Anyone with tinting experience on Oppo?

"MUSASHI66" (musashi66)
02/23/2016 at 17:29 • Filed to: None

I just got some quotes to tint my front windows on the Foresters, and they were very reasonable $70 per car for two front windows, plus the little triangles. This is for lifetime warranty 30% film. I can get them done for even less, like $50 if I choose the no warranty option.

Abarth would be $80 for the cheap stuff, $175 with warranty, still not horrible but a bit more than I expected for such a small car.

The part that is horrible is tint on the headlights or taillights. They want $45 per light, and would discount a bit for all 4 - $160 per car. I just bought a heat gun, and a squeegee, watched this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and I want to tackle this on my own. I was thinking of just buying some 3M rolls on Amazon. The guy in the video does it in under 6 minutes. I figure I might as well try and save some money, and if it sucks, I’ll just let the pros handle it.

Anyone with experience doing headlights? Any advice? I want some really light stuff, just to tone down the chrome. What film should I get? Links?

Also, is it worth it to buy the warrantied film versus no warranty? Is there really any difference in the film - am I just buying insurance, or really a better quality film?

Thanks y’all!

DISCUSSION (21)

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > MUSASHI66
02/23/2016 at 17:38

I’ve always been kind of worried about the quality of some tint, so I would recommend the warranty. This is especially true if you live in a warmer climate.

Ever see tint turn purplish or just start bubbling? Cheap tint material does that.

As for the headlights, they might be something you could do yourself. I’m sure it would be a lot easier since you could take out the whole assembly.

MUSASHI66 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/23/2016 at 17:42

No way I am taking the headlights out. Besides, based on the video, there is a lot of heating and squeegee-ing the film over the headlights, especially on something as angled as Foresters head and tail lights, so I am sure it would be better to have them very firmly seated right where they are now.

I did see a lot of purple film out there - I am just wondering who will honor the warranty when the shop closes down...

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > MUSASHI66
02/23/2016 at 17:42

I paid 220 for tints on my TL, 20%

I did my tail lights myself with pre cut tail light sections from lamin-x for like $40

'Wägen, EPA LOL > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/23/2016 at 17:43

The ceramic stuff won’t ever change colors from the sun. The purple is from when people use glass cleaner with ammonia in it. Never use glass cleaner with ammonia on any tint film - or pretty much on a car at all...

shift monkey > MUSASHI66
02/23/2016 at 17:44

that seems high for just two windows on the forester if I read that correctly. I remember getting an suv tinted for 130 all around, lifetime warranty. this was about a year ago.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > 'Wägen, EPA LOL
02/23/2016 at 17:51

I didn’t see him mention it was ceramic. I’m just assuming for that price that it isn't.

MUSASHI66 > shift monkey
02/23/2016 at 17:52

This is about half the cost for half the windows - remember Forester has two small triangles where most cars have side mirrors mounted, and I presume it is just as hard to cut and install those as it is to do a rear window on an SUV.

MUSASHI66 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
02/23/2016 at 17:53

I wish...no one is offering pre-cut for 2014-2016 Foresters, I presume they are simply to angular to work easily.

MUSASHI66 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/23/2016 at 17:54

No clue if it is ceramic - it is their upcharge option from the cheap stuff they have on Groupon.

fourvalleys > MUSASHI66
02/23/2016 at 17:54

You really need to consider the tint material:

1) Dyed film - this is the stuff that turns purple. It’s cheap for a reason.

2) Metallic film - this works well, and it’s a bit more expensive. It can cause issues with interference with GPS and other devices, so be aware. My cell phone didn’t work as well in the car after I got the windows tinted, but maybe that was coincidence.

3) Ceramic tint - this is what I prefer. It’s a little bit more than metallic film (depending on the shop) but lasts a long time and won’t cause interference. It looks great, too. I used SunTek CXP and had no issues whatsoever. The shop I went to was actually cheaper than when I’d previously gotten metallic film at another shop. It was $160 for everything on my BRZ (minus the windshield, which was another $150). I think I paid about the same for metallic tint on my CR-Z, but in another town.

There are other, fancier types of tiny, but these three are the big categories you’ll come across. I’d highly highly recommend ceramic tint, even considering the additional cost. I would not ever recommend dyed tint film. Ever.

MUSASHI66 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/23/2016 at 17:55

Just checked - I guess it is, I presume I’d be getting the standard option

http://www.tintmyridedenver.com/window-tinting

MUSASHI66 > fourvalleys
02/23/2016 at 17:56

I think I am getting the Standard option, which is ceramic

http://www.tintmyridedenver.com/window-tinting

shift monkey > MUSASHI66
02/23/2016 at 18:22

you do have a point. I’d say shop around, some tint shops are willing to beat competitors prices and still offer their warranty.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > MUSASHI66
02/23/2016 at 19:57

Actually doesn’t seem like its a bad deal then.

If they use the Llumar then the warranty should be covered by a lot of different places that also use that company.

'Wägen, EPA LOL > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
02/23/2016 at 19:57

I didn’t either; it’s just hard to find anything that isn’t these days, especially if it’s actually 3M film.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > MUSASHI66
02/23/2016 at 21:35

It cost me $230 for all windows on my 2014 Forester base so $70 for the fronts sounds about right.

I don’t have any experience tinting lights (saving up for full LED’s), but some guys over on subaruforester.org have done it on SJ’s so you can probably get some tips there.

MUSASHI66 > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
02/23/2016 at 21:37

I found the post, but he had it done at a shop. I have some cheap film I bought to do the side markers on my abarth and never got to it, so I’ll try it when my heat gun arrives.

uofime-2 > fourvalleys
02/24/2016 at 15:46

That’s a real good deal for ceramic tint. Where’d you get it done?

fourvalleys > uofime-2
02/24/2016 at 16:17

Florida. It was a small place in an interesting neighborhood, but it had good reviews. They hand cut the tint, though, and it showed in a couple non-obvious places. I was okay with it overall.

uofime-2 > fourvalleys
02/24/2016 at 16:27

Darn it, I’m trying to find a place in chicago that will do ceramic for a reasonable fee, found one that wants 450...

fourvalleys > uofime-2
02/24/2016 at 16:39

Jesus! Good luck...