Questions on recent install

TrojanGoose · May 5, 2023

Hello,

I have done research, including reading this forum, on choosing a reputable tint shop and after eagerly waiting a week for my appointment I am not completely satisfied with the results.

I want to preface this by saying the shop owner is willing to correct anything I am not fully satisfied with but I want to ask the experts here first if my disappointment or expectations were unreasonable. I have had other vehicles tinted in the past and I have never seen anything like this.

1). Large spaces around the entire window. I was told this was because Teslas do not have window frames and putting tint to the edge could cause issues. I had a 335 convertible with tint and didn’t have this same issue at all.

2). Spaces are very uneven from one side to another. One window is nearly to the edge, while another has a gap. I was told that there are different sizes of glass on each individual window and since sheets are cut from a plotter on a standard size it is not all uniform.

3). The corner cuts are jagged and it the same from corner to corner. One side rear window is round the other side rear window is more square. I was told this was due to the plotter.

4.) the rear window. When I look in my rear view window I see one side has an angled cut and the other has no cut. This will likely bother me every time I look in the mirror. I was told this was due to the plotter.

Am I being overly picky based on previous tint jobs I have had or is this a reasonable ask for correction? I’m looking for more than just “if you are not happy, take it back in”. Again, the shop is willing to fix anything I am not satisfied with but I understand that sometimes when I pay for something that I see every day I expect more perfection than is maybe industry acceptable.

Dano · May 5, 2023

That would never leave my shop. The cuts and gaps are ridiculous.

doctor4766 · May 5, 2023

Very unprofessional.
Looks like the work-experience kid did that job.

TrojanGoose · May 6, 2023

Thanks for the responses.

I asked for close up photos of Model 3 tint with doors open in the Tesla group I am in and over 100 comments with tons of pictures and none look anywhere close to the gap size and weird inconsistencies that are on my car.

I’m relieved that I’m not being overly picky and won’t feel as bad asking the shop to correct this.

doctor4766 · May 6, 2023

The door glass film should be fitted right to the edge.

Yours looks like how it was done in the 1980s with those gaps.

Tintguy1980 · May 6, 2023

Wow! Chop job for sure.

Why isn't the film all the way to the top of the back glass? WTF?

Now, what to do; have film removed, get money back & go elsewhere, have them redo using different installer, or even trust them with any of the aforementioned?

Bham · May 6, 2023

9 minutes ago, Tintguy1980 said:

Wow! Chop job for sure.

Why isn't the film all the way to the top of the back glass? WTF?

The pics look like this is a Tesla so the rear glass would have to be a 60" piece to be able to do that in one piece.

If I am correct and it is a Tesla @TrojanGoose I would have them remove the rear glass and not re-tint it unless they can do the whole thing in one piece. Tesla's have a reputation for "thermal fracture" due to the longe curved design of that rear glass. Tinting only half the glass could possibly cause it to crack.

Edited May 6, 2023 by Bham

flat rock stan · May 7, 2023

The pictures show some pretty big gaps. I use a plotter program called Computer Cut and the model 3 patterns don’t leave gaps but all cut programs are different. Ask your tinter to hand cut the doors and be careful with the back window as removing the film can cause the defrost lines to come off. Since this is the job you got ask if they will cover the rest of the rear window with a second piece. Won’t look as good as the whole thing in one piece but least you won’t run the risk of losing the defroster. I’ve seen lots of those windows tinted up to the top where Tesla has the factory shade but that job doesn’t go that far. If you leave it like it is it will probably not make a difference in the glass breaking but those windows break easy without any film on um ✊

Darkimag22 · May 8, 2023

Take it back, get them to remove it ALL, get a 100% refund and try to find a different "professional" tint business. It's places like this that give us a bad rep!

Jerry Hernandez · May 9, 2023

My jaw dropped looking at those pictures!! Have them take it off and go elsewhere! Thank him for his honesty in addressing your dissatisfactions. I hand cut every single car I get in my shop and get it to the edge on all sides. When I do a partial back glass, I do 3ft from the bottom going up.