I was on another car forum and someone there mentioned the problem of light refraction after getting the rear window tinted. I think it has something to do with the film and the rear defogger lines. Those of you who have tint, do you notice this problem?

Here's a link with a picture of what it looks like.
http://www.tintdude.com/forum/lofive...hp/t27172.html

I have rear tint on my current vehicle and never thought I had this light refraction problem, but now that it has been pointed out to me, i'm noticing it all the time now. I also have auto-dim mirrors in my current vehicle and think that the dimming got kind of screw up when i added tint (32%, not all that dark).

Can't decide if i should tint the MCS when it come in. You notice the same problem with your tint? Or does it matter what kind of tint is being used? Thanks.

 

i just use the MINI shades that you install on the inside of the windows. It's a very well designed product, made out of the same material as the sunroof material, but needs a little velcro on the rear. I used it because of the strict tint laws in DC thanks to paranoid republicans. Can't wait til '08!

 

My wife's car has the same problem but after a while I got used to it. It doesn't bother me or wife anymore. The rear dimming works just fine.
I am getting my MCS tinted this Friday. The tinting guy mentioned front windshield tint, 80% or so. I said no thanks.

 

its more noticeable with cars that have steep back windows. The MINIs back window is fairly vertical and i have not experienced any of these issues.

 

I've never noticed that before.

Now, of course, I'm going to be looking for it all the time and it's going to bug the heck out of me!

Thanks!!!

 

I've had my tint on the MINI for 5 years now.....never noticed anything like that at all. I'm guessing that as someone said...the vertical nature probably helps a lot.

You might also make sure that you get the tint with the little reflective flakes in it....that might reflect the light more rather than refracting it

 

Yeah, i have 15% tint all around, and have never noticed that before. Another plus to having the rear tinted, is the fact that you dont need to turn your mirror to night time mode, if you dont have auto dimming, the tint just blocks out enough light, i never touch my rear view mirror.

 

i know what you mean, for the last 2 1/2 years i didn't know i had 'this' problem, now every time i look thru the rearview mirror i see double, triple, quadruple headlights in the glass...

Could be angle of glass, type of tint, maybe even distance to the rear window. I've even heard thickness of the defogger grid may increase the refraction.

Probably best to find an installer that will guarantee that mine won't refract or at least offer to refund the price of the install if it does. It would look funky to tint the side windows but not the rear?

 

no problems for me after 3 yrs.

 

Driving the wife's Volvo S70R home tonight... yep, there it is. Never noticed it before, but after reading this thread... . Mostly noticable in the rear veiw mirror for some reason. Looking back, it's not as apparent.

Haven't checked the MINI. But I have a feeling that they're going to be there, too if I look hard enough. I highly doubt you will find an installer to guarantee that you won't experience this as it's just a bi-product of adding a non-polarixed film over uneven glass.

Better just to remember... (*in my best Raul Julia voice*) "The first rule of MINI driving: what's behind you no longer matters"!

 

I just got mine tinted with 30% and the refraction is not bad at all.
I wish the front visor tint was lower though...

 

Never noticed until you came along THANKS ALOT!

 

You're welcome, i like sharing and spreading the misery. What else do you own that you've 'thought' to be problem free... i'm sure i can find fault with that too.

 

I've spent a good 3 or 4 hours of night driving paying attention to the rear window to see what you were talking about.

I definitely see something...but it's not really the same as pictured in the link. It's a vertical line...the light brightens up the thin defroster line...but doesnt seem to reflect the headlight shape as in the picture. There is something there though....so ignore my comment of noticing nothing in 5 years

 

Yep. There with the MINI, too. Not quite as noticable, though. Guessing that's due to the more vertical nature of the rear window. But it's there.