Precut Window Tint on Ebay-Any experiences??

[Fastball]

Just swapped out my leather interior for the half cloth/half wanna-be leather seats. Freakin' hated the leather to begin with, but the back seat was like an abused, old baseball glove. The one front seat wasn't much better.

Anyhoo, wanted to know if anyone has any feedback on the precut tint kits I see on Ebay.

Easy?

PITA?

Got a quote to have it done by a reputable, local shop for $180. That's everything, but the windshield, in Lumar film. Decent price I thought, but if these kits are pretty simple, figured I could save a hundred bucks or close to it. I know Lumar and Solargard are 2 of the best.

Thanks in advance,

Big Dave

 

[RStalveyARFF]

I've used them before, but the back window is a PITA to do yourself. Might as well just pay the $180 to keep yourself from having a headache. I did the tint on my F350 myself since it's a flat rear window, but if it's curved I'd rather leave the pros to do it.

 

[SHO Continental]

I got all my tint installed with warranty for 140... 180 for precut/install yourself sounds kind of steep.

 

[Fastball]

Yea, that's the one that sorta intimidates me. Not much room to work in the back and as big as I am......somethin's gonna get hurt or ruined!

Actually the shop that quoted me the price was a custom tint. They take the big ass sheet of tint and trim it all down with a warranty. I had them do a Subaru Legacy for me years ago and the stuff never peeled. It did however turn purple, but that was at least 9 yrs ago when it was installed. I'm sure the tint they use today is much better.

 

[spaul2005]

im a tinter

 

[SHOblime]

im a tinter

And your advice would be....????

 

[SolidState]

hahaha

 

[Fastball]

im a tinter

Yea, any advice, besides bringing it to you, because the commute would be a *****!!

 

[Howdy_Doody]

OK, I did the search thing and came up with this pretty worthless thread. Any comments on the subject?

 

[Vnuk1]

OK, I did the search thing and came up with this pretty worthless thread. Any comments on the subject?

Yup, bring it to the people that are actually good at applying Window Tint. It is worth it to me to have it done right the first time and have a lifetime warranty for peace of mind. Remember you always get what you pay for...:wave:

 

[sperold]

My window tint turned purple also, so I don't know how much it has improved over the years. If that guarantee includes this problem, take a photo of it when it is newly installed, so you have a case in a few years.

 

[Eastcoast SHO]

i tinted my 94 myself and plan on taking it to a shop to have my 96 tinted, $160 for all windows with a seamless back window, after doing it myself for that price it is well worth it for someone else to do it

 

[bottonic]

Plain and simple, tint is not something you "just do" in your garage. You're better off to let a reputable shop do it. I run a vinyl graphics shop, and tint is something we don't even screw with anymore. Used to take us about 2-3 hours to do a car. Now I sub-contract a mobile tint business to come in once a month and he can do a car in about an hour...and it's perfect, with a lifetime warranty. (oh yeah-It's llumar film) I have a pretty strong opinion on letting the professionals do their job. Yes, I can tint a car, but for the PITA it is, $200 is well worth it. Generally I feel as though I can figure out almost anything. I taught myself about cars, plumbing, electrical, construction, and so much more....but there are some things better left to the pros, and tint being one of them. You'll thank me later! Sorry for the long-winded post :wave:

 

[pitaSHO]

I believe the reason the tint turns purple is because of the window cleaner used. You have to use stuff that doesn't have ammonia in it. The ammonia turns the stuff purple. If you get the right stuff it should be fine. I had my 95 tinted for 3 years and it never even started to show purple.

Maybe somebody else knows something about this better than I do, but that was my understanding of it.

Chris K.

 

[Vnuk1]

I believe the reason the tint turns purple is because of the window cleaner used. You have to use stuff that doesn't have ammonia in it. The ammonia turns the stuff purple. If you get the right stuff it should be fine. I had my 95 tinted for 3 years and it never even started to show purple.

Maybe somebody else knows something about this better than I do, but that was my understanding of it.

Chris K.

Inexpensive window films consists of dyed polyester to achieve the desired color and darkness. The purple appearance is caused when the ultraviolet rays from the sun break down the dyes in poor quality film. This can happen quickly or take a while, there is no guarantee how long before cheap film fails. ONLY use Metalized film which costs a little more but metalized films contain aluminum, titanium or other metals which are guaranteed in their design, and will never turn purple or change color.

 

[Cl-Slick]

I hate working with tint period. IMO it's better just to leave it to the pros and save yourself some time.

 

[Brett]

My car already had tint when i bought it with a blown engine, burnt clutch and broken axle. Sat outside for 3 years in the sun and the faded paint shows the abuse, but the window tint doesnt even hint purple no peeling, no fading. Its too bad the place that did the tint went out of business.