Tint Removal-Winshield

DriftingIsGay · 01-31-2007, 03:36 PM

The previous owner put a very dark piece of tint on the windshield that extends down about 8". It's very annoying, feels like I'm losing about 25% of my viewing area. I plan on removing it but I noticed that there is something on the windshield. Looks like a lot of small dots, don't know what function they serve but I'm worried about screwing something up. I will probably ask the tint shop near my house to do it.

Do you think this will cause any problems?

GTO JUDGE · 01-31-2007, 03:47 PM

Small dots could be air bubbles.

It will cause problems if a prick cop stops you. In PA tinting of the windshield is not legal, although I see many with it.

If it's a paper type tint it ought to come off ok. If you purchased it at a dealership try having them pick up the tab. Especially if it's illegal.

kegbelly · 01-31-2007, 04:21 PM

There are blacked out areas and black dots applied to the inside of the windshield, rear quarter glass and back glass. Is that what you are talking about? They run around the edge of the glass and drop down in the center of the widshield in the rearview mirror area and are for masking or shading. You might use an ammonia-based product like basic glass cleaner to break the tint loose. I wouldn't use a razor scraper because you might scrape off the factory dots. If it's not the black dots, then it's probably tiny air bubbles as GTO Judge said. Someone might have used an ammonia product on the tinted strip, or did a poor job installing the tint.

njmurvin · 01-31-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriftingIsGay

The previous owner put a very dark piece of tint on the windshield that extends down about 8". It's very annoying, feels like I'm losing about 25% of my viewing area. I plan on removing it but I noticed that there is something on the windshield. Looks like a lot of small dots, don't know what function they serve but I'm worried about screwing something up. I will probably ask the tint shop near my house to do it.

Do you think this will cause any problems?

I had that same "eyebrow" tint on my BMW windshield when I got it. I worked at the lower left corner to get it a little loose and carefully peeled it off. It was surprisingly easy. Yours may have been better applied and you many need heat or some kind of solvent. A tinting place would certainly know how to get it off.

DriftingIsGay · 01-31-2007, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kegbelly

There are blacked out areas and black dots applied to the inside of the windshield, rear quarter glass and back glass. Is that what you are talking about? They run around the edge of the glass and drop down in the center of the widshield in the rearview mirror area and are for masking or shading.

Yes those are the dots. I didn't really know what they were for, I was afraid it could have been some type of defogger or antenna But if they are just for shading it won't hurt anything if some get damaged during removal. Thanks for the help.

I called the nearest tint shop and they said they would take it off for $20 so I'll just have them do it.

kegbelly · 01-31-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriftingIsGay

Yes those are the dots. I didn't really know what they were for, I was afraid it could have been some type of defogger or antenna But if they are just for shading it won't hurt anything if some get damaged during removal. Thanks for the help.

I called the nearest tint shop and they said they would take it off for $20 so I'll just have them do it.

Antenna and defogger are in the rear glass, nothing in the front glass.

That's probably your best bet, that way if they mess something up they get to fix it, not you. If they use some kind of solvent, I'd ask them to test it on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn't dissolve the dots along with the glue holding the tint on.

kegbelly · 01-31-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by njmurvin

I had that same "eyebrow" tint on my BMW windshield when I got it. I worked at the lower left corner to get it a little loose and carefully peeled it off. It was surprisingly easy. Yours may have been better applied and you many need heat or some kind of solvent. A tinting place would certainly know how to get it off.

You had better luck than I did. I had my truck windows tinted several years ago, then about two years later they changed the law and my tint was illegal. Probably could have left it on and got away with it, but I took it off myself. Took a couple hours, a pack of razor blades and lots of ammonia water. Every time I tried to peel it like you describe, it would tear into tiny strips, and I had no choice but to scrape.