Tints - not so good

devonutopia · 10-02-2004, 10:05

Hello everyone

After driving at night in my well-tinted Fabia for a while now I've come to the realisation that the two side front windows are illegal, and as well as that visibility is shocking at night, to the point of almost not being able to see a thing... AND, when driving at night I HATE the tunnel vision I feel I'm getting when I can only see out the front screen. I'm going to leave the tinted sunstrip as that looks cool and helps with the sun. I'll also be leaving all the rear tints too.

SO, the question is it is easier for me to try and use a hairdryer to remove the tints OR to take the glass out of the side doors of my other Fabia and put them in instead. I don't know how easy a door glass swap is, but I'd sooner try that than spend hours with a hairdryer, and then have the gunk on the glass to wash off too. K? Ade? - A "door glass swap" process would be ideal.

**TaviaRS** · 10-02-2004, 10:33

To remove the tints:

1. Get brick
2. Put through front windows
3. Call Autoglass
4. Pay £50 and get some new ones on the insurance

Job done!

Swap the glass, not too bad, 1/2 hour per door.

devonutopia · 10-02-2004, 10:38

£40 in my case - well, for the front screen it is, not sure about the sides.

Half hour a door doesn't sound too bad. It just feels like "going where no man has gone before" to me.

**TaviaRS** · 10-02-2004, 10:46

It's one fee whether its just the windscreen, a side window or all the windows

DANvRS · 10-02-2004, 11:48

the swap should be straight forward. I did it in my old Polo when some thieving scumbag broke into it by smashing the glass.

Steve vRS · 10-02-2004, 12:54

Plus they are illegal and if you have them your insurance is void. I'm getting my fronts taken off on Saturday

Steve

Nigel26 · 12-02-2004, 17:36

Whats the crack with window tints at the moment then !?

Is there a limit to how dark they can be before the fuzz will pull you over or is ANY tint illegal now !?

Thing is a mate of a mate does window tiniting and does a blinding job too, i can get the Octy done but i dont want to go there and get done for it, i was only thinking of a mild smoke though...

devonutopia · 12-02-2004, 17:40

70% light transmission is the new law I believe, for front windows. But I'm not sure. The fact that I feel blinded when I get out my car in bright weather leads me to think they're not reaching that threshold...

***DGW*** · 12-02-2004, 18:06

(Post deleted. Advice given on current regulations will be out of date when vehicle glazing regulations are changed retrospectively).

Steve vRS · 12-02-2004, 18:36

Any front tint is now illegal.

Steve

Steve vRS · 12-02-2004, 18:50

Taken from http://www.pentagonglasstech.com/news_legal_update.asp

Quote:

Where such a vehicle is stopped and the window tints applied are such that the Visible Light Transmission level, when measured using an approved device falls to below prescribed levels, the following enforcement guidelines have been agreed with, and recommended, by the Government.

Above 30% Visible Light Transmission (Less Severe Window Tints)

The owner or driver of such a vehicle would be required to have the tinted film removed from the windows under the direction of either a Rectification Notice or a Delayed Prohibition Notice. A period of grace will apply for a limited number of days (normally ten) during which time the vehicle may be driven whilst the rectification work is to be completed.

In either case, the vehicle will need to be inspected by either a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Officer to confirm that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. Prosecution is unlikely in such circumstances provided the vehicle owner complies fully.

To me, the more important bit is that if your car is involved in an accident, your insurance co. can void your insurance as the car is not fit for road use. They will use any excuse not to pay out, thats why I'm getting mine removed

Steve

devonutopia · 12-02-2004, 21:56

Bit of a set-back on the glass front. I was inspecting the passenger door glass and found a bloody great 12" long scratch right up the middle of it.

SOOOO, this means its time to break out the hairdryer, stanley knife, white spirit, and peel the films off each bit of glass myself...

(which I'm hoping will take no time at all...)

Fl@pper · 12-02-2004, 22:30

dont forget the feu orange :p

when you pull the tints off itll stink to high heaven

devonutopia · 13-02-2004, 12:53

Well - if I start seeing pink elephants whilst warming the film up, I'll take a break...

Anyone know of a guarenteed easy way of doing this, or is my hairdryer technique gonna be the only decent method?

Quinten · 13-02-2004, 13:02

Jason, maybe you should phone a company like Pentagon? Just tell them you've bought a car with what you believe to be tinted windows. Now that you've learned that it is illegal to drive around with them you would like to remove these and are looking for advice. Who knows, they might offer to do this F.O.C...

devonutopia · 13-02-2004, 13:39

Q - Try £150 + VAT...

There's another local company I may visit at the weekend though... I'll report on their results when I've been there.

Quinten · 13-02-2004, 13:47

Did you actually ask for advice or did you just ask them to quote? £150 is quite a bit OTT though...

devonutopia · 13-02-2004, 13:48

I asked them for advice on removal only. They warned about needing very special solvents before quoting me £150+VAT...

I suspect they were trying to scare me so I'd shell out some dosh... sod THAT!

I reckon any old bloody strong solvent will shift the glue they use to adhere these films to the glass.

William · 13-02-2004, 14:24

Jason be careful with solvents, you could damage the seals at the bottom of the window and even the paint!

devonutopia · 13-02-2004, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by William

Jason be careful with solvents, you could damage the seals at the bottom of the window and even the paint!

I shan't be using anything stronger that petrol or white spirit, like when I had to remove the gunk left over from my de-badging episode. I won't be splashing it about willy nilly.

Just had an email from much more local tinters (highly recommended ones too.

) - Will remove each bit of tint for a tenner a piece, providing I pay the £50 + VAT per bit of glass to get them re-tinted. Much better deal than pentagon were going to do. And I don't have to get me or the car stinking of solvents

fen_l&k · 13-02-2004, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by devonutopia

I shan't be using anything stronger that petrol or white spirit, like when I had to remove the gunk left over from my de-badging episode. I won't be splashing it about willy nilly.

Just had an email from much more local tinters (highly recommended ones too.

) - Will remove each bit of tint for a tenner a piece, providing I pay the £50 + VAT per bit of glass to get them re-tinted. Much better deal than pentagon were going to do. And I don't have to get me or the car stinking of solvents

So If I've got my maths right, you'll pay £120 + VAT to have them removed and re-tinted, or £150 + VAT to have them removed altogether. Is the new tint still legal? Otherwise it could be an expensive exercise if you have to get those ones removed too!

devonutopia · 13-02-2004, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by fen_l&k

So If I've got my maths right, you'll pay £120 + VAT to have them removed and re-tinted, or £150 + VAT to have them removed altogether. Is the new tint still legal? Otherwise it could be an expensive exercise if you have to get those ones removed too!

Yours maths is spot-on howard, and I've asked to look at examples of tinting first before I buy some, and check they're deffo legal. (gonna go really light, just a smoke perhaps)

Apparently there's "reflective security films" on the market which are reflective on the outside but barely provides any tinting from the inside. This would be the ideal solution for me I reckon.

fen_l&k · 13-02-2004, 14:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by devonutopia

Yours maths is spot-on howard, and I've asked to look at examples of tinting first before I buy some, and check they're deffo legal. (gonna go really light, just a smoke perhaps)

Apparently there's "reflective security films" on the market which are reflective on the outside but barely provides any tinting from the inside. This would be the ideal solution for me I reckon.

Wouldn't the reflective one look a bit odd on the fronts and not the rears? Sorry, not wanting to dissuade you in any way - just curious!

devonutopia · 13-02-2004, 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by fen_l&k

Wouldn't the reflective one look a bit odd on the fronts and not the rears? Sorry, not wanting to dissuade you in any way - just curious!

Not a problem as the existing rear tints are damn reflective anyway (see piccie in sig, you can kind of tell). They're obviously bugger dark as well, but don't matter as they're not a problem when driving. I thought it would look more weird having less reflective glass at the front, and more so at the back... may be thats just me.

(I saw Ffelan's Mum's merc truck thing last weekend and it looked OK with black at the back and clear at the front, just a bit 50/50... know what I mean?)

Stimps · 13-02-2004, 15:48

Jason,

Brick through the window time, and a call to your insurance company should sort the offending tints out.

Alternatively, why not get silver reflective tints?

10-02-2004, 10:05	#1
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Exeter / Devon Posts: 30,109 Members Car: Skoda Fabia Mongrel Images: 5 Thanks: 75 Thanked 353 Times in 296 Posts	Tints - not so good Hello everyone After driving at night in my well-tinted Fabia for a while now I've come to the realisation that the two side front windows are illegal, and as well as that visibility is shocking at night, to the point of almost not being able to see a thing... AND, when driving at night I HATE the tunnel vision I feel I'm getting when I can only see out the front screen. I'm going to leave the tinted sunstrip as that looks cool and helps with the sun. I'll also be leaving all the rear tints too. SO, the question is it is easier for me to try and use a hairdryer to remove the tints OR to take the glass out of the side doors of my other Fabia and put them in instead. I don't know how easy a door glass swap is, but I'd sooner try that than spend hours with a hairdryer, and then have the gunk on the glass to wash off too. K? Ade? - A "door glass swap" process would be ideal. Last edited by devonutopia; 10-02-2004 at 10:08.

10-02-2004, 11:48	#5
DANvRS Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cleveland, UK Posts: 113 Members Car: Fabia vRS with cruise, Jabb'd to 178bhp Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	the swap should be straight forward. I did it in my old Polo when some thieving scumbag broke into it by smashing the glass. __________________

10-02-2004, 12:54	#6
Steve vRS Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cumbria and Cheshire Posts: 1,181 Members Car: Tavia vRS TDi Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Plus they are illegal and if you have them your insurance is void. I'm getting my fronts taken off on Saturday Steve __________________ From Tavia vRS 230bhp to Impreza WRX STi Version V Type R to Clio 182 Cup and now a vRS TDi Octy II in Lightning McQueen Red

12-02-2004, 17:40	#8
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Exeter / Devon Posts: 30,109 Members Car: Skoda Fabia Mongrel Images: 5 Thanks: 75 Thanked 353 Times in 296 Posts	70% light transmission is the new law I believe, for front windows. But I'm not sure. The fact that I feel blinded when I get out my car in bright weather leads me to think they're not reaching that threshold... __________________ Jason - Only a Skoda. Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. Cheesy bonnet lifter video to "raise me up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnGECEi5Oc See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

12-02-2004, 18:06	#9
*DGW* BRISKODA Staff Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cambridgeshire Posts: 17,300 Members Car: Octavia 1.8T 4X4 Estate & Fabia vRS Thanks: 51 Thanked 208 Times in 157 Posts	(Post deleted. Advice given on current regulations will be out of date when vehicle glazing regulations are changed retrospectively). __________________ Denis 2002 Octavia 1.8T 4X4 turbo Estate - rebreathed on by Jabba ... 31.93mpg 2007 Fabia vRS - CC, ESP and full leather trim by Seat Surgeons ...48.57 mpg... Last edited by DGW; 12-02-2004 at 21:30. Reason: Given in post.

10-02-2004, 10:33	#2
TaviaRS Dinosaur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North of the Watford Gap Posts: 14,942 Members Car: Merc E class & SLK Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 38 Posts	To remove the tints: 1. Get brick 2. Put through front windows 3. Call Autoglass 4. Pay £50 and get some new ones on the insurance Job done! Swap the glass, not too bad, 1/2 hour per door.

10-02-2004, 10:38	#3
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Exeter / Devon Posts: 30,109 Members Car: Skoda Fabia Mongrel Images: 5 Thanks: 75 Thanked 353 Times in 296 Posts	£40 in my case - well, for the front screen it is, not sure about the sides. Half hour a door doesn't sound too bad. It just feels like "going where no man has gone before" to me.

10-02-2004, 10:46	#4
TaviaRS Dinosaur Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North of the Watford Gap Posts: 14,942 Members Car: Merc E class & SLK Thanks: 19 Thanked 42 Times in 38 Posts	It's one fee whether its just the windscreen, a side window or all the windows

12-02-2004, 17:36	#7
Nigel26 Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Walsall, West Midlands Posts: 2,298 Members Car: Sea Grey Mondeo Titanium X Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Whats the crack with window tints at the moment then !? Is there a limit to how dark they can be before the fuzz will pull you over or is ANY tint illegal now !? Thing is a mate of a mate does window tiniting and does a blinding job too, i can get the Octy done but i dont want to go there and get done for it, i was only thinking of a mild smoke though...

12-02-2004, 18:36	#10
Steve vRS Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cumbria and Cheshire Posts: 1,181 Members Car: Tavia vRS TDi Thanks: 4 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Any front tint is now illegal. Steve __________________ From Tavia vRS 230bhp to Impreza WRX STi Version V Type R to Clio 182 Cup and now a vRS TDi Octy II in Lightning McQueen Red

12-02-2004, 21:56	#12
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Exeter / Devon Posts: 30,109 Members Car: Skoda Fabia Mongrel Images: 5 Thanks: 75 Thanked 353 Times in 296 Posts	Bit of a set-back on the glass front. I was inspecting the passenger door glass and found a bloody great 12" long scratch right up the middle of it. SOOOO, this means its time to break out the hairdryer, stanley knife, white spirit, and peel the films off each bit of glass myself... (which I'm hoping will take no time at all...) __________________ Jason - Only a Skoda. Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. Cheesy bonnet lifter video to "raise me up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnGECEi5Oc See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

12-02-2004, 22:30	#13
Fl@pper Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Cheltenham Glos UK Posts: 40 Members Car: to be arranged - Octavia VRs estate in black i hope Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	dont forget the feu orange :p when you pull the tints off itll stink to high heaven __________________ Just looking to reach the czech'rd flag Spanish Inquisition member (SCN)

13-02-2004, 12:53	#14
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Exeter / Devon Posts: 30,109 Members Car: Skoda Fabia Mongrel Images: 5 Thanks: 75 Thanked 353 Times in 296 Posts	Well - if I start seeing pink elephants whilst warming the film up, I'll take a break... Anyone know of a guarenteed easy way of doing this, or is my hairdryer technique gonna be the only decent method? __________________ Jason - Only a Skoda. Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. Cheesy bonnet lifter video to "raise me up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnGECEi5Oc See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

13-02-2004, 13:02	#15
Quinten Crossdresser Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: fast lane Posts: 10,000 Members Car: Citroen C-Crosser 2.2HDI Thanks: 25 Thanked 40 Times in 37 Posts	Jason, maybe you should phone a company like Pentagon? Just tell them you've bought a car with what you believe to be tinted windows. Now that you've learned that it is illegal to drive around with them you would like to remove these and are looking for advice. Who knows, they might offer to do this F.O.C... __________________ Awooga!!!

13-02-2004, 13:39	#16
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Exeter / Devon Posts: 30,109 Members Car: Skoda Fabia Mongrel Images: 5 Thanks: 75 Thanked 353 Times in 296 Posts	Q - Try £150 + VAT... There's another local company I may visit at the weekend though... I'll report on their results when I've been there. __________________ Jason - Only a Skoda. Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. Cheesy bonnet lifter video to "raise me up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnGECEi5Oc See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

13-02-2004, 13:47	#17
Quinten Crossdresser Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: fast lane Posts: 10,000 Members Car: Citroen C-Crosser 2.2HDI Thanks: 25 Thanked 40 Times in 37 Posts	Did you actually ask for advice or did you just ask them to quote? £150 is quite a bit OTT though... __________________ Awooga!!!

13-02-2004, 13:48	#18
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Exeter / Devon Posts: 30,109 Members Car: Skoda Fabia Mongrel Images: 5 Thanks: 75 Thanked 353 Times in 296 Posts	I asked them for advice on removal only. They warned about needing very special solvents before quoting me £150+VAT... I suspect they were trying to scare me so I'd shell out some dosh... sod THAT! I reckon any old bloody strong solvent will shift the glue they use to adhere these films to the glass. __________________ Jason - Only a Skoda. Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. Cheesy bonnet lifter video to "raise me up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnGECEi5Oc See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

13-02-2004, 14:24	#19
William BANNED Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 2,148 Members Car: Skoda Octavia Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Jason be careful with solvents, you could damage the seals at the bottom of the window and even the paint!

13-02-2004, 15:48	#25
Stimps Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Colchester Posts: 5,091 Members Car: Fabia 1.4 16v Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Jason, Brick through the window time, and a call to your insurance company should sort the offending tints out. Alternatively, why not get silver reflective tints? __________________ Steve « Nature Green 1.4 16v Fabia Comfort »

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