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Automotive Window Tinting

Dex

By Dex,
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Dex Collaborator

Dex

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So I'm getting my car windows tinted in a couple weeks and I was wondering what brands and types of films I should go with? I don't want to spend anymore than $350ish so 3M Crystalline might be out but I'd like to hear other's opinions. I'll be going 35% on the front and back windows with 20% on the rear window if that matters in cost or film. Also I have a new Accord that has GPS/Pandora so no metallic films please.

I also WILL NOT be installing it myself. Different tint places use different brands so I'm using this thread to shop around for places.

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Ja Rhule Grand Master

Ja Rhule

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So I'm getting my car windows tinted in a couple weeks and I was wondering what brands and types of films I should go with? I don't want to spend anymore than $350ish so 3M Crystalline might be out but I'd like to hear other's opinions. I'll be going 35% on the front and back windows with 20% on the rear window if that matters in cost or film. Also I have a new Accord that has GPS/Pandora so no metallic films please.

I also WILL NOT be installing it myself. Different tint places use different brands so I'm using this thread to shop around for places.

I got ceramic at sun stoppers for $300 that also blocks heat. 5 years later, no complaints.

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toldozer Veteran

toldozer

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I don't think brand matters as much as the shop. I would check customer reviews. The installer can do a shitty job with a good brand and a great installer can do a great job with a shitty brand. Im much more concerned with the look of the tint more so then its actual function. So I would go with the cheapest place with the best review. 350 seems way too high to me

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Dex Collaborator

Dex

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I don't think brand matters as much as the shop. I would check customer reviews. The installer can do a shitty job with a good brand and a great installer can do a great job with a shitty brand. Im much more concerned with the look of the tint more so then its actual function. So I would go with the cheapest place with the best review. 350 seems way too high to me

Most ceramic tints go between 300-600. Some even more.
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Ja Rhule Grand Master

Ja Rhule

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Do you remember the brand, type and percentage you got? Pictures?

No, I don't. Sorry! Had no idea someone would ask for the info! I remember doing a lot of research online and reading racing forums. People on these forum take this poo serious.

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KSpan Grand Master

KSpan

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Don't get a dyed metallic product that will fade. I've had 20% front and back on several cars now, paying around $200 at a shop here in Kansas, and I've never had any issues with fading (faded tint is a pet peeve of mine). Suntek or Viper seem to be common brands.

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Dex Collaborator

Dex

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Just curious. What is the point of ceramic?

Ceramic is non metallic so won't mess with my nav or radio signals and it also blocks out the most heat. They are the highest quality tints you can get. I plan on having this car for 7 years so it seems paying more is worth the investment. I also like to drive long distances and want to be comfortable in the car.
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Dex Collaborator

Dex

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Don't get a dyed metallic product that will fade. I've had 20% front and back on several cars now, paying around $200 at a shop here in Kansas, and I've never had any issues with fading (faded tint is a pet peeve of mine). Suntek or Viper seem to be common brands.

Yeah I'm shopping around for a ceramic tint. Different shops carry different brands so its a pain in the ass. I've heard good things about suntek I'll check out viper. Does yours have a matte look?
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Batman Newbie

Batman

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Ceramic is non metallic so won't mess with my nav or radio signals and it also blocks out the most heat. They are the highest quality tints you can get. I plan on having this car for 7 years so it seems paying more is worth the investment. I also like to drive long distances and want to be comfortable in the car.

A metallic film isn't gonna interfere with anything on your vehicle. The XM/FM antenna on the new Accord is located on the roof panel. The factory GPS antenna is located inside the front dash pad. Neither of those locations would be harmed by a metallic film.

Interference from metallic film occurs when the vehicle's antenna is surface glued to the rear window. And even then it's nothing extreme. Not many vehicles have those types of antennas anymore.

Ceramic is a superior film to metallic, but it's a waste of money in your application. You live in the NE, it doesn't even get hot there. Yes, ceramic will block more heat but you won't notice a difference unless it's in extreme temperatures. And you are going with an extremely light tint. 35% is almost not even worth bothering with tint. At that percentage the heat difference is even less noticeable.

The only thing you need to avoid is a dyed film because it will fade and crack over time. But none of the high end manufacturers or installers will even make or use that stuff so it's a moot point.

Llumar, Pinnacle, Global, 3M, etc; there are a lot of high quality film makers out there. It really doesn't matter, it's just personal preference. My current in-house tint pro uses Llumar, the guy before him used 3M. Never had a single issue with either product. And any reputable shop will stand behind their product and fix any issues that may occur.

I would also suggest doing a 5% strip across the top of your windshield to help reduce glare and reflections. Or you could even have the entire windshield done with a 70% film. Glass reflects light naturally and all vehicles have a certain amount of glare. When you tint your front windows it makes the glare worse because the light coming through your windshield is trapped and gets reflected back.

If you can get the ceramic for a comparable price go for it. But most shops will put a ridiculous markup on the ceramic vs metallic and try to market it as a vast superior product. That's how they make money. It's BS. It's a slightly better product, but it's not worth it if its a huge price difference.

Just make sure the shop uses a high quality brand and offers a warranty. Then just go with the best price you can find, don't waste your money.

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