Tinting Advice?

[WalksInDarkness]

I have decided my 5-Door needs tint. Mostly due to weak AC, but I like the look too. How hard is it to do myself? What are the good brands? Are there any good places in MA to have it done? What is the cost of having a professional do it? etc...

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

TIA,
Will

 

[SlowPro98]

I went and got the cheap s*** from walmart for my 2nd gen and it was a b**** to get done, but mind you, it was my first attempt.

Here's what I bought;
4 rolls of 35% tint
1 razor
1 bottle of tint solvent (substitute with dish soap)
1 spray bottle
1 rubber squeegie
1 hard plastic squeegie

1. Clean all windows
2. Find the sticky side of film (VERY IMPORTANT)
3. tape film on glass and cut template
4. use lots of soapy water on glass
5. remove backing and line up film on window.
6. double check that s*** to make sure it's even
7. sqeegei from the middle of the glass outward, get all the water out.
8. repeat for all windows.

the rear window is the hardest. Best bet is to do it in strips and line the seams up along a defrost line. DO NOT MAKE ANY CUTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR WINDOW- it will cut the defrost line and you're screwed.

I did it because I wanted to see for myself how hard it is, and it was harder than I thought. The film is hard to work with, and if you don't make PERFECT cuts, there will be lines and wringle and bubbles. If the film touches itself (folds in the breeze and s***) then it's fubar adn you have to start over. I did my ES in about 4 hours. By the time I did the last window, I was almost out of film, there is a gap on the rear window, There are bubbles EVERYWHERe, it looks like s***, but I have a new respect for tint shops, and I'll be taking my 5 in for a pro job.

Standard tint jobs start at about $150, any less than that and you might as well do it yourself. Don't cheap out on film and which shop you use. Any blemishes or mistakes will be GLARINGLY obvious to you and the world.
I'm getting my 5 done up with silver tints and it's gonna run me in the $250 range, but it will be worth it.

 

[SlowPro98]

Are you in Mass or Maine? Just curious.

 

[Solo2Protege]

ya, it's truley an art and definetely not for the first timer. I highly recommend you find a reputable shop. Maybe ask around the local clubs. I have made some really good contacts with the hot-rod / street-rod crowd.

 

[WalksInDarkness]

Are you in Mass or Maine? Just curious.

I'm in Mass. My Brother in-law had his Maxima done at some place that does car detailing, it took them 2 times to get it right (and it still didn't look so great). I don't mind spending a few extra $$$, if a place can do a good job. Is "film" tinting the only way to go? or is there places that can do some sort of a spray or something?

-Will

 

[jeremyfl]

Price isnt everything.

We had a guys (friend of a friend) that would come to your job and do it. He came and ended up doing about 7 cars. He charged me only $60 because I got a bunch of people to do it. He charged them $85 with lifetime warranty and he did the best job I have ever seen.

I had a previous car done at a tint shop they charged $160 and it was ok but not like this guy.

 

[DeanSweet]

LLumar is probably the best brand and is used by most pros. As for doing it yourself, I would say no, Pay somebody to do it. you will be better off. I have a buddy who has done mine for 20+ years now. The stuff you buy at Walmart, KMart, etc is pretty cheap/thin stuff and will eventually fail. That stuff feels like the plastic you use to wrap Easter baskets, LLumar stuff feels about 5x thicker than that.

-Dean

 

[arlsmazdaspeed]

yeah we have a guy hear in cape coral fl that just has a van, and when u call and make an appt he comes to your house and does an awesome job. cheap too, like 120 and thats for whatever tint you want.

 

[Shiney_McShine]

I had a friend try to tint a piece of flat glass for his sterero(Remember rack systems from the 80's?). It took him THREE tries to get it right.....No way could I imagine doing car indows with odd angles and curves.....Pay someone to do it....Personally, I have little patience and end up throwing tools.....

 

[SlowPro98]

They make spary tint for tails and such, but it's not applicable for windows. I think it doens't allow for the same visibility and such.

BIGGUPS to mass. I'm part of NEPOC and we have a bunch of guys from Mass, stop by the NEPOC section (below the forsale section) and ask around. Somebody has got to know of a good shop.

PEACE

I'm in Mass. My Brother in-law had his Maxima done at some place that does car detailing, it took them 2 times to get it right (and it still didn't look so great). I don't mind spending a few extra $$$, if a place can do a good job. Is "film" tinting the only way to go? or is there places that can do some sort of a spray or something?

-Will

 

[SlimMilkMan327]

I got my tint done for free by a good friend of mine, he owns a tinting company in Merritt Island and He does really good work

 

[FemGearHead]

I paid a shop to do the tint. They didn't charge anything extra for the lifetime warranty - that came with the tint from the company itself. I went with Suntek - 5% on all 5 rear windows. The shop didnt need to do any windows in strips, it's all in one large piece. I couldn't be happier.