doctor4766

That's nothing.
Prior to this one I tinted a couple of small cruise ships that were bound for Tahiti.
They were still in the process of being built at the time, so as I finished each cabin, I taped clear/opaque plastic sheeting over the window so protect the film from being damaged by other tradesmen.
As it happened, the other tradies liked the view out of the windows so much that they were removing our plastic so they could see out properly. 
By the time I'd finished the second ship there were that many windows that needed to be re-tinted due to scratches that I ended up virtually doing a 3rd ship worth of work, at their expense of course.
A couple of months later the ships sailed to Tahiti with numerous tradesmen on board, still finishing their work whilst trying to make the delivery deadline.
I was asked to join them to re-tint yet more cabins, but circumstances didn't allow me the time away from my shop.

Time consuming alright.
Did a bunch of glass on this one a few years back.

That's nothing.
Prior to this one I tinted a couple of small cruise ships that were bound for Tahiti.
They were still in the process of being built at the time, so as I finished each cabin, I taped clear/opaque plastic sheeting over the window so protect the film from being damaged by other tradesmen.
As it happened, the other tradies liked the view out of the windows so much that they were removing our plastic so they could see out properly. 
By the time I'd finished the second ship there were that many windows that needed to be re-tinted due to scratches that I ended up virtually doing a 3rd ship worth of work, at their expense of course.
A couple of months later the ships sailed to Tahiti with numerous tradesmen on board, still finishing their work whilst trying to make the delivery deadline.
I was asked to join them to re-tint yet more cabins, but circumstances didn't allow me the time away from my shop.

Time consuming alright.
Did a bunch of glass on this one a few years back.

Time consuming alright.
Did a bunch of glass on this one a few years back.

This kind of customer can be found the world over.
Often, we can sense trouble before it even really starts. I mean, how many times have you had an enquiry asking how much it costs to tint a small car?
This kind of question sets alarm bells ringing as I realize this isn't just a run of the mill Camry that they own, but more likely something much more sinister: usually an Audi, a BMW or you guessed it, a Volvo, and not just any old Volvo, an XC60! (Substitute any other Euro-trash that you wish - I'm sure you get the point)
I immediately ask if they know what type of car they have.
Silence often follows for a few seconds until they realize they've been sprung.
"Yes" they admit. "Why wouldn't I know?"
I then explain that in order for me to quote the job, I need to know what I'm dealing with, and that I'd hate to over price them with a figure that's usually reserved for European cars, which are more difficult to tint than the average home-grown varieties.
"I have an A6 Audi" they confess, and I realize my spidey senses are still working, despite my grey hair and bulging beer belly.
"Oh well then" I say "That's good to know. I'll make sure that it isn't just one of the juniors that works on your vehicle. The cost is $550" (Did I mention that I work alone?)
At this point, they either want to book the job in or decide to call around for other prices.
I'm happy either way, not just because I did or didn't get a job worth doing, but because I hadn't been tricked into booking "one of those jobs" for next to nothing.

This kind of customer can be found the world over.
Often, we can sense trouble before it even really starts. I mean, how many times have you had an enquiry asking how much it costs to tint a small car?
This kind of question sets alarm bells ringing as I realize this isn't just a run of the mill Camry that they own, but more likely something much more sinister: usually an Audi, a BMW or you guessed it, a Volvo, and not just any old Volvo, an XC60! (Substitute any other Euro-trash that you wish - I'm sure you get the point)
I immediately ask if they know what type of car they have.
Silence often follows for a few seconds until they realize they've been sprung.
"Yes" they admit. "Why wouldn't I know?"
I then explain that in order for me to quote the job, I need to know what I'm dealing with, and that I'd hate to over price them with a figure that's usually reserved for European cars, which are more difficult to tint than the average home-grown varieties.
"I have an A6 Audi" they confess, and I realize my spidey senses are still working, despite my grey hair and bulging beer belly.
"Oh well then" I say "That's good to know. I'll make sure that it isn't just one of the juniors that works on your vehicle. The cost is $550" (Did I mention that I work alone?)
At this point, they either want to book the job in or decide to call around for other prices.
I'm happy either way, not just because I did or didn't get a job worth doing, but because I hadn't been tricked into booking "one of those jobs" for next to nothing.

If I had a buck fifty for everyone that has said that to me over the years, I could probably take a week off.

If I had a buck fifty for everyone that has said that to me over the years, I could probably take a week off.

Perhaps, but didn't have one handy.
I've sent the car away for now and will likely get it back on a day that there's two of us in the shop.

So, a customer brought in his new 2023 Volvo XC40 Recharge EV this morning for just the front doors to be tinted as the vehicle has privacy glass, as he was too much of a tight arse to pay for an upgrade film.
I knew it wasn't going to be simple right from the get-go, as I couldn't even find a start button on the dash.
I did notice though that the ignition lights had lit up though, which was weird since I hadn't pressed anything, so I put the shifter into reverse and sure enough it started to move backwards as I hit the "gas" pedal.
After getting the vehicle into the shop and making my template, I cut the film for the passenger front door and hung it on the peeling board.
Then I proceeded to prepare the glass, but the window wouldn't operate, even though I had just wound the window up from the driver's seat.
Turns out that the weight of your body in the driver's seat operates the start switch (if you have the FOB close by) and once you step out of the car the ignition turns off again. 
Looks like doing one of these on your own may prove a little difficult unless you have someone else to sit in the car while you tint the glass.
 
Any solutions welcomed
 

Can't say I believe fitting the film externally would make much difference as far as heat rejection goes but I did do it on one of my vehicles many years ago. Here's why:
I had a '94 Toyota HiLux Surf/4Runner that I had tinted with a 20% film.
Back then Toyota installed light bronze glass in a lot of their vehicles instead of green, so a 20% grey film looked quite nice on most of the windows........ except, the cargo windows, which have a reflective coating from factory on the inside.
Now no film, no matter how black it is would make those windows look particularly dark, so I tinted them on the outside instead.
This had a much better appearance and blended with the rest of the car.
I had it on there for months without it ever peeling off.
I even drove across Australia, from Perth to Brisbane and down the east coast through heat and snow at times and it held up well, until..... after a month on the road the vehicle was looking a bit crusty, so I gave it a good going over with my pressure cleaner.  The scratch resistant coating started to come off and looked like crap so I peeled it off and never bothered replacing it again.
So whilst this has not helped the discussion about heat rejection, it shows that it can be done.
 
And by the way, I spent some time in Dubai a few years ago and noticed that many cars had their back window film installed on the outside.

Can't say I believe fitting the film externally would make much difference as far as heat rejection goes but I did do it on one of my vehicles many years ago. Here's why:
I had a '94 Toyota HiLux Surf/4Runner that I had tinted with a 20% film.
Back then Toyota installed light bronze glass in a lot of their vehicles instead of green, so a 20% grey film looked quite nice on most of the windows........ except, the cargo windows, which have a reflective coating from factory on the inside.
Now no film, no matter how black it is would make those windows look particularly dark, so I tinted them on the outside instead.
This had a much better appearance and blended with the rest of the car.
I had it on there for months without it ever peeling off.
I even drove across Australia, from Perth to Brisbane and down the east coast through heat and snow at times and it held up well, until..... after a month on the road the vehicle was looking a bit crusty, so I gave it a good going over with my pressure cleaner.  The scratch resistant coating started to come off and looked like crap so I peeled it off and never bothered replacing it again.
So whilst this has not helped the discussion about heat rejection, it shows that it can be done.
 
And by the way, I spent some time in Dubai a few years ago and noticed that many cars had their back window film installed on the outside.

More likely to be the glass than the film.
After working in the autoglass industry for many years you see lots of cases of what you're describing.
Film wouldn't be thick enough to be the source of the visible bending that you can see.

In all fairness, it takes months if not years to become competent enough to tint a complete vehicle such that the customer is satisfied with the job and you haven't spent all day tinting for $200...
As Bham said, you should get a job at a tint shop first. That way you can benefit from some training from experienced people and not be wasting your own film and time whilst learning the game.
I have been tinting since 1984 when I was just 18 and I think I was confident in myself by about year 3
I'm now 55 and have made a reasonable life from this industry, working for myself for the last 20 years.
It's not as easy as some would make out, but if you start with a plan and don't try to skip important steps, you too could carve out a career for yourself.
Good luck
Paul 

In all fairness, it takes months if not years to become competent enough to tint a complete vehicle such that the customer is satisfied with the job and you haven't spent all day tinting for $200...
As Bham said, you should get a job at a tint shop first. That way you can benefit from some training from experienced people and not be wasting your own film and time whilst learning the game.
I have been tinting since 1984 when I was just 18 and I think I was confident in myself by about year 3
I'm now 55 and have made a reasonable life from this industry, working for myself for the last 20 years.
It's not as easy as some would make out, but if you start with a plan and don't try to skip important steps, you too could carve out a career for yourself.
Good luck
Paul 

In all fairness, it takes months if not years to become competent enough to tint a complete vehicle such that the customer is satisfied with the job and you haven't spent all day tinting for $200...
As Bham said, you should get a job at a tint shop first. That way you can benefit from some training from experienced people and not be wasting your own film and time whilst learning the game.
I have been tinting since 1984 when I was just 18 and I think I was confident in myself by about year 3
I'm now 55 and have made a reasonable life from this industry, working for myself for the last 20 years.
It's not as easy as some would make out, but if you start with a plan and don't try to skip important steps, you too could carve out a career for yourself.
Good luck
Paul 

More likely to be the glass than the film.
After working in the autoglass industry for many years you see lots of cases of what you're describing.
Film wouldn't be thick enough to be the source of the visible bending that you can see.