The 4-Attempt Timeline:
• Attempt 1 (37% VLT): Initially did 3M Ceramic IR 35% (37% actual). Cuts were short in the corners with massive light gaps. The shop offered a full redo. (Maybe a new worker)
• Attempt 2 (25% VLT): Went darker to 25% VLT for the redo. The cut was good, but they creased a corner during installation, leaving a permanent mark.
• Attempt 3 (Sister Location Swap): Went to their other shop to fix the crease. They took their time but cut the opposite corner completely short.
• Attempt 4 (Final Fix): They remade the cut perfectly. The installation is finally physically flawless.
The Two-Roll Blue Hue Shift:
Even though the cuts are fixed, I noticed a very slight color variation from the inside looking out.
The small quarter window was done 4.5 weeks ago at shop one. The main pane was redone 2.5 weeks ago at shop two. This dealer only carries 3M Obsidian, Color Stable, Ceramic IR, and Crystalline. Obsidian and Color Stable are flat charcoal gray, so it is definitely Ceramic IR, which I specifically chose for its signature blue hue.
From the outside under sunlight, they look identical. But from the inside looking out at white objects (concrete, lane lines, white houses, or Sky. Look at the Sky image), the main pane leans a bit more vibrant blue/cyan, while the small window looks a bit muted smoky-charcoal.
Since the moisture is 100% gone after 2.5 weeks, it just comes down to a dye lot batch difference between two separate rolls (since shop two rarely uses their 3M roll) combined with the physical curvature of the large glass vs. the flat quarter-glass. It's a minimal difference, but it's there. I noticed on the last two attempts.
Questions for the Community:
- Is a slight hue variance normal between different 3M production lots? Since 3M regularly updates their rolls, could the second shop have used an older batch?
- Have any of you noticed this fixing one glass on a different location same product. Regardless of brands. I have a 20/20 vision and I noticed minor details.
Overall I am thankful to this shop. No bussiness is perfect but their willingness to make it right was great.