Tint prices and percentages
 

I am having my car tinted. The shop is charging me $150 for it. Also says that the laws in Missouri allow for 35% on doors and 10% on rear, 5% on windshield (I guess). Says they can do more but will not be liable if I find myself in legal trouble and will not remove the tint in that case.

I have a magnetic black 2010. Comments/suggestions welcome.

Not a bad price, stick to the legal limit or very minimal under that (25-30). Windshield if similar to Texas is only a few inches from the roof down and I never found it worth it.

Something to ask, is warranty. My tint on both cars are fully warranty for the time I own the car. So any bubble, peeling, etc I take it back and it is 100% replaced for free (the piece in question).

While it can vary quite a bit based on where you live, Missouri seems to be very lax on actually enforcing tint laws.
Here is 5% on the sides and brow
http://www.the370z.com/members/m3chh...ure73625-a.jpg
http://www.the370z.com/members/m3chh...ure75020-a.jpg

Have you ever installed tint? Cutting it to size is the easy part.

sounds like a very reasonable price you are paying. I paid about the same for all windows and the windshield strip at the top.

As for the percentage, I've always had illegal percentages here in NY and never get bothered for it. You know your area cops though and if they are ballbusters or if hey let little things slide. Choosing percentage you actually want is tougher though. I will say the 5% (limo) looks amazing, but if this is your daily driver and you drive at night a lot, seeing out the sides without good lighting is very tough. I have 20% and at times its difficult for me to see things around a turn if the light isnt just right.

Unless you live in California, go illegal. I've rode around with illegal tints from day one and many different cars. Never had a problem. Even getting pulled over for other things. Yeah there is a chance the cop might be an @sshat and cite you. So pay the fine and move on. Chances are it won't happen again. If you get sketched out riding next to a cop 1. MAP lights on or 2. Roll em down.

I'd do 5% - 20% for real privacy. I have 15% and couldn't be happier. Driving around at night, especially in the rain is the scariest thing though as visibility is greatly reduced. I couldn't even imagine 5% at night.

you sure sound like you know wat you're doing.

i dont feel like buying an entire roll and having that roll sit in my storage for years like the last few rolls i had...

$150 is probably the low end tint. Expect to pay $300 range for the good stuff.

Agreed... Also in reference to buying pre-cut. Yes people sell it. But usually short term minimal gain and long term loss. When you can walk into any quality tint shop and get high end product professionally installed with lifetime warranty for $300 is it really worth saving $200 to get low end computer cut / dyed tint. I mean if YOU dont get it right it instantly becomes a $200 DIY..

I am a "DO IT MYSELF type" on almost everything. Tint is not one of them. Im capable of tinting windows and have done it before, but risk versus reward is not there.

i prefer not to let some shop touch my car for 2hrs? :confused: thats alone is worth $200.

ive not had anyone touch my Z since taking ownership in 2009...
plus id hate to make an appointment and find out it's a rainy day. not worth 3hrs to detail her again to where she was.

How is your tint holding up and would you recommend your shop? I may need to get my car tinted later on.

Great, had an issue in the first couple days because it was peeling by the side mirror. Tough to stuff the auto up/down but they redid the one side that was peeling and never had a problem.
I forget the name of the shop but it is at Gessner & Westview in Houston.

The law in Missouri is 35% on the front sides, no tint on windshield and no restrictions on the rest. I went 35% all around because the 350Z I had previously had really dark tint and it was a problem backing up at night and it caused the auto-dimming mirror to not work. If I had it to do over again I'd have gotten 20% or so in the back.

I went with Llumar tint with a lifetime warranty and it cost me $230 +tax.

But does 35% give you more privacy? I've seen 35 and you can see the persons face clear as day.

That can come down to quality of tint, I have seen cheap 35% and a very nice quality 35% and there is a level of darkness difference. I run the legal amount in Texas and so does the misses and there is some difference (I spent more on mine than her).

Nope, 35% doesn't give you much additional privacy but it is light enough where night visibility is not adversely affected. That, and the law, were the two most important things I was considering.

Ok so what brand tire mounter and balancing system do you own or do you sell before needing tires? What type of alignment rack? It's a pick your battles type if thing. I'd rather pay 300 to an insured competent shop using quality stuff than do it myself to "save" $200 "if" it comes out perfectly. Or more if it doesn't.


Your results may vary, but in the case if my car had it rained I reschedule, happens all the time, as for fearing my car getting messed up none of the dealerships sending high end cars there seemed concerned nor did the guy before me picking his Lamborghini up from clear shield and tints. That's due diligence before turning keys over.

I'm particular, I pulled my car in and out myself. In fact when I bought it I found a new single digit mile one and drove quite far to get it. That's how particular I am so in that regard I completely understand.

So, again, what percentage should it be so visibility out back and to the sides does not become a major issue? I sue the side mirrors a lot.

20%

no worries about me, you do wat you want to do, i dont care.

the question was, does anyone know or have experience with pre-cut tint shops?

:tup:

I paid $300.00 for 15% LLumar Pinnacle ceramic on the rear 3 windows. I have a lifetime warranty, and it's a perfect fit.

http://www.the370z.com/members/onzed...4-img-8549.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/onzed...9-img-8544.jpg

beautifully done, mr.onzedge! :tup: luv that color too. :tup:

Thank you, Mr. Kenchan's Doppelganger. :tiphat:

I have 35% on doors and 20% on rears and those little side windows. I wanted to be able to see out at night and plus i don't really want the state troopers hounding me for illegal tint.
I paid $150 for Madico tint film with lifetime warranty.

:bowrofl:

This is about the only car I haven't tinted since I bought cars in the mid 90s when I started driving. Sometimes I want people to see who owns it, I get loads of thumbs up everywhere I go, plus, the girls love to look too:) I am married though so that doesn't help much, but it does put a smile on my face. I am however thinking of tinting now because I am putting wheels on...whenever they actually make it here from Japan......and I think the plain glass itself will drive me nuts! So im personally stuck on whether to tint or not and how dark to go? Ive ALWAYS picked 5% all around. Last year was my first year to ever get a ticket for tint in my Honda I own. I was in south florida headed home and a dickhead cop pulled me over and had me outa the car asking about drugs!!!??? the ****?!! I passed him at 72 cause I was just cruising. So now im like hmm do I wana go through that fluke again or just go light colored. The dark does look DAMN sexy though....I love not being seen too! Id love to see more tint %'s in this thread.

Strongly agree with the above.

I paid about $300 for a tint from Formula one - Pinnacle series. The shop had a display with a wheel (sorta like a colour wheel) with different types of tints on it and a bright hot light above shining on it, you could really feel with your hand underneath the wheel the difference between the tints.

I couldn't be happier with it.

http://www.fxauto.com/images/FormulaOneSpecSheet.pdf