Rear Window Tint issues
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Joined: Apr 2026
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Rear Window Tint issues
I am not sure if the dark tint on the rear hatch door is an option or was installed by the previous owner but it is way too dark for my liking. It always looks like night time. Also there is a hole in the tint about the size of a baseball. Now I took it in to a reputable tint shop and I was told they can remove or both remove and replace with something lighter but could not guarantee the rear defroster would not get damaged.
Any advice on how to go about this? Is it that easy to damage the defrost strips?
Any advice on how to go about this? Is it that easy to damage the defrost strips?
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Apr 2022
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When the rear window tint started to fail on a 2000 LS400 many years ago, I was told that I would likely need a new rear window since the defroster grid would likely be damaged during tint removal and probably couldn't be repaired. I lived with it until I sold the car which wasn't worth all that much at 14 years and 180,000 miles.
I wonder if the person who told me that was accurate. I once removed professionally installed tint from a front side window - a dealer porter had damaged it - and it pealed off fairly easily.
I wonder if the person who told me that was accurate. I once removed professionally installed tint from a front side window - a dealer porter had damaged it - and it pealed off fairly easily.
Last edited by Woofman; Apr 24, 2026 at 07:11 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2026
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It's been known to happen. On Cayenne's specifically, don't know.
I don't typically want tinted rear hatch or sedan center rear window anyway. From experience with used a Golf R that came with it (Suntek) and an Audi W12 (3M Crystalline) where I had it done (quite well), at night it distorts headlights enough in rear view mirror as it passes through the glass to be annoying and make it harder to see details. Including LEO's... It's those slightly raised wire traces for defroster that do that. So I pass on the rear. On the other hand, I'll tint the roof, which often is factory darker but not really the type that rejects infrared (IR), or enough. Worked well on several others, including large Pano's. Definitely pulled heat load out in a good nano or other branded quality film with good IR rejection specs. I'll spend the money on high performance film to cut IR on glass where I do have it applied. If not done too dark still have nice view out the roof glass. Some talk about roof maybe shattering with increased surface temp. as a boogeyman. Never have seen it connected to film first person, or had installers raise it, or not want do it.
I don't typically want tinted rear hatch or sedan center rear window anyway. From experience with used a Golf R that came with it (Suntek) and an Audi W12 (3M Crystalline) where I had it done (quite well), at night it distorts headlights enough in rear view mirror as it passes through the glass to be annoying and make it harder to see details. Including LEO's... It's those slightly raised wire traces for defroster that do that. So I pass on the rear. On the other hand, I'll tint the roof, which often is factory darker but not really the type that rejects infrared (IR), or enough. Worked well on several others, including large Pano's. Definitely pulled heat load out in a good nano or other branded quality film with good IR rejection specs. I'll spend the money on high performance film to cut IR on glass where I do have it applied. If not done too dark still have nice view out the roof glass. Some talk about roof maybe shattering with increased surface temp. as a boogeyman. Never have seen it connected to film first person, or had installers raise it, or not want do it.
Last edited by MPSE; Apr 24, 2026 at 06:25 PM.
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From: northwest US, but also victoria b.c. and nyc
there are cars where the defroster lines are painted on the inside of the window, and if a person loads sharp cargo can move during transit and the cargo scratch thru the defroster lines and remove enough material to where the line wont have conductivity. same thing if someone is scraping off window tint.
HOWEVER, it is possible our cayenne defroster lines are between the laminated glass, and not something that be scraped off.
This would need to be verified - what year is ur cayenne? i could check my rear window, but my coupe is a 2024.
HOWEVER, it is possible our cayenne defroster lines are between the laminated glass, and not something that be scraped off.
This would need to be verified - what year is ur cayenne? i could check my rear window, but my coupe is a 2024.
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From: northwest US, but also victoria b.c. and nyc
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I think their warning is standard CYA. If truly reputable, I would not worry about having them remove and replace with a lighter tint. They should use heat to soften the glue and remove the old tint and solvent to remove any remaining glue - tell them not to use a razor blade and the defroster lines should be fine.
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