Windows Tinting?

[nemo456]

I am thinking of getting the windows in my new accord EX tinted...any recommendation as to where to get it? the price range? the regulations? ( I am in PA and NJ area)

I also saw lots of cars and vans have their rear windshiend and rear windows tinted, but NOT the driver's and passenger's windows, why is that?

Thanks in advance

[foreman_bob]

http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html

That shows you laws, state by state. As you can see, some states have different allowances for front/rear windows. IMO I think any law prohibiting you from tinting your windows is just ridiculous.

I've considered doing it myself, but I've had friends tell me that could be really messy and a huge dissapointment. I'm in Columbus, OH and friends are telling me to expect to pay ~165 at a shop to do it.

There's several DIY kits and tutorials online...just say google.

Does anyone have any good pics of accords with window tints?

[04blkpearlcoupe]

One reason some accords don't have front windows tinted is because the inner window seals that honda uses tends to scratch tint. Its a common problem and I have read that because of this honda no longer offers front-window tinting at the dealership.

[Wheelie]

In Dallas Texas you can have 35% on the passenger and driver windows, limo tint on the rear and back windows, I like the 35% driver and back, makes a even look, my buddy has a tint shop in the Dallas area, charged me $100, if you live around Dallas and are looking at tinting, email me and I will give you his Shop number. wee
http://www.gixxer.com/uploads/DSCN2247.JPG

[Wheelie]

One reason some accords don't have front windows tinted is because the inner window seals that honda uses tends to scratch tint. Its a common problem and I have read that because of this honda no longer offers front-window tinting at the dealership.
Thats posted on the Acura TL web site also. weee

[Redsox04]

In Massachusetts if you ask for as dark as legal you get the car back with hardly any tint. Some shops if you tell them you want dark, they will do it for cash and no receipt. You would just need to ask around and find a shop that would do this.

[WheelBrokerAng]

Your window tint looks very well done...
Looks like a good shop with excellant work...

WheelBrokerAng

[VTECaddict]

i see the rear quarter window isnt tinted...theres that little corner that you cant get to unless you take out the glass. it looks a lot better when the whole thing is tinted, but VERY few shops do that...

if it had that little corner tinted, it would look perfect! :thmsup:

[Wheelie]

(yawn) lol wee

[n1accord]

... driver and back, makes a even look...
Yes, yes, YES!

Good looking exhaust tips, too. (Now, how about a simple chrome license bracket?)

[Wheelie]

Yes, yes, YES!

Good looking exhaust tips, too. (Now, how about a simple chrome license bracket?)
lol, as soon as I get my tags, it will have a black plate bracket on it. weeee

[Wheelie]

Tips came from this guy asianaxis@hotmail.com I saw a post here about his ebay auctions, payed and got them in 3 days. $37 to my door. If anyone is interested just email him. weee

[Rogue Two]

Tips came from this guy asianaxis@hotmail.com I saw a post here about his ebay auctions, payed and got them in 3 days. $37 to my door. If anyone is interested just email him. weee
These exact same tips can be had for about $18 (including tax) from your local Advance Auto! See this thread here (http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2591) and specifically, post #12 (http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showpost.php?p=25268&postcount=12) and post #14 (http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showpost.php?p=25293&postcount=14).

BTW, the tint looks great! :thmsup:

[dragoncoach]

Nice tint job. I just had our '05 Accord tinted yesterday. I decided to do all the rear windows, 30% on rear windows and 20% on the back window. The tint is the hybrid type which has 50% metal so it rejects heat better than regular tint. He added the felt on the silicone wiper on the rear doors. I need to wait 2 more days till the tint completly dries then I can begin to roll the windows up and down. Also did the small 1/4 windows. There is a seal but it doesn't run the entire length of the glass. My tint runs just slightly past the seal. I didn't want to remove the entire glass to tint the remaining glass. If you check your Accord, you will see what I mean. I think the shop did a great job. Bay Area cost, $180 with a lifetime warranty from a reputable shop.

[VTECaddict]

ooh, where at? i wonder how much it would cost for all 4 doors + rear glass? what brand of tint did they use?

and of course, dont forget pictures! :thmsup:

[dragoncoach]

The shop is called Auto Mall Tint Specialist. The owner's name is Sidney Lee. He is in Fremont and his # is 510-659-8468. I've dealt with him since the early 90's. High quality work and great service. Call him for info, he's very knowledgeable and will advise you. BTW, he doesn't really like doing the fronts, but if you really want them done, ask him.

[Steven]

Now that its brought to my attention, my front window tints are scratched (more on the drivers side) I guess due to the front inner window seals. I have 20% all around. When I got mine done it cost me $175 with a year warranty and this was 2 years ago. Now the same place charges $200 lol. My friend just got his windows tinted a month ago for $150. Thats even cheaper than when I originally got my windows tinted. On the outside, you cant see the scratches to the tints, only on the inside. It sucks but nothing can be done about it.

[jrt81]

I got the Madico tint, 38% all around.

I went to this guy at Thousand Oaks, CA. He also put some felt strips on all the door trims to prevent scratches on the windows.

If you want to see, I have a pic on the gallery section.

[VTECaddict]

The shop is called Auto Mall Tint Specialist. The owner's name is Sidney Lee. He is in Fremont and his # is 510-659-8468. I've dealt with him since the early 90's. High quality work and great service. Call him for info, he's very knowledgeable and will advise you. BTW, he doesn't really like doing the fronts, but if you really want them done, ask him.
hes the one i got a quote from a (long) while ago. $280 for "Suntek HP" film on all windows (except windshield) if i pay cash. he also advised me not to get the felt stripping since they can come off? :dunno:

i want to get it done for under $200, so i havent taken him up on his offer...

[wyang]

I am thinking of getting the windows in my new accord EX tinted...any recommendation as to where to get it? the price range? the regulations? ( I am in PA and NJ area)

I also saw lots of cars and vans have their rear windshiend and rear windows tinted, but NOT the driver's and passenger's windows, why is that?

Thanks in advance
I paid $140 for my tints in GA, and am not very satisfied. They were not able to tint the dot-matrix on the top of the rear windshield, and there are some small bubbles that they refuse to fix. If I could do it over again, I would have paid around $250 for one of the more professional shops.

[dragoncoach]

The common denominator here from all the posts regarding tint, is cheaper is NOT always the best way to go. If you consider how long you are going to keep your Accord ( plan on keeping ours at least 7 years) and the difference in cost is $50 to $75 more, the cost per year is really not a factor. Not to mention the job should be much better, the tint they use may be better, and the warranty is often lifetime as opposed to one or two years.

[edwilson13185]

Had mine done with 20% Madico tint at a local shop for $220. It has a lifetime warranty. They also installed felt strips on my inner window seals, and the tint is not scratched at all.

Plenty of pictures of it at http://community.webshots.com/user/edwilson13185

Click on the "Ed's Honda" album.

[SWATaccord]

anybody in the bay know somebody who does tinting cheap or trade for stuff for tinting

[princess]

:dunno: Precision Tint in Concord is a busy, but small company....he just might, you could ask. He does a great job!!!

The mountain one by Antioch's Costco is a really small place. He tinted well, but dented my car (the '02) & so I took the '03 elsewhere. He was cheaper. 3 windows for 160 at the time. Maybe you could clean his shop, it sure needed it!!

[dragoncoach]

A dirty tint shop isn't good! Dirt and dust are the main enemys of tinters. It gets under the film and can ruin the job completely. Image means a lot. I don't think I would use a dirty tint shop, no pride in appearance may mean the same with the completed job.

[princess]

He left rings on my freshly waxed car too! After we got it home I called several times to discuss the dent.....he didn't answer or EVER return my calls. He knew he did it....it was at belt height. Car service people are supposed to wear the buckless belts!!

The one in Concord was crowded, but organized. My car came out as clean as it went in. I'll go back for future tinting. He did cost a little more (185) but that's OK.

[Thrud]

On the car posted, isn't the tint loose on the back window (passenger side)?

I had my Accord done recently and I asked about felt strips for the front windows. They said that they do all the cars for one local Honda dealership and that they don't need the felt strips. Well, the passenger side front tint is scratched now. I hate having to take time out to go fix this!

[princess]

On the car posted, isn't the tint loose on the back window (passenger side)?

Who's car??? :dunno:

Several have been complaining about the tinting getting scratched up from the lack of a soft guide in there. Since mine aren't moved much, they aren't yet. One of these days I'll make him take it apart & put something in there....

If I'd had my fronts tinted, they'd be scratched, the glass has marks.

Since they aren't tinted by Honda, they aren't going to feel there's a need to protect what we add.

[Sooner in FL]

One reason some accords don't have front windows tinted is because the inner window seals that honda uses tends to scratch tint. Its a common problem and I have read that because of this honda no longer offers front-window tinting at the dealership.

Not necessary a true statement. I leased my Accord in March at invoice price and the sales manager was not aware that my Accord had window tinting, which would added another $200 to the deal. I told my sales person that we already agreed on the price, so I got the tint for free :thmsup:

All of my windows are tinted and rear glass. It is true about the front window leaving scratches. I have one on the driver side above the door lock. On the passenger side, I have 3 to 4 lines next to the side mirror. As of now, you can not really notice.

[RTexasF]

In Dallas Texas you can have 35% on the passenger and driver windows, limo tint on the rear and back windows, I like the 35% driver and back, makes a even look, my buddy has a tint shop in the Dallas area, charged me $100, if you live around Dallas and are looking at tinting, email me and I will give you his Shop number. wee
http://www.gixxer.com/uploads/DSCN2247.JPG

BEEYOUTIFUL!

[Askani]

Yeah I got mine done when I got my 04. It was done by the same guy the dealer uses who is a Honda expert and he told me about the scratches and put something in to prevent scratches. Now come almost 2 years later I just developed one long scratch on the passenger side window. Sucks, but I'll deal. I love the tint job. It's kinda darkgrey/purple. Looks great with my carbon grey accord.

[Deific]

I got some confusions about tint. I don't know a ton about it outside of common sense. I am having my windows tinted on Friday as part of a B-Day present. I went to the shop and he said it was going to be ~$130. The shop is clean, and I saw a car he recently did and it looked great. The problem is windows come with stock tint already in the window. I have a 2005 Honda Accord and my window tint from the factory is 6% state law in CT is for 35% but the film we have is 35%. If we put 35% on an already 6% from factory car Net tint is 29%. Which is illegal. Being illegal isn't a huge problem for me considering its so minute but it seems a lot of people are convinced they have 35% tinting, but what they are refering to is the actual FILM tint and not the NET tint. Additionally I asked him about scratching of the tint from the seals. He said seals are either rubber or felt, and scratches come from dust and debris collecting on these seals, when you put the window up the dust and debris scratches against your tint. He said the way around is it to keep your seals free of debris by wiping them off once a month. The other problem I have is I don't know any of the brands he has of tint. Looked as if he had 4 different shades 50%, 35%, 23%, and 15%. I called the shop, they said they have Johnson and SolarGuard. I been checking out Tintdude but I swear a bunch of people will say, awesome tint, and another bunch will say its garbage. And I am assuming this guy isn't going to felt my windows... Advice?

[Deific]

No help huh?

[psyshack]

We paided $265.00 for tint in our sedan. Had 3M Color Safe put on the side windows and Huper Optiks ceramic put on the moon roof. We have had no scratching problems at all. Keep thing clean and seems to work out fine.

We have had cars tinited in the past. Everytime its cheap its junk film that turns blue then purple.

We had a lite tint done on the Accord job this time. Its no where near the legal limit.

Next tint job I believe Im going all out and have the Huper Optiks put in on all the glass. Will be around $450.00 ,, but that stuffs amazing in the heat it blocks.

Enjoy your tinit

[RTexasF]

Now I wish I had thought of additional tint to the sunroof!
DUH!

[BenjiBoy650]

I thought the point of a sunroof was to let in sun, why would you tint it? Doesn't make good sense to me :dunno:

[RTexasF]

Sometimes I like to ride with the sunblocker slid back but the sunroof closed. It lets in waayyyy to much light (and heat) in the TX summer. I would go with a silver type tint that blocks heat as well as light.

[BenjiBoy650]

I do that too but I guess I don't feel it as much because I'm in CA...also probably because I'm missing something about this Huper Optiks tint stuff.

I'd like something that lets in as much visible light as possible while blocking all UV/infrared/etc. I always thought our glass was UV resistant but it's not 100% apparently...I left a parking permit printed from my HP printer for approx 12 hours in the sun for a day and another 5 hours or so the next day, and all the colored faded massively. You could tell because part of the permit was below the black trim around the windshield and it was perfect.

[psyshack]

Benji,, Huper Optiks is a ceramic tint. Its heat rejection is awsome. Far better than a metalized tint and dosent mess with radios, cell phones and other electronic devices.

Benji our installer has a box with a heat lamp in it. Sun in a box if you will. Has a panel of glass with half in 3M Color Safe other half in Huper Optiks. Stick a hand in the box, push a switch located in there and a 150w infared flood light comes on. Pull the glass panel out and hit the power switch and it gets hot instantly. If you where stupid enough to keep your hand in there long you would suffer a burn. Slide the glass panel into the portion with the 3M Color Safe on it and heat is cut in a big way. But its still there,,, you can feel it but no chance of getting burned. Just break out in a sweat. Slide the panel over to the Huper Optiks and the heat is all but gone. I played with this darn box for 30 mins. Wife was utterly amazed as I was. The poor guy was afraid Id catch something on fire. The film also has a look that is hard to describe. It looks as if it belongs. Like its one with the car.

In the southern USA a sunroof is pretty much useless in the summer. We would pull the blind back on ours and in a matter of a few mins. The A/C couldnt keep up not to mention if it was high noon the sun would be burning your arms if you had them on the center arm rest. The factory tint helped some but was basicly uselss in June, July, August. Why most around here call them moonroofs. There useless durning the day in the summer. But with the Huper Optiks it becomes a very useable feature, a down right wonderful feature. Also the blind dosent become a radiator like it use to. Even with the blind closed it use to get very warm. Much warmer than the rest of the headliner. Not anymore it stays basicly at the same temp as the rest of the head liner.

There could be a problem with tinting the sunroof. I ran into alot of installers that wouldnt tint one.

Reasons given:

#1 It wont stay up on the sunroof. Gravity at work.
I find this one to be BS. When applied correct it should stay up there for ever. Get the air out between two smooth surfaces and you cant pull them apart.

#2 Can break the glass due to massive expansion and contraction. Or leaks around sunroof due to expansion and contraction warping glass. The film mite not have the expansion and contraction rates of the glass. This could be a real concern. Ive seen in the past the above happen to aftermarket sunroofs. There glass isnt as thick. I have seen them break in extreme cases. Have seen alot of warping. IVE never seen this happen to a OEM sunroof either factory or others installed. We've had no such problems at all.

I would not recommend Huper Optiks and other high end ceramic films to people up north except on the sunroof. I know when I lived in the Denver area it was nice to feel the sun warm your bones on a sunny day at 10f. I could see a car feeling like a heated coffin in areas like some of our members live in. There are times when the radiant heat of the sun is useful. :)

http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/home_leisure/-/node_RLF5XD4157be/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_GSHCV1ZFXKge/gvel_TVZ3SZ6L9Cgl/theme_us_homeleisure_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html
http://www.huperoptikusa.com/consumer_auto.cfm

We did the 3M-CS 35 and the Huper 30
The only way this combo can be beat is to go all Huper. :thmsup:

3M Color Stable,, Not Color Safe,,, sorry

[jintegra]

This is for all those who have scratches on their tints:
My windows were tinted shortly after I bought the car in the summer of '04. For the first 6 months or so, no scratches whatsoever but sometime during the winter I started noticing long, deep scratches on the windows, especially the fronts. Initially I thought all 4 windows were scratched but it turns out only 3 of the 4 were. I tried taking it back to Honda to get them to investigate the problem but they wanted $80 just to take apart the door panels, to which I said thanks, but no thanks. On a subsequent visit for another complaint, I again brought up the scratched tint issue (this time with one of the mechanics) & he was nice enough to offer replacing all 4 window sashes, although I had my doubts if this would actually prevent future scratches. Then I thought, why not contact my tint guy to see if there was anything that could be done, & to my surprise he said, bring it in & he'll replace all the scratched tints for FREE! :banana: He also said that the new Hondas & Acuras (& Chrysler too apparently) have switched over to feltless sashes & this was the cause of the scratching. To prevent any future scratches, felt had to be installed on the side of the sash which presses against the window. To cover the cost of the felt & labor, he charged me $50, which I thought was reasonable for the cost of the felt & an hour's work on all 4 windows. So, for those with scratches, try contacting your tint shop, & if they're like mine, they might just replace it for free. :thmsup:

[Deific]

This is for all those who have scratches on their tints:
My windows were tinted shortly after I bought the car in the summer of '04. For the first 6 months or so, no scratches whatsoever but sometime during the winter I started noticing long, deep scratches on the windows, especially the fronts. Initially I thought all 4 windows were scratched but it turns out only 3 of the 4 were. I tried taking it back to Honda to get them to investigate the problem but they wanted $80 just to take apart the door panels, to which I said thanks, but no thanks. On a subsequent visit for another complaint, I again brought up the scratched tint issue (this time with one of the mechanics) & he was nice enough to offer replacing all 4 window sashes, although I had my doubts if this would actually prevent future scratches. Then I thought, why not contact my tint guy to see if there was anything that could be done, & to my surprise he said, bring it in & he'll replace all the scratched tints for FREE! :banana: He also said that the new Hondas & Acuras (& Chrysler too apparently) have switched over to feltless sashes & this was the cause of the scratching. To prevent any future scratches, felt had to be installed on the side of the sash which presses against the window. To cover the cost of the felt & labor, he charged me $50, which I thought was reasonable for the cost of the felt & an hour's work on all 4 windows. So, for those with scratches, try contacting your tint shop, & if they're like mine, they might just replace it for free. :thmsup:
Wow your really lucky the replaced your sashes and your tints. The reason people get scratches is because they fail to clean the debris on the sashes. Eventually you will get scratches with the felt if you don't keep it clean.

[SSMV6]

I thought the point of a sunroof was to let in sun, why would you tint it? Doesn't make good sense to me :dunno:
Sometimes it's a lot easier on the eyes not to have the full sun blazing in while driving. Tinting the sunroof will let just enough light in to get rid of the tight quarters feeling, but it won't let you dry up like a prune or burn in the summer months. My old civic had absolutely no tint in the factory glass so I tinted that with 20% tint. It made a world of difference in how much I can enjoy the sunroof!

[jintegra]

The reason people get scratches is because they fail to clean the debris on the sashes. :blush: Guilty as charged. Will have to be more diligent with the new tints; thanks for the advice.

I don't know a ton about it outside of common sense. I am having my windows tinted on Friday as part of a B-Day present. I went to the shop and he said it was going to be ~$130.Quite often film manufacturers will have films of differring quality. An indication of its resistance to fading & other problems would be the length of the warranty offered , eg. my tint guy offers 2 grades of film, one for $180Cdn & the other $240Cdn, the difference being 2-3 (can't remember exactly) yr warranty vs lifetime.

And I am assuming this guy isn't going to felt my windows.For vehicles like the newer Hondas/Acuras, it's approx $50Cdn extra compared to other vehicles. I'm sure most shops would do it for extra cash.

Btw, how did the tiniting go?

[Deific]

Tinting went well, I recently brought it back because I had some small bubbles on the edges but they cleared when I rolled down the windows. Apparently it was in part due to some of the cold weather that we have here. They look great though.