rewillia

Questioning whether or not to tint the rear (wagon) window with electric defroster heat strips in my '19 E450 Wagon;

Set-up an appointment to have the side and rear windows tinted this week and having some mixed thoughts about the rear glass which includes the defroster heat strip. Curious to learn from others who have had their rear window tinted and if you have experienced any separation or bubbling around the heat strip wires.

WTIW, I asked the tint installer that is going to do my car on Wends, and he said YES, after a few years it may separate from heat and more so from use of the electric defroster but that it is inherent to the practice of tinting windows with film and for the most part will only likely appear in 10 years or so of continued use. Of course removing it will destroy the defroster heat strip so that's why I'm hesitant. I plan to do 40% nano ceramic tint all the way around.

Any Feedback will be appreciated.

rewillia

edited OP, misuse of all caps in subject line.

JTK44

Check threads. Others have done it and there were problems with electric (heating) strips.

BTW, the rear window is vertical, in the back where no one sits so I wonder what is the net positive effect of tinting that window? I understand front and sides where people sit and especially the front which is not vertical, but the rear?

How long have you had your car and have you driven it in the summer to see if tinting is really necessary?

rewillia

I did already searched the forum, and found threads but only one example of where another poster's defroster strip was damaged due to the removal of tint previously installed but nothing thus far otherwise.

madtrader

Interesting to hear your shop say that separation may happen in 10 years. I had a Volvo wagon that I had tinted all around (even the AS1 strip on the windshield). I drove that for 15 years and used the rear defroster every winter (additionally, it was not garaged for the vast majority of that time). No separation or bubbling ever formed. I replaced that car with a W212 sedan I had for 5 years, also tinted the rear and used the defroster each winter. No bubbling or separation on that either.

rewillia

I'm hoping that will be the case, just the installer stated he could not or would not guarantee that there will be no separation in the future. Call it CYA'ing but I asked and that's what he told me. He's high ranked, been doing tints for 20 years, will be using 3M' grade nano ceramic film and is detailed oriented hence the reason chose him to do it.

The_Judge

Look into ceramic window tinting films, such as that made by Llumar. I have it on my 2018 E400C and have had no problems with any of the car's windows, including the rear window.

rewillia

It's going to be 40% SunTek CXP non-metal, nano-hybrid carbon series professional grade of which he had to order as most of his customers opt for a lesser priced material.

rewillia

Done. 40% all sides and rear tailgate window. Very pleased with the quality of the install and it looks just right against the designo diamond white and the night pkg. window trim and pano roof. The installer did what he called was a slow shrink on the rear to ensure uniform sealing to the defroster lines, hence no blemishes or what they refer to as peanuts or bubbles. Lifetime warranty; cost was $450.

jl199986

Pics please?

rewillia

Will post a few once the local weather improves, cloudy/overcast with some rain at this time.

jovanybg

Damaged defroster lines after tint removal/reinstallation
Any advice if I would need to change the rear window in order to have these lines repaired?
If so, what would price on that be?
Tint installer claimed they are not responsible for damaging the defrosters!
Also said it is common case for Teslas and Mercedes...

Roweraay

Within the first week of getting my car, I got it tinted with an expensive nano-ceramic multi-layered tint that’s almost completely transparent. No dyes at all in the tint. I personally don’t like the dark-tinted windows.

The tint I did is all around the car, including the front windshield and the panoramic sunroof. Cost: 1500$. Zero UV penetration into the cabin (cutting out the damage that happens in the car’s interior), 93% Infra-red reduction (heat reduction).

I do this in every single car of mine, and have been very pleased with the end-result, over years of driving. Never had any separation or bubbling issues in any of my cars till now.

JTK44

YEKS!


If it is a common case, why did they not first warn you and why did they go ahead with the tinting?

jovanybg

They were asking me if somebody adviced me that might happen!! I guess they knew, but nobody said a word ahead of time! They even pretended everything was perfectly fine untill I've asked them to step out and have a look at the car...Suposedly their boss (Tint World) will call me on Monday to discuss...It might take a full glass replacement!