Tinted glass

[Helirich]

I'm thinking of some tint on the side windows to help the AC and some on the rear side windows to hide dirt.

It would be nice to have that rear area clean, but I live on a dirt road. Red clay dust goes in my louvers and sits in the area behind the glass in just one mile to the paved road. In Florida there's no legal headakes, but I don't want "limo" tint anyways. I'm thinking just a bit reflective, so someone can't see the dust easy. I do use those windows while driving.

Up front I was thinking of tint on the sides except for the moving windows. Is that going to look weird? Has anybody got pics of tinted window Deloreans?

[Mark D]

My car had dark tint on the side windows and rear quarter windows when I bought it. I've since removed it from the quarter glass because it was starting to peel from the heat of the engine. It was poor quality tint to begin with and started turning purple and getting wavy. It also made visibility at night difficult.

The door windows are still tinted but that will eventually get removed and replaced with something not so dark. I'll also plan to re-tint the quarter glass with probably 50% tint. If I had to guess the old tint was around 30%.

I found some old pics where the rear quarters were still tinted:

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=32485&d=1421357592


http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=32487&d=1421357886


http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=19693&d=1370613976

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=19698&d=1370614011

Here's one after the rear tint was removed and you can compare to the doors.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=37599&d=1445961957

[Helirich]

So it looks like you have tint on the toll booth windows. Are they scraped up? (Mine seem like they are really tight seals)

Edit, did the rear tint keep you from seeing dirt/dust? It would seem like even light tint would do the job. I talked to a tint guy and he is recommending 30 %. He says that is legal. (But as I mentioned, nobody in FL gets tickets for tint) Funny, while I was there a cop was getting limo tint. He told me they use tint as a reason to stop people, but they have orders not to issue tickets.

Second edit, I believe the higher the percent, the darker the tint.

[Mark D]

So it looks like you have tint on the toll booth windows. Are they scraped up? (Mine seem like they are really tight seals)

Edit, did the rear tint keep you from seeing dirt/dust? It would seem like even light tint would do the job. I talked to a tint guy and he is recommending 30 %. He says that is legal. (But as I mentioned, nobody in FL gets tickets for tint) Funny, while I was there a cop was getting limo tint. He told me they use tint as a reason to stop people, but they have orders not to issue tickets.

Second edit, I believe the higher the percent, the darker the tint.

Yes, the toll booth windows are also tinted. It would probably look really odd to only tint the fixed portion. The tint is not scraped up at all the section that moves. If your windows are rubbing you should be able to make some adjustments, or you may have to replace the felt seals.

When the rear quarter glass was tinted it did help hide any dirt that would have normally been visible on the rear pontoons and engine cover. I also liked that it hid the orange color of the window defogger lines on the main rear window.

Tint is measured in how much light is able to be transmitted through it. IE 80% tint appears lighter and allows more light through than 5% tint which is darker.

[mhanch]

I have original tinting from before 1992 on mine. still looks great.

66357

[Helirich]

Looks nice

[artisticent]

I love tint for all reasons. I always take my cars to get tinted including the windshield. However I have to say the on my Delorean, I just like the the clear windows and open view through the car. I may change my mind for all the practical reasons. Who knows

[Helirich]

I love tint for all reasons. I always take my cars to get tinted including the windshield. However I have to say the on my Delorean, I just like the the clear windows and open view through the car. I may change my mind for all the practical reasons. Who knows

I agree it looks kind of futuristic with the clear glass. (Funny to say that about a antique) But I hate dirt/dust in those back windows. They also get water drops on the inside. On the side windows, there's just not enough AC to make up for sun on the side of my face and shoulder.

[DMC-81]

Tint in Florida is a must. I have 15% ceramic on the side, and 85% ceramic on the windshield. I didn't tint the rear window.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=47390&d=1479172701


http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=61232&d=1569117483


http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=62600&d=1580782484

[Helirich]

That looks really sharp. I don't know if I want the windshield tinted. I'll wait and see how the sides come out. I have an appointment in a few days.

[DMC-81]

That looks really sharp. I don't know if I want the windshield tinted. I'll wait and see how the sides come out. I have an appointment in a few days.

Thanks. The tinting of the windshield helps reduce solar heating which assists the already marginal AC system. 85% is almost clear, but since it has ceramic in it , this provides a heat barrier on that big surface area.

I highly recommend it.

[Helirich]

Well I just came back from the tinter. I had very light on the front side glass. Legal, not that it matters. Slightly darker on the rear sides to cover dirt. I think it looks good. I did not get the toll booths done. You can hardly tell from the outside. I had to go all around the car to get a pic that you could see the untainted tool booths. You can only see the far side if you look close.

66369

He said he would do the toll booths later for no charge. He also said he has some of the clear ceramic tint to do the windshield if I want.

[Michael]

Thanks. The tinting of the windshield helps reduce solar heating which assists the already marginal AC system. 85% is almost clear, but since it has ceramic in it , this provides a heat barrier on that big surface area.

I highly recommend it.

I remember someone here a few years ago doing it (maybe you). It was almost clear but they/you said it worked wonders on interior temps(like 20⁰ cooler), but it was not cheap.

I wonder if the cost has crept downward these days?

[Helirich]

I remember someone here a few years ago doing it (maybe you). It was almost clear but they/you said it worked wonders on interior temps(like 20⁰ cooler), but it was not cheap.

I wonder if the cost has crept downward these days?

The tint guy told me on a standard car ceramic raises the price $100. He charged $180 for a standard car. He stocks lots of the almost clear stuff for commercial vehicals. Aparently, the DOT will harass them if they have dark tint. Not sure if it cost more than ceramic dark tint.

I've got a trip planed today. I'll see how this works. Then I'm almost certain I will do the windshield with the clear stuff so I can compare.

[Michael]

The tint guy told me on a standard car ceramic raises the price $100. He charged $180 for a standard car. He stocks lots of the almost clear stuff for commercial vehicals. Aparently, the DOT will harass them if they have dark tint. Not sure if it cost more than ceramic dark tint.

I've got a trip planed today. I'll see how this works. Then I'm almost certain I will do the windshield with the clear stuff so I can compare.

Seems like the price I remember him paying was $1,200 but that was back when it was still considered greatest and latest.

[DMC-81]

I remember someone here a few years ago doing it (maybe you). It was almost clear but they/you said it worked wonders on interior temps(like 20⁰ cooler), but it was not cheap.

I wonder if the cost has crept downward these days?

Yes, the tint on the windshield is effectively clear when you are looking through it, and it does make a dramatic difference in the interior temperatures. I think I did mine in 2016 or so, and it was probably $300 or $350 in total for the windshield and the sides.

[mhanch]

Well I just came back from the tinter. I had very light on the front side glass. Legal, not that it matters. Slightly darker on the rear sides to cover dirt. I think it looks good. I did not get the toll booths done. You can hardly tell from the outside. I had to go all around the car to get a pic that you could see the untainted tool booths. You can only see the far side if you look close.

66369

He said he would do the toll booths later for no charge. He also said he has some of the clear ceramic tint to do the windshield if I want.

Looks great!

[Helirich]

Yes, the tint on the windshield is effectively clear when you are looking through it, and it does make a dramatic difference in the interior temperatures. I think I did mine in 2016 or so, and it was probably $300 or $350 in total for the windshield and the sides.

I just made an appointment to get the windshield done. I removed the mirror and I'm going to install a differnt one that just has the small "puck" glued to the glass. That way he can do a good job on the tint. I also made brackets for a gps and radar detector so I don't have any suction cups on the glass.

Im courious, have you felt the dash when the sun is shining? I'm hoping the tint will stop the dash from cracking. My dash is good, but that sun is so strong when the car is not in the garage. Is your dash good? Do you have any dash cover?

[DMC-81]

I just made an appointment to get the windshield done. I removed the mirror and I'm going to install a differnt one that just has the small "puck" glued to the glass. That way he can do a good job on the tint. I also made brackets for a gps and radar detector so I don't have any suction cups on the glass.

Im courious, have you felt the dash when the sun is shining? I'm hoping the tint will stop the dash from cracking. My dash is good, but that sun is so strong when the car is not in the garage. Is your dash good? Do you have any dash cover?

Cool. Yes, the sun is really hot on the dash. Even with the tint, I use a DashMat dash cover all the time. My binnacle and dash is original and pristine, so I protect it as much as possible. I also got the fold up Cover Craft (UV10118SV) fitted sun visor for when I'm parked in the sun.

I would ask a DMC expert (call one of the DMS locations) for advice on whether a mirror should be glued to the windshield. My understanding is the glass can delaminate or crack. That black patch that the OEM mirror is taped to is part of the glass. My tinter carefully cut around the area leaving a barely noticeable vertical seam in the tint film between the square patch and the top of the windshield.

[84Impulse]

Looks great. Are there chrome tits??

[Mark D]

I just made an appointment to get the windshield done. I removed the mirror and I'm going to install a differnt one that just has the small "puck" glued to the glass. That way he can do a good job on the tint. I also made brackets for a gps and radar detector so I don't have any suction cups on the glass.

Im courious, have you felt the dash when the sun is shining? I'm hoping the tint will stop the dash from cracking. My dash is good, but that sun is so strong when the car is not in the garage. Is your dash good? Do you have any dash cover?

If you haven't yet glued the replacement mirro mount in place I would highly recommend against it. It's pretty well documented on these cars that glue-on rear view mirrors are known to crack windshields. I'm not exactly sure why, but double stick VHB tape is the safer way to go.

[Mark D]

Looks great. Are there chrome tits??

On 1955 Cadillacs, yes.

On DeLoreans, no.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=66653&d=1624912313

[Helirich]

If you haven't yet glued the replacement mirro mount in place I would highly recommend against it. It's pretty well documented on these cars that glue-on rear view mirrors are known to crack windshields. I'm not exactly sure why, but double stick VHB tape is the safer way to go.

When I got the car, the mirror was in the box of extra parts. I don't know if the windshield is new, but it looks new. Anyways, I glued the mirror on. Later, when I decided to tint the windshield, I removed it with a heatgun as per goggle. I didn't like that mirror anyways, so I got one out of the junkyard. It has the removable stalk with just the puck glued on. When I pulled the mirror at the yard, a piece of glass came with. (No heat gun) I removed the glass chips and glued it on the D. I hope it doesn't hurt the windshield. I guess I could just take the mirror off. (It's not a lot of use, anyways.

[Michael]

When I got the car, the mirror was in the box of extra parts. I don't know if the windshield is new, but it looks new. Anyways, I glued the mirror on. Later, when I decided to tint the windshield, I removed it with a heatgun as per goggle. I didn't like that mirror anyways, so I got one out of the junkyard. It has the removable stalk with just the puck glued on. When I pulled the mirror at the yard, a piece of glass came with. (No heat gun) I removed the glass chips and glued it on the D. I hope it doesn't hurt the windshield. I guess I could just take the mirror off. (It's not a lot of use, anyways.

Mark is right. The pad allows for glass movement with temp changes. Gluing it will most likely result in a cracked windscreen.

[84Impulse]

On 1955 Cadillacs, yes.

On DeLoreans, no.

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=66653&d=1624912313

Lmao!!! Tints. I mean, tints ��

Those are some real torpedos btw

[Helirich]

If you haven't yet glued the replacement mirro mount in place I would highly recommend against it. It's pretty well documented on these cars that glue-on rear view mirrors are known to crack windshields. I'm not exactly sure why, but double stick VHB tape is the safer way to go.

Is there a thread on this subject? Was the stock mirror not glued on? Did the factory come out with a recomdation to change it. To be honest, this thread is the first I've heard of it. (That doesn't mean anything). About the only thing I can think of that would be differnt is the extreme slant of our windshield. Maybe the weight of the mirror pulling more perpendicular to the glass over bumps?

On the second point, this is the first I've heard of "Very high bond" tape. Has this been used successfully on mirrors. From what I'm reading, it appears there is some movement there. Doesn't seem like it would be good for a mirror. But if that's what everybody is using.

I really would like more info on this. I need to make a decision.

[Mark D]

The stock mirror is stuck on with double sided foam tape from the factory. Here is what DMCH currently sells, along with the warning on the page.

https://store.delorean.com/111976-interior-mirror-pad.html

http://dmctalk.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=66654&d=1624977480




There are a few threads on the board where cracked windshields are mentioned due to using glue. I found this one, if you do some searching there are more.

http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?6266-DMCH-Improved-rear-view-mirror

[Helirich]

I did a lot of reading there. I wish I had seen that earlier. It does appear that the issue is glueing a mirror that is designed for tape. The large surface area being the problem. I sure am glad that I removed my stock mirror. (Because I glued it) But that still leaves me with the small button style mirror on there. I have less fear about it, but I think I will be looking for a replacement. My stock mirror had a loose ball on it. So I can't reinstall it.

Thanks for the link!

[Helirich]

Small update,

I got the ceramic tint on the windshield today. I can verify it is nearly clear. The only way you can tell it's tinted is by opening the door and comparing with open sky. As far as cooling, it wasn't sunny enough to tell yet.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

I recently had a window protection film installed with a UV block in it. It is clear and I didn’t even know it was installed. The car was at a garage getting some work done and while they were waiting for a part the installer put it on and only called me later to tell me.

I am not sure how much protection it will actually provide against rock chips which is a big problem here in Alberta, but I am hopeful.

[Helirich]

I recently had a window protection film installed with a UV block in it. It is clear and I didn’t even know it was installed. The car was at a garage getting some work done and while they were waiting for a part the installer put it on and only called me later to tell me.

I am not sure how much protection it will actually provide against rock chips which is a big problem here in Alberta, but I am hopeful.

I guess that film is on the outside. I've never heard of that. Do you have it on other vehicals? All the stuff I'm talking about is on the inside. (So no protection) I wonder how it holds up to the wipers. (Making streaks) Interesting.

[Jimmyvonviggle]

The film is on the outside. So far no streaks from windshield wipers, but I was told to be careful how I clean it.