A weird one this!!

[rustybolt]

Right here we go...

The previous owner had the rear windows of her 02 VTR tinted before I bought it from her but decided to have it removed before I bought it. (I never knew this)

Ive just had it pro tinted in light smoke and when I collected it the guy said parts of the rear screen element were damaged by someone pulling off the previous tint. I never knew this so...

anyway heres the twist!..

I pulled up from work today and 10 secs or so after turning the ignition off I hears a loud crack and turned round to see my rear screen crack all over. I jumped out half expecting to see a kid who'd thrown a snowball with a stone in it or something but nothing. And theres no evidence of any snow and no damage to the outside of the glass so ruled this out. From the inside it looks like a mosaic, the whole screen is cracked but held in place by the security tint film. So it did its job.

Any way upon further inspection Ive noticed the cracks started exactly where theres a damaged part of the element?? Has this caused the screen to crack, or maybe the weather?? I rang the tint guy and he said if it shorted itd blow the fuse not the screen which i tend to agree with. Could it crack the screen anyway???

Any way its costing me £50 excess thro my insurance and a further £50 for the guy to tint the new glass!! Wish id never bothered.

Id love to hear some theory's or suggestions, its something I cant get my head round cause if a kid had thrown a stone theyd be a mark or something on the outside but nothing...

anyway lets have a debate

laters..

[Dan]

wont claiming off ur insurance affect ur no claims? i honestly wouldnt no what caused it to crack but couldnt see it being caused by the prev owner pulling her tints off! smileys/smiley5.gif

[domviz]

Maybe the new tint shrinking because of cold conditions cracked the glass.

[rustybolt]

Ive got protected no-claims but glass claims dont affect my policy any how.

Thats what i thought but I cant figure it out!!

The weather wouldnt do it would it what with glasss been covered in film?? The heated screen hadnt been on either?

arghhh!

[domviz]

well my thinking was the cold air would shrink the tint faster than the glass making the tint pull on the glass forcing it to shatter.

[rustybolt]

Yea I can go with that.

So the tint is still shrinking after its fitted until it finds its position sort of? Funny it was okay for a day tho and its been snowing all night. Maybe cause the temp inside the car differs to outside??

Its a pain believe. cheers lads, lets have some more input. I want some ammo to trhow at the tint guy so get it done cheaper or better still for gratis!

[domviz]

still thats a bit extreme, its not like the windows are thin and brittle, but thats alli can think of, maybe you had a hairline crack u didnt know of, that would definatly break the window.

[Dan]

maybe the tinting guy cracked it somehow but tried to hide it or didnt tell u then it cracked that way! probs not but jus a thought!

[rustybolt]

Maybe dan?

~It lasted like 36 hours tho and ive had my subs going so if it was that itd have gone sooner id have thought. It just happened after i turned off the car there was a loud crack.

shit happens and it always seems its me!!

New drive shaft next week, bloody rattling!

thnks

[rustybolt]

morning

in a bouyant mood following the autoglass guy coming.

He said the screen element been damaged prior to the tinting has caused it to crack (shorted) he said old BMWs used to do it in winter.

Anyway as i was talking to him I mentioned how i hated the rear spoiler that is drilled thro the glass and wanted to take it off in the future to fit a dimma one or similar but didnt fancy leaving holes with grommets in them...

He only had a screen without holes from an earlier model with him!! He'd brought both! So now it looks a lot cleaner at the back without that nasty spoiler. (Think simo's done this?)

And the tint guy said he'd tint it for free tom morning cos of the problems! result!!

Take note people cos this could happen to you!

I have a genuine citroen rear spoiler from a 02 VTR for sale in icelandic grey (more blue to me tho) mint condition, PM if anyone's interested.

cya, la la la!!

[SaxoAL]

Weird one that !

Talking of Dimma spoilers. They are actually designed to be bolted through the glass themselves. Dimma supplied these windows too. Although mine is just bonded onto the glass (very very strong) and just bolted and bonded at the top too. smileys/smiley17.gif

[rustybolt]

I dont want any spoiler now, just lost the rear wiper with a 60p grommet and plan to lose the rear wash jet at some point. Looks nice and clean at the back.

Pretty chuffed, less is more and all that!

[SaxoAL]

Im planning on taking my rear wiper off.. how did you get the old one off ? need a good tug, as they say ?!

[Dan]

im in a bit of dispute at weather to lose my rear wiper! i use it too much! plus have jus fitted a mk2 rear wiper! smileys/smiley2.gif

[Dan]

al it should come off with a 'gud tug' as you say! just put the wiper so it stands up(if that makes sense) and gradually pull it! not too hard tho! smileys/smiley2.gif

[SaxoAL]

Sounds a bit of a precision job ! LOL.. wil give it a go, when the weather ceases a bit

[rustybolt]

Just pulled this lass Ive liked for ages tonight!!!

Having a good day!!

Anyhow, take off rear panal inside and the rear wiper motor after doing what dan_vtr said with the blade.

Pretty easy, then use this stuff:

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/resources/images/detail/UNERX.jpg

Its ideal when youve stupidly taken off the rear wiper, unless its a storm!, just ordered some from demon tweeks.

cya

[SaxoAL]

I can get some of that stuff from work. Good good!

[Dan]

anymore thoughts al? u going to lose the wiper or not?

[SaxoAL]

yep yep! smileys/smiley17.gif

[Dan]

really? let me no how it goes and if u cope ok without it as i may do mine! smileys/smiley2.gif smileys/smiley17.gif

[SaxoAL]

I do use my rear wiper, but Im thinking of hooking boot release up to the rear wiper switch.

[Dan]

yeah thats what want to do ideally (sp)! but like ive said i do use it alot!

[rustybolt]

When i get a new digi cam ill post some pics of the back, but i think itll be fine with the rain X cos i used it on my old motor on the front and it leaves a sort of silicone coat over the glass so the rain just beads off.

Ill let you know how it go's.

A mega quick photoshop effort of your back dan, minus the wiper and added a tint, hope you dont mind!



Loving the back, how much did it cost for the flushing mate??

Latershttp://hometown.aol.co.uk/russesal/images/new%20back%20for%20dan.jpg

[Dan]

think it looks quite nice! nah i dont mind at all mate!

to have the bot flushed it cost me £200! that was for a metal plate welded to the recess,filled,smoothed n sprayed! smileys/smiley4.gif smileys/smiley2.gif


edit: boot

[gidders3]

take care when you take that rear wiper out! I used a bit to much force and bang! the rear screen was no more! seems to be quite weak as its got the wiper through the glass. recommend a trip to a bodyshop to be safe, wont take them long. looks good once sorted though