Adding Privacy Glass - Worth It Or Just Tint It?

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fast-ferret

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Pretty much as the title says, came from a BMW with privacy glass on the rear windows which I like and would like to do the same with my S4, so the question is - tint what I have or look to get it changed?

Changing sounds possibly mad, but I'm quite the perfectionist so would prefer to get it done right.

So, anyone done this before and have ideas of costs or places to source glass or to install it?
 
I'm getting the rears tinted. A mate of mine with an M4 cab has just had his done and they've done a great job on his, no air bubbles, really nice job. Pentagon Auto Tints in Heywood Lancashire if you're in the north west. Think he only paid £160.
 
Tinting is the way to go. Way cheaper and will look exactly the same.
 
Never actually tinted car windows before, you get a slight line round the edge don’t you?

No-one ever tried to swap the glass then? :)


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Tinting doesn't look the same , a telling outer edge.

559774_10151292288607407_1595678482_n_zpsdf133668.jpg
 
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You also have to watch out for the heating element on the rear screen being damaged if you have them tinted.
 
I’d be interested in finding out the part numbers for the privacy glass and getting a price. Might ring the dealer to find them, unless anyone has them handy?


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meph137 said:
I’d be interested in finding out the part numbers for the privacy glass and getting a price. Might ring the dealer to find them, unless anyone has them handy?


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I think you will need to take out a loan from the bank if you go pricing 5 new windows and the price to fit them.i got my boot door damaged recently and thought I done great getting an exact match Until after getting it fitted when I then realised it had a tinted window .i now need to match the other four .
 
Had two of my cars windows tinted and both of the places said, it is normal to get the line on the glass, around the inner body trims. These are the little dots that covers the non visible glass part, that does not allow the tint to stick onto the glass.

Window tinting people say, “with time, it should be doable”. Soapy water, used to apply tint, will evaporate and adhesive part will still he there. So, after 2-3 days, you can run your finger or folded towel, around the tint edges and these lines should disappear.
Bo...ocks! They will never do that as tint film will never adhere to those glass painted dots. It never did in my cars.

I’d love privacy glass but would need to do remortgage for it.


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GarethS4 said:
I think you will need to take out a loan from the bank if you go pricing 5 new windows and the price to fit them.i got my boot door damaged recently and thought I done great getting an exact match Until after getting it fitted when I then realised it had a tinted window .i now need to match the other four .
Click to expand...

Yeh but 2 windows are teeny tiny


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Bristle Hound said:
@sarah1331 - B8 & B8.5 A4 / S4's strangely have never had the factory option to have privacy glass unfortunately

The only option is an aftermarket tint which a lot of members have had done
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Avant had the option,but not saloon
 
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xpoweruk said:
Avant had the option,but not saloon
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Really? I assumed it was an option (on saloons at least). That might explain why the guy I got the car off didn’t get it, being as he ticked literally everything else it seems!


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meph137 said:
Really? I assumed it was an option (on saloons at least). That might explain why the guy I got the car off didn’t get it, being as he ticked literally everything else it seems!


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@xpoweruk is right; privacy glass was never an OEM fitment, optional or otherwise, on the B8 saloon. I've had my last three Audis tinted, including the current one which I had done when it was four days old. As others have said, even the very best installation will show a shadow line around the matrix dot perimeter area. Up to you to decide if it would bother you; it doesn't bother me.
 
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jdp1962 said:
@xpoweruk is right; privacy glass was never an OEM fitment, optional or otherwise, on the B8 saloon. I've had my last three Audis tinted, including the current one which I had done when it was four days old. As others have said, even the very best installation will show a shadow line around the matrix dot perimeter area. Up to you to decide if it would bother you; it doesn't bother me.
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Well that scuppers the idea of getting oem privacy glass then! I doubt anyone does aftermarket glass (maybe I’m wrong) so probably tint is the only way.


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Personally I think your being way to fussy as a good tint will look just fine.more to life than a faint outline on your windows and anyone studying them that close is either going to steal it or get a boot in the calls for being that close.in the first place.
 
From personal experience I can advise, go to respected and recommended tinting place, once decided what you want to do.

Many "Tom's, ****'s and Harry's" will give you "lifetime warranty" on their job, as film they use is a proper one, from USA. But when it comes to rectifying any bodged tints, air bubbles or bloopers, they delay you and eventually do even worse job they did originally.

I found one guy who does good job and does not leave a line on the edge of the window. Some tinting places say, the film has to be lowered 1mm below the glass edge to allow smoothly operation and going in/out to window seal. According to them it is better than going right up to the edge.
Found no issue of having it done but you have to be careful and not open the windows for a day or two. This allow glue to stick onto the glass properly.
 
meph137 said:
Just outside of Nottingham, I'll say UK to avoid doubt though I assume most people on here are from the UK? Fairly new so not sure.
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We are a UK-based forum, yes but we do have some overseas members. Anyway, now we know where you're based. hopefully you'll get some recommendations for tinting companies in and around your area so that you could at least go check out their work, and make a decision one way or another.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend mine, but he's in Kent.
 
With Gaz on this...the 'halo' on tints sticks out like a sore thumb to me...would drive me nuts!

While not an option for you, as OEM privacy glass wasn't an option, I did look at getting the privacy glass retrofitted on my old A5 back in the day.

Can't remember exact numbers, but it made my eyes water with how expensive it was...!! Especially relative to tinting!

I just canned the idea....!

My S5 after the A5 had privacy glass a standard as it was a black edition trim. Have to say, I wasn't that fussed with it so cant say I am really bothered if my car has it or not.

Miss Eskimo thinks rear privacy glass/tinting looks tacky if that's any consolation...? :p
 
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DrEskimo said:
Miss Eskimo thinks rear privacy glass/tinting looks tacky if that's any consolation...? :p
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I would have agreed a couple of years ago but since owning a 3 series with OEM privacy glass I’ve changed my mind.

I may not end up bothering. I do agree the halo/line looks bad. It would bug me


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Don't see the point of that 3 piece set. What happened to the rear door window blinds?
 
Six-piece set here: Two for the door windows, two for the 3/4 lights and two for the rear screen.

Word of warning though. I had these in my B7 for a week before deciding they were horrible and got tints done instead.
 
I always wondered, what happens to it if you open the window? Will it fall out or is it attached somehow there?
 
jdp1962 said:
Mine weren't in long enought to find out.
Click to expand...

I have to agree here. Blinds are great for a purpose - I.e for kids when you want shade some of the time but not others, but i couldn’t bear using them as a tint replacement. I’m a picky ****** (although I don’t reckon this is picky!!)

What do your tints look like @jdp1962 ?


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Well I've got two cars on the drive , one tints the other privacy blinds .

The blinds gets my vote .
 
meph137 said:
I have to agree here. Blinds are great for a purpose - I.e for kids when you want shade some of the time but not others, but i couldn’t bear using them as a tint replacement. I’m a picky ****** (although I don’t reckon this is picky!!)

What do your tints look like @jdp1962 ?


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Let me get some close up pics loaded. :)
 
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@meph137, I have an inkling we're doing nothing to help you make up your mind here. :)

Here are some pics I've just taken now. Not sure they'll be any help either; the car's filthy and bright winter sunshine is causing huge reflections, mostly of my beer gut. Still here goes:

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Remember these have been taken specifically to emphasise the shadow line. Here's one from a distance that gives the overall effect.

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