Irresponsible windows film installer (Zen)

[Dh15]

Be warned of Zen windows tinting at 282 macpherson rd, read on before u decide.Done up my front 3 pcs windows film at Zen abt 2 months ago, when done found green chemical stains on the dashboard due to removing of previous film, jimmy applied some oil for me to cover the stain, apparently, the cloth wasn't placed properly and resulted in lots of stains on dashboard.. After driving off for 1-2mins, my Aircon died.. No air coming out from the Aircon vent in the beginning, then follow by all Aircon control failed. Unable to turn on/off. Nothing on the control panel can be used.SMS the boss, jimmy abt what happen.. he told me to check and update him. After checking with workshop, the problem seems to be Aircon amplifier die.. (later diagnosed to be amplifier assembly and blower died), possibly some shorting occur due to water.Updated jimmy, but he told me to update him again, and throughout the whole saga, he mentioned a few times he'll check with his workshop people and update me, but never came back to me.

When this happen, I got no Aircon, and an scheduled to drive up to KL with my family few days later. So no choice, took some leave and go around sourcing for parts, no new parts available in s'pore and order will take months, comb thru almost all the scrapyards and finally managed to find 1 pc, installed, control back to normal, but still no Aircon, so was advised to change the blower. Upon changing, everything back to normal. Then I drive up to KL the next day. Aircon died again, exactly same symptom happen when I reach KL at night. The Aircon lasted <24hrs.Was in M'sia for a week without Aircon and drove around during rainy season without Aircon.Stucked in heavy rain and super jam in malacca, wiping interior windows like crazy due to fogging.Upon return to S'pore, jimmy again told me to update him, and say will check and get back to me. But this time round I couldn't find any parts.Dun know what happen, no workshop in S'pore knows how to resolve. Replacing parts may not solve the problem. But no choice, still got to order from Japan and wait. Meanwhile really dun know what happen, so decided to sell car, without Aircon, can only sell to dealer at a lower price. Search around for car and finally bought one. Dealer agree to let me take car first while waiting for parts, at that time, after much chasing and pleading, Japan help to rushed the parts, and dealer had to wait another 2-3weeks for the parts to come. Finally, amplifier arrived at early jan as promised. Installed for dealer and true enough, blower also need replacement.

And during dekitting of my car, found that there a device with a cable shield with little bit of water dripping out from the shield, the shield is open ended on both ends, that device's connector when unplugged had some dried water stain.

With all these, jimmy still say we can settle happily. But he refused to make any proposal. The total monetary damage is 1.2k, so I proposed that he pay me 300 and do a set of windows film for me since cost is low to him. He insisted that he'll only settle for 300.

Fine, discussion fell thru and I dub want a cent from him. I'd rather post my case up here for everybody's reference.He may be a nice guy, but that's what happen when things happen.

Pls be warned of this shop.Go at your own risk.. If u think that I'm maligning him, feel free to contact me at [email protected] I would gladly be available to vouch for the truth of this case.

 

You are just suay la. I got friends with Toyota, VW, Audi, Fiat and Honda who did up their cars with Jimmy and no such problem.

Edited January 16, 2012 by Dh15

[Creative_tec]

I think no matter how good the workshop is, there bounds to be isolated cases whereby things just go wrong. Somehow, I stand by Ts that how the whole issue was being handled is not good at all. Go through so much trouble, spent so much money. Pay me 300 bucks, I rather forgo it.

 

P/s: I sold my previous car coz insurer increase my premium by 200 dollars. Is that another so called silly reason to change car?

[Qaz20]

Haha.. Strongly agree..

 

4205248[/url]']You are just suay la. I got friends with Toyota, VW, Audi, Fiat and Honda who did up their cars with Jimmy and no such problem.

 

 

 

[Qaz20]

Bro, the reason as I've mentioned is that I no longer feel safe with the so called reliable brand. It's like a time bomb, Dun know when what funny things may come. I can't keep affording on and off of 1-2k of repair cost which could be unique to this car cos I really dun know what other electrical/electronics had been injured and are going to fail soon. And when it broke down, can I get it fixed easily and affordable is another question. Just worried, worried and worried.So for a more peace of mind and hopefully once and for all.

 

4204990[/url]']

i think many here dun understand the logic loh.

 

change car just becos aircon spoilt?

 

as u said there are so many parts in a car, so many time u want to change when something spoilt?

 

u already spent $1.2k already but u still change cos u not sure any other parts may spoilt soon.

 

for selling and buying again dont u know u lost more?

 

our weather is so hot, any moisture will be gone in a few days.

[Sony]

Bro, the reason as I've mentioned is that I no longer feel safe with the so called reliable brand. It's like a time bomb, Dun know when what funny things may come. I can't keep affording on and off of 1-2k of repair cost which could be unique to this car cos I really dun know what other electrical/electronics had been injured and are going to fail soon. And when it broke down, can I get it fixed easily and affordable is another question. Just worried, worried and worried.So for a more peace of mind and hopefully once and for all.

 

 

couldn't have a better reason to change car...

 

well, take it as an experience and a matter of luck. it happen to a lot of other installer, everything is good until things went wrong and to be fair, i think at least Zen didn't run away but offer some form of compensation although it wasn't up to your expectation. Others could have been worst.

[Karu]

You guys just need an excuse to change the car... Any reason??!!

[Rogersk8ter]

oh ya.. on hindsight, i also sold my car which was also less than 3 yrs old as i had a scratch on the front bumper and i wouldn't want to waste money to respray coz colour will not be original..

 

bro, u are joking right?

 

[Forte]

Many years back, collected my brand new ride, happily drove into MY and install Vk@@l at accessories shop.

During installation, they placed very thin towel at the top of dashboard. Without knowing that, water were sipping through slowly.

After installation, drove back and somehow the driving was funny, gear keep changing from low to high and stalled several times while driving in JB. Managed to drive to custom & keep stalling, no choice call AAS to tow back in the middle of custom (only AAS tow truck allow to drive past SG custom). Imaging a brand new ride tow back to agent.

Next day, agent told me they found nothing wrong, car can drive, no gear change problem. Later found out from car club forum, there is speed sensor underneath dashboard & couple of members kenna the same problem that while doing tinting - the speed sensor was soaked. Some can't even engage to first gear to drive off.

From then onwards, every ride tinting I'll request installer to place additional towel to prevent any other unnecessary trouble.

[Sony]

bro, u are joking right?

 

 

nope.. i did sold my car but there's a lot of other reason but main thing is i want to change car

[Humsuplo]

oh ya.. on hindsight, i also sold my car which was also less than 3 yrs old as i had a scratch on the front bumper and i wouldn't want to waste money to respray coz colour will not be original..

 

 

haha i too sold my car which is less than 3yrs old as the "new" car smell was fading away and i wouldn't want to waste money to change leather cos the leather will not be original!

[Qms]

Many years back, collected my brand new ride, happily drove into MY and install Vk@@l at accessories shop.

During installation, they placed very thin towel at the top of dashboard. Without knowing that, water were sipping through slowly.

After installation, drove back and somehow the driving was funny, gear keep changing from low to high and stalled several times while driving in JB. Managed to drive to custom & keep stalling, no choice call AAS to tow back in the middle of custom (only AAS tow truck allow to drive past SG custom). Imaging a brand new ride tow back to agent.

Next day, agent told me they found nothing wrong, car can drive, no gear change problem. Later found out from car club forum, there is speed sensor underneath dashboard & couple of members kenna the same problem that while doing tinting - the speed sensor was soaked. Some can't even engage to first gear to drive off.

From then onwards, every ride tinting I'll request installer to place additional towel to prevent any other unnecessary trouble.

 

Car manufacturers doesn't count on large volume of water seeping through the dashboard, except for flood.

 

And below the dashboard is lots of wiring harness, exposed wires, maybe a ecu and other electronic pcbs.

 

Yeap, thanks for the advise.

 

Window film installers should indeed wake up to what they are doing, especially when they need to use lots of water.

[Qaz20]

True enough. He didn't run away from it..Just that negotiation fell thru.. To each his own expectation, I think it's not enough, whereas he think it's more than sufficient.

4206470[/url]']

couldn't have a better reason to change car...

 

well, take it as an experience and a matter of luck. it happen to a lot of other installer, everything is good until things went wrong and to be fair, i think at least Zen didn't run away but offer some form of compensation although it wasn't up to your expectation. Others could have been worst.

[Swifter78]

True enough. He didn't run away from it..Just that negotiation fell thru.. To each his own expectation, I think it's not enough, whereas he think it's more than sufficient.

 

yah our ministers also think their pay not enough....

[Rogersk8ter]

haha i too sold my car which is less than 3yrs old as the "new" car smell was fading away and i wouldn't want to waste money to change leather cos the leather will not be original!

 

 

bro, do u know the new car smell is toxic? can cause cancer u know?

[Aaron_soh80]

haha i too sold my car which is less than 3yrs old as the "new" car smell was fading away and i wouldn't want to waste money to change leather cos the leather will not be original!

 

 

 

[Sunshinez]

I just installed my window film at Zen a few weeks ago for my boxster. No problems and fantastic service with reasonable price.

 

Sorry to hear of your problems. Might have been a short circuit, though I thought it's unlikely to be caused by water as there would be condensation from aircon ducts, so car manufacturer wouldn't have bare wires or sensitive parts near the area.

 

Guess every shop has it's good and bad experience.

 

Same here.. my experience is quite good too..

Did 4 cars there...

 

guess its maybe a one off case...

[Bystander50]

How can it be possible for the water to cause the air con to kaputt.

What is air con amplifier?

 

I think cannot blame the window film installer. Little water is ok. Further more it will dry up I few days if the car is park under hot sun!!

 

Wait till you have a chance to see how these windows film installer paste/remove the film.

After that you'll swear never to go back again.

 

My Windscreen film had bubbles after a few months. Film was part of the package offered by AD and was told 10 years warrenty, so happily went for rectification.

Not sure what liquid they used, but they sprayed a lot and definitely most slide down behind the dashboard.

None of them bothered to wipe dry or at least put a cloth on the dashboard to absorb the water.

After 2 hrs, rectification done, and after tearing out the film twice.

On my way back, my IU beeped a few times for no apparent reason, followed by not responding after inserting cashcard. IU beeped not because I am passing by some sensors as I used the same road regularly.

Wanted to go for IU inspection, but no time due to work. 2 weeks later, the IU came back to life.

 

So for my current ride, even if there's bubbles, I just leave it, don't want to ask for trouble.