I want to get my windows tinted. Can anyone tell me about how much I should expect to pay to get it professionally done. Also, I read stories about First Gen owners having their tint scratched, is this true!!! and if so, how serious is the scratching. Has anyone tried tinting the windows themselves, if so let me know how it went.

 

I have 20% 3M tint and paid $150. The 3M tint is nice and dark black, no fading or purplish color. I knew the guy and got a deal, but up close there are some bubbles around the edges and other minor imperfections. He has his own shop and everything, but looking back I would have paid a little bit extra to get it done more "professionally". But take a step back a foot or two, and it looks damn good.

My buddy has an 03 TL and paid $225 at a different place that laser-cut the film to get the perfect fit. That's the way to go. Personally I'm pretty handy but I wouldn't have tried tinting them myself. I've never seen a self-tint job that looked good. Most come out bubbled or purplish. It's worth getting it done by someone who knows what they're doing.

As far as the scratches, it's not exactly a scratch but more like a streak about 2-3 inches wide that runs down the center of my front driver/passenger windows. It bothered me at first but I got over it.

 

200 is about right and what I've paid for all of my previous tint work. Definitely look at a person's work if possible. Plenty of "pro's" out there but some are better than others.

The scratches happen to the outside of the window. Tint is on the inside so you're ok. If you don't have scratches already, you can prevent them by taking off your door panel and cleaning the bar of felt inside that stabilizes the window glass. That's where sand collects and does the scratching.

 

yup i got all 4 windows SCRATCHED! a little too late to do the lubing on the tracks.

 

Have it done at a shop. I went the "I know some one who can do it for cheaper" and he actually scraped off the UVEL emmiision vehicle and something else etched on the glass from the factory. He said this had to be done in order the keep the tint from being put on right. Who knows maybe he was right.