Aftermarket Window Tinting for Automobiles

[mechtech2]

The sun shield should increase the decay rate of the film, as it reflects the sun right back on it for twice the attack.
Kinda like a cat's eye, that reflects the light back in it's eye and makes them 'glow' at night.

 

[BuickGN]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Spend money only once. You can get a lifetime warranty on both labor and materials. I paid $90 for the two front door windows. Unfortunately the TL doesn't come with felt like 99.99999% of other cars so I had to add it to keep the tint from getting scratched.

As for being worth it, it's 1,000% worth it in hot climates. The rear window and rear door windows had black factory tint. I did the fronts with the reflective UV blocker tint. Blocks as much or more UV rays than the dark stuff and the cops don't bother you. My CHP friend said that usually if it looks like you're "trying" to be legal as in darker in the rear, lighter in the front, they will give you a break.

This is how mine looks with the UV tint on front. It makes more of a difference than you would think for such a light tint.



I was hoping to see the Buick Grand National..They were soooooooooo nice!

I called around 15 different places around Broward and Miami Dade and they all told me the same thing that the tint was free but I would have to pay the labor charge if it needs to be re-done.

Down here what usually happens anyway is the place will change hands before you will need the new tint..The place that did mine changed hands twice already..There does not seem to be a place here that will re-tint the car free of charge.

I do notice if you use the sun sheild on the front windsheild it helps make the tint last longer..When I had my car done my friend had his done at the exact same time and using the same tint...He never uses the sun sheild and I use it everytime I park..His tint is blurry and mine is still OK..They have both been on for almost 5 years now.


What is the sunshield?

Thanks for the GN compliment. I only have the rear window tinted and that was supposed to be there to hide the cage. I don't need any more reasons for them to pull me over in that car. It's nearly a weekly thing. Taking it out on the weekends with slicks on it and the associated looseness in the rear has resulted in several breathalizers and field sobriety tests.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Definitelyt worth it. I got into that back in Colorado, where the sun shines a highly-touted 300 days a year, and even in the winter on a sunny day you don't need much heat from the car heater. I had the 420SEL, the C230, and now the Buick tinted.

Besides, if they charge you labor, say $150, to re-tint after 5 years, that's only $30 a year. Considering the amount of incoming radiation the tint blocks, that's cheap at the price.

 

[BuickGN]

I should add, one of the main reasons I did the tint was to protect the interior from fading. So far so good but it's only a few years old. It's also much nicer when you're driving in the morning or evening and the sun is shining in throuh the side windows right in your face.

 

[deven]

I tint my windows on all my vehicles because it does make a difference with heat even in New England summers where it does get into high 80's and low 90's. It does keep the car cooler a bit and as BuickGN said it makes a world of difference on sunny days. I only use Llumar or Ceramic Tints.

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Spend money only once. You can get a lifetime warranty on both labor and materials. I paid $90 for the two front door windows. Unfortunately the TL doesn't come with felt like 99.99999% of other cars so I had to add it to keep the tint from getting scratched.

As for being worth it, it's 1,000% worth it in hot climates. The rear window and rear door windows had black factory tint. I did the fronts with the reflective UV blocker tint. Blocks as much or more UV rays than the dark stuff and the cops don't bother you. My CHP friend said that usually if it looks like you're "trying" to be legal as in darker in the rear, lighter in the front, they will give you a break.

This is how mine looks with the UV tint on front. It makes more of a difference than you would think for such a light tint.



I was hoping to see the Buick Grand National..They were soooooooooo nice!

I called around 15 different places around Broward and Miami Dade and they all told me the same thing that the tint was free but I would have to pay the labor charge if it needs to be re-done.

Down here what usually happens anyway is the place will change hands before you will need the new tint..The place that did mine changed hands twice already..There does not seem to be a place here that will re-tint the car free of charge.

I do notice if you use the sun sheild on the front windsheild it helps make the tint last longer..When I had my car done my friend had his done at the exact same time and using the same tint...He never uses the sun sheild and I use it everytime I park..His tint is blurry and mine is still OK..They have both been on for almost 5 years now.


What is the sunshield?

Thanks for the GN compliment. I only have the rear window tinted and that was supposed to be there to hide the cage. I don't need any more reasons for them to pull me over in that car. It's nearly a weekly thing. Taking it out on the weekends with slicks on it and the associated looseness in the rear has resulted in several breathalizers and field sobriety tests.


Sorry I should have said the sun-shade that you put up on the inside of the windsheild..It really does help keep the dashboard and leather from getting old looking before its time..

The ones that don't use it [or do not have tint all around] have cracked dashboards and beat up leather within a few years..The sun down here is brutal..There are days I actually run from the car to the house to get out of that blazing brutal sun.

The law here is 15% for the rear window and back 2 windows and 25% for the front 2 windows..Most have 15% all around like I do..I know of only one person who got stopped for dark tint down here and that was because he had limo tint all around including the front 2 windows and large strip way below the ase line [limo tint] on the front windsheild..I haven't heard anyone getting stopped for having limo tint in the rear window or back 2 windows..The just don't want limo tint on the front 2 windows.

 

[Benzadmiral]

Along with the tiny, I use a sunshield in the front (and back, if the car is going to be parked for any length of time). The front I had to order, since the ones in Walmart were either too big or too small. In the back, I use a standard size shield and prop it up with an empty Quick Detailer bottle to block out as much sun as possible.

I also try to park where the car will be in shade in the afternoon, but that's frequently impossible. Recently, though, I've found a new all-day parking spot at work that is shady a good part of the day. We'll see how deep water gets around there the next time we have a heavy rain.

 

[BuickGN]

Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Spend money only once. You can get a lifetime warranty on both labor and materials. I paid $90 for the two front door windows. Unfortunately the TL doesn't come with felt like 99.99999% of other cars so I had to add it to keep the tint from getting scratched.

As for being worth it, it's 1,000% worth it in hot climates. The rear window and rear door windows had black factory tint. I did the fronts with the reflective UV blocker tint. Blocks as much or more UV rays than the dark stuff and the cops don't bother you. My CHP friend said that usually if it looks like you're "trying" to be legal as in darker in the rear, lighter in the front, they will give you a break.

This is how mine looks with the UV tint on front. It makes more of a difference than you would think for such a light tint.



I was hoping to see the Buick Grand National..They were soooooooooo nice!

I called around 15 different places around Broward and Miami Dade and they all told me the same thing that the tint was free but I would have to pay the labor charge if it needs to be re-done.

Down here what usually happens anyway is the place will change hands before you will need the new tint..The place that did mine changed hands twice already..There does not seem to be a place here that will re-tint the car free of charge.

I do notice if you use the sun sheild on the front windsheild it helps make the tint last longer..When I had my car done my friend had his done at the exact same time and using the same tint...He never uses the sun sheild and I use it everytime I park..His tint is blurry and mine is still OK..They have both been on for almost 5 years now.


What is the sunshield?

Thanks for the GN compliment. I only have the rear window tinted and that was supposed to be there to hide the cage. I don't need any more reasons for them to pull me over in that car. It's nearly a weekly thing. Taking it out on the weekends with slicks on it and the associated looseness in the rear has resulted in several breathalizers and field sobriety tests.


Sorry I should have said the sun-shade that you put up on the inside of the windsheild..It really does help keep the dashboard and leather from getting old looking before its time..

The ones that don't use it [or do not have tint all around] have cracked dashboards and beat up leather within a few years..The sun down here is brutal..There are days I actually run from the car to the house to get out of that blazing brutal sun.

The law here is 15% for the rear window and back 2 windows and 25% for the front 2 windows..Most have 15% all around like I do..I know of only one person who got stopped for dark tint down here and that was because he had limo tint all around including the front 2 windows and large strip way below the ase line [limo tint] on the front windsheild..I haven't heard anyone getting stopped for having limo tint in the rear window or back 2 windows..The just don't want limo tint on the front 2 windows.


I totally agree with the sunshade. It makes the difference in my AC getting cold nearly instantly vs 10 minutes, right about the time I'm arriving at my destination.

 

[VK56VD]

I wish most car manufactures offered factory tinted windows (not film) like they do on SUV's and Minivan's instead of us, consumers playing around with film.

Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Originally Posted By: Spartuss
Originally Posted By: BuickGN
The rear window and rear door windows had black factory tint.


When did Acura offer factory tint on the rear windows on the TL?

I've never seen any sedan other than higher end models in N. America being offered w/ factory tint.


I should've clarified, dealer installed tint.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
I wish most car manufactures offered factory tinted windows (not film) like they do on SUV's and Minivan's instead of us, consumers playing around with film.


As do I, though they'd likely never offer it as dark as I want anyway!

 

[BuickGN]

Originally Posted By: Spartuss
I wish most car manufactures offered factory tinted windows (not film) like they do on SUV's and Minivan's instead of us, consumers playing around with film.

Originally Posted By: BuickGN
Originally Posted By: Spartuss
Originally Posted By: BuickGN
The rear window and rear door windows had black factory tint.


When did Acura offer factory tint on the rear windows on the TL?

I've never seen any sedan other than higher end models in N. America being offered w/ factory tint.


I should've clarified, dealer installed tint.


I've had that conversation with the tint guys and some of the factory techs. I really wish I could remember the conversation better but the jist of it was there's only so far you can go with the carbon non film window tinting and there was a major downside to it. I may start researching it now.

 

[tonycarguy]

So everyone here pays a pro to do it? Has anyone tried those pre-cut DIY kits for $50?

 

[Cogito]

I had the film put on my windows 20 years ago. Most of them look a little blurry now, but not awful. I have a few scratches on my rear hatch but haven't replaced it as I've heard it's difficult to remove and sometimes will screw up the electric defroster grid in the back window. But it does cut down on heat and the interior is not faded from the sun like most 20 yr old cars. And it does provide a little more security from prying eyes.

 

[tenderloin]

Go for it. It is well worth the money. For an example my sons 2007 Subaru Impreza...the factory tint was almost useless in Southern California. Adding the tint did wonders for keeping the heat out. Also protects the interior. Make sure you use an established shop and top grade materials like 3M. Warranty's are quite different on different lines even by the same manufacture. Check it out carefully

Here is 3M's site. They make great stuff...but many levels of pricing, quality and warranty.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en...HbeT4DCJBL6BVgl

 

[caprice_2nv]

I have 5% limo tint bought at Canadian Tire on my Caprice. Only issue is that the car doesn't have power windows and I try to always put the windows down when I see cops, cause some of them don't like the dark tint.