Window tint info on a 500L

[Tweak]

I have seen and touched it and it would seem to me they should have realized it before cutting into the windows.

Good luck whatever route you pursue and I hope you enjoy the forum.

[Fiat500USA]

There was an earlier thread about this a couple of weeks ago: Getting Windows Tinted Tomorrow

The back side window in the Fiat 500L is polycarbonite and not a cheap plastic. It is actually a pretty big deal because it is first application of this material in a volume car. It is used for safety, strength and lightness. It is high tech and an example of Fiat bringing cutting edge design to cars people can afford.

There is a lot of information like this on Fiat500USA.com. I recommend everyone take some time when they can and read through the archives there. For example, this story I did back in January mentioned them: Fiat 500L at the Detroit Auto Show

[Andree]

There was an earlier thread about this a couple of weeks ago: Getting Windows Tinted Tomorrow

The back side window in the Fiat 500L is polycarbonite and not a cheap plastic. It is actually a pretty big deal because it is first application of this material in a volume car. It is used for safety, strength and lightness. It is high tech and an example of Fiat bringing cutting edge design to cars people can afford.

There is a lot of information like this on Fiat500USA.com. I recommend everyone take some time when they can and read through the archives there. For example, this story I did back in January mentioned them: Fiat 500L at the Detroit Auto Show

Did you really have to say "cutting edge"?

[Fiat500USA]

Did you really have to say "cutting edge"?

Sorry, it's been a long day...

[Fiat500USA]

I merged these threads to help others.

[DogFX]

The pictures are one post behind this one. If you need me to post again, just let me know.

[DogFX]

Did you really have to say "cutting edge"?

Like always, I am a little late with information that could have saved me money. Oh well.

[DogFX]

Shouldn't the tint place have checked? You sound more mad at the dealer for not telling you than the tint place not checking first.

This is the first application of this type of window in a volume car market. The tinting place did not know of this type of plastic being rolled out and the 500L is quite new to the market. A lot of room for errors. And, i am angry with the dealer. They were not very nice and did not go over any of the features of the car. I have had to learn from blogs and mistakes. Not a great buying experience at all. Love the 500L, hate the way I had to purchase it.

[DogFX]

I gotta agree. The tint place is liable. It's their business to know what they are doing, not your duty to know about such surprise plastic.

To be honest, I am more angry with myself and I am not going after the tint place. They will replace the window but I want Fiat Service Center to perform the install. Very expensive. The owner has been very nice and will go with whatever route I choose but Fiat should warn us about this new feature. I am holding Fiat, Fiat dealers, and myself accountable. I not an angry person. I feel I should have known my car just as much as the window tint company. But, this is the first time (and I am a car enthusiast) that I have seen rear plastic windows not on a convertible. Most convertibles are not glass, even. I should have read the forums more but I was in the middle of moving, starting new job and got tired of renting a car. Many variables happening in my life at the same time.
This is a great forum. I will enlist your expertise in the future. Thanks

[Fiat500USA]

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And this is the result of not knowing about the back windows. Please, inform the tech about this. I feel that my Fiat dealer should have made me aware of this but I am pretty disappointed in them anyway. Not a great experience purchasing from them. Love the 500L, dislike the dealer.

Sorry to hear that. Maybe a note to the dealer principal letting letting him/her know that you're disapointed in how the sales experience was may help salvage the situation. Hopefully they'll treat you like a valued customer in service. The sad reality is many dealership employees aren't car enthusiasts and it is just a job. They don't have the same passion that we have for the cars and don't have the motivation to learn every detail about a car like we do.

In anycase, if you have questions, let us know and everyone will be happy to help you.

[Andree]

To be honest, I am more angry with myself and I am not going after the tint place. They will replace the window but I want Fiat Service Center to perform the install. Very expensive. The owner has been very nice and will go with whatever route I choose but Fiat should warn us about this new feature. I am holding Fiat, Fiat dealers, and myself accountable. I not an angry person. I feel I should have known my car just as much as the window tint company. But, this is the first time (and I am a car enthusiast) that I have seen rear plastic windows not on a convertible. Most convertibles are not glass, even. I should have read the forums more but I was in the middle of moving, starting new job and got tired of renting a car. Many variables happening in my life at the same time.
This is a great forum. I will enlist your expertise in the future. Thanks

The only thing I can think of offhand would be for Fiat/Dealers to create a Window Cling (the kind that clings and isn't permanently adhered and has no glue) for the two back windows that states it's this polycarb and not to use abrasives or sharp items on the windows. And an additional flyer that explains what the polycarb is and why it's cool and care tips.

I did a search of the Owner's Manual and User's Guide and don't see anything mentioning "polycarbonite". They have some mention of not using abrasive compounds, in reference to the paint and cleaning the car (they don't suggest using oven cleaner on the wheels, LOL, page 345 of the Owner's Manual).

They do mention the plastics used on the headlights and the instrument cluster lenses on page 347-348.

Oh! Forgot about this one, definitely a good tip:
CAUTION!
When installing hanging air fresheners in your ve- hicle, read the installation instructions carefully. Some air fresheners will damage the finish of painted or decorated parts if allowed to directly contact any surface.

Check out what happened to a dash on a Honda Fit from a particular kind of air freshener, this is from several years ago, I am TaffetaWhite over there:

http://www.fitfreak.net/forums/general-fit-talk/37967-air-freshener-damage.html

Here's a specific link to the pic with the damage:

http://www.fitfreak.net/forums/general-fit-talk/37967-air-freshener-damage.html#post564336

The person contacted the importer at my suggestion and the importer paid for the damage repair.

[Andree]

Sorry to hear that. Maybe a note to the dealer principal letting letting him/her know that you're disapointed in how the sales experience was may help salvage the situation. Hopefully they'll treat you like a valued customer in service. The sad reality is many dealership employees aren't car enthusiasts and it is just a job. They don't have the same passion that we have for the cars and don't have the motivation to learn every detail about a car like we do.

In anycase, if you have questions, let us know and everyone will be happy to help you.

Speaking of details, maybe someone should make a sticky in the 500L forums on the rear windows and how to care for them?

I don't know my plastic compounds, so I don't know how easy or how difficult it is to scratch these windows.

Is it "OMG, don't let your t-shirt brush against the window, it'll scratch"?

Or "Just totally ruined the back windows by using the brush at the self-serve car wash"?

Or "Never use the drive-through car wash with the bristles, as it turns the windows into an opaque mess o'scratches"?

Or "There was a gravel truck fully loaded that dumped on my 500L, the car is totaled, but the rearmost windows look like new"?

[DogFX]

Just got this reply from Fiat's Facebook page; "Hi, the rear windows of 500L include third slots and therefore are made from polycarbonate. However, it is possible to choose a crystal windows during the purchase process. Please contact your local Fiat dealer for more details." That does not help me now and would have been good to know when I was purchasing the vehicle. Man, I see a lot of failures that could have been avoided in my purchase. Just a little information from the dealer and I would not be going through this. Oh well, I love the car but I am getting more and more angry at the dealer. Almost don't want to take ,y car there for servicing but I would have to drive four hours to the next dealer. What a pickle I am in.

[JoeB]

Almost don't want to take, my car there for servicing but I would have to drive four hours to the next dealer. What a pickle I am in.

Just an FYI 'cause I realize dealers don't like to impress this upon people: You don't have to use a dealer for basic service. Most modern cars require nothing more than an oil change and tire rotation, with an occasional spark plug change. Your local oil-changer guy can handle this stuff. All the warranty requires is that you keep receipts to show the car was properly maintained. I only use dealers for warranty repairs.

[armywife1971]

I was told that I couldn't get the sunroof tinted, but I looked at the tint laws and couldn't find anything that said it was illegal. Anyone know for sure in TX?

We tinted our 500L about a week ago and had the same issue. The rear side windows are plastic and should not be tinted.

We went with Light tint all around and did not tint the back plastic windows. Since the rear windows are already tinted the light was enough to give the car a much darker look and the back windows still look darker due to all the other windows that we tinted.

You may also think about tinting the sunroofs if you have them. We went dark on the sunroof and it made a huge difference on the interior heat. You can still see out, but the inside temps went down by a lot.

Hope that helps a bit...