Tinting preferences and prices

[z3ro_toleranc3]

I'm planning to tint my windows in a week or two...
I've looked at this place, n-Motion... they've been well recommended and offer a lifetime guarantee...

I wanna get ppl's opinions... I'm thinking... 35% front two windows, 15% back 3 windows. I'm hoping it'll block out some heat from the sun as well. Do ppl usually do the front windshield too...?

Prices listed were $80 for the front two, $180 for the rear three, and $120 for the windshield. The type that they use is solargard supreme films. Does that seem too pricey...? These are CDN prices btw.

Thanks!

[cabur]

Originally Posted by z3ro_toleranc3

I'm planning to tint my windows in a week or two...
I've looked at this place, n-Motion... they've been well recommended and offer a lifetime guarantee...

I wanna get ppl's opinions... I'm thinking... 35% front two windows, 15% back 3 windows. I'm hoping it'll block out some heat from the sun as well. Do ppl usually do the front windshield too...?

Prices listed were $80 for the front two, $180 for the rear three, and $120 for the windshield. The type that they use is solargard supreme films. Does that seem too pricey...? These are CDN prices btw.

Thanks!

My car is done by a guy that do dealers cars. Cost me C$200 for 5 rear windows.

[darkaura]

$115 for all windows.

[OkSlim]

Whoever you take it to , do your homework. All tint is not the same and all installers are not equally qualified.

A good tint job can make a car really stand out. So can a bad one.

I had dealer installed 30 percent on my car and due to the fact they did a shitty job and couldn't do in better in 3 attempts to correct it, they let me take it where I wanted. I had 15% put all the way around and the difference in looks is fantastic. The 30 percent didn't even seem functional to me.

[darkaura]

Originally Posted by OkSlim

Whoever you take it to , do your homework. All tint is not the same and all installers are not equally qualified.

A good tint job can make a car really stand out. So can a bad one.

I had dealer installed 30 percent on my car and due to the fact they did a shitty job and couldn't do in better in 3 attempts to correct it, they let me take it where I wanted. I had 15% put all the way around and the difference in looks is fantastic. The 30 percent didn't even seem functional to me.

Correct, I made my research before selecting who will install the windows tint on my XRS.

I've found a tint shop that have very good experience and highly recommended, good prices too. The guy who installed the tint on all windows, didn't failed or made mistakes on all first attempts for each windows (as I was there the whole time lol). That was 4 months ago, no bubbles so far.

[Punks_Not_Dead5]

Do a search of the forum there's a tint thread with some good info.

Make sure you get a life time warranty on it as well.

[joeylgarcia]

Originally Posted by cabur

My car is done by a guy that do dealers cars. Cost me C$200 for 5 rear windows.

what brand of tint did they use on your car?

[cykaaro]

Ditto. Make sure it has a warranty wherever you decide to get it done. Anyone worth their salt won't hesitate. Guy that did mine has been doing it for 25yrs. Any problems he said come see him and he'll fix it.

As for tint %, make sure you get what you want the first time. My jeep originally put on 35%/20% and found it wasn't dark enough. I tend to be quite light sensitive so darker is better for me, especially since I do a lot of night driving. I've gone 5% in the back doors and back window. The fronts, as there can be issues with being pulled over, I went 20% plus a little lighter helps with using the side mirrors. Not sure where you are, but here the law only states that you have to be able to see in through the window, not an actual % value. Even 20% can get a hassle. If I ever get pulled over, I have the window down by the time anyone gets to the car.
Other advantage is it blocks out more light/sun as well adds a bit of security as you can't see a things inside easily.

As for the front windsheild check local laws. Here no tint is allowed on the front windsheild at all, although you can put a strip at the top of the window without issue.

[lowincash]

it's illegal to tint the windshield in any state or even canada. however, if you do a very light shade, like 70%, then it's not too noticeable. i had 50% on my windshield in my first car, 70% v-kool tint on my previous car and right now i'm using 60% huper optik on my vibe's windshield. honestly, it's not too noticeable. when i got a ticket for my front window tint they didn't even notice my windshield was tinted. having the whole windshield tinted helps a lot more keeping the heat out especially while driving facing the sun. once i know how well the windshield tint performs, all my cars in the future will have it.

[cabur]

Originally Posted by joeylgarcia

what brand of tint did they use on your car?

I do not remember the brand. He gave me a selection to choose from. Price all the same except for one that more expensive. This one is very light tint but claims to cut solar heat.
I chose the darkest. Limousine tint. For privacy and cut out glares from following cars. Mine's done in June 08. So far very happy with it. ( My car is classic silver)
Dealers send cars to him for tinting and he's been doing it for 15 years.

[OkSlim]

Originally Posted by lowincash

it's illegal to tint the windshield in any state or even canada. however, if you do a very light shade, like 70%, then it's not too noticeable. i had 50% on my windshield in my first car, 70% v-kool tint on my previous car and right now i'm using 60% huper optik on my vibe's windshield. honestly, it's not too noticeable. when i got a ticket for my front window tint they didn't even notice my windshield was tinted. having the whole windshield tinted helps a lot more keeping the heat out especially while driving facing the sun. once i know how well the windshield tint performs, all my cars in the future will have it.

I have seen a lot of Florida cars with windshield tint. I have just put the 6" strip on my cars for the last few years.

[Kudzu_Kid]

Originally Posted by lowincash

it's illegal to tint the windshield in any state or even canada. <snip!>.

Wow... that's sort of painting with a wide brush. Tinting is NOT illegal in Oklahoma! That is to say, windows may be tinted to a certain degree (percentage of transparency), but not more. Police (used to, anyhow) carry tint index cards with them. It had numbers printed on it and they should be able to read a certain number on the card if your tint was kosher. If it wasn't you received a ticket. Lots of info on this available on the net. For example:
http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/OK/
http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/tint_ok.html
etc.

I generally take the Ronald Reagan approach: "Trust but verify!". I'd recommend checking with your local law enforcement and/or your DMV or Google (probably in that order!). :-) Google terms like "window tint law {my state / province here}"

In Oklahoma cars are sold new at the dealership with tint. You can't do windshields, I believe, but everything else is fair game (again, to a certain percentage of reflection / transparency).

I'll second the person(s) that said that "the dealer matters". I've seen / owned some cars with crummy tint, and others with Most Excellent tint. As I recall the professional 3M stuff was good. I've had others that was very good too but don't know the brands. If you're buying a car with tinted glass - and it rolls down (e.g.: driver, passenger / front / back) - mind that the tint isn't starting to "peel" or get scrapped where the rubber gaskets rub the glass.

Have a great day!

--Pete

[sok]

^^^ i think he's saying it's illegal to tint the front windshield, which as far as i know is true, except maybe a strip at the top in some states. my 2 cents: go as dark as your local laws permit. nobody ever said "i wish i went lighter," unless a cop made them peel it off, and definitely get a national brand w/ a lifetime warranty, so you can always take it to a different shop to get it fixed.

[lowincash]

uh what are you talking about? i know every state has its laws regarding window tints but i'm saying tint on the whole WINDSHIELD is illegal in all states o_O

Originally Posted by Kudzu_Kid

Wow... that's sort of painting with a wide brush. Tinting is NOT illegal in Oklahoma! That is to say, windows may be tinted to a certain degree (percentage of transparency), but not more. Police (used to, anyhow) carry tint index cards with them. It had numbers printed on it and they should be able to read a certain number on the card if your tint was kosher. If it wasn't you received a ticket. Lots of info on this available on the net. For example:
http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/OK/
http://home.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/tint_ok.html
etc.

I generally take the Ronald Reagan approach: "Trust but verify!". I'd recommend checking with your local law enforcement and/or your DMV or Google (probably in that order!). :-) Google terms like "window tint law {my state / province here}"

In Oklahoma cars are sold new at the dealership with tint. You can't do windshields, I believe, but everything else is fair game (again, to a certain percentage of reflection / transparency).

I'll second the person(s) that said that "the dealer matters". I've seen / owned some cars with crummy tint, and others with Most Excellent tint. As I recall the professional 3M stuff was good. I've had others that was very good too but don't know the brands. If you're buying a car with tinted glass - and it rolls down (e.g.: driver, passenger / front / back) - mind that the tint isn't starting to "peel" or get scrapped where the rubber gaskets rub the glass.

Have a great day!

--Pete

[Kudzu_Kid]

Originally Posted by sok

^^^ i think he's saying it's illegal to tint the front windshield, which as far as i know is true, except maybe a strip at the top in some states. my 2 cents: go as dark as your local laws permit. nobody ever said "i wish i went lighter," unless a cop made them peel it off, and definitely get a national brand w/ a lifetime warranty, so you can always take it to a different shop to get it fixed.

You're 110% correct on all counts! Upon re-reading (for the nth time, no less...) I realize you're correct. He said "windshield", I thought "window"... My (very) bad.

Noob will now shut up... (until the next time! LOL).

Cheers,

--P