3M tint...any good?
03-04-2004, 10:42 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
so ok let's do this like so:
llumar is the industry standard for auto application
3m is the industry standard for residental, even if 3m did invent tint back in the 60s
both are good, but it really comes to what the installer can work best with.
the most of a difference in different tint quality is 1$ a foot, in wholesale price, taking about 18 feet for a maxima, means you will pay about 18$ more for premium quality, in actual costs to the tint shop, though you will get charged a few times that cause it's just such a good profit for 'em.
there are 2 types of tint that cost leg and your arms, none of which will be carried in your local up the street tint shop.
tinting the windshield is illegal as it gets, but it's totally awesome if done right. just make sure you dont wear polarized glasses afterwards.
and... your sunroof will not explode if you tint it.
i felt like typing
llumar is the industry standard for auto application
3m is the industry standard for residental, even if 3m did invent tint back in the 60s
both are good, but it really comes to what the installer can work best with.
the most of a difference in different tint quality is 1$ a foot, in wholesale price, taking about 18 feet for a maxima, means you will pay about 18$ more for premium quality, in actual costs to the tint shop, though you will get charged a few times that cause it's just such a good profit for 'em.
there are 2 types of tint that cost leg and your arms, none of which will be carried in your local up the street tint shop.
tinting the windshield is illegal as it gets, but it's totally awesome if done right. just make sure you dont wear polarized glasses afterwards.
and... your sunroof will not explode if you tint it.
i felt like typing
03-05-2004, 09:35 AM
#5
3m doesnt make 5% 
so thats why i was forced to use Sydlin (supposedly the best here in NE), turned out ok considering its the first car i tinted, no we move on to the 20% on the windshield eheheheheh Cost only $60 for all the film
so thats why i was forced to use Sydlin (supposedly the best here in NE), turned out ok considering its the first car i tinted, no we move on to the 20% on the windshield eheheheheh Cost only $60 for all the film
03-05-2004, 10:17 AM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 307
I've done some reasearch and went with Solar Gaurd. I have it on my Maxima for over 5 years now and figure it should be hust as good for my wife's Subaru. The Subaru is a lot easier to do because the windows don't have the top portion. the window gasket is around the body of the car.
Thanks for the replies.
Thanks for the replies.
03-05-2004, 12:32 PM
#8
Originally Posted by EvilRoadsVictim
so ok let's do this like so:
llumar is the industry standard for auto application
3m is the industry standard for residental, even if 3m did invent tint back in the 60s
both are good, but it really comes to what the installer can work best with.
the most of a difference in different tint quality is 1$ a foot, in wholesale price, taking about 18 feet for a maxima, means you will pay about 18$ more for premium quality, in actual costs to the tint shop, though you will get charged a few times that cause it's just such a good profit for 'em.
there are 2 types of tint that cost leg and your arms, none of which will be carried in your local up the street tint shop.
tinting the windshield is illegal as it gets, but it's totally awesome if done right. just make sure you dont wear polarized glasses afterwards.
and... your sunroof will not explode if you tint it.
i felt like typing
llumar is the industry standard for auto application
3m is the industry standard for residental, even if 3m did invent tint back in the 60s
both are good, but it really comes to what the installer can work best with.
the most of a difference in different tint quality is 1$ a foot, in wholesale price, taking about 18 feet for a maxima, means you will pay about 18$ more for premium quality, in actual costs to the tint shop, though you will get charged a few times that cause it's just such a good profit for 'em.
there are 2 types of tint that cost leg and your arms, none of which will be carried in your local up the street tint shop.
tinting the windshield is illegal as it gets, but it's totally awesome if done right. just make sure you dont wear polarized glasses afterwards.
and... your sunroof will not explode if you tint it.
i felt like typing
03-05-2004, 02:48 PM
#11
I have 3M 20/35 tint on my car. I bought it because it doesn't have any metal pigments that would effect my radar detector and it has a lifetime warranty against fading. I havn't had any complaints yet.
03-06-2004, 10:47 AM
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
3M tint WILL turn purple. It's turning purple on my father's pickup truck, and it has on several other of my friend's cars. The only saving grace with that is that it has a lifetime replacement warranty so when it does turn purple (and it will) you can get it replaced for free. It seems to have about 2-2.5 years of good black before it starts to turn colors. Llumar is the best.
03-06-2004, 11:03 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 143
Originally Posted by formz
3M tint WILL turn purple. It's turning purple on my father's pickup truck, and it has on several other of my friend's cars. The only saving grace with that is that it has a lifetime replacement warranty so when it does turn purple (and it will) you can get it replaced for free. It seems to have about 2-2.5 years of good black before it starts to turn colors. Llumar is the best.
I'll agree on the 3M turning purple. I've had it on my last 2 vehicles and they've both turned at about 3 years. I just had my 6th gen done in Llumar by these guys:
http://www.textint.com
They have a very informative web site, and Blair is a really nice guy. He'll answer questions for you about tinting even if you're not in this area or not one of his customers.
The Llumar was a bit pricey, but it looks scweeeeeet on my black on black Max
03-06-2004, 04:34 PM
#14
You guys are serious about the 3m stuff turning purple?? THis is not good news seeing as how I am getting my car retinted with the 3m scotchtint on tuesday 
....
Im holding the pamphlet for it right here and the entire thing talks about how its very color-stable, no purple windows guaranteed. Direct quote from the brochure: "3M's revolutionary Color-Stable Auto Films maintain their colors and never fade to purple. We guarantee it!"
I hope this scotchtint line is a different film than the stuff you guys who said yours faded got.....
-Steve
....Im holding the pamphlet for it right here and the entire thing talks about how its very color-stable, no purple windows guaranteed. Direct quote from the brochure: "3M's revolutionary Color-Stable Auto Films maintain their colors and never fade to purple. We guarantee it!"
I hope this scotchtint line is a different film than the stuff you guys who said yours faded got.....
-Steve
03-07-2004, 12:15 PM
#16
Don't cancel your appointment just because a couple of guys on here have had their tint turn purple. I have had 3M on my car for over a year and have no signs of fading anywhere. It all matches my sunroof perfectly which I just had done in December. Even if it does start to fade in a couple of years I would love to have a brand new tint job. I accidently scratched the tint on my back window with some cargo and want it replaced anyway. Whatever you get just make sure it has a lifetime warranty and you will be set.
03-07-2004, 12:47 PM
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Ok: It's not based on a "couple of guys" here. I worked at a tint shop that sold Llumar. I've had 3M on my old car, my father has it on his truck, and I've had atleast 5 friends with it on their car. Not to mention all the customers that came into my shop because their 3M tint turned purple.
Also, you say you've had yours over a year with no signs of fading. But if you read the posts above yours, we clearly stated that it takes 2+ years.
Just because something has a lifetime warranty doesn't mean it's worth it. Things that don't get included in a warranty is the time spent driving, and repairing the problem. I'd rather pay an extra $50 to last the lifetime of the car than save that money and waste 3 days because I had to replace the tint 3 times.
Also, you say you've had yours over a year with no signs of fading. But if you read the posts above yours, we clearly stated that it takes 2+ years.
Just because something has a lifetime warranty doesn't mean it's worth it. Things that don't get included in a warranty is the time spent driving, and repairing the problem. I'd rather pay an extra $50 to last the lifetime of the car than save that money and waste 3 days because I had to replace the tint 3 times.
03-07-2004, 01:39 PM
#18
Originally Posted by formz
Ok: It's not based on a "couple of guys" here. I worked at a tint shop that sold Llumar. I've had 3M on my old car, my father has it on his truck, and I've had atleast 5 friends with it on their car. Not to mention all the customers that came into my shop because their 3M tint turned purple.
Also, you say you've had yours over a year with no signs of fading. But if you read the posts above yours, we clearly stated that it takes 2+ years.
Just because something has a lifetime warranty doesn't mean it's worth it. Things that don't get included in a warranty is the time spent driving, and repairing the problem. I'd rather pay an extra $50 to last the lifetime of the car than save that money and waste 3 days because I had to replace the tint 3 times.
Also, you say you've had yours over a year with no signs of fading. But if you read the posts above yours, we clearly stated that it takes 2+ years.
Just because something has a lifetime warranty doesn't mean it's worth it. Things that don't get included in a warranty is the time spent driving, and repairing the problem. I'd rather pay an extra $50 to last the lifetime of the car than save that money and waste 3 days because I had to replace the tint 3 times.
What was the name of the 3m stuff you had. This film Im getting is called scotchtint by 3m and from what Ive heard its a fairly new product so maybe they have changed things since you and your friends had yours done and this is new and improved tint. Im not gonna cancel my appointment, if I have a problem with it I guess Im screwed and shouldnt of trusted my tint place and the statements made by 3m in the brochure.
-Steve
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