window tinting, any suggestions on the best way to install window tint (where to buy) Options

[garin]

Thought about tinting the celica's windows. should i buy precut? a friend told me walmart brand is ok. i thought about 5 or 20% for the rear. 20 or 35% for the sides and maybe 35 or 50% for the front. also can i do this with a friend or two or just go pro? if by myself what tools are recommended? if by a pro what is the cost?

Thanks any help is appreciated!

[Supersprynt]

First, do it all the same.
Second: the front?
Third: I wouldn't buy anything, let the professionals do it.

[95st-celica]

i'll do it for you....you live in lancaster?

[garin]

yeah i guess that makes sense my friend has a mustang gt it looks pretty sharp he thought a darker back might look good, but you wouldn't do the front at all? how much would this cost (a general idea)

[95st-celica]

anywhere from 175-250 i have seen...i would defentally do the front it looks so much better...like super said go with all one tint..once you start mismatchin it doesnt look that good...i have done numerous cars myself including mine, a friends supra, and a bunch more....it gets very tedious if its your first time...if i were you and you want a nice clean look i would go with 15 all around...i have 5 and i like it a lot...never get hassled by the cops but some people dont like it because you cant really see out of it at night...let me know if you want me to do it...my pops lives 10 minutes outside of lancaster

[garin]

i'll do it for you....you live in lancaster?

yeah i'm in lancaster where in philly do you live? i don't really wanna drive down there and i'm sure you really don't wanna come up here. but could you maybe guide me through it through phone or pm idk. thanks maybe it could work out?.

[95st-celica]

^^

[garin]

^^

ok dude i'll let you know. any suggestions on where the best place is to buy window tint?

[95st-celica]

^^

ok dude i'll let you know. any suggestions on where the best place is to buy window tint?

i might be able to get you your percent tint this weekend if you want it...theres a place i go in jersey that sells really good quality tint for cheap...like 8 bucks a roll or something...other then that pep boys for like 20 bucks or so i think i saw it...i used it on my car and it came out perfect...no bubbles or anything...i like it...but lemme know

[jjbenzo]

People who buy cheap store bought tint and does it themselves are always different looking than those who take it somewhere and have proffessionals install Llamar tint. I have taken every car Ive owned over the years into a tint shop and installed the best. If you go cheap on this, you will notice and probably be unhappy.

[garin]

People who buy cheap store bought tint and does it themselves are always different looking than those who take it somewhere and have proffessionals install Llamar tint. I have taken every car Ive owned over the years into a tint shop and installed the best. If you go cheap on this, you will notice and probably be unhappy.

thanks for the advice

^^

ok dude i'll let you know. any suggestions on where the best place is to buy window tint?

i might be able to get you your percent tint this weekend if you want it...theres a place i go in jersey that sells really good quality tint for cheap...like 8 bucks a roll or something...other then that pep boys for like 20 bucks or so i think i saw it...i used it on my car and it came out perfect...no bubbles or anything...i like it...but lemme know

don't do it yet. but i'll keep you in mind. are you up here often?

[95st-celica]

yea i'll be up there next weekend...the tint is not cheap tint and none can tell i did it....its lokks just as good as a professional job if not better....plus it cost me about 18 dollers to do my 4 windows...so if it does get scratched, bubbles, or whatever...which it prolly wont, then i can just throw another strip right back up again...no big deal...plus i like doing as much on my car as hunanly possiable....right down to the tint

[garin]

yea i'll be up there next weekend...the tint is not cheap tint and none can tell i did it....its lokks just as good as a professional job if not better....plus it cost me about 18 dollers to do my 4 windows...so if it does get scratched, bubbles, or whatever...which it prolly wont, then i can just throw another strip right back up again...no big deal...plus i like doing as much on my car as hunanly possiable....right down to the tint

how much would you want for your labor? i wold kinda like to help if possible.

[95st-celica]

if you pay for the tint i'll do both front and back windows for 50 bucks.....i cant do the hatch because it would require laying down 2-3 strips of tint and the rolls are only so wide....i think you would be able to take it to a shop and have them do it fairly cheap...thats what i'll be doing very shortly...i have 2-3 rolls of 35% at my house but let me know exactly what you want and i'll pick it up for you this sunday

[jason]

Reviving an old thread i know, but there doesn't seem to be a resolution here

I recommend Llumar brand tint - doesn't fade darkness, keeps a black/gray color - aka doesn't fade to purple or green like everything else out there - even the "nice" expensive store stuff

as for tinting... i personally prefer about 5-10 for the back and about 20-35 on the sides.

dark tint on the rear window because
-you can pick your nose and the guy behind you wont know
- in seriousness... people driving behind you have a nice, long, steady view into your car, and i like my privacy - plus it gives you an extra minute or so if a cop pulls you over - to hide anything, put on your seatbelt, switch drivers, get your and especially her (if shes under 18) pants on if you still do that stuff in the car (for all you highschool kids out there)

lighter tint on the side because
-you need to see out, and people (police) should at LEAST be able to see outlines of whats going on inside - if they cant they have every reason in the world to be a dick - and they are ALOT more likely to be hostile during a traffic stop if they cannot see anything inside the vehicle for their own safety
-if you park your car on a street - its nice to be able to "check" on it when you park in a rough area at night to make sure some prick isint inside it

mixing a dark rear with lighter sides is perfectly fine, however, do NOT mix side window tints - eg 35 for the front side window, but 20 for the rear side window - it looks like sh*t and you should avoid it.

this is just my opinion based on having several cars with tint. my celica is 5 rear 35 sides, everything else has been 5 rear 20 sides and i enjoy it - a nice middle ground that keep cars looking classy instead of ghetto


and a note on tint with police - when stopped, ROLL YOUR WINDOWS DOWN AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL - read it, understand it, do it. puts their mind at ease walking up on a tinted out car, and makes a world of difference in their attitude - especially if you know you f*cked up and caused them to pull you over.


if you are not 90% sure on doing your car on your own - spend the extra money and get it done professionally - and watch them & learn so you can do that on your own later on another car.

as for pricing - 150-180 is what you *should* expect to pay.

in your area - cooper's auto in temple/reading (i do not recommend) is 150 if you pay with cash - shades of gray in philly (i highly recommend, as do many others, check tristatetuners.com) is 180 for a 4 door sedan/suv - they do GREAT work and use great materials

in PA - aftermarket tint on any vehicle, that was not equipped from the factory is illegal on ALL windows. tint is NOT an inspection requirement, however, it is some you may be pulled over for. old tint laws were blackout with paint or anything of your choosing all windows except the front three (windshield and drivers & passengers front door windows [gull windows included as a single door window] and a 4" stip at the top of the windshield if it does not have a sunblock strip already on it [that blue or green faded tint type stuff they put in the glass])

i believe a window tint violation as itself with all current fee's and such is 109.75 - but dont quote me. the fine itself is 25 ontop of another violation - speeding etc - so if you have tinted windows and get pulled over, you will most likely get some "legit" but still bull**** ticket for the stop, and then an additional 25 fine for having tint. - the reason for the stop is "unavoidable" besides not drawing attention to yourself with aggressive driving habits.

also, a 3rd brake light (on a celica coupe its in the rear window instead of on the body) MAY be covered, and rendered inoperable as long as the vehicle has no fewer than one brake light on either corner (the two rear brake lights) - so if you want to tint the rear window fully, go right ahead - thats how my coupe is done, and its 5% tint that the light still shines through to a good degree for the 3rd brake light having use

[jordisonjr]

don't do anything darker than 15 on the rear windshield cause thats just askin to get pulled over, at least, thats how it is where i live

[Sinyk]

If a cop saw your front windows tinted, they can just ask you to roll them up.

I have heard of cops that will get you to peel off your tint on the spot after pulling you over. I say the front 2 are not worth it, but cops in different places care more than others.

[pittfirefighter]

technically you don't have to take the tint off... it is not part of inspection so they cannot take your car for it... it is breaking the law so they can write you a ticket but you can say you want to take it off professionally if you would like... and never do it... haha but my tint was put on by a pro and there is not chance of me being ABLE to take it off on my own..

[richee3]

I went with 20% on my rear and back side windows, and I paid a professional to put Llumar on it. I am very satisfied with it, because it's not turning purple or anything like a lot of the stuff you can buy at auto parts stores. Plus, when I was reading how-to's for tinting my windows, I found that a lot of people had problems with their rear defrosters melting the tint, so I figured it would be best to pay and have a pro put it on. That way, if anything goes wrong, he has to fix it at his own cost rather than me paying to re-tint it. Mine was done for $125, and if I had to do it over again, I'd take it to a professional any day. The only thing I would do different is put 35% on it rather than 20% because my reverse lights aren't bight enough and I can't ever see to back up. But definitely get it done professionally.

and a note on tint with police - when stopped, ROLL YOUR WINDOWS DOWN AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL - read it, understand it, do it. puts their mind at ease walking up on a tinted out car, and makes a world of difference in their attitude - especially if you know you f*cked up and caused them to pull you over.

Turn your dome light on if it's night. Doing all of these things makes a world of difference!

This post has been edited by richee3: Mar 18, 2009 - 5:15 PM