Hey guys,

Just stopped by a tint shop today and was schooled on 3M tint. Looks like the tint shop here in NC basically carries 3 different 3M tint variations. From low price to high price they are:

Scotchtint - $289
Ceramic - $389
Crystalline - $499

I'm leaning toward the 40% Crystalline but the price is a bit more than I want to pay. Does anyone have any input on these 3M tints? I have a CBP TL and the Crystalline has a bit of a copper look to it when I was in the shop? Does anyone have any pics of 40% Crystalline on a CBP TL? Also, how do these prices look? It includes all windows but the windshield and sunroof.

Thanks!

 

Those prices are a little high in my opinion. Ive always used regular old 3m scotchtint- and Ive never paid over $200 for a car. 40% also would be ridiculously transparent, I think the legal limit here in NC is 35%, which is what I have, and I hate how easily you can see through it.

About the crystalline- Ive never heard of it, Im gonna look it up

 

This is from 3Ms site- http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3...ts/Automotive/

It looks like the crystalline isnt that much better, but it doesnt say how much of the IR rays the regular tint blocks... Im considering getting regular tint on the sides- about 20%, and 50% crystalline on the windshield to help prevent dash cracking


3M™ Crystalline Automotive Window Films

4.8 out of 5 stars 33 Reviews

The ultimate in high technology, offering clear film technology with outstanding heat rejection to create the perfect film for high end cars
Maintains car's original appearance: lightly tinted films allow 40% to 90% of the sunlight into your car
Improves comfort: rejects up to 97% of the sun's IR rays and rejects up to 60% of the heat coming through your windows
No signal interference: Crystalline films are non-metallized
Interior protection: blocks up to 99.9% of harmful UV rays to reduce fading of your car's interior
UV/Skin protection: provides SPF of over 1000, a Skin Cancer Foundation recommended product
Never turns purple: guaranteed for the life of the film
Learn more about Crystalline window tinting.


3M™ Color Stable Automotive Window Films

4.7 out of 5 stars 119 Reviews

Patented 3M nano-carbon polyester technology provides excellent heat rejection combined with a tinted factory glass look
Glare reduction: window tint allows only 5% to 50% of the light into your car
Improves comfort: rejects up to 57% of the heat coming through your windows
No signal interference: Color Stable films are non-metallized
Interior protection: blocks up to 99% of harmful UV rays to reduce fading of your car's interior
UV/Skin protection: provides SPF of up to 1000, a Skin Cancer Foundation recommended product
The name says it all: never turns purple, guaranteed for the life of the film
Learn more about Color Stable window tinting.

 

Met with Formula1 tinting today and am leaning toward the Llumar (ATC-40) for about $225 less then the Crystalline 3M 40. I'll keep everyone posted but this is definitely a learning experience for a tint novice like myself. I will be meeting with Tint World tomorrow. Any feedback for Tintworld experiences? Good or bad, please post. Thx.

 

I've used nothing but Formula 1 tint, I had the Comfort series on my Accord for 9 years without any fading/cracking. I have the Pinnacle series on my TL, so far so good.

I think I paid about 400 for front and rear.

 

Have you ever heard of the F1 Pinnacle tint?
FormulaOne tint is really good, especially when they are VERY picky who they select when it comes to installers.

EDIT: Guy up top beat me.
$400 for Pinnacle series is expensive.

 

Yes, I looked at the Pinnacle and with the added cost of moleskin (extra 20 bucks a window) it was too much (about $500) Out the door I'm looking at about $300 which is about right for me which includes the moleskin.

Thanks for all the feedback. Will probably do the tint in the next month or so.

Thanks for everyone's feedback.

CP

 

What does "guaranteed for the life of the film" mean? When the film goes bad, the guarantee is over? lol

 

I'm looking to tint out my new 06 Anthracite Metallic TL but won't spend more than $225 for all four windows & rear...looking at doing a combo, something like 35% front 20% rear.

I had 20% all around on my 99 green/tan interior and I thought it was a tad to dark so Ill go lighter on front (to appease the cops in NY & dark on the back)


Whatever my local tint shop uses (probably standard 3M tint) was fine on my 99 TL at $200 all around & did not crack or fade or purple for the 6 years I had it...

IMO, stupid to pay more than $250 for tints as they should be guranteed for life, as mine were on my 99 TL

 

IMO, spend a little extra, get the theft deterrent tints. They are thicker than normal and will make a quick smash and grab all but impossible.

I have regular tints and it kept the window together well, but the loser was still able to get in. If I was starting from zero, I would have gone with the shatter resistant tints.

 

What brand sells theft deterrent tint?

 

I've never heard of tint that was marketed to "deter theft" lol

$500 for f1 tint sounds crazy.

Good thing up here there's a shop called Auto-links who tinted and moleskinned for $280 (group buy).

 

maybe something like this for security tint

 

Damn that's expensive for tint! I have 3M 5% tint and it was $210 for the whole car, plus $15 per door for moleskin, plus another $15 for the tint strip on the windshield, for a price of $285 plus tax.

 

This actually happened to my car, back in 2006. I heard my alarm going off went outside and found that my window had been broken but the tint was holding it together. Stupid penis knockers...

 

i have sunteck carbon and 5% all around and paid 180 for the whole car

 

Jesus- why the hell is tint so expensive up north? Ive never paid over $200 for a car- and thats with 3M tint. I have a guy in SC who does cars for $175, SUVs for $200-225, and windshields for $80

 

Lol, NJ is a communist state.

 

I have suntek carbon and paid $180 for everything, my windshield was tinted for dirt cheap. Film looks okay, came with lifetime warranty so w/e.

Tint shop kind of messed up my rear left window (OCD but very slight mess up) and I have 2 scratches due to not getting moleskin....they will redo both for free just need to find a day to go down.

 

Get the moleskin done, unless you want to keep replacing your tint because of scratches. Check this out if you haven't already https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...light=moleskin

 

Its really not that expensive up north as I mentioned I paid $200 all around for basic 3M tint that held up great for the 6 yrs I had my 99 TL (family owned since '98)...I live on Long Island & if you know anything about the Northeast, its one expensive area to live, behind NYC (30mi away)

It seems that people just like to throw extra cash at our babies to make them stand out, not to mention if you own an Acura, you probably have some disposable income !

 

I'm thinking about getting 70% Crystalline. I have 30% regular 3M now

 

you guys spend a lot on tint...maybe cause it's FL and everyone has tints here...I paid $100 with lifetime warranty...3 years later, still going strong.

 

Thing is there is more to tint then most people think. The reason for the price differences are because of the films heat rejection characteristics. With higher quality tints you will not only get less fade and peel but higher heat rejection as well without having to use dark tints. And this translates into more money and the cooling effect it has on the interior is very noticeable in comparison to lower priced/quality tints. Crystalline tint is the best in this regard. I use it on my front windshield.

 

Hey Catapult - have you checked out Tinted Atmospheres in Cary? I got a quote from them a couple of months ago for my 2012 TL Tech. They offer dyed, 3M ceramic, Llumar metallic and Johnson hybrid films. Quote was: $185.00 color stable dyed, $270.00 metallic, $280.00 hybrid, $370.00 ceramic.

 

Thanks for the info Elegant...
To be honest, I got mine done at a place that has been there 40 years ( I think) and has lifetime warranty with no questions asked (already tested this when my sun visor gave me a bubble). As far as heat rejection, I guess I'd have to keep the windows up when I drive to notice

Also, if I can deal with the cheap ones in Florida, I'm sure anyone can anywhere else too. Plus, I kinda like the look of the darker tints on a car. And I don't think you'd feel much of a difference between 55% heat reduction vs. 60. Just my opinion...I've been wrong before!

 

Neil, I have not been to Tinted Atmospheres yet. I'll have to stop by and have them give me a quote. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I got a price of $395 for 3M Crystalline. All windows except windshield. I asked for 70%, but I notice it has a blue hue to it, I might go with 60%. Either way, my 30% tint is coming off lol.. I

 

OP, if you're willing to spend $400-$500 on tint, you should look into Huper Optik. Can't be beat for durability and heat rejection. Had it on my 04 6MT for 8 years now. Paid $400 in 2003. Worth every penny IMO.

 

NFNS,

I will definitely look into Huper Optik. The only tints that I had heard of up until this were 3M, Llumar and Formula1. Thanks for the info!

 

^^ This.

I have Huper Optik ESC on my car. I paid $450. The quality is unsurpassed: beautiful reflection, dark from outside and transparent from inside, the film is thick and strong, and the heat rejection is impressive.

 

Seriously!! I got a quote for 08 rl , get this
475$ for all windows , thats for llumar high performance series..

Imma open my own show , but instead of tinting i shall spray paint..
whos with me, in need of investors =]

 

Hey catapult,
Did you end up going with Formula 1? I just stopped by there today, they are definitely very informative. Or did you go with someone else? I'm currently looking at tinting my TL.

 

Tinting is one of those things that is always up for negotiation. Keep in mind tint shops get the film at a substantially discounted price because of the volume of product they order.

When we had the TL tinted we had it done with 20% 3M Colorstable. (This was a few years ago when Colorstable first came out and there were only a few places in the area that worked with it). We were originally quoted over $500 to have the job done. After some back and forth they finally lowered the price to like $325 we had them do it. That was just for the tint job. There was no previous tint removal done.

Fast forward over two years later. My recently acquired RL came with 5% tint and I couldn't see out the rear window at night when reversing. A tint shop opened up down the street from my work and the new owner dropped by to offer his services to us. He ended up removing the 5% tint from the RL and re-tinting with 20% 3M Colorstable for $160 out the door. Even with removing the previous tint it was less than half what we paid on the TL. Granted, I sent this guy a lot of business by recommending him to my customers but it still shows how much of what you pay in tinting costs is the labor.

 

Quilmes,

Yes, I ended up going with Formula 1. I went with the Llumar ATC 40% tint with moleskin out the door for $319. Couldn't be happier. They are a top notch shop and were extremely informative. All their tint jobs come with a lifetime warranty which sealed the deal for me. When you stopped by did you meet with Andrea?

 

wow thats worth the money if you live in high crime area. deffs getting this done. thanks!!

 

Catapult,

Yes, I met with Andrea. She showed me 4 different kinds of tint.

Did she show you the Carbon XP? They quoted it at $279. Any reason you didn't go with that one?

 

Yes, she showed me several samples, can't remember the names of all of them. From the those samples I thought the Llumar ATC looked best so I rolled with it. It didn't hurt that it was also the cheapest of the three.

 

I have my windows tinted a few weeks ago 3M tint 20% for $155 with lifetime warranty, they did my 06 maxima back in 06 and no problems

 

Hi OP, so what tint you end up getting. I also have CBP TL and curious to see the results.