Window Tint, need help.

[eyeball96]

I was just quoted 179 to tint the windows, sides and rear on the Coupe....I've never had this done before but I thought the price was kinda high! I figured 100 bucks at the most..WTF
What did you guys/gals with tinted windows pay?...I just didn't figure it would be that expensive.

[99blackle]

where i live its realy cheap...if ur getting it done by some proper professional with branded stuff...maybe it will get much more expensive . i paid an equivalent of 20$ for 30% tint(american brand) at a car accessories store. the guy put it on and every thing..can post picks if you want,

[SuperGoop]

$179 (US) sounds about right for a good tint at a full service shop. I was quoted $150 for just the side windows (I already have a rear sun shade on my XLE) for the top quality. No doubt, you will see ads everywhere for $100 or less, but trust me, you get what you pay for.

[ptycamry]

I have a Gen 4.. I tinted my windows for US$90.. All four doors, rear and windshield...

[eyeball96]

I've been calling around since I posted and I was quoted 150, and 135 says it has a lifetime warrenty...another place, phone was disconnected so I was wondering..is my lifetime or theirs

[Delay_FTB]

Find a good shop with some good tint, and someone you are comfortable with. In the long run, the extra cash you pay might be good for piece of mind later down the road (lifetime warranty is a must, non-fading/bubbling, quality tint is expensive, but if installed properly, will last a good long while. Check out some tint places online like 3m or whatever, and find what kind of dealers are near you and call for a quote. If a shop has quality product and quality people/service, I don't see price being a huge problem. Thats just me though.

[AutoBox]

Yes. 179 is good if they use a quality tint. Ask them about a warranty. Around here 200 is average for a 4door. Professional installation of Llumar tint on all windows plus a windshield strip with a Lifetime Warranty on all tint against any defects for any reason like bubbling, pealing, cracking, scratches, fading, ect.

All in all make sure your tint shop is reputable and respectable to you as a potential customer. Talk to the shop manager in person rather than over the phone ask questions about the process. He should be able to answer anything to wanna know. They might be able to show you examples of their work or even check out another car their working on.

Look for a decent, clean running shop with good installers. You wouldn't want a couple of dumb meatheads smoking all over your interior while their tinting. So make a visit to the shop before you commit to them.

[fox_prime]

I paid $175 for all five windows, mirror-tinting. Both fronts are 35% and the rear three windows are 15%. It was a professional job well-done.

[eyeball96]

Ok I called the guys at "Car Toyz" the 179 place, and asked them the brand of solar tint they used and I was told "Solar Guard". Is that a good quality brand? It'll take 3 hours to install, and I can't roll down the windows for 4 days. And it does have a lifetime warrenty.
I think it'll look better with the tint, but the main reason I'm considing tint is the Leather, shit gets hot! hot! hot!, and doesn't seem to cool down much with the A/C....think tint will help this problem?

[Rdizzle]

Personally solar gard is my favorite brand. And yes you can't roll down your windows but after 3-4 days your good to do. It should never have problems with the tint, my Dad never has. If you think you are up to it you can get a tint kit made by them for your car for around 75 dollars. You just have to install it yourseld, and believe me its easier than you think.

www.Tintkits.com

[Wizrd23]

First of all eyeball96, don't go to Car Toyz. That is the worst place you can go to get any work done on your car. Second, I have never heard of Solar Guard.

I just got a 2007 Camry LE and got a referral from my dealer. I paid 179 (taxes included) and he came out to my house and tinted the car in the garage. He used Llumar film (best in the industry) and it carries a lifetime warranty.

My suggestion is call a high-end auto dealer in your area like a Mercedes dealership. Ask them who does the tint for them. Most high end car dealers have their windows tinted before they even roll off the lot. So if someone is good enough for them, they will be good enough for you.

3 hours is ridiculous for an install job. I sat and watched my guy install the tint and it took him just barely over an hour. Granted he has been doing it for 20 years, but its not a difficult process. All the film is computer cut for your car, so all they do is squirt the soapy water on the adhesive side, slide the film into place, and they squee-gee the water out... And yes you have to wait at least 3 days for the film to cure enough to roll the windows down. If you can wait longer its better. I waited a week. (If you think about it, how much do you really do that you need to roll the windows down for? Other than fast food? Park and go inside for a change.)

The tint will make a huge difference with A/C and comfort. I'm in Texas, and we are already avg. about 95+ a day. And with the tint, its a huge difference compared to my last car with no tint. Worth the investment, but go with a private installer and a good referral.

[Wizrd23]

Hey superGoop, my guy who tinted my windows said that is a common myth that shops tell you to justify the extra cost they tack on. my tint goes to the top of the windows edge, and all the way down below the weather stripping for the "original" look. And he never took any paneling off. In fact, if they take the paneling off, you better be sure they are insured and bonded because they can do more harm to your car!

My guy used a tool to fold the weather stripping down inside the door and another tool to get the last little bit down on the bottom of the glass. He said after 3 or 4 days (I waited a week cause I'm paranoid) when I first roll my window down, the weather stripping should pop right back up... and it sure did! no problem. And if it doesn't, the tint guy can come back out and pop the weather stripping out with that same tool.

Again, do you think a high end dealership is going to let a tint guy pop the panel off a new Mercedes CLS 600 just to tint the window? (I use Mercedes as an example because my tint guy does all the tinting for Ewing Autohaus and Park Place in Dallas). Any good installer should be able to install the tint without disassembling the car doors. And remember the good tint is computer cut for each car, with the extra length included for under the weather stripping... if anyone likes I can post pics later tonite when I get home.

[zoni]

i paid around 200 on my camry when i first got it done.

[Dj-torn]

I got a qutoe from a shop for llumar 20% all 5 windows for $200.. so 179 is a good price, just depends on the product they give you.

Originally Posted by Wizrd23

Second, I have never heard of Solar Guard.

Solar Guard is in the top 3 best window tints around
1. 3m
2. Llumar
3. Solar Guard

If you get one of these 3 products you are garanteed a great product even with their cheapest line.

[eyeball96]

^^^^Thanks for the links, helps alot...appreciate it!