Tint came off (cold weather). What to do?

[HBSRA10]

Hello fellow BMWowners,

It is 19 degrees (feels like 6) in Boston today. This morning I tried to roll down my driver side window and it got stuck. Tried again a second later and it rolled down taking off the factory tint (a.k.a. privacy glass). What should I do?

[jvit27]

That's not the privacy glass; that's cheap tint film that has dried out and turned purple with age.

The factory tint is embedded inside the glass.

[HBSRA10]

Originally Posted by jvit27

That's not the privacy glass; that's cheap tint that has dried out and turned purple with age.

The factory tint is embedded inside the glass.

Oh, I didn't know. When I bought my car (it was a FL car, a lease return) I thought it was factory installed. I guess it wasn't. Thank you for that information.

What should I do now? It is only a small portion at the bottom as you can see. Do I try to dry the window and attach it back, hoping rolling down the windows won't tear again or do I take it to a shop and retint the entire window? If I go with the latter, I don't even know the tint %. Would it match the rest of my car? How much would it cost? Please help.

[DanVan]

only thing to do is warm it up with a heat gun and a spray bottle with water and a tiny drop of soap. spray it liberally making sure you get the back wet to reapply the glue.. then get all the bubbles out and dry it carefully with heat... don't burn it. make sure its dry 1-2 days before you roll that window down.. If that doesn't work to the glass shop you go. 100 - 200 for the windows...

[HBSRA10]

Originally Posted by DanVan

only thing to do is warm it up with a heat gun and a spray bottle with water and a tiny drop of soap. spray it liberally making sure you get the back wet to reapply the glue.. then get all the bubbles out and dry it carefully with heat... don't burn it. make sure its dry 1-2 days before you roll that window down.. If that doesn't work to the glass shop you go. 100 - 200 for the windows...

I have to do this right away, right? Otherwise the torn piece of the tint will dry out?

[DanVan]

you can do it anytime.. the water will reactivate the glue and you just put it back into place.

[HBSRA10]

Originally Posted by DanVan

you can do it anytime.. the water will reactivate the glue and you just put it back into place.

Thank you so much!

[mtX5]

I recommend re-tinting if the film is that cheap. I've had mine on for 6 years now and weather has not caused anything of that nature.

[HBSRA10]

Originally Posted by mtX5

I recommend re-tinting if the film is that cheap. I've had mine on for 6 years now and weather has not caused anything of that nature.

I could but I am afraid it wouldn't match the color (or the quality) of the other windows. Even if they match the % of darkness, what about the fading over the years. Car was in FL for 4 years (2003 X5, all windows but the front are tinted).

Anyone knows a good tint shop in Boston metro area?

Thanks in advance.

[jst2878]

get new tint. its already garbage now