Window tint

[emforce]

Does anyone happen to have pics of windows tinted 35% (MO max for fronts).
Also, how much (about) did it cost, and did you
have to remove the rear deck to get the back
window done??

Any help is appreciated-
Thanks,
Shawn

[Nick]

Our legal limit is 35% in MA. I got 30% metalized tint all around as they were going to put it on the rear windows anyways. I just barely fail the inspect ion via lightmeter by 2-3%. I'm not sure the hassle of passing inspection is worth the small difference to everyone. I notice it is a smidge darker but not too dark and I like it. The place I went to didn't do a great job and charged me $200 or so. Make sure your windows are perfectly clean before they get tinted. They didn't clean mine well so i have crud trapped between my tint and the glass.

If you have a dark interior, the tint will look darker. The metalized tint reflects a little more light so the window looks cleaner than it is. It also rejects a little more heat because of the reflection. I can sit on the seats and grab the wheel now in mid summer if the sun isn't shining through the windshield.

Pics: http://community.webshots.com/album/162146932XyMQKx http://community.webshots.com/photo/123571210/162168694AXwnkV

[JoshMcMadMac]

See here: http://www.lincolnsonline.com/rides/linc/JoshMcMadMac/joshmcmadmac.html

It cost something like $175 with a lifetime warranty. I would recommend getting it professionally done with an unconditional guarantee. That way they will replace it for free under any circumstances. Also, there is no need to remove anything to have the windows tinted.

[ November 17, 2005: Message edited by: JoshMcMadMac ]

[emforce]

Nick - what happened when you failed the inspection?? Did you have to remove the tint?
Boy the 35% is not very dark at all is it?

I want all my windows to match - but hardly seems worth the effort - but I guess it will be easier to see at night.

Shawn

[84mark]

in il, we have no vehicle inspection, but if you are caught with ANY amount of window tint on front side windows, you're busted

[jmueller44]

My Mark had window tint on it when I bought it. It looks cool, but I don’t like driving with it. In the summer, it is O.K. At night or during the winter it is much more difficult to see. In addition, the tint became scratched over the years making it even more difficult to see. In some situations, I have to roll the window down to see. Professional tinters quoted $120.00 to remove it but could not guarantee the integrity of the rear window defroster. Replacing the rear window is probably another couple hundred bucks. Just something to think about.

[Nick]

After a couple rejections, I did manage to get the car passed without having to remove the tint. You need to find a lenient inspection station for the first inspection with the new tint or know someone who inspects.

Before I had my windows tinted, I had to remove tint off the rear window and the quarter windows. I did this using a Stanley wallpaper steamer. I tried pure water, but that did not do it. I then dumped in amonia, which dissolves the glue used on tint. This worked, but be sure to have PLENTY of ventilation and something to soak up the condensing liquid. I believe the boiling point of amonia is lower than water, so I doubt having water in there made much if any difference. I did not trust anyone to touch the rear window because of the defroster. I got the old tint off for the cost of a few scraper blades and some amonia. Using the steamer, I didn't do much scraping at all. My defroster is still in perfect working order and the job is easy enough that most can do it.

Some places will tint under the CHMSL, but others are lazy. I wanted a uniform look, so I removed the light housing on my own and reinstalled it after the window was tinted. I did this because I did not trust them to remove and reinstall it properly. Be sure to remove the light bulb so as not to possibly burn your parcel shelf carpet.

As Josh mentioned, do seek a full warranty if not for labor then at least for the tint. Some places also will tint the rear window using strips. The seam is not very visible, but may be more visible if using a metalized tint. I requested one continuous piece of tint for my rear window.

[ November 17, 2005: Message edited by: Nick ]

[emforce]

84mark- "in il, we have no vehicle inspection, but if you are caught with ANY amount of window tint on front side windows, you're busted"

That must make it tough on buying a car from out of state- a lot of cars come from the factory with a little bit of tint.- do they make you return the car??

EMFORCE

[jmueller44]

Nick,

Thanks for the tip. If I can ever find time, I am going to try your method for removal. Thinking about using a scraper on the defroster sure make me nervous though.

J.

[cason1]

I have 15% all the way around on mine. Friend worked at the tint shop. Legal limit is 35% here too but it has been 1 year in September since I had it done and haven't been pulled over once for it. Cost me $150 plus tipping the tinter. He pulled the CHMSL and tinted behind it correctly and I got the unconditional lifetime guarantee with it. If it scratches, tears, or fades it gets replaced free of charge. Lincolns are invisible to cops. A few months ago I passed a state trooper running radar on the interstate doing 80mph in a 70 with illegal tint and illegal clear taillights and he shook his head at me and then nailed the next car to come over the hill. My dad had 2.5% all the way around on his and in 2 years only got ticketed for it once and that was after he got pulled over for no seatbelt. He had the driver's window down so the cop saw the no seatbelt thing and came after him.

[JoshMcMadMac]

quote:Originally posted by jmueller44:
Nick,

Thanks for the tip. If I can ever find time, I am going to try your method for removal. Thinking about using a scraper on the defroster sure make me nervous though.

J.

Use simple green and cling-wrap. It is better done in the heat of summer. Liberally apply Simple Green, then quickly apply the cling-wrap to hold the Simple Green against the tint. Let it sit and bake in the heat, and using a blow dryer will help too. This will loosen it up, and if you are careful will pull the film and adhesive off all together in one pull. Patience is key!

[Nick]

I tried the bake method with amonia and a black trash bag but I couldn't get it to work. The amonia kept draining. I will have to try the Simple Green the next time around. That stuff is a lot safer. I didn't know it could dissolve that glue, although considering how well it works as a wheel cleaner, I am not surprised.

You will not need a scraper over the defroster lines with a steamer. I only had to scrape the very edges where I couldn't steam.

[emforce]

I think if the legal limit is 35. I may have a hard time talking the tinter (is that a real word) into going much darker. I could not even get a muffler shop to put my old catalytic convertor back ON my Fiero cause they said I may have hollowed it out and I had to buy a NEW one.
Anyway- I DO see quite a few cars around here that obvisously have a darker than legal tint on their front windows. If anyone here lives in MO. - how is a violation caught here? Safety inspection or just a random stop by the federalees?

Shawn

[84mark]

il outlaws any applied materials such as films, regardless of opacity...we have people with medical conditions such as lupus who are continually stopped and ticketed...

product: 'tint-off'; autoshade, inc, moorpark, ca...contains: deionized water, 2-butoxyethanol, ammonium hydroxide, potassium iodide, sulfuric acid monododecylester sodium salt

[emforce]

Yeah, Missouri was the same until a couple years ago. The good thing is- if they allow some tint - it may let a little more extreme get by.

Shawn