Which Tint Brand To Choose? Horror/Success Stories?

[atwork]

I've been doing a decent amount of research into car window tinting, and I've discovered that there can be quite a difference in tint qualities out there.

Based on your own experiences, what do you suggest for tint brands?

I want to hear your horror and success stories.

I'm moving to North Carolina next week, and their laws state that I can't have anything darker than 35% tint. I'm thinking I want to go with straight "neutral" black, to match up upcoming paint job.

Snaptint has a pre-cut package on their website for 1997-2002 Festivas (hah, right?) for 67 bucks. Anyone had experience with them?

I have the L-series, with no rear defroster, if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

-Adam Twork

[skeeters_keeper]

I've got the autozone brand stuff. I bought two rolls, one did the rear 1/4 panels, the other did the hatch glass. Its been on for about 4 years now, and has given me no problems, no fading, purpling, etc.

I put 20% in, even though 35% is legal here as well, I've never been bothered about it.

[spiko]

I used the Autozone tint as well in my old Festiva that I no longer have. It seemed fine when it was in my possession.

[JLock]

AtWork....welcome to NC.

I'm getting ready to tint my windows as well.
In NC, the inspection fee is higher for vehicles with tinted windows. Just a thought.

[elcamino1]

20% Autozone working for me.

[sam.1956]

Regardless, of "where in NC", welcome to the Festiva Madness State! V8Festiva and I both have used tint film from AdvanceAuto... forgot the brand... (he used 20%, I used 35% tint). This being the first time either one of us had tried tinting, we removed our 2 rear side windows & thoroughly cleaned them before starting. We placed them on a big table for the work. We took our time, followed the package directions and meticulously worked out all the bubbles with a small plastic squeege. From our experience, it's very important to keep the film thoroughly wetted while working it onto the window. Then of course, let it thoroughly dry before installing back in the car. I think we let our tint job "cure" for about 36 hrs before reinstalling. No bubbles, no peeling... it worked as advertised.

Sam

[Motoxpress]

Sam is dead on for install the brand name is GILA or something like that and worked great on my rear quarter windows. By the way where in NC are you moving to?

Will

[darkdan]

Anything you can buy over the counter is going to suck anyways, but I doubt I'm going to convince anyone on the board to pay a professional.

Besides, tinting festivas sucks. It's hard for even me to get a good job done on them and this is what I do for a living. LOL.

[stefan]

I want to get my car tinted.

But I have to admit I am afraid to do it myself even though I do everything else myself on my car. I see way too many purple/bubbly tint jobs every day.

[darkdan]

The main problem is dirt. You get all those tiny little specs of dirt everywhere on any old car.

Then the back window is a gasket style window. So there's no black ceramic paint border around it. That gasket holds a ton of dirt. There's just no good way to do the back window.

Couple that with the pop-out rear windows. Leave them in and go around stuff and make it look bad, or take it out and lay it horizontal and have dust settle on it immediately giving you specs everywhere. Then there's the roll down windows with 20 years of dirt around the edges and they don't track straight up and down half the time.

After all that, if you get it done well enough, the DIY tint is very low quality and doesn't last very long. Also, if you're doing it for heat rejection, they have poor heat rejection usually compared to higher quality films.

Considering how hard a Festiva is to tint one, I doubt I would do it if a customer asked. I just don't like sending out work that doesn't look superb, and it's almost impossible to do a good enough job on that car to pass my standards.

[getnpsi]

I've been told that purpling is from the ammonia in windex reacting. Use diluted baby shampoo to clean the windows before installing, during the install, and to clean them later. To keep heat out consider tinting the windshield very light. Most shops will tell you no even if you offer them lotsa cash. I had that done on my neon and was able to do the side windows very light as well to not attract California cops. From a distance the car looks very dark but as you walk up on it, it looks fine. Be careful, police can impound your car if they see windshield tint, I dont think its a regular "fix it" court ticket.