Window tint advice...

[IwantmyMMnow!]

Looking to have my windows tinted in the near future; this is something I have had done before, but that was 20 years ago and I'm sure the window tinting business has seen some changes since then. I plan to get what's legal in NC, which is 35%.

Just curious if there is/are a specific tint brandname(s) I should look for as well as any other 'nuggets of wisdom' I should be armed with before I make my choice of who to go with around here.

Found a place on the west side of town that's advertising $99...is this too good to be true?

TIA...

[fastblackmerc]

Looking to have my windows tinted in the near future; this is something I have had done before, but that was 20 years ago and I'm sure the window tinting business has seen some changes since then. I plan to get what's legal in NC, which is 35%.

Just curious if there is/are a specific tint brandname(s) I should look for as well as any other 'nuggets of wisdom' I should be armed with before I make my choice of who to go with around here.

Found a place on the west side of town that's advertising $99...is this too good to be true?

TIA...
Too good to be true.

[DOOM]

Make sure it's UV tint!

[CWright]

Looking to have my windows tinted in the near future; this is something I have had done before, but that was 20 years ago and I'm sure the window tinting business has seen some changes since then. I plan to get what's legal in NC, which is 35%.

Just curious if there is/are a specific tint brandname(s) I should look for as well as any other 'nuggets of wisdom' I should be armed with before I make my choice of who to go with around here.

Found a place on the west side of town that's advertising $99...is this too good to be true?

TIA...

LLumar is what is on all my cars.

[Mr. Man]

Some shops can shave the edges which makes it look factory.
LLumar brand is what I think we did on the SB, been a while.

[Curless]

Yes, $99 is way to good to be true...I'd say somewhere around $300 or so would be right for a good job, with good tint.

[DOOM]

Make sure they warranty their work!

[ctrlraven]

If your state level is at 35% you will need to get 40% level tint because the glass has some solar tint treatment in it from factory which is 95-98% so you have to deduct that from the tint % number you want to get and that's your effective level.

LLumar and 3M are the top brands. 3M even has a ghost print of their logo on the tint film to show consumers they are getting legit 3M.

[AConvertedChevy]

LLumar all the way!

$99 only makes sense if the shop has the machine and software to custom cut your window pieces in 20 minutes. Even so, they better be doing a TON of business if they change $99 for our glass-houses or their margin is in the imminent failure range :lol:

[breeze]

No, I get my windows tinted by the same shop for $99. They do great work and good quality.

[whitey]

Average price here is $150-200. Make sure its warranted against purpleing and bubbles. And ctrl is correct on %

[License2Bill]

My buddy had his Audi B5 A4 done for a little over $100 around 2 years ago. It still looks great. So I would think that $99 is not too good to be true

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

Average price for a car like these, any percent tint with a lifetime warranty is going to be $150-$180. Anything more, and you are being ripped. Some shops may have grand opening deals for $99 which may or may not be worth a shot.

[Gordy]

LLumar from Formula One is definitely a good choice. Suntek films is also a good choice. with Formula One if you plan to keep it legal at 35%, I always recommend going with Formula One's Pinnacle series tint. Pinnacle is the top of the food chain in window tint. It is Ceramic based film that is much more efficient at heat rejection. Its gonna give you similar heat rejection at 35% that classic will do at 15%. Average Formula One price's for a four door sedan is $220-$240 for classic and $320-$340 for Pinnacle series.

The equivalent of Pinnacle from Suntek is Suntek CXP.

Just in case you are wondering about my qualifications to give such advice, I own a automotive, as well as a Residential and Commercial, window tinting business.

Feel free to let me know any questions you might have.

[IwantmyMMnow!]

Feel free to let me know any questions you might have.

Where in N. Jawja are you? My brother lives in Calhoun; I am also considering a trip to Mo's next month and will tie in a visit with my brother while I'm in the Peach state.

[cat in the hat]

LLumar from Formula One is definitely a good choice. Suntek films is also a good choice. with Formula One if you plan to keep it legal at 35%, I always recommend going with Formula One's Pinnacle series tint. Pinnacle is the top of the food chain in window tint. It is Ceramic based film that is much more efficient at heat rejection. Its gonna give you similar heat rejection at 35% that classic will do at 15%. Average Formula One price's for a four door sedan is $220-$240 for classic and $320-$340 for Pinnacle series.


I have the Formula One Ceramic on Devil Girl, it is really nice. Also, I just got SunTek Carbon on the Grand Marquis this past Christmas - it is very nice stuff, and was about $200. Can't go wrong either way IMO.

There are about a million $99 tint shops around here, but they always look like fly-by-night operations to me. The warranty doesn't do me any good if the place isn't there next year.

[J-MAN]

Put quality before price. A warranty is only as good as the shop giving it. If you get a poor job the first time around that has to be done over why would it be any better the second?

[fastblackmerc]

There are about a million $99 tint shops around here, but they always look like fly-by-night operations to me. The warranty doesn't do me any good if the place isn't there next year.

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!!! :beer:

[STEPS]

be sure they clean the windows really good especially the rear window. I have had Lumbar on all my mustangs and now the MM. Check you state for how dark you can go.you don't want to be stopped and then have to take it all off.

[fastblackmerc]

Check you state for how dark you can go.you don't want to be stopped and then have to take it all off.

He had it correct in the his first post... 35% is the legal limit in North Carolina.

:beer:

[Gordy]

Where in N. Jawja are you? My brother lives in Calhoun; I am also considering a trip to Mo's next month and will tie in a visit with my brother while I'm in the Peach state.

My shop is in Dawsonville, about an hour east of Calhoun.

I don't know N.C. Laws in depth, but with GA, the legal limit is 35% but has a grace of 3% to allow for differences between tints. This allows the room needed for tinting 35% over a factor tint some cars have. say factor is 98%, 35% would put you right about 34% on the car. Well within our laws. I would have to think your state has a similar clause, but I have been wrong before lol.

I would personally love to see a ticket from any state because someone was 1%-2% darker than legal.

[Jolly Roger]

Mine was done by Ziebart and IIRC it has a lifetime warranty.
Cost a bit over $200.00 (a few years ago).
Just my 4.6 cts. worth. ;)

[IwantmyMMnow!]

My shop is in Dawsonville, about an hour east of Calhoun.

I don't know N.C. Laws in depth, but with GA, the legal limit is 35% but has a grace of 3% to allow for differences between tints. This allows the room needed for tinting 35% over a factor tint some cars have. say factor is 98%, 35% would put you right about 34% on the car. Well within our laws. I would have to think your state has a similar clause, but I have been wrong before lol.

I would personally love to see a ticket from any state because someone was 1%-2% darker than legal.

Maybe we could have lunch with Bill Elliot?

I'd like to go ahead and set something up with your shop...want to keep the cost at $250 or less. How long does it take?

[Gordy]

Maybe we could have lunch with Bill Elliot?

I'd like to go ahead and set something up with your shop...want to keep the cost at $250 or less. How long does it take?

lol, you will not find Bill much, but the Pool Room where he loves to eat will be open, which I don't know why we all still eat it, has not been good in years lol, just tradition I guess.

Takes just at an hour and a half at most, but I will have it all pre-cut before hand so likely will be faster. I have a soft spot for Military, even Air Force lol jk, so let me check my Carbon series back stock and ill PM you what i can do it for.

[Mac-MerC]

advice.... dont get legal limit (u will be upset because everyone else will have darker tint and u still will be ale to see straight through your car)
more advice... get the front windshield tinted also, having that 6 inch bar across the windshield is pointless... get the whole thing done. makes the car look way better.

[DOOM]

advice.... dont get legal limit (u will be upset because everyone else will have darker tint and u still will be ale to see straight through your car)
more advice... get the front windshield tinted also, having that 6 inch bar across the windshield is pointless... get the whole thing done. makes the car look way better.

And then when he gets hassled by the cops for tint.

You will be the first one to say "THE COPS ARE IN THE WRONG!"

[ctrlraven]

And then when he gets hassled by the cops for tint.

You will be the first one to say "THE COPS ARE IN THE WRONG!"

+1 totally agree.

[cragantler]

Have to put my 2 cents in for Luminar.
The shop I had mine done at charged me $295 with a lifetime warranty.
That was with removing the rear window tint, I did not know I had.
Found it out myself when I removed the brake light during my speaker upgrade.
I would have to go with a word of advice my Dad gave me..
you get what you paid for.

[IwantmyMMnow!]

Gonna do business with Gordy next month.

Thanks for everyone's inputs!

Marauder to-do list:

Tint Windows....check! :)