So I have an appointment next Monday for some tint on my TL-S. I have a few questions (looked through numerous posts via search too.)

1) Is ceramic necessary?
2) Anyone have 40% tint with pics?

Reason for #1: I talked to a shop that knew that Honda/Acura needs moleskins installed to save the tint. The guy (18 years experience) said ceramic is a waste of money because when GPS was first coming out in the early 90s, there were signal transmission issues. However, he said manufacturers signal differently now and most cars (like the TL) use a sharkfin on the roof so tint has no real affect on signal quality.

Reasons for #2: I can't find pics, and am curious because 50% is legal for MN and with my last car I got pulled over 9 times in three years (all warnings!!!) for dark tint and don't want to deal with that crap anymore. The guy has 40% in stock (along with 35 and 50 and several others) and wondering what it looks like.

Thanks!

 

Hmm.. ceramic is definitely NOT necessary. I am using metallic tint from sun guard and my GPS locks instantly, even underground for whatever reason (it still tracks me as I go through my parking garage). I also still get radio underground.

Come to think of it, metallic tint has probably boosted my signal performance!

 

GPS won't be affected by metallic tint since we have the roof antennae but cell phone reception may suffer. This will only be noticeable when you're in really weak signal areas so most people in populated areas would be fine with metallic tint. If you're driving across the plains you may spend a little more time without signal if you have metallic tint but it would only be a difference between a one mile dead spot and a two or three mile dead spot. I spent the extra money for ceramic just to be on the safe side. Over the life of the car it's really not that much extra.

 

Is the GPS antenna for the Tl-S in the roof? It's in the rear deck on the TL (roof antenna is XM only) and I assumed the TL-S is the same...

 

like everyone has said metallic tint will be better, and less prone to fading compared to ceramic tint, i have had both on my car and notice no difference. the ceramic tint did turn slightly green over time, while the metallic tint which i have now has kept is black color well

 

yes from my understanding its in the rear deck, however i dont think the metallic really affects it, as i have metallic right now and my gps is working just fine

 

What brand of ceramic tint did you have that faded? Theoretically ceramic and metallic shouldn't fade at all.

 

ive noticed my AM being suckier than it used to be after i got tints

 

this is 40% on grey interior

 

thanks all for the replies! im just gonna stick with metallic tint. i never heard of ceramic fading, but then again im not reading up on tint daily.

blktl04 - thanks for the pic and nice whip! i like the wheels (looking for a set to do the same for winter tires). you wouldnt happen to have a side shot would you? AND do you ever catch the attention of the police?

 

I got mine tinted yesterday. Went with Solar Guard 23% all around.

 

Agree. Same for me.

I do notice that distant FM signals don't come in as well.


You can look through the thread linked below for a variety of tint percentages and/or combinations.

Show Me Your Tint

 

I don't have a side shot. And I never get hassled by the police.

 

can you show a more revealing pic in normal daylight conditions? I don't think that pic is a good representation of 40%, no offense. Car is SICK tho.

 

yea mn dont play when it comes to tint, even when its legal. i got away with tint by tinting all other windows except for both the fronts. 30% all around except the fronts in a red honda prelude if that didnt scream attention already. i didnt get hassled at all but i but i may have been one of the lucky ones. Good luck man

 

thats what i thought too, i had 3m but it was definitely getting a green haze to it over time, maybe fade was the wrong word, but it was def changing color. metallic has been good to me so far

 

I personally went all out and got the ceramic tint on my TL-S however on my Accord I had the metallic tint with no problems with my GPS. My sister had metallic on her 03 TL-S with no GPS problems either. My mom had metallic on her Lexus LS without any GPS problems either.

My tinter told me it's really hit and miss and most of the time it's fine, however he did have some cases where the GPS did not work properly after using metallic tint.

Here is my car with 50% front and 5% rear
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/787/tlstint.jpg
http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/3336/tlstint2.jpg

 

I went 15% all the way around and love it.

 

35% all around - Huper Optik Ceramic tint.

 

glad i read this, thats what i WAS considering before talking to the knowledgeable tint guy. metallic for me, now just trying to figure out what % i want. im leaning more toward 40% after sitting with beers and digging deep into this forum. half the problem is all pictures have different light and angles making decent comparisons a pain in the butt.

 

you must be a paid endorser! hahaha, i see you all over the place with those pics!

 

I’m a part time window tinter and from experience i would say dont get ceramic it is too expensive. Another thing i would recommend is double check is the brand of tint and what kind of warranty you are getting with it. I would say look for these brands suntek, johnsons windows films, llumar, some of sun gards films are good and I’ve seen some that are just POS films.

I use johnsons window films because i can give a lifetime warranty with it.

 

I've got the Formula One Pinnacle with lifetime warranty against fading. On the off chance it ever does, I won't be stuck with it for long!

 

well, how many times does the "tint" question come up?
only like 50 billion in a week.

 

solarguard Premium 40% with 28% Rear

Tan interior

 

I went with ceramic tint because it rejects more solar heat than the other types.

Not sure how many people here tint their cars for looks vs function...

 

x2 on the ceramic tint blocking out the most heat

 

does metallic not do a good job of blocking heat u would think it would cuz its metallic but i dont know for sure so just wondering

 

^ Some will work better than others

http://www.formulaone.com/pdf/FormulaOneSpecSheet.pdf

 

thanks for the info estabro

 

Got anymore pics? I have a Kinetic Blue TL-S and im trying to decide what % tint I want to go with. Im thinking not real dark.

Thanks

John

 

Why not? Light tint is a joke and looks terrible.

 

^according to some going too dark loses classiness ... its all in personal opinion i suppose

 

It's not the greatest, it was pretty bright out side when I took these shots. In the car the car does look sweet with the dark tints.

 

^ i agree i love the tint to be really dark i love the privacy feeling and the look of the car as well

 

THe interior of your car makes a huge difference on tint. I got 50% in the front 2 windows and 35 in the back 3 and my tints are not dark at all. at night time you can see right through, a bit harder to discern all the details on my face but it's still pretty light. NYC tint law is 70% on the fronts... i didn't want to get hassled so i went pretty light. I wish I could have gotten darker but... no complaints from popo so far.

 

ceramic works by absorbing light, metallic reflects it. you will def feel a heat difference with ceramic. for the same tint % ceramic will look darker than it's metallic equivalent. i.e. 35% ceramic will look more like a 20% metallic.

 

I doubt you had GPS reception inside a parking garage underground. instead, I wouldnt be surprised if it had a built in compass though, so that would remain unaffected. The nav is fixed, and will be oriented in the same direction as the car regardless.

Portable GPS however, would prob not have a built in compass since it can be oriented in different ways depending on the driver and depends fully on relative movement with the GPS.

Radio on the other hand is a no brainer. You can listen to the radio inside buildings and what not fairly easily :P

sorry, just nit picking.

 

I see your from Northern VA as well. Where did you get your tint done at?

Go Skins!

 

well, im just going with metallic tint as i see no real need to pay extra for ceramic since its 'hot' maybe 3 total months of the year here.

car goes in today, will post pics after i get it back. just have a few technical questions for tint guy first before i have him go at it... trim tint at window edge (ive seen 1/2 inch from top of window and looks like poo), under rubber on rear quarter window and full rear window (without 3rd brake cutout).

semi-anal, but i want it done cleeeeean!