Demister lines on rear window

Brennan

RMS Regular
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6,609
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BMW
So I noticed my car has 2 or 3 broken demister lines on the rear window, made more obvious with the dark tint. It possibly happened when the glass was tinted by the previous owner.

Is there any way I can get these orange lines fixed? Or would the only solution be a new rear screen?

thanks
 

Apis

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various
Used to be little bottles of conductive paint available that you painted on to bridge the gaps. Don't know if still a thing or not.
 

Ben P

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BMW F33/A6C7
Used to be little bottles of conductive paint available that you painted on to bridge the gaps. Don't know if still a thing or not.


Still available, but last time I seen one being used it was a different colour to the oem lines on the window. Like silver or grey lol.
 

Coog

Admin
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GTI
Presumably you'd need to take the tint off to sort them too
 

Brennan

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OP
Brennan
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BMW
Cheers think that repair kit does silver lines not orange.

considering the possibility of a new screen, wonder would it be covered in my glass cover ^o)
 

roverspeed

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Insignia
Cheers think that repair kit does silver lines not orange.

considering the possibility of a new screen, wonder would it be covered in my glass cover ^o)
Engineering-Bricks-Class-B-Red-Engineering-Brick-65mm_GPID_1100340048_00.jpeg

That's the only way it'll be covered
 

Simon998

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Cayman S
I pulled the limo tint off my car and wrecked the demister. I tried that conductive paint and it was an absolute mission. I think it would work for missing bits up to around 5mm long but mine were about 30mm and it was a melt. Ended up just wiping it off again and giving it up as a bad job.
 

DaddyCC

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26,368
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VW CC
I pulled the limo tint off my car and wrecked the demister. I tried that conductive paint and it was an absolute mission. I think it would work for missing bits up to around 5mm long but mine were about 30mm and it was a melt. Ended up just wiping it off again and giving it up as a bad job.
Would taping the line in similar style of when painting in your house maybe help? In a similar position to what you mention,aybe even some longer bits.

Do these things actually work then?!
 

AMG

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Kilkeel
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I started taking the tint of the rear screen on the Sharan after I got it, and wrecked a few of the lines while doing it.

Booked a replacement screen through insurance as it "cracked". Word of warning there, as the fitter explained rear screens don't crack they shatter, and when you book the appointment a rear screen is an emergency.
I didn't get time to "crack" mine before the fitter came out - thankfully I knew him and he replaced it anyway!!
 

gpaevo

RMS Regular
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9,375
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North Down Riviera
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Audi B9.5
Tempered glass, will blow into millions of pieces. You may be lucky and the tint will hold some of it, if you use a glass punch in a bottom corner and break in a controlled manner.
 

Gavlar

RMS Regular
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10,680
I had a rear screen shatter on a Merc, thankfully it was tinted and it held even when driving lol
 

anlygi

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Belfast
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FN2 CTR
Is there a tried and tested way to avoid doing this when removing a tint? My car came with limo tints in the rear and it's too dark for my liking, especially on a black car. I want to remove them but don't want to wreck the demister. Is heat the best way, heat up the window with demister and car heaters blasting for a while, or is there a better way? Maybe I should just get a professional to it and replace with a couple of shades lighter?
 

Deezer-D

RMS Regular
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9,397
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North of the Wall
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Mini SE
Have a couple of broken lines on the 107 where someone has removed a dealer sticker. Anyone managed to do a successful repair on this?
 

DaddyCC

RMS Regular
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26,368
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VW CC
I tried with Visbella repair kit which is meant to be decent. Utter load of ballix imo. I reckon if the lines are only broken with a fine nick you might get away with it, if there is anything more (which the ones on the o/h motor were) half of it doesnt stick or even if it does few even worked again.

Also if you get a earbud to use to dab the liquid on i thought it made a bigger mess and absorbed a lot of moisture, would maybe try an artists brush if i were to bother again.
 

Deezer-D

RMS Regular
Messages
9,397
Location
North of the Wall
Drives
Mini SE
I tried with Visbella repair kit which is meant to be decent. Utter load of ballix imo. I reckon if the lines are only broken with a fine nick you might get away with it, if there is anything more (which the ones on the o/h motor were) half of it doesnt stick or even if it does few even worked again.

Also if you get a earbud to use to dab the liquid on i thought it made a bigger mess and absorbed a lot of moisture, would maybe try an artists brush if i were to bother again.
The Permatex one seems to get decent reviews. It’s £27 though as it has the tab repair kit included. I only want the paint
 
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