Stupid Dealer installed Window Etch, can it be removed??

[Ricky Bobby]

Long story short my wife got a smoking deal on a 2014 VW Sportwagen TDI DSG, loaded up, about a week ago, had 20 miles on it, never was registered.  The price was right so her Black Rav4 got traded (thank you God), its Pure white on Cornsilk Beige V-tex leatherette (in my experience V-tex is extremely durable and more so than real leather), Navigation, Pano sunroof, etc.  Best part is we are averaging 39 mpg mixed and haven't even broken in the engine yet haha!

 

(Hence why I've been a bit quiet on the boards lately, I've been re-educating myself on VW since I sold my 2008 GLI in 2012, I'm a bit rusty, ANNNNNND between the paint decon, clay, and new car prep I had to complete on the vehicle I've been busy as can be - after a year on the lot that paint was hammered with everything, but surprisingly not much defects or swirls/holograms, just a ton of fallout and rail dust)

 

Anyway, since it was on the lot a year they installed that stupid VIN etching on the windows, Dylan or any of the pros, let me know if there is any way to get it off.  Friggin dealer thought I'd be dumb enough to pay for it (they put $349 on the sales sheet!) but once I told him there was no way on God's green earth I'd pay for something that I can install myself for $19.95, they changed their mind and took the price off, but told me "they can't remove it once installed"

 

I went over it with clay lube and a razor blade and smoothed the glass out, but it is still there visually.  You can feel it on the other windows if you run your finger over it.  If its possible to dissolve it with a chemical I'd prefer that, I'm sure there are people out there that removed it.

 

Looks similar to the frosted effect on window in picture, similar to frosted glass.

 

 

Thanks in advance!

Edited June 20, 2015 by Ricky Bobby

[Sizzle Chest]

Well it's acid etched into the glass so I am going to say that it will not be able to be removed.  You could potentially polish it our with a dedicated glass polish, however it's of my opinion that it will be some chore and the glass will be 'wavy' in the area you attempt to remove it from.

 

Just my $.02

[Rich]

I agree with Scott........it's acid etched so I doubt too that you can remove it.  Only thing I can think of is to figure out a way to tint it darker to the same tint as your windows.  Aside from that, I can't offer much help.

 

I did a search and found this though:  http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-remove-glass-etching  

Sounds like metal polish might do it.  Another guy on YouTube used a Dremel.  

[SYMAWD]

I would just let it be, but I can answer any VW question for you.

[Ricky Bobby]

I'll give metal polish a whirl , I've used it on glass before and it doesnt scratch

[theamcguy]

It will look worse than if you just leave it.  If you do polish it out you will lighten the tint in the area and like others have said the glass will look wavy in the sun.

[GXPaycheck]

Put an Adams sticker over it.

Edited June 21, 2015 by GXPaycheck

[Norton]

Well it's acid etched into the glass so I am going to say that it will not be able to be removed.  You could potentially polish it our with a dedicated glass polish, however it's of my opinion that it will be some chore and the glass will be 'wavy' in the area you attempt to remove it from.

 

It will look worse than if you just leave it. 

 

+1 to both of these.

Edited June 21, 2015 by Norton

[Rich]

Put an Adams sticker over it.

Best idea yet!    

[Ricky Bobby]

Its on more than 1 window, basically all of them lol.

 

I'll just make it smooth with clay lube and razor blade like I did on the one.  Adams metal polish is pretty mild so even if I go over it by hand its not going to mar the glass unless I'm using it on a rotary with the drill, I'll report back if it helps at all.

 

 

EDIT:  Metal polish although its great at cleaning glass, didn't do anything to make the etching go away.  I'll just make the windows smooth with the razor and some clay lube and I guess I'll have to live with it.

Edited June 22, 2015 by Ricky Bobby

[Rich]

Its on more than 1 window, basically all of them lol.

 

I'll just make it smooth with clay lube and razor blade like I did on the one.  Adams metal polish is pretty mild so even if I go over it by hand its not going to mar the glass unless I'm using it on a rotary with the drill, I'll report back if it helps at all.

 

 

EDIT:  Metal polish although its great at cleaning glass, didn't do anything to make the etching go away.  I'll just make the windows smooth with the razor and some clay lube and I guess I'll have to live with it.

That sucks. 

[Ricky Bobby]

If I really get bothered someday I may try polishing with CeriGlass but that takes a ton of effort and a mess lol

[Team Adam's]

Dealer did the same with the Raptor - I just decided to live with it. More hassle than the fix is worth and its barely noticeable.

[Ricky Bobby]

^Well if the man himself lives with it then its ok with me

[ledger64]

Wow never heard of this. Hence haven't bought a new vehicl since 09. Is this pretty standard nowadays?

[Ricky Bobby]

Its a standard dealership scumbag scheme to try and charge you an extra $200 or more on your newly purchased car.