How "perfect" should tint be?

eboggs · June 16, 2017

Dealership threw in free window tint when I bought my new 2017 Silverado LT Z71 couple weeks ago. Work was done by a local Ziebart, 20% Ceramic on front two windows....first application, there was a squiggley looking imperfection in the middle of the window, and they put it over small debris toward the top of the window, where it was hidden in the window track. Ok, mistakes happen. Took it back they redid it no problem.

Second time....there is like, a crease, maybe 3/4" long in the middle of the window where it isn't sealed to the window. Very small but I notice it in my peripheral vision. Also, once again at the top it is laid over some small debris.....it's been 4 days, so not even a week long (for it to dry completely?)

My question is, -this is my first time having tint done, is this just part of it? Can it be done perfectly with NO blemishes? Or is it part of the game? Bottom line is im not happy.

I brought the SECOND crease to the attention of the manager the second time I picked it up, after the second application and he said it would go away when the tint dries and shrinks...this just doesn't make sense to me...but maybe In the next few days it'll disappear???

I'm about to go to the dealership and say I want someone else to do it, they've had TWO chances to do this....

Am I overreacting here? Wish I could get pictures, but my iPhone is having a hard time focusing on the glass, and not what is behind it.

Michael Schimborski · June 16, 2017

give it the full week, if its still there then they need to fix it, most tint, especially from a dealer comes with lifetime warranty.

eboggs · June 16, 2017

This is bottom corner of passenger window.

This is bottom of drivers window....only things I could pick up with camera....

Just seems crappy to put on a $40k truck......just want to add, windows were NOT rolled down until almost a week later after the tint was applied, I was out of town. They only advised 3 days.

drentlaw1 · June 16, 2017

Take it back until it gets done right. You pay a lot of money for the pickup and in the end you need to be happy. I've had lots of tint done and have never had any debris or imperfections. If I did I would take it back until it was done right. I had my whole windshield done 50% and not a single blemish.

x219c · June 16, 2017

It depends. Sometimes you'll get bubbles and such that do actually disappear. A crease? I don't know without seeing it. Park the truck in the sun to speed up the process.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a decent application. You may not be able to get your face an inch or two away and not see anything, but you shouldn't notice something at a glance. It'll never be "perfect."

As long as the manager is agreeing with you in your assessment, just go with them. Let it sit a few days. They very well might be right. If not, take it back and see what they think. They have a relationship with the tint shop, and if their work isn't up to snuff, they may need to use a different vendor eventually. It's better they know.

As a last resort, you can also take a microfiber cloth and a credit card and try to smooth it out if you're feeling adventurous.

EDIT: I now see the pictures and I agree. That's horrible. Bring it back. If they can't get it right this next time, have them take it off and take it somewhere else.

When I say it won't be perfect, I mean that you should be able to look pretty close and not see anything wrong. If you sit there long enough you'll probably find something microscopic, but what you've got there is unacceptable.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

dasimmon · June 16, 2017

that shouldnt happen. like schimbo said give it a full week first but if it doesnt go away that is crap work. i get charged an arm and a leg at my tint shop but they do a PERFECT job. and for someone as ocd as me, imperfections arent acceptable on my vehicle

SouthernSilveradoGuy85 · June 16, 2017

Did you roll the window down within the first 24 hours? When I had tint done they told me to keep the windows all the way up for 24 hours for the glue to cure. Or maybe it was 48 hours, can't remember exactly.

eboggs · June 16, 2017

Appreciate the feedback guys. I am pretty OCD myself. I'll give it a full week and go from there, but I have a feeling I'll be going back. The little pieces of debris I feel is unacceptable. I just hate to be -that guy- that keeps showing back up.

eboggs · June 16, 2017

Did you roll the window down within the first 24 hours? When I had tint done they told me to keep the windows all the way up for 24 hours for the glue to cure. Or maybe it was 48 hours, can't remember exactly.

They told me 72 hours. The first time it was done I went out of town for a week, left my truck home, this time, I waited until day 4 to roll them down.

bndawgs · June 16, 2017

I'd take it back until you were happy with the job they do.

jpinoy · June 16, 2017

That passenger window does look like crap, that would bother me if it didn't go away after a couple days.

If I had specs or creases, I would take it back till it's done right. I got my Trailblazer and Silverado tinted from a guy with a good rep, he does tinting also for dealers, and mine all came out PERFECT after the waiting period, mine was 2/days, but usually wait a day or so later than what is recommended.

Krusty · June 16, 2017

Appreciate the feedback guys. I am pretty OCD myself. I'll give it a full week and go from there, but I have a feeling I'll be going back. The little pieces of debris I feel is unacceptable. I just hate to be -that guy- that keeps showing back up.

Tint is not that expensive - go to a reputable shop and have it redone on your own dime.

Went thru this with the wife's 2010 MINI Cooper. Had all windows done and the full roof area sunroofs. First shop handed it back to us with so many bubbles it was like driving home in a submarine. Got a full refund and went to another shop. Much better but after a week notice one driver's door looked odd - installer agreed and said maybe it was the end of the roll - redid it free. Even then the MINI's windows started squeaking going up and down - I blamed it on having tint done 3 times and water getting into the mechanism.

The 2007.5 Durmax we bought at Dave Smith Motors and that's one thing they always upcharge you on - they lightly tint the front windows on every car. Decided I wanted it to match the year windows and had the fronts redone and the back window done. Regretted it at night - too dark to see out the sides - and back window looked odd over the defroster grid lines at night.

These both were Llumar ceramic.

Needless to say - both our current rigs - a 2015 Outback and the 2017 Silverado are not getting any tint.......

eboggs · June 16, 2017

Yeah I'm pretty fed up with the whole situation....who knows maybe I'll just tell them f*** it take it off, and count my losses. But the dark blue paint looks so good with dark windows!

Mark Diedrich · June 16, 2017

Need a better installer!

It shouldn't look like that, I have had over 40 vehicles done with in my family over 20+ years all by the same guy, and only a couple of times has he had to go back and fix an imperfection.

It's all about the prep work!

Ohh, and my guy has already told me how quickly I can open a window, and it's always been less than 24 hours..... Many times if it's already been sitting in the sun for a while her will tell me I can roll it down now!