Window Tinting pros, please help me out

[pks17]

OK im looking to get my 5 windows tinted on my sedan, but the problem is this. Im extremely picky about some things.
For one i cant stand the smoky, almost purple looking tint that i see on alot of cars, What i want is the clean, crisp looking tint that comes factory on alot of Mercedes, bmws, even new sonatas. Can someone please tell me which tint i am looking for??
Im only looking for light tint, and i scanned through alot of tint sites, but cant seem to grasp the difference between all the difff styles available.

[Meinnocenthah]

3m is best...plus they have a lifetime guarantee against that

solarguard turns brown/purple....

and tint shades go in %'s percentage of light let in.

I have 20% all the way around on my NHBP civic

5% is LIMO through 50% which is barely visible window tint.

[darna]

where are you located?

[illusionstwice]

Originally Posted by Meinnocenthah

3m is best...plus they have a lifetime guarantee against that

solarguard turns brown/purple....

and tint shades go in %'s percentage of light let in.

I have 20% all the way around on my NHBP civic

I partially agree. Some ppl say 3m is the best, and some ppl say your paying for the name. I had 3m on my old car and had a bad experience with fading within 2 years....usually this is due to what you use to clean the tinted windows. I always used window cleaner that was ammonia free, so I know it wasnt my fault.

WIth the Si, I went with LLUMAR film. Like 3m, they have a life time warranty on the film itself, and the place that did my tint for me has a lifetime warranty on labor as well

THis is the best tint job I have had on any of my cars. I have LLUMAR Ceramic Charcoal Tint. It is not the traditional black film. Its like a dark dark grey, and it looks fantastic with silver. I have my car at 35% all around.

If your in the PA, NJ area, I will give u the name of the place, and phone number. Just PM me

[darkdan]

Sonatas don't come with factory tint.

The glass might be slightly colored, but it's far from tinted.

Tint basically comes in two colors.

Charcoal (brownish to greenish)

Grey (blackish to bluish)

There are also others like bronze, full metal films, some of the ceramics have a unique look.

If you're looking for a light tint look into a ceramic 50% or something similar.

[illusionstwice]

but it technically is tinted glass. Its not film, the glass is literally "dipped" (for a lack of a better term) as one whole peice to stain the glass. Same thing with Mercedes.

[darkdan]

Originally Posted by illusionstwice

I partially agree. Some ppl say 3m is the best, and some ppl say your paying for the name. I had 3m on my old car and had a bad experience with fading within 2 years....usually this is due to what you use to clean the tinted windows. I always used window cleaner that was ammonium free, so I know it wasnt my fault.

WIth the Si, I went with LLUMAR film. Like 3m, they have a life time warranty on the film itself, and the place that did my tint for me has a lifetime warranty on labor as well

THis is the best tint job I have had on any of my cars. I have LLUMAR Ceramic Charcoal Tint. It is not the traditional black film. Its like a dark dark grey, and it looks fantastic with silver. I have my car at 35% all around.

If your in the PA, NJ area, I will give u the name of the place, and phone number. Just PM me

Where do i start?

Okay, there is more than 1 type of film made by 3M.

So the entry level Tint-FX ST will fade rather quickly. The FX-HP does much better. The 3M Color Stable has the warranty covering color change. The new Crystalline does too.


NEVER clean tinted windows using ammonia. It won't fade it, but it can eat the scratch resistant coating and hurt the adhesive.

Also, LLumar doesn't have a "ceramic" tint. They have Axcess (ATX), but it's not a true ceramic. Most my customers think it's far from being black or gray and more brown/green.

[darkdan]

Originally Posted by illusionstwice

but it technically is tinted glass. Its not film, the glass is literally "dipped" (for a lack of a better term) as one whole peice to stain the glass. Same thing with Mercedes.

I believe it's actually embedded in the glass, not dipped.

Mercedes does have the blue glass and some of the very high end ones have laminated glass with a special layer in there for heat rejection.

But they still comply with the federal requirements of 70% VLT and therefore, IMO, are not "tinted" at all. I still consider them clear.

Also, civic windows are already in the 75% range just like most other cars made after 95.

[illusionstwice]

Originally Posted by darkdan

Where do i start?

Okay, there is more than 1 type of film made by 3M.

So the entry level Tint-FX ST will fade rather quickly. The FX-HP does much better. The 3M Color Stable has the warranty covering color change. The new Crystalline does too.


NEVER clean tinted windows using ammonia. It won't fade it, but it can eat the scratch resistant coating and hurt the adhesive.

Also, LLumar doesn't have a "ceramic" tint. They have Axcess (ATX), but it's not a true ceramic. Most my customers think it's far from being black or gray and more brown/green.

I already know, I said I DID NOT use amonia. I forget which 3m I had, but i know it was like 300 to get it on the car. I hear wonders about the Crystalline, but I already have both cars tinted, so maybe in the futute i can go that route.

I dont know where your customers get brown/green from. i dont see those colors when i look at my car. But to each their own I guess.

[illusionstwice]

Originally Posted by darkdan

I believe it's actually embedded in the glass, not dipped.

Mercedes does have the blue glass and some of the very high end ones have laminated glass with a special layer in there for heat rejection.

But they still comply with the federal requirements of 70% VLT and therefore, IMO, are not "tinted" at all. I still consider them clear.

Also, civic windows are already in the 75% range just like most other cars made after 95.

like I said "dipped" for a lack of a better term. "embedded" suits my statement better, so thanks. I am multi tasking over here haha, I couldnt think.

[pks17]

Hey guys, im pretty intersted in the sloargard high performance tint.

"Manufactured with advanced nanotechnology, Ultra Performance is in a class of its own when it comes to maximizing your driving experience and comfort. Thanks to the advanced infrared heat blocking properties of Ultra Performance, you’ll enjoy a 40 percent reduction in the total solar heat energy coming through your windows without the traditional look of tinted glass. This remarkable, state-of-the-art film is colorless, preserving the overall appearance of your car and most importantly your view of the road."
I think this is somthing that im looking for, as i dont want the dark tint, and i have to have my fronts and rear windows the same shade of tint.
Does anybody else know of another brand that has this type of tint?

[illusionstwice]

I'll let DarkDan handle that one ^

[darkdan]

Oops, read the ammonia thing wrong.

Here's a great shot of the different colors of tint:






pks17, yes all kinds of high end films like that (high VLT and high heat rejection).

Geoshield Ceramic, Huper Optik ceramic, FormulaONE Pinnacle, Johnson InsulatIR, Global IR, Madico Advanced Ceramics.

Where are you at?

[pks17]

im in vancouver, canada.
Tint pricing seems to be 400 dollars for the high performance tint, and about 250 for the standard solargard tint for 5 windows

[Meinnocenthah]

Originally Posted by pks17

Hey guys, im pretty intersted in the sloargard high performance tint.

SOLAR GUARD STINKS! I had it on my acura, it started turning brown within 6 months, then slowly to purple. *** that shiznit...dont waiste your money. I had the high performance line by them. ugh!

I put the High performance 3M on my civic...so far so good! I recommend 3M over any other brand...as long as it isnt their entry level stuff. Pay the extra for the better higher quality.

We had 3M on my moms 03 accord, no purpling no nothing and it was on there for a few years.

The stuff you see on new cars, the windows are etched or dipped. Lexus and all them use Mirror Tint....(i think thats the name)

and I always use that invisible glass to clean my windows

[Rolow]

I like my Huper-Optik Drei it has a unique look and it helps with the heat. The tint on my last two cars went purple and was from a honda dealer so this time i spent a little more money.
Why do you only want to do the 5 windows? You should do all 7 so it will flow a little better. Also If you have an SI and go with the Huper-Optik or the FormulaONE Pinnacle have the sun roof done to.





DarkDan can I use non ammonia cleaner on my Huper-Optik? I've only used water up until this point because I for got to ask when I got done.

[darkdan]

Yes, rubbing alcohol based cleaners.

Huper Optik Drei is awesome! 35% VLT and about 70% heat rejection!

[lastminuteracin]

Heres mine...35% mirror tint. hope this helps