I've never researched tinting but I want to get my car tinted now. What do I look for in a tint shop? How much should I be spending for 5 windows?

 

It really varies from different areas, but one thing to look for is the lifetime warranty. Also ask if they have a portfolio of previous work. The place I went ot had a huge book of all their past work, and a lot of them were high end cars so they are doing something right. I would also ask around in your area what are the good places to go to. I paid $300 for Quantum film on the sides and back window, that included the lifetime warranty. They did a damn good job too, haven't had any problems yet, not to mention, if im not happy they'll do it over again.

 

Don set me up with his tint guy. He came to Dons house and did all 5 windows, one piece rear window, and even did a good job on the dot matrix, with a lifetime warranty, for $150. you can see the pics on my cardomain page, its excellent quality.

bluec is right tho, make sure they have a lifetime warranty and hopefully, they have their own cars at the shop that they tinted. also, check to see if they have laser cutting. it cuts out the tint to the exact size of your windows. of course, that costs more.

 

I paid $130 for all windows, plus $25 for the sunroof. Lifetime warranty, SolarGard tint - pics on my web site.

 

i paid 300 for mine all 5 windows high quality film that wont turn purple after a while and a life time warranty.

 

what is quantum film, exactly? the shop where im going too uses solar gaurd film and charges and extra $30 for quantum film...

 

Its basically a nice reflective black film. Doesnt give that ricey "chrome" look, and isnt really light like the factory tint you see on the Lexus RX330. I was told its a fully Metallic film, which makes the drying time longer (I was told it may take upto 6 months to fully dry).

I honestly love the film, it gives a nice "Titanium" type look to it, not solid black like regular films. The reflectivity of it is nice on sunny days. You can see in my sig how its not the regular black film.

 

Your looking to be spending between $140-$325. I went with 20% btw, check the sig.

it gives off a nice reflection

 

Got a quote for Solar Guard and it came to $160 for 5 windows and $20 more for quantam tint.

 

solar guard is not a high quality film like LLumar. i had it on one of my previous cars. Scratches pretty easily. You are gonna spend like 200 on a quality job with LLUMAR paper. Make sure he does a one piece back window and leaves nop gap on the other windows, i.e. you dont have a space of untinted window when you roll you windows down, to me, that makes the a tint job worthless cause it looks ghetto. Ultimately, a good tint job will look like the glass as stainted from the factory. You must use a metalized formulation Not a straight dye film as they turn purple. I had my tints done by a guy named Dexter. Dexter's Amazing Tint. LOL

 

just be sure to shop around. my friend got ripped when he had to get his truck windows tinted... he paid 400 for the back window + 2 sides. then another 200 to get them darker.

later upon shopping around, he found out he could have it done for only around $150

lesson: dont just stop w/ one shop, look around. ask your friends.

 

what % do yall have??? do you have to roll your windows down at night to see out? i dont know what % i should get, does it cost more if you have a rear defroster?

 

i dont ahve 5% tint, but ive been in a car with one. i think its kinda dangerous... its really hard to see outside. just gotta be careful.

 

he was talking about 5 windows (sides and rear), not 5%

I have 20% and I really like it, but I've been pulled over for it once...

 

I've decided to not go with Solar Guard, rather something better like Llumar. However, I was looking up local shops and found this one.

http://www.solartintofohio.com/index2.ivnu

They offer 3M™ Scotchtint™ Color-Stable Automotive Window Films. I don't know about this stuff, but I know 3M is a pretty legit company.

Thoughts?

 

If you are not going to use LLumar, then 3M will also be a good alternative to solarguard.

 

So 3M is more in line with Solar Guard, not LLumar? They are all films right?

 

No, it is better than solarguard. But llumar is still the best film. yes-They are all films. But 3M is a good legit company that doesn't sell crap. Solar guard is more for cheap ghetto tint shops that do $99.99 jobs. It is dyed tint most likely (solarguard) as aposed to a metalized tint ( I dont mean shiny reflective type of tint) What I mean by metalized is the formulation of the tint itself. It aids in retaining the color of the tint and not having it look like some 15 year old chevy astro with purple tint I feel that tint is like a paint job- while they may all look good at the beggining- its the longevity that you are gonna pay for. My friends car had llumar put on in '94, and he just sold it this passed winter. It looked like day one.

 

Thanks. I would like to get LLumar but I don't know the shops that offer it. It's a PITA to find shops that do tints, then call them to see if they have this product.

 

just got mine done in ct...highest quality film the place offered (tintmaster in hartford) it cost me 200$, lifetime warentee, 20%, good people, greatjob...ill recomend them to ne one in the area. biggest pain about it was just getting the apointment....they are very busy this time of year. havent done much to my car but i think tints are one of the best looks gain for the money

 

How long does a tint job for 5 windows at a shop usually take?
I'm thinking 50% for the front doors (ohio law), 35% for the rest...would that look odd?

 

I'm going to get 35% all around. I don't care if it's illegal in OH, I've see blacked out windows around my area so I shouldn't have a problem (knock on wood). When I'm in the suburbs, I'll probably just open my sun roof.

 

I've been doing my own on my last 4 vehicles. I'm not good at cutting the film but I found a guy that sells complete precut (with a laser) tint kits for any car you want. A 4 door sedan runs about 45 shipped and it LLumar film. He'll also mix and match the %'s for you. I usually go a tad lighter on the back window so I don't have such a hard time backed up long distances. I think my last kit was 15% on all the side windows and 20% on the rear.

Edited to add that the fit of these precut kits is supurb and EXACT

 

I'm still debating it. 50% seems very light, 35% is probably the safest best.
Funny how low OH's tolerance is for speeders, yet illegal tint, green turn signals, white brake light are no problem.

 

I say get 30-35% tint....it's looks good. I have 30% Bronze tint on mines...Its Llumar tint. I paid 170 for all windows:

 

Ok, I took your advice. My appointment is for next Monday Llumar tint, $200 total. Sounds good to me!

 

i have an appointment to get my tints done tomorrow but i think they use solarguard and charge extra for other tints. is solarguard that bad that paying extra is recommended?
also, they gave me two options for the dot matrix. they'd either tint over it (they said it would turn white) or they'd sand the dot matrix down (which has the risk of cracking).
any advice?

 

nevermind, they use sunguard. is anyone familiar with this?

 

Guys...stop bashing SolarGard. SolarGard IS Metallized tint. They warranty the tint 100% including paying the installer to do it again. Also SolarGard window film is the only tint accepted by the federal government. My installer is bidding on a job at a local military base and that is the only brand they want or I should say...are allowed to use.

Go here: http://www.solargard.com/index.cfm/f...gh_Performance
and read a little about them before guessing.

Jason

 

Just about any tint a shop is using these days is good stuff. To tell you the truth I've never had any problem with the stuff at Advanced Auto Parts. It's always worked in a pinch. Just like everything else in the work it is 99% about prep and application. I don't think the purpley stuff has been around for a long time.

 

I had mine done using Quantum at a place outside Atl. I am very pleased with the job the installer did. It amazes me how much cooler (temp and otherwise) the car is with the tints.

 

I agree that 35% would be the best. I also see tons of cars with 5% and I think 35% is just light enough to look factory and not get any attention from the cops.

 

Here is my tint!


35% LLumar tint