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window tinting
I want to tint my silver 03 protege es
what is the darkest legal tint in Georgia (and rest of USA)? where would be best place to go to get it done? what is a good ballpark figure on how much it should cost? is there brands/types of tint i should look for for better quality/longer lasting? i want black tint, not silver/blue/orange/yellow/green/etc thanks |
Usually 35% is a good rule of thumb. around 200 bucks depending on the materials. Get black. Usually 3M makes pretty good tinting material.
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I went 20% all around, cost $150. Looks real good, only draw back with darker than leagal tint in knoxville is you don't get a written warrenty. The shop I use is pretty good about fixing the tint if it messes up,even without the warrenty.
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Originally posted by SEA_P5 Usually 35% is a good rule of thumb. around 200 bucks depending on the materials. Get black. Usually 3M makes pretty good tinting material. $200 BUCKS!!! I´m glad I live where I live... it only cost me $25 to do my windows with 35% black 3M tint. That includes materials and labour. |
Yep, I drive a P5 and paid $200 for the windows, plus another $25 for the sun roof. Still, this is one of the best things you can do to your car. It keeps it cooler in the summer, protects your interior (from the sun and thieves), and really helps when some a-hole in a truck gets up on your ass at night with hi-beams on (this always seems to happen in bumper-to-bumper traffic).
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Get the max for the sunroof...I think 5% transmission. You will not regret it.
Usually it is more expensive in WA...due to all the crazy sales tax. I think we are almost up to 10% which is crazy!!!! Thats why everyone likes to shop online or a different state. |
Originally posted by Scarmiglio Yep, I drive a P5 and paid $200 for the windows, plus another $25 for the sun roof. Still, this is one of the best things you can do to your car. It keeps it cooler in the summer, protects your interior (from the sun and thieves), and really helps when some a-hole in a truck gets up on your ass at night with hi-beams on (this always seems to happen in bumper-to-bumper traffic). |
Brands to look for:
3M, Llumar, Madico - stay away from Sungard or any other brand that is or seems to be something they'd sell at PepBoyz. If you stick with those 3, you're guaranteed good quality film. I'd say between $125 and $200 is a good estimate of cost. Here's excellent info from an old post by "mazdaspeedwest": After 5 years owning a tint shop, here's a few sugestions. 1. If it's a cheap price, it's cheap tint, move on to the next shop. You'll want a "metallized" film, not a "charcoal" film. Metallized is warrantied for life and should never fade to a purple, it may fade in intesity over a 5+ years, but if it does, it will fade evenly. The charcoal film will damn near fade as you leave the parkinglot of the shop...it will turn purple and bubble and peel in no time....don't waste your money. Also, if they insist on only doing what is "legal" or basically will not work with you on what you want, move on, don't bother arguing. A good shop will inform you of the laws and then ask, what you want...and do it. It's not up to the shop, it's your car and your responsability if you get pulled over. 2. Make sure they either "shave" or take the film no less than 1/16" from the top edge of the roll up windows. 3. Make sure they "heat shrink" the rear window in one peice. P5 windows are faily simple, although some shops cheat and use 2 or more peices. The film can later shrink and pull apart at the seem, leaving a "light gap". Also, when cleaning, your cloth can catch the edge and peel it up. Plus, if they use a butt splice technique for the 2 or more peices, this means they apply the 2 peices of film then cut it along the defroster line, this can damage your defroster if not done correctly. 4. Make sure they use top quality Film (Llumar, Johnson, Madico) stay away from Sungard, Soloar Gard and anything that remotely sounds like a pep boys brand. 5. Pep boys/autozone brand is as cheap as they come...save it for your enemies. 6. Make sure they DO NOT cut too much ruber from the rear door vent windows (small triangles) as some rubber must be cut for a flawless job, make surethey don't hack it up. 7. Make sure they REMOVE the door panels, not just simply "tuck" the rubber dust seal in, as this can permanantly screw up the shape and function of the dust seal. 8. On brand new cars in the sunbelt regions, i strongly suggest a light (50%) on the complete windsheild. It's light enough that it will never be detected and will save your dash etc....better than a dash cover and plus, the windsheild is the largest window, it brings in the most amount of heat and glare, so why not help your driving comfortability. I will never drive with out it again. 9. you have to accept some degree of error, as a completely flawless job is absolutely impossible. Although the obvious light gap or dust storm is cause for a re-do. 10. a good price for a professional job should run in the $200 area, the cheap tint can be as low as $70. hope that helps. |
Wow, you guys from the States sure pay quite a bit for window tinting. I was quoted around $200 for my P5 (Canada) and that's in Canadian funds which is worth *sigh* nothing... :)
I'm getting my car down next month. Does anyone know when is a good time to have windows tinted. Don't they need a few days of warm weather for the tinting to dry properly? It's about -3 today here and it should be around the freezing or below when I get mine done. Should I wait? Hihoslva, thanks for the tips. That will be very useful when I get mine done. |
You can have tinting done whenever...but most individuals have it done durning better temperature. I would wait for the spring to get tint. -3 is way too cold to get tint...it will take a very long time to cure.
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Originally posted by Redfyre I'm getting my car down next month. Does anyone know when is a good time to have windows tinted. Don't they need a few days of warm weather for the tinting to dry properly? It's about -3 today here and it should be around the freezing or below when I get mine done. Should I wait? OTHERWISE...I would highly recommend you wait until the spring to have your windows tinted. |
Thanks for the help Sir Nuke. I guess I can wait a couple of months... *sigh*
Maybe in the meantime I can get a short air intake. :) |
Originally posted by foxymazda I paid $120 for all of my tint and it is darker in the back then in the front. I think its like 25% front and ?!?:dunno: about the back either way here is a pic so you can see what it looks like, I am going to get it tinted darker I have had it for like a year and 1/2 and I am getting sick of looking at it bc it faded a little http://images.cardomain.com/installs...36_24_full.jpg sorry its a big pic Foxy... you really need to get some rims for that car. |
Originally posted by Redfyre Thanks for the help Sir Nuke. I guess I can wait a couple of months... *sigh* Maybe in the meantime I can get a short air intake. :) Some of the better shops will heated garage, heat guns, proper light testing equipment, etc. Don't get stuck with a bad installer that does not even use a heat gun to adhere the tint to your windshield. So checkout the shops and compare prices and quality. |
I would have to question any shop that would even install tint in the cold weather - unless they are willing to let your car sit in a heated garage for at least the whole day.
Wait for warmer weather - you *might* get a good job now, but waiting is just extra insurance that the tint will last a good long time. And looking for a good shop now is an excellent idea - use the time to your advantage and find a reputable shop you can visit once the weather warms up. ~HH |
I went wit 35% all around including the sun roof. all for $185. since my dad took his new G35 coupe there the guy threw in the strip across the winshield for free:)
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tint looks great.
I have a White Mp5 and put 5% tint all around. Yea I know what your thinking i'm crazy because its illegal in all states. But guess what I'm the type of person who is will to take the risk. But i also live in florida and they can't pull you over just for your tint so as well as you do the spd. limit you should be okay. Not to mension you can tell from a mile away that its illegal tint bc of black tint on a white car. Mine was tinted for $160 which was for all 11 windows which included the front window which is also illegel by having a drop strip almost half-way down the window... and it included my sunroof... the only bad thing when the summer comes i heard that with such dark tint on the sunroof is that the heat is directly drawn to it and could crack.... i would recomend 20%.
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Re: tint looks great.
Originally posted by SlickMp5 But i also live in florida and they can't pull you over just for your tint so as well as you do the spd. limit you should be okay. You might want to check those facts before relying on that to keep you out of trouble. I have never heard of ANY state that won't allow a cop to pull over a driver for blatant illegal equipment. ~HH |
Yea i kno...i wanted 15% but i cant complain because at night they look dark. my ES is Black mica so tha black interior at night makes it look darker than 35%.....but when i get some money im going to have the tint taken off, and im gonna get 15% put on there. What is your states legal limit? MD's is 35%
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legal tint limit
for all passanger cars with 4 doors the tint is as follows.
on front window your allowed a 4" drop The front windows have to be no less than 28% The back windows !5% and the rear window can be painted black as long as you have to side mirrors. as for the illgal equipment yes i did check with the sheriffs and you can not be pulled over for just your tint you have to either look suspisoius or be doing something illegal for them to even pull you over to check it. |
Re: legal tint limit
Originally posted by SlickMp5 as for the illgal equipment yes i did check with the sheriffs and you can not be pulled over for just your tint you have to either look suspisoius or be doing something illegal for them to even pull you over to check it. ~HH |
I did mine myself. The materials cost about $45. It was a hell of a lot cheaper than going to a shop, came out looking professional and was a fun challenge.
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i know that in NJ, you can have ANYTHING for the back windows, including 5%, but in the front u CANT have anything.
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CA allows up to limo tint (5%) on all windows except front (and windshield, of course). There is legal tint for the front windows, but it is nearly clear and its only real purpose is to screen out UV. I went with lighter tint on my front windows than on the rear so that it wouldn't be super obvious, but it is still much darker than legal. Legal front window tint with dark all around looks ugly (imho) but I can understand why people do it. If you get pulled over for illegal tint in CA, the fix it ticket is $70, plus the cost to remove the tint (probably around $20). Not to mention that you have to get the car checked off at the police station, etc... I was willing to take the chance the first time around, but if I do get a ticket (knock on wood), I probably won't tint the front windows dark again. I'm pretty sure that you get charged double for the second offense. Ouch.
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