Tinted Windows - Scratch Marks & Legality questions answered

[DevilDamo]

Question...

Why do I have scratch marks on my tinted windows?

Why...

The scratching effect is caused by tiny particles of dirt and grit, which become trapped within the plastic internal window seals. This in turn scratches the film making it look very untidy. The tinted windows will get so bad that they will have to be re-tinted.

Solution...

To overcome this problem, the internal window seals from a Renault Clio (Around an M-reg), which are made from plastic and felt should be fitted. When the dirt and grit becomes trapped in the felt, they only brush on the tint and will not scratch it. Some seals may need to be trimmed to fit but the majority are a direct replacement.

Note:- If you bought these seals from Renault, they’d charge you £40 per side because they will not sell the seals individually but will only sell them as a set (i.e. four seals). If you went to your local scrap yard, you should be able to pick a set up for less than £5.

To remove and replace your internal window seals, you are to remove the internal plastic cover of the wing mirrors and then your internal doorcards. The wing mirror covers can be simply pulled away. The doorcards are held on by two screws and a number of plastic poppers. The screws are located just below the internal plastic cover of the wing mirrors and the other is located within the internal pull handles. Pull away the doorcards gently by working your way around the edges trying hard to not snap the plastic poppers.

Note:- If you have a VTS, you are to disconnect the wires which control the electric wing mirrors before pulling the doorcard off. All this involves is pulling a plastic connector block out from the pull handle.

With the doorcards removed, it’s probably advisable to put your windows down. This will make removing and replacing the seals a little easier. Once the windows are down, pull the existing seals off from the doors. Then you are to push the new seals into the same position. Once the seals are fitted, put your windows back up to make sure the seal isn’t pushed too far over thus causing the windows to go up a lot slower. Now that the seal’s fitted and the window’s back up, you can now put the doorcards and wing mirror plastic covers back in as per the instructions previously mentioned.

[barrett]

Needed doing.

Should also add what the legal tint limits are!

[DevilDamo]

Question...

What is "legal" in terms of tinted windows?

Answer...

In the last five years Total Car Tint have been working with the film manufacturers and the Glass and Glazing Federation to obtain a clear definition on the law of window tinting. We have always believed that a tint film offering thirty-five percent visible light transmission to be a safe level of tint. Unfortunately we have lost our case and as as of 1st January 2004 the government has rewritten the law to incorporate a tint level of seventy percent visible light transmission on the front driver and passenger side windows. With most vehicles this level of tint is incorporated in the glass from the factory, therefore the installation of any additional tinted window film would be an infringement of the law by us, the installer, and by you, the customer.

We have been advised that the authorities will be taking a sympathetic view to motorists who had their windows tinted before the 1st January 2004. As a company we are offering a our customers a subsidised service to remove any offending tint film on the front windows and advise the installation of legal tint films. Below is a detailed statement of the amendments that have been made to the window tinting legislation.

Window Tinting - Amendments to Legislation

Section 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations have been amended to include "Window Tint Films" where such materials attached to the glass are capable of reducing the Visible Light Transmission of forward windows to below prescribed levels (70% VLT for windows forward of the 'B' pillar)

This will effectively ban the practice in future of applying virtually all tinted films to windows forward to the 'B' pillar on any vehicle that is to be driven on UK roads.

The reason for these changes is the recent proliferation of vehicles that are excessively tinted. Some vehicles may be so heavily tinted that they present a real danger when used on public roads. The action being taken by the government follows a fatality that occurred recently where a heavily tinted car was involved in a collision with a motorcycle and the window tints were held to blame due to the vision of the driver being impaired.

There is however, a recognised difference between "light window tints" which may be considered safe for road use and "excessively dark window tints" which are not.

There has also been a great deal of debate in recent years about the legitimacy of window tints that do not obscure the vision of the driver. A clear case has been argued that road safety window tints do not actually conflict with the existing regulations. The Department for Transport have argued however, that section 32 was always intended to cover materials attached to the glass, despite the fact that no mention is made in the Regulation itself. The only solution remaining would be to amend the legislation.

Consequently and in order to clarify the situation, the Government have finally decided to up-date the Regulations to specially include Tinted Films since, in the view of the Police and the Department for Transport, this is the only way in which the problems of excessive tints can be remedied.

Unfortunately however, even tint films that may be considered to be safe for road use till now be viewed as in conflict with Regulations, enabling the Police and Vehicle Inspectorate to take action against vehicle owners.

This has significant implications for the owners of vehicles that have window tints and also those that are responsible for installing or selling window tints.

Implications for the installer and motor retailer

From 1st January 2004 , any Motor retailer that sells a vehicle that has window tint films applied which reduce the visible light transmission level to below the prescribed levels forward of the 'B' pillar is committing an offence and runs the risk of prosecution under section 75 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act with reference to Section 41 (which refers to Construction and Use Regulations)

In a similar way, anyone responsible for the fitment of window tints which reduce visible light transmission levels to below prescribed levels on windows forward of the 'B' pillar is committing an offence and can be prosecuted under Section 76 of the Road Traffic Act.

Implications for the vehicle owner

After much discussion, a sympathetic policy has been agreed between the Department for Transport and the Glass and Glazing Federation to ensure that all vehicle owners that have had tints applied in the past may be dealt with fairly. This applies in particular where the infringement is with respect to tints that do not pose a significant threat to Road Safety, despite being in convention with the amendment regulations.

As of January 1st 2004, the owner of a vehicle that has tints applied forward of the 'B' pillar is liable to be challenged by either the Police of by an Inspector from the Department for Transport's Vehicle Inspectorate, where their vehicle is notices being driven on public roads.

Where such a vehicle is stopped and the window tints applied are such that the visible list transmission level, when measured using an appropriate device, falls to below prescribed levels, the following enforcement guidelines have been agreed with and recommended by the Government.

Above 30% Visible Light Transmission (Less severe window tints)

The driver or owner of such a vehicle will be required to have the tinted film removed from the window under the direction of a rectification notice or a prohibition notice. A period of grace will apply for a limited number of days (normally ten) during which time the vehicle may be driven whilst the rectification work is to be completed. In either case, the vehicle will need to be inspected by a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Office to confirm that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. Prosecution is unlikely in such circumstances provided the vehicle owner complies fully.

Below 30% Visible Light Transmission (Excessively dark window tints)

The driver or owner of such a vehicle may be issued with an immediate Prohibition Notice and immediately prevented from driving the vehicle on public roads until the tints have been removed and either a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Office confirms that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. It is also possible depending on the severity of the offence, that the owner may be prosecuted for driving a vehicle in a non-roadworthy or even dangerous condition with the potential for penalty points and a fine.

Driving such a vehicle on public roads before the tints have been removed and before a Prohibition notice has been lifted will be a serious offence and the owner or driver is likely to be prosecuted.

Clear Security Film

Clear security film that only marginally reduces the visible light transmission levels on windows forward of the 'B' pillar may be considered to be compliant with the amended regulations subject to the quality of the fitment being to a standard that does not result in the vision of the driver being obscured in any way.

Source:- http://www.totalcartint.co.uk/legal.htm

[l1ukeRS]

u need to get 2 seals if its a m reg clio, i just been to get sum and they are too short, get 2 cut 1 down and they;ll be ok though

[DevilDamo]

Hence why I said "around an M-reg".

[Mattvtr]

thats awesome info,might well get mine done now then,rep!

:apparently got to spread the love before giving you anymore

[liam_b]

so what percent is legal?

[DevilDamo]

Basically... all car windows come with tinted glass as standard and as from the 1st January 2004, any aftermarket film applied to the front side windows (past the b-pillar) are deemed illegal.

Touch wood I've never been asked to remove mine but I do know a lot of people who have.

[Andyblacksaxo]

Mate got pulled over the other day and the police brought out their "Tint Master" measuring tool. Checked his windows to find that they were over 40%, even though he only went for light smoke. They told him that they must be removed or tested by an MOT station. Well, he works for a garage, so got them to write him a letter and off he went to the local police station. The gullible lass on the reception said that the letter was fine, and off he went. No problems since, but I guess it all really depends upon the police officers that pull u!

[b0t13]

u can only get the front side windows tinted 35% meaning that it has to have 75% visability.

[DevilDamo]

Which is basically clear... which is basically what cars come with as standard (i.e. tinted glass).

[Ma5on]

i have tinted windows on mine and its standard does tha mean i cant go anymore tinted on the front?? just so i no i read it all but need a defo answer?

[DevilDamo]

Basically... you can't have any tint on the front side windows.

[MikeCracknell]

Old Thread, but found this:

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/repository/Tinted%20Windows%20Nov%202005.pdf

[MarkyG]

so if you want the fronts tinted and have 75% visibility through them shouldnt they be done to 25% and not 35?

My maths is crap, but im just guessing that 35 + 75 = 110, so basically to have 75% light allowance they would have to be done 25% tint or lower?

[DevilDamo]

% = 100.


Motor Vehicles first used before 1 April 1985:
The windscreen and front side windows must allow at least 70% of
light to be transmitted through them.

Motor Vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1985:
The light transmitted through the windscreen must be at least 75%.
The front side windows must allow at least 70% of light to be
transmitted through them.

If the glass is tinted to a point whereby it lets through less light,
then the vehicle does not meet legal requirements.

[Dave_M]

On the scratching side of things i couldnt get any things from a clio as no scrappy had them by me. And wasnt paying £40 from renault. Local tint place recommended the soft side to valco. Bought some and works a treat. Can buy it with a sticky side so easy to apply. Cost about a fiver to do both sides.

[DevilDamo]

Yeh that's fine. As long as the standard plastic seals are replaced with felt of some kind then you should be fine. The only reason why I recommended the Clio ones is that they pretty much fit straight in. I bought four seals for £5 from a scrap yard :)

[Jack_234]

u can only get the front side windows tinted 35% meaning that it has to have 75% visability.

I think thats where the confusion started :P

[Alzees_Saxo]

Explains it all

[chrissteele]

so will clio window seals fit in a mk2 saxo??

[chrissteele]

dave m ......... where do u buy this valco stuff and what is it exactly?

[chrissteele]

where do you get this valco stuff, and what is it exactly????

[boarer2004]

yeah i had to get mine removed dont no why tinting places still offer it when got mine don they didnt say nothing about percentages just told me to pick a shade now im just left with rear tints which doesnt look at good imo

[AntSmart]

i have just bought my saxo and want the back window and rear passangers widonws tinting is this legal im quite new to this i tried fitting the tint myself but had alot of trouble is there any place you can go for someone else to fit them

[DevilDamo]

so will clio window seals fit in a mk2 saxo??

Yes they will. Clio's later than an "M" reg should do it.

where do you get this valco stuff, and what is it exactly????

It sounds like an alternative for these seals but does the same job. All you're after is a piece of plastic with a felt strip that can slot in between your doorcard and window to prevent noise/water, etc... coming in but the felt would not cause the tints to scratch.

yeah i had to get mine removed dont no why tinting places still offer it when got mine don they didnt say nothing about percentages just told me to pick a shade now im just left with rear tints which doesnt look at good imo

Some companies will NOT do it because if they were to be caught supplying illegal tinted windows, then they could look at being fined or shut down. But companies that do, they just make sure they're covered by "giving the customer what they want" and that there wouldn't be any way of tracing the tints back to them. They could even say they were sold to you as "show use" only and are not to be used on the road.

i have just bought my saxo and want the back window and rear passangers widonws tinting is this legal im quite new to this i tried fitting the tint myself but had alot of trouble is there any place you can go for someone else to fit them

I wouldn't attempt it myself. The number of times people have attempted and f*cked it is beyond me. It's just a matter of asking around (i.e. others who have had it done) and looking through the yellow pages, etc... Or go into your local Halfrauds and see if anybody there could recommend places.

[smokey247]

so the back ones are cool to be tinted up to 100% yeh?

[DevilDamo]

Correct.

[SxO13]

i thought the back ones were up to the coppers discrestion tho ?? so it dosent conflict with Road safty lol i had frosted light limo on my old car they went from like a dark tint at the bottom frosted look up to the top and these were fine never got pulled by them and the coppers around my area a tight as well tight can be ;)

[naz_loz_vtr]

can anybody post piks regardin the window seals please
cheers adam