Retrofitting Privacy Glass - one panel won't fit

[KingSlayer]

Hi

I have quite a strange one that neither my Audi dealer nor glass fitter can figure out.

I recently bought a second hand 2019 50 TDI Saloon S Line that came without privacy glass from the factory.

I wanted to retrofit privacy glass myself so I ordered all of the parts from Audi - rear window x1, door glass x2 and quarter light glass x 2. I then brought it to a glass fitting specialist recommended by the dealer.

They have managed to fit all of the glass except for the rear driver side door, which they are saying they cannot fit. They are telling me that the bracket section within the door into which the glass should bolt (photograph attached below) appears to be a different shape or size on this door than it is on the other door and the new glass won't fit into it properly. They also mentioned that the original glass on this side is laminated, whereas on other side it is isn't (and nor is the privacy glass that I bought from Audi).

Audi are just telling me that the parts they supplied are the only tinted/privacy glass that is made for this car and the interior of the door should also be identical on both sides, so they don't understand why it won't fit.

The part number for the glass in question is 4K5845206A. I've had a look on some parts diagram websites and can't find any other part numbers for tinted glass for this car.

Does anyone have any ideas on what might be causing the issue or had any experience with retrofitting this glass to these cars before? I may end up just getting that window tinted because at the moment I am driving around with privacy glass all round except for one rear door, which looks a bit odd.. but I would like to sort this out especially since I've paid for the all the glass (which wasn't cheap as you might imagine..)

Thank you!

Edited July 15 by KingSlayer

[Magnet]

Hello Jamie,

Possibility that the offending door has been changed at some time?? 
Why the very expensive route of privacy glass rather than tint (to the degree of tint you want)? 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[KingSlayer]

Hi there,

Thanks for the reply.

It did occur to me that the door might have been changed, but I don’t think that would really explain it because the original (non-tinted) glass still fits in this door, and Audi are saying if the original glass fits then the privacy glass should also fit. I will try to open up the door on the other side to see what if any difference there is with the regulator connecting piece.

Re your second question - I just don’t like the look of aftermarket tints. I can’t get past the gap it leaves between the dot matrix around the edges or the way it shows up the heater lines on the rear window, e.g.:

I know some places can do it better than others but I’m yet to find somewhere that can actually make it look good (in my opinion), so I was happy enough to spend a bit extra and do it properly (in theory anyway!).

Edited July 15 by KingSlayer

[Stevey Y]

4 hours ago, KingSlayer said:

Hi

I have quite a strange one that neither my Audi dealer nor glass fitter can figure out.

I recently bought a second hand 2019 50 TDI Saloon S Line that came without privacy glass from the factory.

I wanted to retrofit privacy glass myself so I ordered all of the parts from Audi - rear window x1, door glass x2 and quarter light glass x 2. I then brought it to a glass fitting specialist recommended by the dealer.

They have managed to fit all of the glass except for the rear driver side door, which they are saying they cannot fit. They are telling me that the bracket section within the door into which the glass should bolt (photograph attached below) appears to be a different shape or size on this door than it is on the other door and the new glass won't fit into it properly. They also mentioned that the original glass on this side is laminated, whereas on other side it is isn't (and nor is the privacy glass that I bought from Audi).

Audi are just telling me that the parts they supplied are the only tinted/privacy glass that is made for this car and the interior of the door should also be identical on both sides, so they don't understand why it won't fit.

The part number for the glass in question is 4K5845206A. I've had a look on some parts diagram websites and can't find any other part numbers for tinted glass for this car.

Does anyone have any ideas on what might be causing the issue or had any experience with retrofitting this glass to these cars before? I may end up just getting that window tinted because at the moment I am driving around with privacy glass all round except for one rear door, which looks a bit odd.. but I would like to sort this out especially since I've paid for the all the glass (which wasn't cheap as you might imagine..)

Thank you!

Hi for what its worth the laminated glass is fitted for the American market as some states demand this before they will approve the vehicle for sale in that state, my guess is that the production line ran out of glass for that door so they swiped a window from another line to get things moving, I have no doubt there are more like yours floating about but the owners will never know unless the glass needs replacing,

Steve.

[KingSlayer]

1 minute ago, Stevey Y said:

Hi for what its worth the laminated glass is fitted for the American market as some states demand this before they will approve the vehicle for sale in that state, my guess is that the production line ran out of glass for that door so they swiped a window from another line to get things moving, I have no doubt there are more like yours floating about but the owners will never know unless the glass needs replacing,

Steve.

Hi Steve. That’s interesting, good to know. I wonder if there is a laminated version of the privacy glass also for use on that market?

[Magnet]

Hello Jamie,

Now sounds that only an absolute side by side comparison between old and new will resolve the difference. It’s probably me, but the tint vs. new glass seems minor-ish - and I can be a fussy devil! Still, you are 3/4 of the way down the line now, and Audi have to sort out whatever the difference twixt the two is. 
Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Stevey Y]

19 hours ago, KingSlayer said:

Hi Steve. That’s interesting, good to know. I wonder if there is a laminated version of the privacy glass also for use on that market?

Hi probably but it may take some finding, laminated glass is slightly thicker, laminate+glass+ laminate toughened glass may well be thinner its worth checking with a micrometer, alternatively fit the same style of window gear to the side it doesn't fit I think that might be the cheapest option then you know that should fit because both sides are the same.

Steve.