my tinter removed the door panels

 

The tint shop I used - which I've used for three vehicles now - did not remove anything other than the rear brake light, and they did that because they wanted to tint the rear window properly. The front doors were cut and installed perfectly, and they use the precut sheets (templates, machine cut).

I see absolutely no need for a competent detailer to remove door panels. I'd have a fit if I saw that, because it just invites rattles and other problems down the road.

 

no matter how perfect the tint is cut, it matters on how the tinter gets that tint behind the speakers and more importantly, what tool he uses to do so. my first tinter used a tool that created the scratch marks. you can't cut the tint perfectly and expect the tint to just fuse perfectly behind the speakers. they still need to press it down correctly. i guess there are some tinters that are really good, but just make sure they have done the 06 IS's before and that yours isn't their first test case.

a competent tinter can still remove the panels. but a really competent tinter will be competent enough to know how to put the panels back. on the same token, i'd have a fit if i saw scratch marks all over my tint.

so i guess it all depends on your perspective. you're lucky you had a tinter that didn't require taking the panels off and did an excellent job. i'm happy that the tinter took the panels out, did an excellent job, AND put the panels back without any rattles.

 

I had mine tinted, all they did was remove the plate from the door handle (inside the car), remove the screw, and pulled the door ledge out. Tinted, then snapped door ledge back, installed screw, and put the plate back on.