Fake tinting?

[Thatman]

Well, I have a good amount of cash to burn, so of course its going to my car But anyways I was considering the window tinting you can buy then put all over your window and "Walla" window tinting without a new window. Is there any good to come of this or should I just not even bother. Also does anybody know what some Trucks have and apparently some cars too, umm they are like bug shields for your windows, I really want those for my Talon.

 

[retsmah]

I'm not sure what product you are talking about specifically, but my experience with cheap tint is that it sucks. Bad. The Civic I bought had this cheap tint on the glass on the hatchback, the purple stuff, it was bubbling and peeling off pretty bad. The only good thing about it was that it was pretty easy to take off.

I have no idea what you have to pay or do to have good tint, but the bad stuff sucks. I would, at the very least, not buy something that's described as 'fake tint'

 

[Thatman]

Well, It's not described as "fake tint" I was just using that as a way to describe it. I think its like "limo tint" its like $12-$15 @ wal-mart and NAPA.

 

[Slicks]

Yeah, you're talking about the same thing that retsmah is. Plastic stuff that you apply to the inside of your windows.
I wouldn't recommend it. It's cheap to buy because it is cheap. You get what you pay for. I've never applied it myself, but as far as I know, you cut out a section that fits your window, center it, and use a blade/squeegee of sorts to push the air bubbles out. On the Talon I think it would be a real pain to apply, on the quarter windows in particular.

To get a decent finish on it is (apparently) not all that hard, but the stuff isn't very durable. If you scrape or hit it with anything, it'll bubble, crease, or crinkle. I'm not sure about cleaning it, but I imagine you'd have to be careful over what cleaner you use. Being cheap plastic, it would be easy to chemically damage.

 

[Thatman]

ah, anything on the "bug things" this is what I'm talking about:http://accessory-center.com/images/seriesImages/small/23/898.jpg
can you get those for those particular DSMs?

 

[Slicks]

Hate to break it to you, but I've never seen anything of the sort for a 1G DSM.

 

[Thatman]

Damn well thanks for the info anyways.

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

If you end up putting it on, don't clean it with anything with amonia in it, it will make it bubble almost instantly. That means no windex or other glass cleaner, and you'll have to go to a auto part store and pick up special cleaner thats made to clean tinted windows (pretty expensive for cleaner) if you ever want to clean them.

 

[Keichi Tsuchiya]

A Talon?! Don't bother - when it comes off (won't be too long into the future) it'll leave this HORRIBLE smell.

 

[TB]

Having previously worked at a shop that installed tint, I say have it done by them. Side windows are usually pretty easy, but the back window usually needs to be in at least 2 pieces and even then it might require a heat gun to conform to the glass. Purchasing the tint alone will probably cost at least $50 and having a pro do it, depending on the car, will run around $300. What do you get for that extra cost? A professional installation, a warning about local tint laws (in MN I believe is still 50% on all windows - no darker) which might save you the cost of a ticket and most importantly a warranty (make sure the installer offers a warranty). Also ask what kind of tint they use. In the MN-ND area it should mostly be Sun-Gard. In my experience, it is an excellent product.

 

[wfooshee]

I concur with the professional installation. If they don't warrant it, find another shop. My car has been retinted once for free, and the second go was actually better. He got the rear hatch with a single piece, no seams. No do-it-yourselfer is going to get a compound curve done well. The side glass is easy, curves only on one axis, but rear windows or hatches are compound, and require strips and a heat gun. A good installer like I had can do it in one or two pieces.

You'll need less that $150 probably, at least that's how it is around here.

The down side of tint is that it mars easily. The guides inside the door will wear a pattern into the film.

I will tell you as a Floridian that it DOES help with the air conditioning, it reduces heat in the car very much. Not while parked, but once under way, it's much easier to keep the interior cool.

 

[Thatman]

All right, I'll consider it then at least, thanks for the other side of the spectrum.

 

[retsmah]

If you end up putting it on, don't clean it with anything with amonia in it, it will make it bubble almost instantly.

Yeah, I removed the old tint on my civic by spraying some windex on it, covering it with a plastic bag and letting it sit for a while. You can buy ammonia free windex at the store though, it's called like windex surface cleaner or something. Good for cleaning plexiglass too.