remove tint on windows..

[kevinrea]

hi guys,

would any of you know how i can remove the window tint from the front passenger and driver windows on this 560sec ?

thanks,
Kevin

http://www.ourkitty.com/images/mercedes/10.jpg

[MTI]

There are lots of methods, most of them messy and time consuming. The battle is that the adhesive layer and the tint film layer separates and you sometimes end up with twice the work. I would first suggest that you do this someplace where you can warm up the window, either in sunlight or with some flood lights to get the glass and adhesive layer somewhat warm. Then use plastic sheeting (hardware or paint store) and masking tape to cover the interior.

If you have a portable steamer, like for clothing or cleaning, and you've waterproofed the interior with the sheeting, including the headliner, then you can use the steamer to loosen the film and gently pull it off the glass. Otherwise, you're going to have to use a solvent, like lemon scented ammonia (with breathing mask and eye protection, please) to get the film loose. The ammonia needs to soak a few minutes, so keep some in a spray bottle to wet down the window and to keep it from drying.

Remove the left over gunk with Goof Off.

[bill streep]

Ugly job. We tried solutions from the autoparts store, etc. Turns out the steamer is the BEST way... Personally, if I were doing it again, I'd pay the money for a steamer JUST for this job...

[Maxbumpo]

I've heard that vinegar also works; spray on with a pump spray, cover with plastic to let it soak in for a few hours, then pull off the film. I've never tried this myself. I think that I would try the steamer method first.

[DADamascus]

Ugly job. We tried solutions from the autoparts store, etc. Turns out the steamer is the BEST way... Personally, if I were doing it again, I'd pay the money for a steamer JUST for this job...

What size steamer? I too need to remove the aftermarket tinted windows on my 1990 560SEC. I borrowed a small hand held clothes steamer that looks like it fits only about a pint or two of water. I haven't used it yet but it seems to small for such a job. I guess I can keeping refilling and reheating it but I don't know if this type of job will allow me to do that. I see I can buy a used large Conair Deluxe Fabric Steamer from Craig's List for $40 but I prefer not to if I can use this small one that I borrowed. Any advice on what size steamer I need?

[bill streep]

The one I used was borrowed from the neighbors - one of those "seen on TV" ones from a few years ago. I don't think a clothes steamer will put out enough steam... This is a really ugly job, where bigger is probably better.

[Grey Ghost]

sounds similar to tattoo removal...long, expensive, time-consuming, and NO guarantees. I've never understood why the authorities have willingly allowed people to obscure the windows of their cars...as I get older I savor my clear windows more & more...

[DADamascus]

Does anyone know of the approximate cost of having the window tinting removed professionally? Seems that after I buy or borrow a large steamer, mask the interior (and perhaps playing around with amonia) and go through the time and trouble of doing it myself and cleaning up afterwards (which will also involve driving out to a friend's house in the suburbs to do it since I am in the city), it might be cheaper and easier to bring it to a window place to have it removed. Any thoughts?

[Dawson9a]

Call around to the local tint places... price should be betwen $75 and $100...

Dave

[DADamascus]

I removed the aftermarket window tinting from my 1990 560SEC. I don't know why the stuff is used at all. It looked like toxic heavy duty purple Easter basket cellophane. It took me three partial days and it was a process more terrible than I imagined. Makes replacing a hood pad fun. Next time (if there is a next time) I will gladly pay a professional to do it.

I borrowed a commercial steamer that had a 2 hour steaming capacity. The steam heated the glue but although it allowed me to pull off both plys of tint together, the steam allowed a lot of mushy and stubborn glue residue to remain on the windows (much like a giant price tag that you can't get off). I found that if I used the steamer only on the edge or corner of the film to start the plys peeling and then without the steam, rip the cold sheets of tint off in short jerky movements (much like quickly ripping a band aid off your skin and pulling the hair out along with it), both sheets of tint came off along with all the hardened/brittle glue without leaving any residue. I used this method on the side windows and it worked well. I used all steam on the rear window since I didn't want to damage the heating grid with the ripping; however, this left more of the glue residue on the rear window. Once all of the tinted sheeting was off, I used the Goof Off to remove the glue residue. It works well, but it is so toxic, I couldn't even finish the job. I still have some glue residue to remove at the lower bottom of the rear window.

It looks like the heating grid is OK but I haven't tested it; however, isn't the heating grid imbedded in the glass and not merely applied to the inside. If so, it seems to me that it can't be damaged in this process?

[Alex]

Dennis,

If you can feel the heating grid wires with your fingers as you move them along the inside of the rear window, like I can on mine, then it means the grid is on the inside of the glass and not imbedded in it.

[DADamascus]

Thanks Alex. I was finally able to get into the back of the car and feel the inside of the rear window. I couldn't feel the heating grid at all. Those lines must be embedded in the glass. Plus, with the rain and fog we had this weekend I was able to use the rear window heater and it seemed to work in eliminating the fogging. So I guess I was successful in removing the window tint without damage to the grid.

[Boneheaddoctor]

I used a window scraper...the type with a single edge razor blade......a good window cleaner with ammonia in it will clean off any remaining adheasive. I did this 2 years ago with some horrible cheap tint a PO had put on the car an unknown number of years ago.

[ALUEB]

the auto department. I saw a product called Tint Away, it is especially made to make the removal of plastic window tint easier. The direction said all you have to do is spray and peel. Arond $4, worth the price if it works. If you can't find it in your local Wal Mart, I can pick U up a bottle and send it to you. If you haven't done the job already.

[bill streep]

I've got a full jug of this stuff. Used the WHOLE first one on my daughter's Jetta. Didn't work worth a hoot. Steamer. The ONLY way.

[ALUEB]

had, about truth in advertizing.

[Alex]

Rather than depend on truth in advertising it would be better to recommend products one has tried and found to work.

[ALUEB]

Rather than depend on truth in advertising it would be better to recommend products one has tried and found to work.
IMHO is something I did think about for my car. But my son had his intregra tinted and 6 months later the rear hatch back started to bubble. He went back to the installer, supposedly one of the best in the area. My son was told because of the hatchback this happens sometimes and they couldn't do much. When he got home I got a small pin and a spray bottle of water and went to work, I got it look much better then before. It seems the bubbles are air that gets caught by inproper installation, I read the pin technique in a magazine. You prick the bubbles in spot spray with water and with plastic wedge or scrapper is the edge is round off pass it over the area. The water reactivates the glue or what ever makes it stick.