Tainted Tint

[SpeedMcheen]

Recently bought my MSP'03.5 and went to get regular 20% tints installed. Immediately after the installation there were obviously noticeable bubble lines along each window defroster wire, among a few other small bubbles. The installer said that this is a common problem with Mazda's and Lexus' rear windshields. He said the grain of the interior of these windshields allows bubbles to collect easier, especially along the defroster wires, and this helps to prevent them from escaping during installation, and even though the bubbles were more pronounced than he usually sees, they should go away within a few days under the sun. Well, now three weeks later, the bubbles are still there, even in the hot climate of So. Fla. Has anyone else experienced this type of windshield "grain" problem or bubble lines along their defroster wires or is this just a poor excuse for poor craftsmanship?

Thanks for your input. (drive)

 

[MSP#735]

Yeah man, Im in the same 'boat' my rear window has the same problem yours is having. Ive had mine done now for.....a month and its still slightly bubbled.....i guess this is something.....else......that we are gonna have to deal with.

MSP#735

 

[funnylittlman]

It happens along the defrost. lines b/c they are so thick. You have to keep pushing them down , and down and down and down.

 

[mazdaowner123]

Any other input? I'm planning on getting my windows tinted, but if it's going to bubble most likely I'll spend my money elsewhere.

~brian

 

[TX Speed Demon]

I had the same problem too along the rear defroster lines. I went over them with the edge of a credit card the first night I got the tint and squeezed most of the air out. Now you don't notice it unless you get up close and look for it. You could try heating up you back windshield and put the rear defroster on to loosen the tint then re push it down with a small flat object to decrease the line gap. Might work, might be too late.

 

[PHILLY-ORANGE]

pop them with a pin and push down on the tint prob. solved I use to tint cars

 

[^tyrant^]

i got mine done about 3 weeks ago and ive had no problems with my rear window, i had a couple of water bubbles on my doors but they finaly dried out

 

[mazdaspeedpower]

There is no way to permanently fix this. I talked to my tint guy, and he(who owns and runs allbrite tint in Kitchener...really good work) he said, there is no way to fix this bubble along the defroster. It does this on all vehicles that have defrosters. They are really trying to find a way around this, and by they, I mean the people who make the tint, and the people who install it. They have tested many different types of glue, and they are slowly getting better, but still not perfect. Only way I could think of, is to run a razor along both sides of the defroster, and remove that tiny piece of tint that would cover it, and then press the tint down along the defroster lines. You think it's noticable on black tint? It's worse with reflective tint, trust me. I had regular 20% on my P5, it looked pretty good, then with my MSP, I decided to get 30% reflective tint, and it shows much more. It's still not hugely noticable, just noticeable within close range. I don't really care, but I know how little things like this can be annoying. If it's really huge, get the tint place to fix it.

 

[jonnydoe48]

if you dont go to a cheapass tint shop, they wont bubble. make sure they use their tool to push the tint down the back window MORE THAN ONCE.

 

[RyanJayG]

yeah, my tint is now 2 years old. Llumar Centaur 18%... installed by a really good shop.... exactly 0 problems with it. no bubbles on the rear or any other window for that matter.

 

[mazdaspeedpower]

it's not really bubbles though, it just the tint doesn't sit flush up against the defroster stripes. There is no way to get it to stick to the defroster bars, and if you have found a way, do share.

 

[RyanJayG]

well the defroster strips are not flush with the window... what are you really wanting?

I just went out and looked at mine again, and there is absolutely no problem with mine... the strips are no more visible than without the tint... even up close..

does your car have an actual problem? maybe a pic of what you are talking about?

 

[RXMmazdaspeed]

i got mine tinted 6% all around and no problem even on the defroster lines... maybe it depends on the installer to? (boom05)

 

[DZnutz]

i had the same prob on my rx7... it depends on what kind of tint you get. the stained tint will fade and discolor over the years but its very thin so you wont get these air strips along your defroster lines. meanwhile the more expensive and durable metal tint is much thicker and it typically has this happen. annoying maybe but you dont really see it as long as all the lines are even

 

[RyanJayG]

Llumar Centaur isn't thin cheap tint, and I still dont have this problem.. I really think it comes down to instalation

 

[Heathen23]

Can someone move this to general appearance or the proper forum.

I had the same bubbles but they went away after several weeks. I also used the defroster after a few weeks to get them to heat up. Now they are gone, so maybe some patience is needed but if not just take it back and make them redo the work until it's right.

 

[RXMmazdaspeed]

if it helps the name of my tint is true gray or trugray or somethin like that.. its fairly new and it has a 100% guarantee or your money back for the life of it.

 

[03MSP]

The tinter that I went to said that the defroster lines were the thickest ones he has seen yet; but I don't care, the air pockets aren't that noticable along the def. lines.

 

[tintorMP5]

Hello guys, I am a tint installer by trade and have been tinting for over 13yrs.
I do work for a large dealership now and tinted for a Mazda dealer in the past . The problem you are having on your backglass is common on the MSP because of the defrost lines are thicker than the regular Protege or even the MP5. The solution is to ask the installer to try and fix it. He can either redo the tint again or try and pop or slice the air bubbles out, but there is a down flaw to that , you could actually tear the tint if you cleanig the backglass and apply to much pressure over the sliced area. (if the slice is long). The other problem is that over time the tint will tend to shrink and cause a gap letting in light. (big problem with cheap film). Those bubbles on the defrost lines are caused when the installer shrinks the film to the contour of the glass.(again bigger problem with less expensive films but even metalized films will sometimes do it.) If the installer would have spent a little more time by heating those areas up you probbaly would not have this problem. Let me know what kind of film it is (maker and band they call it)and I will let you know if its any good. Llumar centaur is real nice film. good luck.

 

[mspdfreak]

I must agree with those who say it's all in the installation. Granted, I paid a pretty penny ($245), but it looks perfect, has zero defects and is warrantied by the tinter for as long as I own the car. Good Luck!