Tinting...opinions needed

[mcstark]

Some of you know that I just picked up my P5 on Friday, and I'm going to get the windows tinted up to the legal limit. I have a young son and I hate those damn sun shades -- I'm a parent with some sense of style. If I wanted to look like a soccer mom, I'd drive a minivan! Sorry...*rant over*

Anyway, which do you prefer: film or spray on? The dealer I bought my P5 from will do them for $175 both sides and rear window, and warranty it for life except for scratches. Makes me think the spray-on scratches easily.

Give me your experiences either way -- I'm looking to have it done in the next two weeks. Thanks!

 

[Glhboy]

I have 5% tint on my car, illlegal yes, looks good yes. Never heard of the spray on tint. The darker the tint the better, my opinion.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

i donno the laws in ny, but here in cali, you can't tint the front. i'm gonna anyways cuz it looks gay without it. get metalized tint. preferably titanium. better against the light and against the heat. won't bubbly, peel or fade. get a matrix if you want, but they breakup the smoothness imo.

 

[drumsbeloud]

go with a metallic film. i've got mine done at 20% (see pic below) - i'm not sure what the laws are in NY though. my front windows are illegal (35% max), but i've never been hassled.

/members/drumsbeloud/sidegood.jpg

 

[KYMP5]

get the film, its easier to strip and replace if it should get messed up.

 

[grishulia]

get the film, its easier to strip and replace if it should get messed up.

How easy or hard would it be to strip and replace the one on the rear window with the defroster lines?

 

[Vulcanon]

I'm not sure what mine are (I know it's too much but I'm the second owner so I dont know the 15%) but I've never been stopped for it, it just gets annoying at night to see what's behind me ^_^

 

[KYMP5]

Its not a lot of fun stripping over the defroster but film will pull easier than spray on.

 

[mcstark]

it just gets annoying at night to see what's behind me ^_^

I agree which is why I'm going with the legal limit here...60% I think. I hate driving at night with tinted windows, simply because of visibility. I'm doing it to cut down on glare for my son and to protect my leather interior.

 

[mcstark]

Its not a lot of fun stripping over the defroster but film will pull easier than spray on.

Have you had any experience with spray on tint scratching off?

I'll definitely get some references for previous work done, but would prefer some unbiased opinions.

 

[tonkabui]

i love metallicized tint. i have the llumar stuff and it works great. my car is as cool or cooler than my friend's car with limo tint and i only have 35% all around. the stuff is wonderful and comes backed by a lifetime warranty against peeling, bubbling, and fading. can't beat that!

 

[mcstark]

tonka - did you do it yourself, or have it installed? i'm assuming llumar is the manufacturer?

 

[rednecks_r_us]

I did my front door windows with 35% tint and the 6 side windows are 5% limo and the rear hatch is 15%.

Click on the www button below to see pictures.

 

[tonkabui]

i got it professionally done by a local dude. no bubbles, no worries. lifetime warranty on the install, too. and since he's a pro, it took him only an hour to do the whole car. and he did the back window in one big piece, unlike some places that will do it in strips. even the rear window defrost wires were no match for this guy. it cost me all of $165, but that's a regional thing. let me know if i can help with anything else.

oh yeah, llumar is the company that makes the film.

here are two pics:

/members/tonkabui/millemiglia003.jpg

/members/tonkabui/0002.jpg

tonka - did you do it yourself, or have it installed? i'm assuming llumar is the manufacturer?

 

[pope_P5]

If you want something nice and don't want to get hassled get either 20 or 35%. I have 20 and i can't live without it. Its not too dark but dark enough to keep the sun out. Go to a shop near you and have them show you a couple of cars to see the difference. Oh and 175 sounds about right. In NJ you can have your entire car done very nicely for about 200.

 

[RyanJayG]

I have 18% Llumar, and couldn't be happier with it. I have no problems seeing out at night. Just be wary of your local laws, I'm illegal, but i've never been hassled.

 

[Black Majik MSP]

I had Llumar on my old car, but this time I got 3M Scotchtint 20% all around. It has no dye or metal, so it will never fade/turn purple & it won't interfere with cell phone/GPS/satellite radio. Lifetime warranty isn't really a big deal because you can get that with almost all tint. The main thing is finding someone who can do a good job & who has experience working on Proteges.

I'll have new pics soon.

 

[yourworstmemory]

hey mcstark, you are getting it done at the dealership? hmm...do they normally do it? i want it done and there really isn't many places around here that do it...let me know how it goes and maybe ill get it done at the same place...

 

[mcstark]

YWM - I'll let you know...not sure about the dealership because they guarantee against everything but scratches -- makes me think the spray on stuff scratches easily or something. I'm going to check around locally and get references and quotes. I'll PM you with what I find.

 

[nitekrawler]

Anybody from Atl, GA know where to get a good job done cheap for tinting an MP5?

[/thread steal]

Sorry about that thread steal.

But yeah I'm gonna go 30% on mine and that's illegal in GA (33% max).

MCstark - that black mp5 will look nice with a dark tint (just my .02)
~nK~