Gravity Front Windshield tint

[DrZorro]

Does anyone know what type of tinting is on the Gravity DE's front window? I can see that it's tinted as there's a cutout line around the front camera/rear view mirror area . I have a TollTag on order and I'm not sure if there's a special spot that it needs to go. I vaguely remember a cutout on some Airs as the spot where it needed to go. If there is a cutout somewhere, I don't see it. I'm hoping that they did NOT put any sort of metallic tint that is going to interfere with transponder and my radar detector.

And on the topic of radar detectors, I have mine in the window front and center and I feel like it seems to be a bit more quiet than usual (maybe I'm imagining this or I've been ignoring it while in driving bliss)...Which is another reason why I'm asking. I want to make sure the tinting isn't blocking radar as well. From what I understand, it's only metallic tints (not ceramic) that run into this issue.

 

[DrZorro]

I figured a picture might help:

 

[DrZorro]

I'm guessing from the lack of replies here that nobody knows the answer. I figured at least @borski would know!

 

[fleming23]

Probably due to all 8 of you with Gravities...

Sort of joking.

 

[borski]

I'm guessing from the lack of replies here that nobody knows the answer. I figured at least @borski would know!

They keep changing it so I have no idea

 

[Pragmatic]

They keep changing it so I have no idea

Stop reading this forum and enjoy your vacation.

 

[DrZorro]

I asked this question to the service guy today. He doesn't know the answer but said he'd get back to me. I'll post the answer here when I get it.

 

[borski]

Stop reading this forum and enjoy your vacation.

I’m only checking it occasionally
99% of the time I have no service anyway

Here, have a summit

 

[DrZorro]

So, it turns out there IS a tint cutout for toll road transponders on the Gravity windshield. It's sublle in the pics. I drew arrows around the border.

Now, if only I could fit the Tolltag AND radar detector there.

As for radar detection, I'm convinced that the tint blocks radar too as almost every time it goes off, the arrow on my detector is pointing backwards.

 

[Ron_Burgundy]

Can’t you get a toll tag that is built into license plate frame? That’s what we have for EZPass on east coast. While I don’t love the frame, way easier than worrying about exact positioning on windshield…

 

[DrZorro]

Can’t you get a toll tag that is built into license plate frame? That’s what we have for EZPass on east coast. While I don’t love the frame, way easier than worrying about exact positioning on windshield…

Well, there are rebels such as myself that are driving around with no front license plate. I do believe they offer one of those transponders here but it needs to be installed on the front plate.

 

[HC_79]

I'm definitely noticing interference with RFID readers also and if I place them where the cut out is the RFID reader won't recognize it due to where the reader is positioned. HOA is telling me to stick the tag on the headlight but have now said it probably won't work due to the slim profile of the light and being too close to metal (sticker would also cause a shadow to be cast as well)

 

[Elfin]

Well, there are rebels such as myself that are driving around with no front license plate. I do believe they offer one of those transponders here but it needs to be installed on the front plate.

Could probably be installed on inside of bumper cover.

 

[DrZorro]

I'm definitely noticing interference with RFID readers also and if I place them where the cut out is the RFID reader won't recognize it due to where the reader is positioned. HOA is telling me to stick the tag on the headlight but have now said it probably won't work due to the slim profile of the light and being too close to metal (sticker would also cause a shadow to be cast as well)

Out of curiosity did you try it out on the front driver corner of the ROOF glass up behind your head (rather than the windshield glass). I did notice that the tint is visibly different between the roof and the the windshield...though I don't know if it's also a metallic tint that blocks signals.

 

[DrZorro]

For anyone interested regarding radar detectors:

I did manage to stuff my R8 into the tint cutout square and I can vouch that it now works properly with front arrows working as expected... HOWEVER... that unfortunately introduced 2 new issues:
1) It interferes with trying to fully fold down the passenger sun visor.
2) I now get intermittent random false Ka band alerts on a specific frequency (33.750 mhz). After googling a bit, it turns out that electronics nearby (likely in the windshield camera sensor assembly next to it) are likely the culprit. There are several GM vehicles that have the same issue. I don't think the car is actually using Ka band radar--that would be news to me for sure.

 

[HC_79]

Out of curiosity did you try it out on the front driver corner of the ROOF glass up behind your head (rather than the windshield glass). I did notice that the tint is visibly different between the roof and the the windshield...though I don't know if it's also a metallic tint that blocks signals.

I’ve got to get a new one and test it in multiple areas. It has to go on the passenger side regardless so will see how I go.

 

[AnthonySF]

So, it turns out there IS a tint cutout for toll road transponders on the Gravity windshield. It's sublle in the pics. I drew arrows around the border.

Now, if only I could fit the Tolltag AND radar detector there.

As for radar detection, I'm convinced that the tint blocks radar too as almost every time it goes off, the arrow on my detector is pointing backwards. View attachment 30715View attachment 30714

So just to confirm, you did not have a film applied to the windshield? It came with a film on in from the factory? Did they tell you the specs of whatever film they used? Heat reduction, UV ray blockage?

I am seeing posts regarding applying a windshield film on Lucids and having the computers up front in the dash damaged from the excess water from the windshield tinting process.

 

[flarbear]

Ugh, I've got two problems that are fighting with each other. My current car has a specific section of the windshield where fastrak responders will work, and it's on the passenger side just like the Gravity appears to do it.

My fastrak responder also has a setting on it for how many passengers I have for variable toll areas. You cannot set this setting blind, you have to look at the transponder to see what the setting is - it's a rotating dial that rotates forever in either direction, so "123123123" or "321321321" which means you can't just move it all the way one direction and then count back, you have to see what it was set to and then turn it from there.

So, try doing that with a transponder mounted on the far side of the mirror assembly.

And you can't use one of these in the bumper/license plate frame variants because it's really difficult to crawl out of the drivers window and scale your way across the hood with the car in lane-centering mode. Every 10 seconds while you are doing this you have to turn around and jiggle the steering wheel. Yuk!

 

[DrZorro]

So just to confirm, you did not have a film applied to the windshield? It came with a film on in from the factory? Did they tell you the specs of whatever film they used? Heat reduction, UV ray blockage?

I am seeing posts regarding applying a windshield film on Lucids and having the computers up front in the dash damaged from the excess water from the windshield tinting process.

This is the way the windshield came on the DE. I haven't added any tint. They haven't given anyone (including the service team) any sort of specs regarding the built in tint.

 

[DrZorro]

Ugh, I've got two problems that are fighting with each other. My current car has a specific section of the windshield where fastrak responders will work, and it's on the passenger side just like the Gravity appears to do it.

My fastrak responder also has a setting on it for how many passengers I have for variable toll areas. You cannot set this setting blind, you have to look at the transponder to see what the setting is - it's a rotating dial that rotates forever in either direction, so "123123123" or "321321321" which means you can't just move it all the way one direction and then count back, you have to see what it was set to and then turn it from there.

So, try doing that with a transponder mounted on the far side of the mirror assembly.

And you can't use one of these in the bumper/license plate frame variants because it's really difficult to crawl out of the drivers window and scale your way across the hood with the car in lane-centering mode. Every 10 seconds while you are doing this you have to turn around and jiggle the steering wheel. Yuk!

I don't see what the problem is crawling across the hood to adjust the license plate. Indiana Jones seemed to have no issues with this maneuver in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Kidding aside, I agree, I wish it was in a different spot (like right below the center camera/mirror assembly). I suspect they chose that site because it's mostly hidden from the driver's vantage point...which is why I didn't see the cutout when I first got delivery even when looking for it. You can best see it from the passenger's seat.