Window Tint?

[anf6789]

okay i am getting window tint. these are the brands the place offers: llumar,sungard,johnson,madico.

i like 35% on the sides and rear. i think i want a mettalized and not a dyed tint,its not mirror finish.
i like the llumar platinumplus,stealth,centaur. and johnson:executive and insulatir.

any one have any experiance withe these brands? tell me if you think it will look good on my car, you can view it in the members gallery.

i like the almost not there look, slightly smoked, not dark, scince it is illegal to put it on the front windows in nj, (i think im getting it any way:))

thanks any info would be great on the benifits of metal versus dyed, or any info at all, ANF6789

[jnolte]

Llumar is best

[cocawhitebenz]

Save the dyed tint for someone else, it will turn purple!! Get metallized tint. I got ONYX tints by MADICO 20% all the way around.

[strictlyspeakin]

How much you think it'll cost?
Are you doing it yourself?

[97C28O]

I heard that if you used Metalized tint, your cellphone or radio may have problems with the metal in the tint. Also if your using the keyless. Not sure about it though.

I got SunTek HP 20% All around my car. And I think it looks good. I haven't read any bad stuff about SunTek.

Llumar was recommended by tinter101 on this forum, but many of the installers wanted way too much for all windows, as much as 500$.

Sungard, Not really sure of their products but I bellieve they're a pretty good company.

Johnsons, I have read good and bad things, and there was a shop that carried this brand I tend to stay away from Johnsons because some of my friends had their cars tinted with Johnsons and within a few years it turned purple.

Madico, I heard it was a good company, I was going to go with this brand but the price I paid for my tints were good and I liked the quality.

www.tintdude.com has a lot of information.

[benzo23]

well another subject im good at...first of all metalized tint sucks....bottom line...it has shitty cell reception and it turns purple...i have 3M for my film...its non metalized its one of the highest grade tints possible...such as the jl audio for the subs...now keep in mind i have 15%...which is one step up from limo...try to find a 3M dealer if all possible...but i also heard llumar is good too...cheers..G

[anf6789]

wow thanks guys, im getting it installed on thursday, i have hear that mettalized can interfere with reception, but its "ILLEGAL" :D to talk on your cell phone while driving in nj any way, lol. i would like a lighter tint because: A, dont want the attention, B looks better, C its illegal on front windows and would like it to be less noticable. so you guys think 35% is good or should i go higher like 40 or 50, i cant find any good pics!!

oh not sure how much it will cost yet, my dad knows someone at the place im getting it done at.;)

[97C28O]

35% seems too light for me, although it is dark at some angles, it is still light. My friend has 35% on his CL an it looks slightly darker. 20% Is closest to those factory tinted windows on cars. It sometimes look dark, sometimes its see through-ish, but still darker than 35%. I would get 20% because it looks good and your still have the availability to look out at night.

[Nelson Lago]

hay are you going to do it your self. if so are you going to remove your door panal becasue i cant seem to remove mine.

[jnolte]

fifteen percent on the sides and rear and thirty five percent on the windshield is perfect

[97C28O]

Originally posted by Nelson Lago
hay are you going to do it your self. if so are you going to remove your door panal becasue i cant seem to remove mine.

http://202tech.mkosonen.com/howto/doorpanel.html

DON'T FORGET TO ADD FELT TO YOUR WEATHER STRIPES! OR ELSE YOUR TINTS WOULD BE SCRATCHED! i DID THAT MYSELF USING THAT LINK TO DOOR REMOVAL! PUT YOUR FELT ON TO SAVE YOUR TINT AND TIME!!!!!!

[benzofanatic]

hey james, where did u get ur windows tinted? I think thats my next mod (20%). I want a good job but lower $ would be better so far:
Accutint ($326) / Car Nutz ($300) / Mr. Tint ($350) / Guy in Lynwood my friend used ($180)



so basically shoot for non metalized and 3M right?
My 99 C280 has tint in the back, was this a factory option or just after market for the 202 (as some 203's come with fac tint), just curious.

[Markland556]

My friend got his 36 done in bothell for $160 and its amazing except for the rear window becasue it was hard for him to get down in teh very back, he says its fine but i think it could have been better. My friend got his done at accutint and its the most amazing thing iv ever seen. He said he paid $500. He got 5% and 35% on the windshield.

[benzo23]

hey, well i think mine cost me about 350$...oh and beware!!....take the strips out of the windows completely ...no felt crap...i just took a pair of needle nose pliers and ripped the bitches out...because sand and dirt can still get caught in that too...i found out the hard way i had so many scratches on mine...so had to get re tinted...which was another 100....and then got a 5% strip across the front...so i have about 500 into windows...but yes 3M is extremely high quality, has a life time warrenty and the cool thing is that they give u a 3m warrenty card...so if the shop u took it to the first time went out of business, just take it to another 3m dealer and its covered...but since i have a black car the black windows look great...and black also looks great on the burgendy color for some reason too...but anyways...cheers...G

[Proven Guilty]

Originally posted by benzo23
well another subject im good at...first of all metalized tint sucks....bottom line...it has shitty cell reception and it turns purple...i have 3M for my film...its non metalized its one of the highest grade tints possible...such as the jl audio for the subs...now keep in mind i have 15%...which is one step up from limo...try to find a 3M dealer if all possible...but i also heard llumar is good too...cheers..G

While 3M does make incredibly good products, I'm pretty sure you have it backwards with the tint; the dye itself fades over time, where the metalized tint is similar to the metallic based hair dye. that's why you see chicks running around with orange hair after they dye it black and try to bleach it back out; it bonds on a cellular level, and doesn't lift.

as far as the cell phone reception urban legend, that's all bullshit. keep in mind, the car itself is built from steel, and i could give you a diagram that visually compares the way cell phone reception works compared to wi-fi. not to mention tint only covers the top half of the window, and not the front windshield.

lastly; be sure to have soft felt applied to the rollers on your door. the W202 and W208 are infamous for scratched cheap tint jobs, because dirt and sand get stuck between the window and the roller, and cause long vertical slices up the windows when they're rolled up and down over time.

Like 'nolte said; Llumar ftw. 35% all around

P.S. JL audio blows.

[jnolte]

Originally posted by benzofanatic
hey james, where did u get ur windows tinted? I think thats my next mod (20%). I want a good job but lower $ would be better so far:
Accutint ($326) / Car Nutz ($300) / Mr. Tint ($350) / Guy in Lynwood my friend used ($180)



so basically shoot for non metalized and 3M right?
My 99 C280 has tint in the back, was this a factory option or just after market for the 202 (as some 203's come with fac tint), just curious.

I went to Accutint, but Mr.tint is just as good.

Many high end dealerships use accutint and mr. tint so they are the best choices.

[97C28O]

I paid 200$ for all windows, lifetime warranty from SunTek and shop. I had a little bubble in my tint and they redid free of charge.

[anf6789]

thanks proven and jnolte and everyone else! so you guys dont think 35% will be too dark, or attract the police? im pretty sure about the 35% but 50% seem like a safer bet, with 35 at the rear window. but ill probably go with 35%, this is making me go crazy, why the HELL is it illegal in NJ to have freakin tint, makes no sense, but im getting it anyway.

what do you mean by rollers, the black rubber weather stripping on the inside and out of the windows?

[benzo23]

While 3M does make incredibly good products, I'm pretty sure you have it backwards with the tint; the dye itself fades over time, where the metalized tint is similar to the metallic based hair dye. that's why you see chicks running around with orange hair after they dye it black and try to bleach it back out; it bonds on a cellular level, and doesn't lift.

well first of all when you buy your film from wal-mart, then yes its going to fade...but sorry by the time i get rid of my car the windows will still be black...and im sorry that your opinion of jl audio shows your lack of knowledge about there product, but then again you prob have or had W0's anyways...cheers...G

[Proven Guilty]

Originally posted by benzo23
well first of all when you buy your film from wal-mart, then yes its going to fade...but sorry by the time i get rid of my car the windows will still be black...and im sorry that your opinion of jl audio shows your lack of knowledge about there product, but then again you prob have or had W0's anyways...cheers...G

http://home.comcast.net/~tss.hsi/angle.jpg

[mbLova]

Originally posted by 97C28O
http://202tech.mkosonen.com/howto/doorpanel.html

DON'T FORGET TO ADD FELT TO YOUR WEATHER STRIPES! OR ELSE YOUR TINTS WOULD BE SCRATCHED! i DID THAT MYSELF USING THAT LINK TO DOOR REMOVAL! PUT YOUR FELT ON TO SAVE YOUR TINT AND TIME!!!!!!


Yes do this and also look into getting HUPEROPTIK. It is a ceramic based tint. Much better than the rest of the tints out there.

[anf6789]

should they have the felt at the place?

[benzo23]

http://img514.imageshack.us/img514/5528/anglebw2.jpg

much better

[97C28O]

My tint shop wanted 25$ FOR FELT PER WINDOW.

I paid tinter101 on this forum for a roll of felt for 10$ shipped. <- great deal and i did it myself.

[FromanL278]

Be carefull I found out that for us Mercedes Benz owners if we apply tint it can get scratched unless we pay $$$ to have a special film placed in the windows or something anyways if you dont get this your window tint will scratch

[anf6789]

nice photoshop ^^^^haha thats funny i guess^^^^;)

[anf6789]

ITS DONE!!!! 50%sides 35%rear, just how i wanted it, a nice not too dark oem-ish looking tint that blocks the sun,wont attract cops, and looks sweet!!! I will post up some pics soon!

[C280_Spawrt]

Whoa, wait a minute. What is the tint restriction in NJ? I hope it's not like 50% because 35 and 50% is like almost clear glass if im not mistaken. (50% should be clear anyway). Just out of curiosity, why'd you go so light? Post up some pics cuz I think i'm thinking of the wrong thing. Isn't factory tint 35%????????????

[Proven Guilty]

Originally posted by benzo23

much better

clearly you've got a lot of homework to do.

[anf6789]

in nj there is no allowed tint on the fronts, any % on rear. it is a tad light but i wanted to keep it even. also it is'nt that noticable that i have tint(it looks like oem older lexus/infinity tint) so i can have it without worrying about getting pulled over. ill post up pics in alittle bit. some people would say i should've got 35% but when i look at it, it seems its about as darks as i could of went in the front.

[kevinzorz]

I just got my car tinted today, 15% all around, i can say it looks perfect from the outside during the day. At night tho, it is a bit dark to drive in, but still drivable. 20% might have been a better choice, but it wouldnt look as nice.

[tinter101]

After reading this post, I feel I need to lend my expertise to
everyone as I have done in the past. E-mail me directly, PM me
or call me up (414) 329-4000. I will answer all your questions.
I've owned my own tinting business for 23 years now.
Couple things, dyed films fade. Meatalized films can in some
cases interfere with AM radio reception. Llumar has a newer film
out called Access or ATX. It's a carbon based film that won't
interfere with antennas in the rear window or fade.
Please feel free to contact me, Scott.