Best window tinting? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

irseg · 03-23-2004, 04:51 PM

I'm taking my car in to get the windows tinted tomorrow. I've never purchased tint before nor have I really had any interest in it, but here in Florida it's somewhat of a necessity. My other car's dash became all cracked to hell within a year of moving down here, I don't want the same to happen again!

I went to a reputable stereo/tint shop today and looked at their selection. They have Johnson tint for $120, Suntek for $200, and 3M for $250 (prices include installation). Johnson has a 5-year warranty, the others are lifetime.

Anybody have opinions about these different brands? When I don't know much about what I'm buying I typically just buy middle of the line (Suntek in this case), but I'd like to hear any opinions you guys might have.

merkerguitars · 03-23-2004, 06:07 PM

I just use the walmart brand and do it myself.....me and my friends have had good results and it only costs about $50 to tint your own car....

irseg · 03-23-2004, 06:51 PM

Yeah I thought doing it myself, until I looked at the rear glass. It's sharply curved and friggin' huge, certainly bigger than those tint rolls. I don't really have the expertise to apply it well in the first place, let alone butt two pieces together on curved glass and risk screwing up the defroster grid if..err..when I'd have to remove it and start over.

JStrider · 03-23-2004, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by merkerguitars
I just use the walmart brand and do it myself.....me and my friends have had good results and it only costs about $50 to tint your own car....

gotta do it super good... if ya dont it will get all bubbly and crappy looking...

i would ask if you could see examples of all the different tints that they offer....

iamnormal · 03-23-2004, 07:38 PM

To help prevent sun damage and heat you would need UV and IR blocking on the tint film.

Cynthetiq · 03-23-2004, 08:15 PM

I'd do 3M since they are the people that pioneered the market.

Scorps · 03-25-2004, 10:04 AM

3M is the best....well I canada its the best.

When i get my new car thats the first thing Im doing.

BoomTruck · 03-25-2004, 10:06 AM

When you put it on, spray soapy water on the glass first. That will buy you enough time to get all the bubbles squeegied out from under it.

Or, get a Sharpie and start scribbling.

merkerguitars · 04-12-2004, 07:59 AM

I never tint back windows, the reason why is cause it makes it a pain in the ass trying to see everything in back of you. and when you tint all 4 windows the back will look tinted as well. If you take your take and you have have good control with a razor blade you can easily do it yourself. Some friends and I did a friends 4 door jetta and it cost about $40 total to do and it looks professional. Tinting works the best when you can remove the windows.

Scorps · 04-12-2004, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by merkerguitars
I never tint back windows, the reason why is cause it makes it a pain in the ass trying to see everything in back of you. and when you tint all 4 windows the back will look tinted as well. If you take your take and you have have good control with a razor blade you can easily do it yourself. Some friends and I did a friends 4 door jetta and it cost about $40 total to do and it looks professional. Tinting works the best when you can remove the windows.

Now Im buying a hatchback, type of car and if I don't tint the back window it would look so dumb!, who cares if you can't see out the back window....thats what your mirrors are for!

phredgreen · 04-13-2004, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pain Train
who cares if you can't see out the back window....thats what your mirrors are for!

that's not terribly intelligenmt of you to say. unless you have convex mirrors installed, you'll have a massive blind spot behind you, which is a real problem if you're being followed by smaller vehicles or motorcycles. you might as well just drive with blinders on.

Scorps · 04-13-2004, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by phredgreen
that's not terribly intelligenmt of you to say. unless you have convex mirrors installed, you'll have a massive blind spot behind you, which is a real problem if you're being followed by smaller vehicles or motorcycles. you might as well just drive with blinders on.

Well what if you got a small car?

if a small car can get lost behind me then it would have to be like a mini!

and at day time I can see fine out the back window! Its a different story at night but my talllights will light up anything im going to hit!

Ryan · 04-13-2004, 03:01 PM

I have 3m tints on both of my cars (cougar and a Lincoln LS) It was 240 installed with lifetime warranty on the cougar, and 310 for the LS. I am very happy with the results, and 3m is definatly top notch.

03-23-2004, 04:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
irseg Junkie Location: Florida	Best window tinting? I'm taking my car in to get the windows tinted tomorrow. I've never purchased tint before nor have I really had any interest in it, but here in Florida it's somewhat of a necessity. My other car's dash became all cracked to hell within a year of moving down here, I don't want the same to happen again! I went to a reputable stereo/tint shop today and looked at their selection. They have Johnson tint for $120, Suntek for $200, and 3M for $250 (prices include installation). Johnson has a 5-year warranty, the others are lifetime. Anybody have opinions about these different brands? When I don't know much about what I'm buying I typically just buy middle of the line (Suntek in this case), but I'd like to hear any opinions you guys might have.

03-23-2004, 06:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	I just use the walmart brand and do it myself.....me and my friends have had good results and it only costs about $50 to tint your own car.... __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

03-23-2004, 08:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	I'd do 3M since they are the people that pioneered the market. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

03-25-2004, 10:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
Scorps Lost!! Location: Kingston, Ontario	3M is the best....well I canada its the best. When i get my new car thats the first thing Im doing. __________________ A.K.A. PainTrain

03-25-2004, 10:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
BoomTruck Insane Location: On a gravel road rough enought to knock fillings out of teeth.	When you put it on, spray soapy water on the glass first. That will buy you enough time to get all the bubbles squeegied out from under it. Or, get a Sharpie and start scribbling. __________________ Judge me all you want, but keep the verdict to yourself.

03-23-2004, 06:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
irseg Junkie Location: Florida	Yeah I thought doing it myself, until I looked at the rear glass. It's sharply curved and friggin' huge, certainly bigger than those tint rolls. I don't really have the expertise to apply it well in the first place, let alone butt two pieces together on curved glass and risk screwing up the defroster grid if..err..when I'd have to remove it and start over.

03-23-2004, 07:38 PM	#5 (permalink)
iamnormal Addict Location: In the id	To help prevent sun damage and heat you would need UV and IR blocking on the tint film.

04-12-2004, 07:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	I never tint back windows, the reason why is cause it makes it a pain in the ass trying to see everything in back of you. and when you tint all 4 windows the back will look tinted as well. If you take your take and you have have good control with a razor blade you can easily do it yourself. Some friends and I did a friends 4 door jetta and it cost about $40 total to do and it looks professional. Tinting works the best when you can remove the windows. __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

04-13-2004, 03:01 PM	#13 (permalink)
Ryan Crazy	I have 3m tints on both of my cars (cougar and a Lincoln LS) It was 240 installed with lifetime warranty on the cougar, and 310 for the LS. I am very happy with the results, and 3m is definatly top notch.