jcole

I have contacted 3 of Southern California's premier Huper Optik tint installers, and no one wants to do the installation for me. They all said that the A8 has the most difficult rear window in the business, and they could do three other installs in the same amount of time. One installer told me that to do it right - he has to take out the entire back seat, rear brake light, and hat shelf. He said it is a 10 hour job. He told me he usually charges $475 to tint a whole car this size with ceramic Huper Optik, but he was going to have to turn my business away. When I asked him what the minimum he would charge me--he reluctantly said $800, but ephasized that he would still rather not do it. Has anyone ever heard of this?

Ringmeister

jcole, from the various posts I have read on tinting forums, your installers are correct.

I have read that for the best install, it requires removal of the rear seat and hat shelf. Some installers have figured out that if you pull forward while pulling up on the rear headrests, they can be removed without removing the seat and then they use a special tool to get the film to adhere where the window and the hat shelf converge. I think many installers would be afraid to damage the interior so they just remove the seat. Some send the vehicle to the dealer first for the seat removal and then install the film and then back to the dealer for the seat re-install. $800 or more for install is what I have heard for the A8. I wish I lived near a Huper Optik dealer, no one around here carries their products.

That being said, Kimbo has recently been through this so maybe he can share his experience with you.

Der Kimbo

I used a place that did all of the cars for the dealerships so they know the A8 very well and can tint one with normal tint in just over one hour. With the huper optic, it took almost 4 hours and required 3 attempts and half a roll of film to get it done. Looking at it today, it still doesnt look right and will have to be done over again. I love it and it works very well, but is a PITB to install.

FYI Cost was 350 + 130 for the windshield.

PaulW

Then replace it yourself.....from a previous post:

<img src="http://www.audipages.com/images/d3backseat1.gif">

Rear seat backrest, removing and installing

1 - Center mounting (4x)
2 - Center head restraint
3 - Rear seat backrest
Removing
- Remove rear bench seat Page 72-74 .
- Detach side airbag connectors -4- (2x) Fig. 1 .
- With seat heating: Detach seat heating connectors - 5- (2x).

- Unscrew bolts -6- (2x).

- Push center head restraint -2- upward.

- Fold center armrest -7- down.

- Unscrew nuts -8- (2x).

- Push rear seat backrest -3- upward out of center mountings -1- (4x) and pull rear seat backrest -3- out from front.


Installing

- Engage rear seat backrest -3- in center mounting -1- (4x).

- Continue installing rear seat backrest -3- in reverse order to removal.


4 - Side airbag connector
5 - Seat heating connector
6 - Bolts (2x)
7 - Center armrest
8 - Nuts (2x)<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/upgrades/navplusgps.html">More details of a D2 rear seat (one posted was a D3)</a></li></ul>

jcole

That would definately save me some money. Do you have the information for removing the rear bench seat? (Page 72-74) If you have any info on the rear hat shelf that would be very helpful also.

BLT LTD

According to the Audi dealer in my part of Dallas I have the last A8L that they were willing to tint because it was such a pain in the *** for them. I think that I paid 700+ to have it done but they refuse to tint anymore A8's.

awdinut

did you use the 30, 40 ,50, or 60 ? And what comments can you make about the stuff after the first month?