After two weeks of purchasing my E350, I noticed bubbles on the rear window. I've ask people what it is because there is no tint on it. Could it be the UV protection that is causing the bubbles?

 

Do they seem to be in the glass? Any particular location? Can you post pictures?

 

Bubbles in the glass is common. My tint shop pointed them out to me in the rear window and driver front door window. Not sure if it's considered a warranty item either.

 

If you are referring to what looks like bubble wrap with large round spots that can be seen under varying light conditions then that is normal and a process of making the glass.

 

@CEB Yes, it's tiny bubbles all over the rear window even when there is no tint installed at all. It looks very annoying because when the sunlight shines on the car you can see it clearly. Is there any way to remove this or is it stuck with the factory window?

 

I've been told that it is part of the process of making safety glass, so we have to live with it. I've had it on every car from 2002.

 

If I decide to tint my windows, will the bubbles still show?

 

May sound like a strange question but can you see the bubbles all the time or only when wearing sunglasses? Assume you have polarized sunglasses? It is a strange phenomen that this would occur so quickly and I would have the dealer deal with it immediately. If the glass is showing signs without polarized glasses it is a problem. The glasses will allow this to be seen due to mfg process as has been noted.

 

Based on your question and my own experiences, I raised this issue with PPG.

This issue should be most commonly seen in two types of scenarios.

1. When looking through the glass at reflective objects (like another car) while wearing polarized sunglasses
2. When looking directly at the glass under certain lighting conditions

There isn't anything a dealer can do as it is an inherent part of making modern safety glass - assuming that the issue is as I described that the glass looks like it has an impression of bubble wrap on it.

If the dealer is aware of the glass making process then he'll tell the customer that it is normal. If not, then they'll swap the offending piece of glass then be surprised when the bubbles are still there. It has to do with the laminating process of safety glass. Every car I've owned in the last 10 years has had this.

Without polarized glasses, it seems most evident on the rear window.

Tint will not make this go away but may introduce additional halos and sparkles around the defroster lines.

I actually verified it this morning while stuck in traffic. Bright sunshine in my eyes and I'm wearing polarized sunglasses.

As I looked in the rearview mirror, I see the car behind me is "covered" with little bubbles - the surrounding area is bubble free. A few minutes later, a bus pulled in behind me - only the windscreen was "covered" in bubbles.

Nothing you - or anyone else - can do.