Do it yourself tint?

[godzillarb]

I'm looking at some of these do it yourself tint kits on ebay, anyone ever tried this stuff before? I'd just take my car to a shop but to be totally honest I don't trust random people with the keys to my car, the temptation to go take it for a test drive would be entirely too strong. Plus saving a bunch of money is always nice.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...4450&rd=1&rd=1

[kdashy]

Why dont you drop off the car and make a note of the milage?

Also do it yourself kits usually suck, bubble and fade real quick.

[eastcoastS14]

dont get that crap...DIY tint will come out like total ass if you dont do it 100% right...its pretty easy to get bubbles and what not and make it look horrible, plus the ones that ive seen look super cheap compared to real tint. Just bring it to a shop, and unless your driving a rocket ship i dont think anyone at the shop will be tempted to take it out for a test drive...if youre really that worried about it right down the mileage when you drop it off. Seriously tho that would be a dumb move on a shops part to take their customers cars out for test drives, find a reputable place not some chop shop and its tint so they couldnt even justify driving it...and as always you get what you pay for

[eastcoastS14]

^^ lol kdashy is much more concise than i am ha

[godzillarb]

I think some of the stories i've heard from people that work at places like that have just scared me a little. Especially if you're really particular, seems like you'll get extra "special" treatment. I'll probably just put the stock ECU in that doesn't let you rev past 3k haha

[sliddinsil8o]

why dont you just do the tint yourself. i did on my 180...i think i got like 10% for all my windows. took me about 5 hours to do all the window, outside while it was windy...so i was kinda rushing it. had some small bubble here and there but nothing major. but my point is that tinting window is really easy...just need to take your time like everything else.

[zugoi]

Well i dont think it can be that bad. If they use the same tint other shops it will be the same. The only hard part about doing tint is the cutting and its all done. I think you should give it a try. I mean where im from it would cost about 100-120 bucks to get it done. It should be hard to put on tint. Just clean the glass and spray water on glass and apply. I dont think you need glue.

[sliddinsil8o]

Nope..No GLUE (haha I laughed a litte inside sorry) tinted should have a pre adhesive already on it

[harleys]

don't do it yourself, unless you don't care about bubbles, and trash all in your windows. also, you don't just put it on, you have to use a heat gun and shrink the tint to the shape of the window before ever attempting to put it on the inside of the glass. trust me, i work at a stereo/tint shop. just take it somewhere.

EDIT: and if it isn't 3M, it isn't the best.

[89dc240]

You can do it. dont they sell tint kits at your auto shops near ya? I've done my current and previous truck with no problems. Just make sure your razor is super sharp, the windows are really clean, try to do it in a garage with lots of light(no wind or dust bein blown around). Its not hard just go SLOW. on the other hand, $120 for a pro install with probably a guarantee isnt bad.

[Wahl 136]

Why don't you just call around and find out when the shop would beable to get it in to do it. Then just have a friend follow you and wait it out in the parking lot or something if your that concerned with them joyriding your car. I worked at a vinyl shop that did tint, it's a lot harder than you think. Let a pro do it.

[axiomatik]

the amount of money it costs to get it done is well worth it. it will take you hours and hours, and in the end, not be as good.

[5t341tH]

might as well pay 120 bucks for all windows tinted. no hassle and they rarely mess up.
thoh i did see them do my driver/passenger window....it took like 2 minutes for both....

[kandyflip445]

I got my neighbor to do mine in the winter. NEVER DO IT IN THE WINTER! When I got mine done it was cold out and it didn't cure right. So now the tint is purple and I need to have it redone.

3M tint is the best you can get. For any given percentage tint the 3M is usually a little darker. Also if you get 3M tint you can call up 3M and ask them for certified dealers/installers in your area. If you don't get someone certified, 3M will not back the warantee.

[94cc0rd]

why not just drop your car off and stand there while they do it...

Usually they won't let you in the "garage" or workspace so just stand outside where you can still see your car..

And like everyone else has said here, tint is something that should be done by pros.

[los_inc]

i say give it a whirl with some decent razors, heat gun and film like johnson or 3m.
if it looks like ass peel it and cough off the loot to get it installed
professionally.
-los

[sr20boostn20]

i never tinted windows a day in my life, i went to autozone bout some bs 5% tint and tinted my s13, it came out good, now im a suntek dealer and i do it as a side job. all you need is the film a spray bottle with some baby shampoo and a squeegee, (heat gun for curved windows) it only costs like 15 bucks for a 6 ft sheet, i say go for it

[kidswole]

hey man Im a tinter, (and full time student) but I got to tell you its not really that hard if you are somewhat artistic and you have used olfa knife before, I can tell you what you need to know and what tools to get it done decent in your driveway (just pm me). But honestly dude 120 to get your car done is pretty decent ( if the quality is good) to do a car like a 240 I charge 145 w/o visor. And most respectable shops won't test drive your car!

Also, be choosey on what tint you go with, some cheaper junk like Gilla from autozone and places like that are o.k. but dont have the technology to keep it from fading as fast (cheap dyes, fewer layers,etc) also the glue on some of the cheaper tints dont want to stick as well.

good luck,

[kidswole]

no offense but
purple tint = you use ammonia based window cleaner regularly on the tint (windex and other household window cleaners)

and-or

the tint is just a cheaper brand with weak dye,
unless it is a metallic film that doesn't use dyes but those never turn purple.

from now on try using cleaning with a lint free cloth or water or non-ammonia window cleaner

[ALTRNTV]

Be sure to take pictures of the bubbles after you put on the tint yourself.

[street240]

When I got my windows tinted, I told them I was not going to leave my car and I stood in there the whole time. I also told them that I would pull it in and out. It came out great and never bubbled.

[kandyflip445]

Oh yeah, if you do order it, if there are any creases in the tint when you get it send it back. You cannot remove them. I was going to do it myself before but the place I got it from sent it usps. When I got it the package looked like people had ran over it and used is for batting practice.

[ooowowizstev]

pretty good!

[projectRDM]

I tinted for a few years too, and the common automobile owner doesn't have a chance in hell of doing a good job. Even reading some of these replies I'm cringing. For one, you can't use a carbon blade on glass without leaving marks, razor blades and regular Olfa blades will cut into the glass. Secondly, rear windows or ones with curvature really need to be heatedshrinked to the glass before applying it.
I'm sure the people replying who say their's turned out good are comparing it to total ass, which in most cases should look better, but that doesn't mean it's right and it will last. Plus I don't see any reason why you shouldn't trust the tinter, if you're there with the car do you really expect them to do a banzai run up the highway? If anything, take off the door panels, rear deck, any parts to make thier job easier, they'll appreciate it.

[Phlip]

Originally Posted by R240NA

I tinted for a few years too, and the common automobile owner doesn't have a chance in hell of doing a good job. Even reading some of these replies I'm cringing. For one, you can't use a carbon blade on glass without leaving marks, razor blades and regular Olfa blades will cut into the glass. Secondly, rear windows or ones with curvature really need to be heatedshrinked to the glass before applying it.
I'm sure the people replying who say their's turned out good are comparing it to total ass, which in most cases should look better, but that doesn't mean it's right and it will last. Plus I don't see any reason why you shouldn't trust the tinter, if you're there with the car do you really expect them to do a banzai run up the highway? If anything, take off the door panels, rear deck, any parts to make thier job easier, they'll appreciate it.

Hey Russ, wanna tint my windows when I am in town weekend after next, since I cartwheeled the S14 5 days before you were supposed to do it?

[kidswole]

Originally Posted by R240NA

I tinted for a few years too, and the common automobile owner doesn't have a chance in hell of doing a good job. Even reading some of these replies I'm cringing. For one, you can't use a carbon blade on glass without leaving marks, razor blades and regular Olfa blades will cut into the glass. Secondly, rear windows or ones with curvature really need to be heatedshrinked to the glass before applying it.
I'm sure the people replying who say their's turned out good are comparing it to total ass, which in most cases should look better, but that doesn't mean it's right and it will last. Plus I don't see any reason why you shouldn't trust the tinter, if you're there with the car do you really expect them to do a banzai run up the highway? If anything, take off the door panels, rear deck, any parts to make thier job easier, they'll appreciate it.

1- true his tint job will have trash in it but, if you are very cautious in prepping the window it won't be too bad.
2- I definitely suggest having a pro do all back glasses, Remove the plastic at the bottom of the rear triangle windows because those aren't fun.
3- Some of the heat shrinking (not heated shrinking) on the 240 will be too complex for someone inexperienced so you may not want to try it, it is likely you will melt and crease it. if anything put the visor on!
4- If you have a pro do it make sure they do a back glass in one piece, not that old school two-piece or even strips that are still being done.

5-Yes, any razor blade will scratch glass, if its dull! I buy all my stuff from Johnson's and I NEVER SCRATCH glass. before I started tinting I used cheap blades from autozone to do my own cars and didnt scratch . so , you decide

peace

[godzillarb]

I definitely think I'm going to pass on the do it yourself tint...I was reading up on the process a lot of professional tint shops use and whatnot, definitely more to getting things perfect that I originally thought.

I've got enough things to frustrate me for now...no need to throw a shitty tint job in there as well.

[kidswole]

Originally Posted by godzillarb

I definitely think I'm going to pass on the do it yourself tint...I was reading up on the process a lot of professional tint shops use and whatnot, definitely more to getting things perfect that I originally thought.

I've got enough things to frustrate me for now...no need to throw a shitty tint job in there as well.

aight man , just tryin to help

good luck

[5t341tH]

im thinkin about tinting the top portion of my windshield. how do u guuys think it would look? i was thinkin of doing it myself too.

[zugoi]

man i dont think you need "pros" unless you wanna pay alot for it. Tint cant be that hard. I will try mine when i get a chance. The shops prolly just hire someone off the streets and just teach them on the spot. Its not rocket science.Just do it urself first and if u mess it up SOOO bad then goto a shop.