big risk of damaging the rear defrosters, they suggested to just tint over the very minimal light tint that was on it, and I agreed, it came out great.

So I think what you have been being told is true and a risk.

 

Be careful just bought my 16 IS200T and whoever had it before messed up my lines and a new rear glass is getting installed tomorrow.

 

yeah, i messaged a few different shops and got quotes from $150 for all 5x to $450 for all 5x with 3yr. warranty

 

dang that sucks! this is what i don't want to go through because i know the rear one is the most expensive one

 

If you're not going to a tiny shop with lifetime warranty as s long as own the car you're going to the wrong place. My shop has removed and reinstalled tint for no cost even when I need them removed as per mandated by tickets. Get a new shop. As for the back window I have had it done before as yes it is a little difficult but an experienced shop should be able to remove it with a little time and patience. Doesn't take much to ruin it but doesn't take much to concentrate.

 

I would take precaution as some of the newer Lexus models have UV coating on the 2 front windows.

If the tint shop uses razor blade or abrasive material to clean the windows, it will leave damages and you will have to purchase new windows. I would bring it to someone who knows what they're doing or inform them to use spray, microfiber cloth and squeegee instead.

 

Yup 1K and now the top part is not working smh

 

They usually tell you about the defrost line issue as a way to (cover their ***) just so the customer understands the risk... But in general if you use a steamer, and don't HULK the tint off, it's very difficult to cause the defrost lines to come off with the film.

I just removed tint from my GS-F using a heatgun, garmet steamer, white brillo scrubber, razor blades, and ammonia based cleaner.

• The thing that worked best, on quality film anyway - would be the garmet steamer.
• Heat gun method worker well, but requires a second person to help do the back window (heating the glass from the outside).
• White Brillo pad + ammonia worked very well to clean up the back window from leftover glue.

As far as the UV coating - this seems to only be true for model years 2018+ https://www.clublexus.com/forums/nx-...t-windows.html I did not observe any sort of "peeling" on my 2016 GS-F, and 2002 IS300 for that matter.

 

I used 409 cleaner, black trashbags, a steamer, and plastic razor
spritz 409 generously onto the tints, cut black trashbag to the right size and press over the tint. put the car heater on full blast for a few minutes
then with a steamer i pick a corner with my plastic razor and it started lifting altogether. kept applying steam to glass and film while slowly pulling.
when i met resistance i just closed my door and let it bake some more with the heater on.

took me less than an hour to get it all done.

 

interesting DIY, how did the Rear window turn out?

 

it turned out fine. going slowly and carefully is the key. if it doesn't want to come, then let it sit in more heat / more steam. don't force it

 

I debated trying the trash bag route. However it is the middle of winter, and almost all of the youtube videos the covered the trash bag method seemed to imply you need a warm, sunny day. Which doesn't really exist in the middle of February in the mid atlantic. But it's a pretty cool concept, the tint comes off like an easy peel bandaid! Steamer and or heating the glass from the outside made it easy enough to make the adhesive pliable. Granted, this all comes down to quality of film and how long it has been installed.

If you have purple tinted film, you are going to have a hell of a time removing all that leftover adhesive. I had LLumar film on both cars, which was a breeze to separate from the window.

Some forums also mentioned #0000 steel wool, and copper wool is a good alternative to a razor blade. It will NOT scratch glass, (glass is harder than #0000 wool, copper). However if your car is coated with some sort of UV polymer, be sure to verify if it is or not. You will scratch the hell out of it, and will either need a new window. OR you will have to remove the window from the door and manually strip the polymer fully.