Rear Window Tint
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 328
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '08
Rear Window Tint
I have had a bad experience with a window tinter (sanding rear window and air bubles in film) in Houston. I've had to replace the rear window as it was damaged by a tinter who claim to be the best. I've looked at the work done by a couple of others and they all have air bubles in the top of the rear window film. It seems the little black bumps on the glass don't let the film stick properly. Has anyone gotten a good job? Can someone recommend someone in Houston? Thanks. 
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,631
Likes: 7
From: Dow IL
St. Jude Donor '10
I have had a bad experience with a window tinter (sanding rear window and air bubles in film) in Houston. I've had to replace the rear window as it was damaged by a tinter who claim to be the best. I've looked at the work done by a couple of others and they all have air bubles in the top of the rear window film. It seems the little black bumps on the glass don't let the film stick properly. Has anyone gotten a good job? Can someone recommend someone in Houston? Thanks.
The "black bumps" need to be very lightly rubbed over with a Scotch Brite pad. I stress very lightly or you will scratch the glass itself. Just enough to scratch the black so the tint will have something to adhere to. Make sure the the window is washed thoroughly with a mix of water and liquid dishwasher detergent to get rid of all the debris.
Or you can stop the tint about 2 inches into the black lines and apply black vinyl tape the rest of the way up. Obviously you won't be able to see thru the tape, but it is a minimal width of tape.
Last edited by superstreet; May 8, 2008 at 12:20 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,947
Likes: 8
From: Redwood City CA
I have had a bad experience with a window tinter (sanding rear window and air bubles in film) in Houston. I've had to replace the rear window as it was damaged by a tinter who claim to be the best. I've looked at the work done by a couple of others and they all have air bubles in the top of the rear window film. It seems the little black bumps on the glass don't let the film stick properly. Has anyone gotten a good job? Can someone recommend someone in Houston? Thanks.
The guy that did my rear window, used black vinyl to cover the "dot matrix" portion of the window. Tint won't adhere to it.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,969
Likes: 8
From: Champaign IL
I Just had my Windows Tinted on my Z06.. I had those little Black Bumps on the Top of my Rear Window and my Guy said the only way he could do it and make it look A+++ is to Etch the Glass with Black Window Paint.. So the Top of my rear Window is Etched where the Bumps used to be. It looks just the like the factory Black border around rear window except the top border is a little bigger now. It looks Stock from the inside and outside. He just taped a clean line around the inside of the rear window, put clean drop cloths on the inside of my car and apply this etching with a small brush.. I'm loading a Picture below.. My car is Dirty!! So please excuse the Dust on the Windows I assure you it looks A++ Hope this helps.. 
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
Mine has the dot matrix covered in black vinyl. the tint stops where the dot matrix begins and from there up its vinyl. I have never even noticed not being able to see out of it. guess it is negligible.
good luck
good luck
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 361
From: Midland TX
I had the same problem with bubbles in the dot matrix. so a couple months ago I removed the tint and started over. I taped off the dot matrix area and then painted it from the inside with Krylon black for glass - waited 3 days and had it re-tinted. Came out great this time.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 328
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '08
Still Looking
I went to a place yesterday after work that on the phone, said they do vettes all the time. Was not impressed when I got there. They basicially said all vettes end up with pealing and white spots after a year or two. I'm going to try the place that was suggested above (Extreme) and see what they have to say. Why do they put those dot matrix on the rear glass any way? 
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,631
Likes: 7
From: Dow IL
St. Jude Donor '10
I went to a place yesterday after work that on the phone, said they do vettes all the time. Was not impressed when I got there. They basicially said all vettes end up with pealing and white spots after a year or two. I'm going to try the place that was suggested above (Extreme) and see what they have to say. Why do they put those dot matrix on the rear glass any way?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 328
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '08
White spots
White spots are caused by the film not sticking (air bubbles). Called the suggested (Extreme) vendor from above, and Rob said that the air bubbles were common on vette installations. He requires an appointment and the car ALL day. This is my only car and I would prefer not to spend all day at a tinter, so I'm still looking for more suggestions guys. 
