window tinting problem
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 141
Likes: 4
From: Aus
window tinting problem
Hey guys. I had a mobile guy head to my place today to get the tinting done on my car. Upon pulling the first door panel off he rings me and says its gonna be difficult to do the tint as the rubber moulding around the window is all one piece, and does not just clip on and off. He said there is a strip of metal within the rubber moulding and its riveted to the door frame* (it was all bit vague to me as I was not at home looking at what he was talking about, but thats the best description I can give).
He made a few phone calls and several of his tinting buddies said these late model lexus's are a PITA to work on due to this exact problem. One of his buds said they did a 430 a while back and had to make a slice in the rubber to get it all smicko.
Long story - short. I still have no tinting done, and am unsure what step to take next, so I said I would ask on here and see if anyone has encountered this problem and knows a way around it.
Thanks gods.
He made a few phone calls and several of his tinting buddies said these late model lexus's are a PITA to work on due to this exact problem. One of his buds said they did a 430 a while back and had to make a slice in the rubber to get it all smicko.
Long story - short. I still have no tinting done, and am unsure what step to take next, so I said I would ask on here and see if anyone has encountered this problem and knows a way around it.
Thanks gods.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 141
Likes: 4
From: Aus
Only whats visible.
He has 15 years exp, and his off sider has 10 years so I think they know what they are doing. He said only other car he has seen like it in 15 years of tinting was a late model BMW M5.
I had a look in the service manual, and it seems the glass track is riveted on, so ill remove that tomorrow myself and get him to come back and do it.
He has 15 years exp, and his off sider has 10 years so I think they know what they are doing. He said only other car he has seen like it in 15 years of tinting was a late model BMW M5.
I had a look in the service manual, and it seems the glass track is riveted on, so ill remove that tomorrow myself and get him to come back and do it.
My good friend is an excellent tint specialist. He had the same issue with an LS430 but he managed to get it tinted without cutting that piece. He did say it was a PITA though.
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Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 141
Likes: 4
From: Aus
Were you guys there when the tinting was done?
My guy has done several of my previous cars, and many friends cars without any problems, this is the second car he has had problems with in 15years in the business. He told me he can probably pull it apart and get the job done, but I was not at home at the time and he did not feel comfortable drilling my car apart while I was not there.
Thanks for the somewhat re-assuring reply though HiloDB1.
I have rang a few shops and they all have similar problems with prestigious luxury vehicles. I am pulling apart the interior myself today anyway and he will come back around and just tint the windows.
My guy has done several of my previous cars, and many friends cars without any problems, this is the second car he has had problems with in 15years in the business. He told me he can probably pull it apart and get the job done, but I was not at home at the time and he did not feel comfortable drilling my car apart while I was not there.
Thanks for the somewhat re-assuring reply though HiloDB1.
I have rang a few shops and they all have similar problems with prestigious luxury vehicles. I am pulling apart the interior myself today anyway and he will come back around and just tint the windows.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 259
Likes: 2
From: So. California
As another suggested, you might want to take it to a professional brick and mortar tint installer (get a quote ahead of time if possible). My '02 CL took almost twice as long as others in the shop but they told me ahead of time that that's the nature of the beast.
Fwiw, my installer in Orange County had a computerized template with which to precut the tint assuring a perfect fit, which it was.
Yes, they can be a PITA to work on, especially the rear window with the inclusive high profile wiring. They had two pro installers, both w/ blow driers working in tandem in order to get it virtually perfect.
Btw, no cutting of the rubber moldings was necessary.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
Fwiw, my installer in Orange County had a computerized template with which to precut the tint assuring a perfect fit, which it was.
Yes, they can be a PITA to work on, especially the rear window with the inclusive high profile wiring. They had two pro installers, both w/ blow driers working in tandem in order to get it virtually perfect.
Btw, no cutting of the rubber moldings was necessary.
Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 16
From: NY/NJ
Okay, are you tinting down to the rollers for a reason? I got my LS430 tinted and they went down perhaps 1/2" below the rubber door seam and it hasn't had any problems in 2 years I've had the tint. The tint place I went to went up to the window top edge and he didn't have to remove anything.
I'd say bring your LS to another shop that knows the LS430 because the person you're seeing now doesn't.
I'd say bring your LS to another shop that knows the LS430 because the person you're seeing now doesn't.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 141
Likes: 4
From: Aus
All is well. I drilled the rivets out and had another shop do the tinting. Got it done cheaper since I had already taken the door trims off which was a bonus.
Alexusanja - LS430 are like hensteeth here in Australia. You might see another one on the road once every few months if your lucky. Most shops have never seen one let alone worked on one.
Alexusanja - LS430 are like hensteeth here in Australia. You might see another one on the road once every few months if your lucky. Most shops have never seen one let alone worked on one.
When I was tinting glass, I liked to remove the panels to run the film below some of the seals but it was just additional time lost. A guy that is good has the tools to slide the film under the trim. Cutting the rubber...
The car does not need to be altered. Find another installer.