Window Tint

[MarkyPancake]

Now the tints have been on for over a week and settled down a bit I'm disappointed with the shade, because it's not as dark on the rear screen as I expected and wanted, especially in bright sunlight and, strangely, at night time. I've tried to capture it in pictures, but the photos make them appear darker than seeing them in person.

My tint man assured me he used his darkest shade, like I asked, but based on past experience I expected it to be darker. I'm guessing it's because of the usual factors that affect the appearance of window tints: how close non-tinted windows are to the tinted ones, and the front screen and big front side windows are obviously close to the rear on the iQ, and the angle of the rear screen, because it's more vertical than the angle it would be on a saloon shape car.

I cannot fault the work at all, he always does a fantastic job, but I am disappointed with the end result, being as I wanted the rear screen dark for privacy when I'm driving.

Here's how my old Lexus looked:

[BarryIQ]

Pretty sure both tint are very similar, you think your Lexus got a darker tint purely because of preception. The tint looks darker on a lighter colour car :)

[MarkyPancake]

Pretty sure both tint are very similar, you think your Lexus got a darker tint purely because of preception. The tint looks darker on a lighter colour car

I know what you're saying and he did use a different brand of film compared to my last cars, so it's possible that this has affected the appearance too, but it really doesn't look as dark as I remember his limo shade looking on my last two cars when you look through the rear screen in various light conditions. I knew the rear screen being closer to the front and front side windows would have an impact on the shade, but I really didn't think it would make this much difference.

I think I'll give him a call and feedback my observations now I've been able to experience them in varying light conditions and see what he says.

[MarkyPancake]

While I was out today I was paying particular attention to 4x4s and people carriers with dark tinted windows, because they've got the same, almost vertical position rear screen as the iQ, and there were plenty that were as dark as I wanted mine to be when looking through the rear screen to the opposing non-tinted front windscreen. I'm definitely going to speak to my tint man next week and see what we can do, because I'm not happy having tints that are not the shade I wanted. Looking through my rear screen you can make out light colours inside far too easily, even when it's not bright sunlight. There's no way this is limo:

I was annoyed with the shade I had on the rear sides of my old Lexus GS300 Sport, also a black car, for the entire time I owned it and I don't want to feel the same again, especially as I intend to keep the iQ for a few years at least.