I am planning on getting my windows tinted, but I want to try it myself....I have watched hours of "how to" videos, so I would like to give it a stab.
Does anybody know how much film I would need to do my 02?
And where is a reputable place to buy the film, either from a store or online.
Also, if anybody has done their own tint, what are some problems that you may have run into?

 

trust me, dont do it urself. side windows might be easy, but the rear is gonna be a PITA. i saw how they did it on my car, few hrs and done. looked easy. as i talked to the guy doing them, he said that it wasnt easy at first. getting the edges straight, no wrinkles and bubble free takes months of practice.

 

If I may ask, how did they do it on your car?
In some of the videos I watched, they would cut the film on the outside of the rear window and heat shrink it with the clear protective plastic still on it....This way the tint is the exact size and all you have to do is place it inside and squeegee away.

 

just get a pro to do it, save yourself the headache, just got a qoute last week on mine cause i want darker and it was $225 without removing the the old tint
and the tint had a lifetime warrenty on it or something, they were the ones that did the tint 6 years ago for the previous owner and it still has not bubbled or anything, and still no sign of purpleing either, so it was with a quality tint (be exact same tint just darker)
also i know on the back window it is normally two pieces and the line goes down the defroster grid, cause you can't find a big enough piece

and yeah normally it is drop the car off in the mourning, and pick it up in the afternoon/evening on the same day

 

and some things are not worth fighting to install
like i filled my rear wing with foam (rattles from the sub and closing the trunk), got a little foam on the painted part, try cleaning/buffing it myself (made it worst), couldn't, so i just said f*** it and took it to a detail shop to let them deal with it

 

See I have been back and forth on the issue over the last few weeks. I am very hands on, and pick up on things very quickly...So part of me wants to try it at least. And, if all works out maybe I can make some extra cash here and there.
I am thinkin about trying one of those walmart kits on like an old mirror or something and see how it comes out.

 

+1 for letting the pro's do it. Unless you're investing in a business, it's not worth it.

I'm pretty hands on myself, but something like this I wouldn't try.

But it's all up to you of course. Just IMO.

 

they cut it while its outside of the car. then apply it, and magic happens. then i get tinted windows and empty pockets. but well worth it.

 

the walmart stuff will proably start bubbleing in a couple months though or purpleing, geneal public proably can't buy the same quality tint either
i am an auto tech for god's sake, so i am very hands, and would still let a tint shop do it
btw: Rajca is a truck tech, so is very hands on too

i don't do paint well either, but give me something mechanical and i would have absolutly no problem with it

 

I did mine myself (the sides) purchasing pre-cut tint off of ebay for about $25. It does take patience, but at least with the pre-cut tint part of the job is done for you. I hired a guy to do the back glass for $40, so I did the whole job for $65 plus the cost of a tint squeegee, spray bottle and baby shampoo. I've since done my family's 2 other cars with more ease.

 

i payed $120 for all my windows excluding the windshield with life time warranty, going on 3 years now and still all good

 

I am the exact same way...I can do ANYTHING mechanical, but when it comes to electrical is where I struggle, I just dont understand it for some reason.
I want to just buy a cheap walmart kit to try on like a mirror or something to see how it goes, and if all goes well I will get better tint and do the car.

 

electrical i am fine with , its the artsy stuff or stuff that takes alot of pateince that i have trouble with
go ahead and try the walmart stuff on a mirror (or a junkyard car maybe), just for fun though, and normally the best tint is only available dealer installed, cause then they know it will be installed correctly
but i personally would still say to get a professional to do it with a QUALITY tint, like one with a lifetime warrenty, so if it ever peels, bubbles, purples, you just have to take it back to them (or one of the tint maker's dealers), and have them redo it for most likey free (read fine print)
p.s. geneally you have to take out the third brake light yourself if you want that area tinted too

 

I paid $120 for my tint.

IMO it was worth it.

Tinting is def harder than it looks.

 

im with u. can do anything but body work. and some minor painting i can do.

 

$120 is damn cheap. for a quality tint shop to do it here is $200-$260

 

i got quoted $180 by my house with only a 1 year warranty. fuck that. $120 was just right. cant believe ppl get it done for $200+

 

wtf?! places around here go for 100, those ppl are ripping you off!

 

around here it is like $200
for DC i would see where it be cheaper cause alot more people get tint installed where you live

 

You have to know where to go to get it done.

With me it was a matter of I know this guy that knows this guy that went to this place.

 

i got quoted $99 i think, at this place

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?ci...=window%2Btint

looks respectable

 

My previous owner paid $350 to tint all the windows, i saw the receipt when i bought the car. now you can get the job done for $99 but only for three windows in South Bay Area.

 

What about those pre cut kits that are sold?
How is the fitment and quality?

 

they ripped him off. maybe its diff where u live, but if they were to charge ppl 300+ to tint a car, they would be out of business.

 

All areas have their own prices. I got it for $180 for 4 windows and rear around here.

 

mainly depends on how many tint shops are arould (more or less competation) but also cost of living around the area too

 

the rear window was already tinted on my car and I just did the sides to match.

They lay the tint on the back window and cut it as one peice and then install it on the inside of the car, same for the side windows. Took them about 1.5 hours to do my accord and about 1 hour to do the CL-S

 

i got my tint for all 4 windows and rear for $100 with life time warrenty. best deal ever

 

bro i say go for it!. the side windows shouldnt be that hard, but that back window... good luck.
IF you do the back window dont forget to take out the 3rd brakelight housing and that plastic cover at the top of the window.