has anyone done it ? i have tinted windows before, but not a big rear hatch, should i do it in pieces or loook for a piece big enough to fit hte whole hatch, and can i tint over the defroster ?

 

I haven't done it but I had it done to mine. They fitted one big piece to the outside and then applied it to the inside. If you do it, don't do it in strips. It looks cheap that way in my opinion. And yes, you can tint over the defroster but it may be difficult to remove the tint later without hurting the defroster.

 

It is better to take it to a tenting shop and have them do it, and just do the side windows yourself. It would look like crap if you do it in pieces.

 

MetalliCamaroRS:

I noticed your in Palos Hills...I'm about 10-20 minutes from there. Anyways, I wanted to know, do you have a pic of your tint job? Also, where did you take it to get it done? Did it cost a lot? How good is the quality? Did it take long?

 

My tint job has quite a long story behind it.

Someone posted on the regional board that his boss would give thirdgen members a discount on tints, $100 for the whole car with any tint level they wanted. So I thought I might as well check it out. The place was a small shop in Des Plaines, AutoMex I think it was called. Well I go there and drop off the car and tell him I want limo on the back and 20% on the sides. He told me 4-5 hours. Since I had no ride back, I walked around Des Plaines for like 5 hours just killing time. I go back, and the car is sitting where I parked it. I was pretty pissed off. I go inside to see whats up and he says they are out of limo tint, but they did the sides. I didn't even notice, thats cause they used 60% on the sides or something like that. I was really pissed now. I just wasted 5 hours while they put the wrong tint on and didn't even finish? So he told me to come back tomorrow and he'd redo the sides and do the back and he took $20 off the price. So I came in first thing and they started on it right away. I watched the whole time, and they got it done in about 2.5 hours. It had a few small bubbles in the back, but nothing noticeable unless you get really close. So I paid the $80 and left. Two days later, the driver's side window started peeling by the mirror and its still like that today. It hasn't peeled any more, but its not perfect. I would never go there again. If I were to get them re-tinted (which I want to do), I'm going some place with a lifetime guarantee- even if it costs $200. It was only $80, and has lasted over a year now and still looks fine from far so I can't complain too much. Pics are on my website and the link is in the sig.

 

Interesting ordeal you've went through w/ that tint man. Sorry it wasn't an "A 1" job. Yeah, I wouldn't mind paying $200 for the tint. I just want lifetime, and also want it to last. Only problem is getting my system out of there so they have a place to work! lol
Have you looked around? Any luck finding a place? I've heard this one guy does really good work...I have to find the thread. I think they were called like, "50's Customs" or something like that. It wasn't too far from where we are at either. I was told he does a really nice job and has lots of experience. I'll try to find the thread if your interested.

 

Don't do it yourself. More poeple have have said it was a PITA and would never do it again, and would hire someone to do it, blah blah blah....do a search and see all the poeple complaining about it.

Call around to get the best prices. I didn't go with the best price....the guy I chose to do mine had lots of experience with f-body rear windows, and he surely did by looking at my tint.

Here are some tips....ALWAYS make sure that the shop uses 3M tint and nothing else, it's simply the best tint out there(IMO). And ALWAYS make sure that they warranty it for life. I paid $160 for all 3 of my windows and he did an outstanding job. No bubbles, not even pin sized ones. I will be going back to him when I get my 95 TA done as well.

I have 5% on the rear and 35% on the sides....

 

Good info Josh. Yeah, I wouldn't even TRY and attempt doing my hatch w/ tint. I still have to look into who does the best around here. I don't know about doing the sides though, as, it's illegal here in IL.

 

I did my sides, well ive had experience from my uncles shop. The back hatch is simply too big to do yourself if you dont know much. I took my back window to a tint shop. they charged me $65 w/ lifetime warranty w/ 3m tint. They were tryin to charge me $150 to do all of em tho. i got 5% on back and 5% on sides. Just last night i got pulled over for my tint, well actually i ran a red and he let me choose what i wanted a ticket for, i said tint cuz its a fix it ticket. he still wrote down Red Light as a warning tho. Now i get to roll around with my windows up all the time and if i get pulled over i can just show em the ticket. well for 2 months atleast.

 

Another tip- make sure the shop does the hatch in one piece and not in strips. Strips look cheap.

SweetRide- Andre from the NW Indiana/South Chicago Suburbs board (aka 86NiteRider) told me about a place that did his. He said they did a really good job and guaranteed it. I lost the number and address though, so you might want to PM him and ask. Just tell him I told you about it and he'll know what you're talking about. And don't worry too much about side windows in Illinois. As long as its not too dark, most cops will leave you alone and just give you a ticket for them if they catch you for something more serious. And even if you get stopped, be courteous to the cop and roll down both windows so he can see you're not hiding anything behind the tints.

 

One other thing...what do you think is the darkest to go, but still be visible in the night? I want it to be really dark in the day, but still want to see what's goin' on at night. I heard 20% all around...but, not sure how dark that is in the day.

 

k....anybody get their windows dipped instead of just having sheets of tint applied?

 

my sister has tint on the rear window of her lumina and it is bubling, because the defroster

 

i had it done all around on mine.....it took them like 3 times to get the hatch right.....and there are still bubbles so i need to go back. My advice....definatley don't do it yourself...unless ur a pro.

 

On the back, limo tint is fine. You can see headlights at night and the day isn't too bad. It takes a little getting used to. I'm happy with 20% on the sides. If I get them re-done, I'm gonna try and go just a little darker, maybe 15% if they have it.

 

i know some people on this board that used some kind of spray on tint on there tailights. Maybe you could use that on the hatch