Average Jose

Guys,

I have been reading through many of the posts with about tinting windows but they have left me confused.

Why is tinting the TL so difficult. Some have said look out for certain things but I looked at the car earlier and nothing seems odd about it.

I have a black 2003 TL-S

I live in Texas and and I have to have tint. When I go to the tint shop, what do I ask for besides them using one complete piece on the back?

I want it to be dark but not illegal. What percentages do I ask for. When I got my maxima tinted 5 years ago, I went with what the tint guy said. However during the day it is like there is barely anything at all.

Eternal TL2k3

regarding the tinting... for texas you can go up to 35% in the front driver/passenger windows and 20% in the back and rear windshield... anything less and its illegal (but u cud probably get away with it unless cops want to be a pain)

some tintin shops dont do the vinyl strip on the back top of the rear windhsield so check to see if they do that first... if not, maybe check elsewhere or just tint over it (will just leave a cloudy look on top)

bloo_tls02

I just got mine car tinted this past weekend with 20% all around an I am very happy with the way it looks. It has a deep, rich black look to it. The next lower tint would have been 15%, but that is pretty damn dark (even with the moonroof open).

If you are worried about the cops I would suggest 35% or 30% all around. Only thing is that it probably wont give you a blackish look, it might be more like charcoal (if they use standard LLumar tint).

I wouldnt recommend mixing the tint b/c there is a noticable difference if you were to go 35%/front and 20%/rear.

Also with you rear window......a good tint pace will do one full piece for the rear window, dont accept anything less. They should also be able to cut out a vinyl piece to cover up the dots on the top of the window.

Average Jose

What are the dots you are refering to? Is it the strip of black dots that are kind lof liek tint in the front near the rear view mirror?

bloo_tls02

Yea, the top of the rear mirror...

Dirk Diggler

Don't forget that using tint with a metal base can effect the reception of your radio... get the dyed tint without metal to ensure max radio reception. I got 35% all around last week, I find it pretty dark...

Dirk Diggler.

Average Jose

SO do Ionly worry about the "dots" if I want a brow in the fornt? I was not planning on gettign one. Is there one in theback as well? I am in the office so I can't look at it now.

bloo_tls02

You already have a little bit of a tint on your front window so there isnt a need to put a strip of tint across it. They should put a black strip on the back window to cover up the dots on it.

Average Jose

Do normal tin shops know about this black strip or do I have to take it to a special tint place?

I am not planning on taking it to a ghetto store. Just this regular tint place that charges I think 120 for single sheet in the rear service.

Eternal TL2k3

just ask if they put black vinyl strips on the back dot matrix to cover it up... some do, some dont

Average Jose

OKay I asked the guy at the tint store and he said it is 20 bucks extra for this balck strip. he said other wise they do soemthing like sand down the dots and then apply the tint. He said it will look cloudy in that area liek the above post mentioned. Can someone send me a pic of what this black strip looks like up close. When you all say vinyl I imagine car dash vinyl on the back. I knoe this is not right but I can't imagine anything else.

LiQiCE

I wouldn't let anyone sand down the window thats for sure.

I got mine done by a pretty good place and they just tinted right over the dot matrix. It doesn't look that bad, not cloudy or anything ...

Pics of my tint

btw- I have 38% metallic tint all around ... I don't listen to the radio really, but the NAV still seems to work just fine.

Average Jose

Hey Liqice, thanks so much. If you went outside and took those just for me... you rock.

LiQiCE

Its cool, no big deal ... I actually had those pictures from the first day when I got my car tinted. If you're interested there's a bunch more pics of the tint, just w/o any real closeups of the dot matrix, found HERE

Average Jose

Hey everyone, I want to be clear about this one issue. If the dots matrix thing is covered up with black vinyl, no one will be able to see through that part right? I saw a van with this today. Am I right that you will not be able to see through this? This is okay right?

this is me

there's only about 4-5 inches on top of the rearwindshield.
you should be fine.

TL_99

my tint shop did quite well with the vinyl matrix. you can't see any cloudiness or neither is it bubbling. Its just sharp looking. if any of u r in the 604 area, i recommend u go to madico tint at minoru blvd richmond besides the big aftermarket audio store with tons of done up cars parked in front. haha forgot the name of the audio store.

BackNBlack

I called around and one shop says they use the vinyl strip on the dot matrix and another says they wet sand down the dots and don't use vinyl (it's optional but they say it's not preferred).

This vinyl strip, does it go on the outside of the class or inside?

nyerinsd

I had my TLS tinted and did not get the vinyl. It went over the dots better than my Accord and really looks good. The guy said he has put vinyl on about two dozen cars and prefers not to use it except in certain cases. It's a pain to work with, and he has seen the dots rust because the water doesn't dry out like it does between the tint film.

The vinyl goes on the inside of the window like the tint film.

cloudsurfr

I asked the dealer to tint the windows as part of the package - turns out they just send it off site. The dot-matirx is full of bubbles and in a pattern - looks bad to me. The dealership says too bad, that is the best that can be done. I called Acura corporate - they said there should be no problem, but that I will have to deal with the dealership.

This is my first Acura and I am dissappointed in the service and lack of commitment to make things right.

In reading through the posts, it was never absolutely clear to me. Can I get the 35% tint (metallic) over the black-dot matrix without bubbles? That is what I want.

If so, can someone in the Houston area suggest a shop?

THANKS!!!

Cloudsurfr
2003 NBP TLS

Average Jose

I know execuitive motoring boutique does silver tinting if that is what you want. They did a good jon with mine but I got standard tint.

They negotiate prices so good luck there.

cloudsurfr

Thanks - I will check them out!

I want a standard charcoal gray, probably 20 %. I don't want the dyed tint (apparently turns purple with time), but the metallic type. I have large unattach areas in a pattern that has reproduced twice at the top of the rear window, so I really need someone who will do it right.

Is your dot-matrix completely covered?



Thanks again.

Average Jose

the guys there guantee the tint for life

Elcaddis

Hey, I want to get my car tinted, where should I go? My location is northern Virginia. Also, what's legal and not?