by "jvirgs drives a Subaru" (jvirgs)
Published 05/12/2017 at 12:45
by "jvirgs drives a Subaru" (jvirgs)
Published 05/12/2017 at 12:45
Tags: Window Tint
STARS: 0
I’ve been contemplating tinting the windows in the Dart, but I’m not sure what to look for when searching for tint places. Are there certain brands to look for, certain installation practices that are preferable/avoidable, etc. Assistance is greatly appreciated.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
05/12/2017 at 12:50, STARS: 3
A few tips:
- IMO, anything lighter than 35% really isn’t that all worth it unless you really really care about UV damage into the interior. If you’re doing it for looks, don’t go lighter than 35%, but that’s just me.
- 5% is hilariously dark, like “I have to roll down my windows to reverse at night” dark. But, 5% looks absolutely awesome to me.
- Most old school window tinters cut their tint using an xacto knife. That’s fine, just make sure you get someone who knows what they’re doing, or prepare to see cuts in weatherstripping, destroyed decals, and cuts in paint.
- If the tinter says they want to put the tint on the outside, run away, fast.
- Make sure the tinter doesn’t completely cheap out on the tint. Super cheap tint will turn purple really fast.
"Rico" (ricorich)
05/12/2017 at 12:52, STARS: 1
Go to a place that either has good reviews, or that you know someone has gotten tints done. There are various brands that go from cheap to expensive. Llumar and Formula One are expensive good tint, there are cheaper options for sure including from 3M and SunTek. Price for SunTek on all of my window’s at 50% including the front windshield was $220.
"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78)
05/12/2017 at 12:53, STARS: 1
To add to that last one — If it’s under $150, it’s probably going to be crap.
Some places even offer a guarantee that if your state changes its laws, they’ll redo it for a discount if you’re out of compliance. I’ve taken advantage of that once.
15%-20% is the best of everything, IMO. Not a fan of high reflectivity.
"Rico" (ricorich)
05/12/2017 at 12:54, STARS: 1
- IMO, anything lighter than 35% really isn’t that all worth it unless you really really care about UV damage into the interior.
I have to disagree here, I had 50% on all my windows including windshield and while it wasn’t super dark it definitely made a huge difference in the sunlight coming in as well as the heat from the sun. You could feel the difference if I had the window down and the sun was beaming on my neck and face once I put the window up enough to block the sun it made a substantial difference.
Oh and the cops NEVER once ticketed me tint even after being pulled over many times.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
05/12/2017 at 12:56, STARS: 1
Some places even offer a guarantee that if your state changes its laws, they’ll redo it for a discount if you’re out of compliance. I’ve taken advantage of that once.
That is so useful! The guy who did the tints on my C453 gave me a lifetime warranty. If the tint bubbles, falls apart, turns purple, laws change, whatever, he’ll fix for free. :)
"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
05/12/2017 at 12:57, STARS: 0
I’m have 20 percent all around (except the windshield, that’s illegal to tint).
I would not go any darker.
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/12/2017 at 12:58, STARS: 0
I found my guy because I used to live near where his shop is. When I was calling around to see about someone tinting the very curved backglass on my C4 vette, most shops hemmed and hawed and usually said something along the lines of it will be expensive and that they would have to do the tint in three pieces that they would try to line up over a defroster grid on each side. When I called this guy, he just said “sure, I do those in one piece, but it will take me and a helper a couple of hours for just the backglass.“ Beyond asking how they feel about tinting C4/C5 vette backglass, you might ask around a few dealerships and find out who they use, because it will be someone who knows their stuff.
"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
05/12/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 0
I’ve never had window tint applied, but I’ve owned cars where it’s been applied previously and my advice is to be very, very nice to inspectors at the DMV. There’s something absolutely terrifying about seeing someone go at an old sticker with scraper knowing that they’re one fuck not given away from leaving a nasty gash on your windshield.
It doesn’t help matters that I drive an old Jag, there’s just enough space clear space for the sticker, and a failed sticker would go right onto the tint.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
05/12/2017 at 12:59, STARS: 1
That’s why I had the caveat of “IMO” and “...but that’s just me” in there. Different strokes for different folks. :)
Both of my cars have roofs that are basically all clear polycarbonate, so they need darker tint to make a difference.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
05/12/2017 at 13:03, STARS: 0
My wife wants tint to keep the sun off her face. She doesn’t want to resort to wearing a UV visor over her face like people of her ancestry are prone to do.
Does legal-level tint (say, 50-70%) block out UV and help prevent (or at least slow down) sun damage?
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
05/12/2017 at 13:06, STARS: 0
My understanding is that most quality films filter out 90%+ of UV radiation, regardless of visible light transmission. Over the long term, it makes a tremendous difference in reducing sun damage, especially for cars that spend their lives at higher altitude.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
05/12/2017 at 13:08, STARS: 0
Great, sounds like window tint is in order. Thanks!
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
05/12/2017 at 13:09, STARS: 0
I would just say pay for the pros to do it. They are damn good.
I paid $200 for a tint job on my LS400. It came out incredible. An entire family came in a van, with pop measuring and cutting and supervising, sons cleaning and placing and drying, with mom back in the van handling the supplies and tools. Amazingly quick operation they had.
Complete VIP in the back, and I think it was like 10% in the front. One thing I learned: do not VIP tint the rear windshield. Still, no regrets.
"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
05/12/2017 at 13:12, STARS: 0
My friend does tint. I forgot the brand they use but it has a lifetime guarantee. I’d say look for that.
"Bytemite" (bytemite)
05/12/2017 at 13:14, STARS: 0
There are these static-sticking sun shades she can buy on amazon for like $10. That’s what I did. Works like a charm. Look up Kinder Fluff window shade.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
05/12/2017 at 13:20, STARS: 0
Don’t go cheap. The day I bought my truck, I went over to a tinting place and had them install 3M film. I didn’t have it replaced for at least 15 years . That’s some good stuff.
I did 5% (“limo”) on the back and rear quarter windows, lighter, perhaps 35% on the sides. It looked fantastic.
We did the same to my wife’s car. I was pulled over for speeding one day and the cop checked the tint levels. What was legal in Texas was not in New Orleans, Louisiana. The car had passed state inspection four times in Baton Rouge. That’s when I discovered that New Orleans has more restrictive tint laws than the rest of the state. Moral of the story - check both the local and state laws where you usually drive before picking the tint.
Some of the newer shops use a large cutting machine to pre-cut all of the pieces. They can be faster, more consistent, and there’s less risk to the window gaskets/seals.
"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
05/12/2017 at 13:25, STARS: 0
All I know is I hate tinted windows at night. I can’t see shit!
My girlfriend often picks me up from LAX airport at night and then I drive us home to her apartment in her car. She has tinted back and side windows, not sure what percentage but its not a huge amount of tint. Aftermarket of some sort, properly applied by the previous owner. It’s an ‘05 Honda Civic so it generally has good visibility while driving.
Anyways, it’s a combination of being tired from the 5 hour flight, it being like past midnight on my internal clock, and there being heavy traffic even at that hour because LA that compounds the tinting problem. Headlights glaring and unfamiliar streets just makes it damn near impossible to see anything with the dark windows. I haven’t had any troubles, its just foreign to me to feel like I am taking educated guessing on where I am going rather than truly knowing for sure.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
05/12/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 0
We have some kiddie shades too, so that would be the cheap way out ;)
"Little Black Coupe Turned Silver" (littleblackcoupe)
05/12/2017 at 13:30, STARS: 0
This is why I keep putting off finding a tint place for my C5Z. The rear window is going to have to suck and be expensive.
"uofime-2" (uofime-2)
05/12/2017 at 13:34, STARS: 0
Find someone who’s been around a while and offers a lifetime warranty (anyone who’s good will)
Find someone who has their own shop to do it in better to use a proper shop that will be properly clean it’s really easy to end up with random particles in your tint that you can never get out and will annoy you for ever.
Cost is dependent on number of windows usually (the little quarters some doors have are extra work) expect around 200-300 for quality work with “regular” tint and more like 4-600 if you get ceramic. Ceramic has better heat rejection, but unless you live in the south it’s probably not necessary.
"MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow" (myjeepgetsstuckinthesnow)
05/12/2017 at 13:46, STARS: 0
Find a ceramic film. Llumar Pinnacle Stratos (what I have) or 3M Crystalline are very good and sold directly by the film manufacturers (Eastman and 3M). The heat rejection is fantastic. Get Llumar Air clear on the windshield. Yes you want the windshield done! Go to a certified installer from the manufacturer website only as these tints are thicker and a little harder to work with. After the install it is going to look like shit. Don’t freak out! After 3 days to a week the water will come out from under the film and it will look fantastic. No more small bubbles or waviness.
"jariten1781" (jariten1781)
05/12/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 0
Any good tint blocks out most UV. They even make clear tint that blocks it out if that’s your main goal (I usually go clear UV windshield, 50% front sides, 35% rear sides and either 35% or 15% back window depending on the car’s ride height). I’ve done the upper tier 3M stuff for the last couple cars and have had 0 issues with it.
"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
05/12/2017 at 14:01, STARS: 0
Thanks!
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/12/2017 at 16:46, STARS: 1
I’ve never seen tint on the outside, but I know many tinters lay it up and cut it on the outside of the window.
I don’t think anyone has reiterated it enough. Don’t ever get cheap tint. I figure $200-300 is pretty much the bare minimum. The really good stuff will be $500-600 these days. It probably depends on where you are, though. The tint job I was happiest with was 18 years ago and cost $350 back then. That car went to the junkyard with that tint still on it 15 years later and it was still clear with no faded at all, in spite of being parked outside at high altitude for almost all that time.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/12/2017 at 16:50, STARS: 0
I had 50% on two out of 7 windows for legal reasons and it wasn’t too bad, but I always wished it was 35% all around.
On the other hand, 20% is on the bleeding edge of impractical and much darker might as well not be a window.
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
05/12/2017 at 16:56, STARS: 0
When I got Tucker done back in 2014, I saw some tinters who swore by film on the outside, but I didn’t do it because I know better (those guys had 1 star reviews for a clear reason). How am I supposed to scrape my windows in the winter if the film is on the outside?
I paid about $170 for Phil a couple months ago, and $130 for Tucker.
I regret getting Tucker tinted at the place he was tinted at. While the film was good quality (not sure if it’ll hold for 15+ years, but it’s certainly made it through 3 years and looks new), it was applied by careless teenagers in a dusty shop. I had to return like 4 times for them to fix shoddy work and that’s before I noticed the guy butchered my weatherstripping on the doors.
With Phil, the process was painless. The guy’s been doing tint for longer than I’ve been alive. It was artful how he did his work. I was quoted $400 by everyone else...which was amusing because the guy I went to does all the high end tinting in my area...so why have a middleman when I can go directly to the source and pay way less?
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/12/2017 at 17:10, STARS: 0
Yes. You can get plain UV film for the windshield, for example, which isn’t even dark. However, most windshields already block UV.