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Hatch Bottom Glass Tint Question - Need advice!

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by ray_prius3, Oct 20, 2015.

  1. ray_prius3

    ray_prius3 Junior Member

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    Why is the bottom half tinted? Can someone explain the reason and does anyone know the percentage of light that goes through?

    Reason I asked is, I just had all my windows tinted today; 30% all around, ceramic. And everything, but that one small bottom panel (below spoiler) was tinted.

    My guess is because it was already tinted and my guy didn't want to remove it because it was factory(?). Or maybe he forgot to remove it and tint it(?).

    I didn't really notice it until closer to noon when I was more than 15 miles away. Has anyone had this same experience, or know of a good reason he didn't remove it? It kind of bothers me that it doesn't match the other windows and is significantly less tinted (more noticeable in person). I'm thinking of bringing it back in to have him do it.

     
    #1 ray_prius3, Oct 20, 2015
  2. ExMachina08

    ExMachina08 Junior Member

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    I had my Gen 2 tinted a few months back and the same thing happened. My guess would be that the lower strip is factory tinted to protect the driver from bright headlights of following vehicles. They typically won't tint over a layer of tint without first removing and then cleaning the glass which costs more in labor. I have just learned to deal with the slight difference in tint, and it is barely noticeable from outside the vehicle.
     
    #2 ExMachina08, Oct 20, 2015
  3. ray_prius3

    ray_prius3 Junior Member

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    That makes a lot of sense, I just wished he mentioned it to me.

    I'm guessing if I get a tint, like the ones he did, to replace the factory tint, it to should reduce brightness from headlights? Anyone here had their factory tint removed?
     
    #3 ray_prius3, Oct 20, 2015
  4. Silvertn350

    Silvertn350 Junior Member

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    Same thing happened to me almost a week ago. Asked for 20% all around. Got home and noticed the same window isn't tinted. Bothered me for about a day. From the outside it's basically impossible to tell so that's what made me feel better about it plus in the dark when backing up I decided I wouldn't want that window much darker anyways. Basically I learned to live with it pretty quickly.
     
    #4 Silvertn350, Oct 20, 2015
  5. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    I was told by my tint shop that that window couldn't be tinted because it is plastic, not glass. PriusChat members say that is false though. Perhaps your tint shop also has that misconception.
     
    #5 xliderider, Oct 20, 2015
  6. ray_prius3

    ray_prius3 Junior Member

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    The shop got back to me and said they don't usually tint it because it already has a tint.

    I remembered a couple of people getting 15% all around on here, and don't recall that window being lighter. I also did a quick Google search, and there are Prius' with those windows tinted.

    I'm going to do some driving tonight and tomorrow and then decide if it still bothers me or not. Since I street park and it it's sunny in LA most the time, I would like the privacy/protection.
     
    #6 ray_prius3, Oct 20, 2015
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I really doubt the lower hatch window tint is a film, that's the aftermarket's method. And it's undoubtably glass.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Oct 20, 2015
  8. ray_prius3

    ray_prius3 Junior Member

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    So you don't think it's a tint? Should I not risk them trying to remove it?
     
    #8 ray_prius3, Oct 20, 2015
  9. xliderider

    xliderider Senior Member

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    It's not film, the tint is in the glass already. Nothing to remove.
     
    #9 xliderider, Oct 20, 2015
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I'd bet it's tinted just like the rest of the car's glass as it came from the factory, just a bit darker. As Xliderider says, the tint is in the glass.

    You can check for yourself easily: just look at the edges with a strong light. A tint film will terminate just before the trim. Also a tint film is soft plastic, easily scratched: test an out-of-sight corner.

    I don't think you'd ever see a car come from a factory with tint film, btw.
     
    #10 Mendel Leisk, Oct 20, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2015
  11. ray_prius3

    ray_prius3 Junior Member

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    OK, nice to know :)
     
    #11 ray_prius3, Oct 21, 2015
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    To even it up, you'll need to apply a slightly lighter tint to that lower hatch glass, since it had the heavier factory tint. Maybe they can supply some samples, to determine what looks the most uniform.
     
    #12 Mendel Leisk, Oct 21, 2015
  13. DFW

    DFW Member

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    My bottom piece didn't get tinted. Planning to go back and have 5% thrown on that. Doesn't look bad from outside, but awkward inside.
     
    #13 DFW, Oct 21, 2015
  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I understand. All the glass on your car had factory tint, IN the glass, and the factory tint on that lower hatch window was darker. If you use the same aftermarket tint on lower hatch as you did on upper, it'll end up darker than the upper. Which isn't the end of the world, it was darker from the factory.

    Just my 2 cents: I'd never get aftermarket, film style tint on a car. But that's me.
     
    #14 Mendel Leisk, Oct 21, 2015
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