Window Tint Help - UV Mismatch

[KlipschRVX]

Hoping to find a solution to a tint match problem. I've just picked up a 2015 Land Cruiser and had the front windows tinted. I attempted to match the rear windows. The tint guy and I looked over a bunch of samples to find the right match, unaware of the UV protection in the front glass.

The match is terrible now, the front windows look too "green" because of the factory glass hue. Anyone have a solution? I'm willing to put an extra layer on the rear tinted glass and go slightly darker in the front as well to get closer. I just don't want it too dark, I like a clean classy look.

Hoping to find another LC 200 owner that has experience with this and hopefully a good answer. Thanks in advance!

 

[cc1999]

You must have used a really high grade of film with either a lot of metal in it or one of those ceramic films. Typically those high grade films will have a more reflective property to them once in stalled on the vehicle, which in turn picks up the factory tint in the glass and reflects it back outward creating that stark discrepancy in appearance from the front windows compared to the back windows.

Try using Madico brand film Onyx 20%. It's a mid grade film with still some metal in it but works well. A really low grade non metallic fill will match well too, but those are more prone to fade and offer less heat rejection. I think with the Onyx 20 Mine match really close.

If your windows are green the film you used is too reflective and will stay looking green no mater what you do to the back windows, you will have to replace that film with a less reflective film to ever get a decent match.

Your back windows are tinted glass, meaning that its not a stick on film, like your front windows. I don't think you can do anything to the back to make them match your fronts.
20% is approximately what your rear windows are, so 20% which is not always legal in all states, but used quite often just the same. If going with a lighter tine like 30 or 35% it will still not match in darkness, but can be made closer in color to the back.

http://www.madico.com/window-film/automotive-tint/automotive/

Mine with Onyx 20

 

[codyaustin5]

Can't remember exactly what percent I got but it is between 18-22%. Pretty good match to rear. It is very slight lighter up front. Brand was 3M and was there higher quality one.

 

[cc1999]

That looks like about 20% in your pic and a good match.
My brother went with ceramic on his LC and his are green. He didnt like it, but last I knew never spent the money to change it.
I have seen highly metalized films do similar things that the ceramics do.

I would expect the 3M grade of film on yours is similar to mine in the Madico line.
Looking at 3m's website, they have quite a few different films to pick from.
http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Window_Film/Solutions/Markets-Products/Automotive/
Any idea which series it was?

 

[Desert Nomad]

Ooh tinted windows, my forte

 

[Harry Flashman]

Uhm...off topic....2015 with fender flairs?..sweet. How'd you find that?

 

[cc1999]

Its not a 15, the pic i put up was my 10, but both my 11s are identical to my old 10.

 

[KlipschRVX]

Thanks for all of the replies, I'm going to have mine redone, hopefully this week. I definitely don't have ceramic film. The tint guy and I looked over a bunch of samples and matched them perfectly to the rear glass. It only looked off once it was applied to the front glass.

That's when I started researching this. The front glass on all Japanese built Toyota vehicles is different form others built in the U.S. I noticed that the codes on the glass are different. The rear privacy glass comes from one factory in Japan (dot20) and the front glass comes from another (dot23). The front glass is also labeled UV.

I work for a Toyota dealership and wanted to verify my theory. This isn't something that anyone pays attention to. All of our Prius models have UV labeled glass, it's on all windows since they don't have privacy glass. All 4Runner models have front UV labels. The real confirmation came from the RAV4 though, the front glass is clear with no UV on U.S. built models but Japanese built have the UV code and "green" front glass. I can now tell the difference between the two without seeing the VIN tag!

We chose a 28% film because it was the closest match by eye. I think going darker will help hide the green. I didn't want to go with the same 20% that I had on my 2012 Sequoia because I always thought that looked too blue.

Maybe I'm just too picky. Would LOVE to be able to order factory tinted glass.

 

[KlipschRVX]

Got my front windows redone and they look better. We originally used a 28% film to match the back better. We ended up removing and going darker to hide the "green" factory UV coating. It's been an interesting learning experience. I've attached a few photos. The only time you can really tell the difference now is in my garage against the white wall background...



This is the marking on the rear glass...



This is the marking on the front glass, notice the UV designation...



I'm not sure it's possible to get it perfect, I'll just have to learn to ignore it.

 

[cc1999]

Nice! looks good!

 

[NWShenanigans]

I just had tint put on our 2016 200 series today and am having the same problem. The front two windows are significantly more brown/green than the factory tinted windows. Has anyone else had more luck with getting the tinting right on these windows with the UV protectant laminated in the glass?

 

[Scotch]

based on what I've seen, seems like @Eric Sarjeant has the tint formula nailed down. Adding something like 85 rear, 25 front?

 

[Eric Sarjeant]

based on what I've seen, seems like @Eric Sarjeant has the tint formula nailed down. Adding something like 85 rear, 25 front?

XPEL XR Prime Ceramic is what we use exclusively. 85% rear and 20% front for most people which matches perfectly. There are plenty of good films out there (3M, Sun Tech, and others) but I am partial to XPEL products. obviously, you need to be careful with local laws, as 30-35% is technically the legal limit. Some states are pickier than others

 

[monkonmonk]

XPEL XR Prime Ceramic is what we use exclusively. 85% rear and 20% front for most people which matches perfectly. There are plenty of good films out there (3M, Sun Tech, and others) but I am partial to XPEL products. obviously, you need to be careful with local laws, as 30-35% is technically the legal limit. Some states are pickier than others

@Eric Sarjeant What % do you typically do for the rear glass, then? Thanks.

This is great info as I am planning to get tint next week and lucky for me they use the same!!!

Thanks
Jason

 

[Eric Sarjeant]

@Eric Sarjeant What % do you typically do for the rear glass, then? Thanks.

This is great info as I am planning to get tint next week and lucky for me they use the same!!!

Thanks
Jason

I use 85% on the rear glass for pretty much every build. reduces heat by 50% vs OEM privacy glass.

 

[WCDAVE]

+1 on xpel prime XR. I could not believe the heat reduction. Getting the windshield done next week to eliminate The last major source of heat intrusion.