Window Tint Review

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Old 01-16-2005 | 07:37 PM
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Thumbs up Window Tint Review

Hey guys,

I have a 2005 TL W/Nav. I got my windows tinted with Formula1 ceramic tint about 3 weeks ago. I got 35% all the way around. I think it looks great and very happy with it. I read so much about the scratching issues I was scared to death to role down my windows. So I paid an extra $50.00 dollars for the extended protection package. That covers everything including owner abuse. Total was $300.00 out the door. I did not get the mole skin because I knew they would replace the tint if it got scratched.I am a smoker so my drivers door window goes up and down ALOT. So far I have not one single scratch anywhere. Just thought I would tell you guys who are thinking about tinting your windows. Also, I live in a dusty climate and I have seen dust on the inside window wipe and still have no scrtatches. Hope this helps some of you.
Old 01-16-2005 | 07:57 PM
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Congrats ..... yea, there are a few ppl in the forum who don't have moleskin and no scratches. On the other side of the coin, there were also ppl with scratches. Keep us posted on how well it holds up and post some pictures of your ride.
Old 01-16-2005 | 10:17 PM
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Awesome. I will have to keep this in mind. I want to get my windows tinted, but not quite yet.
Old 01-16-2005 | 10:34 PM
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I'm getting mine done with formula one ceramic in the next week or so.

The legal limit here is 50%, and that is the darkest the tint place carries in stock. They'll order a roll of 38% if I want it, so the more pics posted the better.

I'd really like to see it.
Old 01-17-2005 | 08:50 AM
  #5  
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Try this llink, 55% around https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107020
Old 01-17-2005 | 12:59 PM
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xelvic - Can you tell me where you got your tint done? I'm in the Phoenix area, but would be willing to take a ride down to Tucson. It would give me a great excuse to grab some pizza at Z's! BTW, I'd definitely like to see some pics.

Thanks!
Old 01-17-2005 | 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by 05TL
xelvic - Can you tell me where you got your tint done? I'm in the Phoenix area, but would be willing to take a ride down to Tucson.
Yeah, I'm also in the Phoenix area, and having a heck of a time finding a FormulaOne installer. F1's dealer locator on their website is apparently so out of date as to be worthless - none of the listed installers in the Phoenix area, or even Prescott Valley, actually handle F1 anymore. I even tried calling CPFilms' Western Regional Office, who gave me the number for their local sales rep in Phoenix - who never returned my call. Real bang-up job they're doing marketing this stuff, at least around here...

--John
Old 01-18-2005 | 02:10 AM
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Here you go guys. Click on the link for there web page. It also has all there locations. You can also see there window tint. I went to the store on Speedway Blvd. They did a great job. They even got the rear little windows done right. They also went around my brake light with the tint.

The Specialists
Old 01-18-2005 | 11:06 AM
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Thanks xelvic! I'm going to give them a call. Do you have any pictures of your tint?
Old 01-18-2005 | 12:23 PM
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Here is a pic.

Old 01-18-2005 | 12:52 PM
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From: Tucson, Az
pic 2



pic 3



pic 4



pic 5

Old 01-18-2005 | 06:02 PM
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Thanks! Awesome pics! Nice looking car. I miss those Catalinas (went to school in Tucson - Go Cats!)

35% is the legal limit for the fronts in AZ, right? I prefer to have the front and backs the same, so I think I'll go with 35% all around as you did. Do you know what the next step darker is? Does it seem dark enough to you from the inside?
Old 01-18-2005 | 07:23 PM
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I heard that the quality of tint will determine whether it would get scratched easily or not.... Llumar seems to be more susceptible to scratches more than other...
Old 01-19-2005 | 01:05 AM
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Thank you,

Yes 35% is as dark as you can go on the front. I got the same all the way around. I think it looks a lot better then real dark in the back and light in the front. I think 35% is perfect, you can still see fine through them.
Old 01-19-2005 | 01:41 AM
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I think i top the charts here i have 2% tint all the way around.....NHP..Camel...sexy
Old 01-19-2005 | 01:41 AM
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I think i top the charts here i have 2% tint all the way around.....NHB..Camel...sexy
Old 01-19-2005 | 01:42 AM
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honestly i have no idea why theres 2 posts from me there and why there like that ..but sorry for the ramble
Old 01-19-2005 | 04:28 PM
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Just got my TL about a week and a half ago. About an hour ago, I picked it up from the tint place. Excellent job and service. Car looks great.
I'm in suburban Chicago and went to Mid American Glass Tint in Schaumburg.
$250 our the door in about 4 hours.
Old 06-24-2005 | 10:53 PM
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You should get the mole skin because the tint WILL scratch. Trust me on this.
Old 08-02-2005 | 03:12 PM
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Thumbs up

Just wanted to say thanks for recommending the specialists down in Tucson. Me and my gf took a day trip from phoenix to get my tint done and do some shopping at the outlet malls. I did 35% on the front windows and windshield strip and 15%(darkest for the ceramic Formula tint) on the back and rear windows. They did an excellent job. It took about 3hrs for the tint job so we went down the street and had lunch and watched some golf, then went back and watched a movie in their home theatre area. Very satisfied with my experience. I recommend them to anyone in the phoenix area.

-P
Old 08-02-2005 | 08:38 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by hypertech


I'm getting mine done with formula one ceramic in the next week or so.

The legal limit here is 50%, and that is the darkest the tint place carries in stock. They'll order a roll of 38% if I want it, so the more pics posted the better.

I'd really like to see it.
I guess my 1 week turned into about 8 mo. Just had the 35% pinnacle put on the car on Monday. I'm going back to have my front truck windows (just bought it this weekend) and possibly the sunroof on the TL done tomorrw.

I paid $329 including tax which I thought was fair. I'll try to post pics later.
Old 08-03-2005 | 04:03 PM
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hypertech...

How do you like the Pinnacle series tint from FormulaOne? This is the one i'm scheduled to get on Tues. 8/9 Let me know
Old 08-05-2005 | 03:19 PM
  #23  
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Two words: Huper Optik.

Best. Tint. Ever.
Old 12-10-2005 | 10:57 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by P$$$
Just wanted to say thanks for recommending the specialists down in Tucson. Me and my gf took a day trip from phoenix to get my tint done and do some shopping at the outlet malls. I did 35% on the front windows and windshield strip and 15%(darkest for the ceramic Formula tint) on the back and rear windows. They did an excellent job. It took about 3hrs for the tint job so we went down the street and had lunch and watched some golf, then went back and watched a movie in their home theatre area. Very satisfied with my experience. I recommend them to anyone in the phoenix area.

-P
I'm also in Phoenix and am looking for a recommendation. I see both you and Xelvic had good experiences. Did you also use the Specialists store on Speedway Blvd? Sounds like it might be worth a trip to Tucson. Thanks!
Old 12-14-2005 | 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by insider
Just got my TL about a week and a half ago. About an hour ago, I picked it up from the tint place. Excellent job and service. Car looks great.
I'm in suburban Chicago and went to Mid American Glass Tint in Schaumburg.
$250 our the door in about 4 hours.
Did you get all the windows tinted? What type of film did they use? Any issues with scratching yet? What % did you tint?
Old 12-14-2005 | 05:32 PM
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I hae 35% and I didn't get the moleskin either. I read the posts before I got my tint. I've never gotten moleskin on other cars and I've never had a problem. I get a new car about every 2 years and I always get my windows done. I've never had a problem with windows get scratched, and I hardly ever roll my windows down anyways. I always roll with either the heat or A/C on. If it scratches in two years, which I doubt it will I will get it redone.
Old 12-14-2005 | 05:40 PM
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In addition to my above post (sorry too late to edit).

To anyone local, who may ask the question.....

For anyone else in the Chicago burbs.... I got mine done in Naperville for $240 (I think) for 35% all around. I got my past 4 Audi's tinted up north at a place called Shaded Days. I think their in Waukegan. I just didn't feel like dragging my ass 75 miles up north to get it done. I'm happy with the job I got in Naperville. Also if you've never had tint in Illinois, yes it is illegal to put any grade of tint on your front windows. My experience is, as long as you don't make youself a target you won't have any problems. Meaning if you don't drive a car that is orange with stickers all over it then you want have a problem. If you have a rice mobile, and drive like it, then you might have problems. I've only gotten 1 warning ticket in 16 years of driving. I also don't have a front plate either (which is also illegal), and have gotten one ticket in 16 years (that was an add on ticket from a pull over for speeding). Bear in mind that if you make your car illegal it's an excuse for the cops to pull you over at night or something to give you a sobriety test, so use extreme caution if you drink and drive.
Old 12-14-2005 | 05:40 PM
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Originally Posted by HiTEC
I hae 35% and I didn't get the moleskin either. I read the posts before I got my tint. I've never gotten moleskin on other cars and I've never had a problem. I get a new car about every 2 years and I always get my windows done. I've never had a problem with windows get scratched, and I hardly ever roll my windows down anyways. I always roll with either the heat or A/C on. If it scratches in two years, which I doubt it will I will get it redone.
Where did you go and how much did you pay? What film did they install? Did you do all the windows?

Any issues with living in Illinois and getting pulled over? I had tint on my prelude for about 8 years and only got pulled over once or twice.
Old 12-14-2005 | 05:41 PM
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Originally Posted by HiTEC
In addition to my above post (sorry too late to edit).

To anyone local, who may ask the question.....

For anyone else in the Chicago burbs.... I got mine done in Naperville for $240 (I think) for 35% all around. I got my past 4 Audi's tinted up north at a place called Shaded Days. I think their in Waukegan. I just didn't feel like dragging my ass 75 miles up north to get it done. I'm happy with the job I got in Naperville. Also if you've never had tint in Illinois, yes it is illegal to put any grade of tint on your front windows. My experience is, as long as you don't make youself a target you won't have any problems. Meaning if you don't drive a car that is orange with stickers all over it then you want have a problem. If you have a rice mobile, and drive like it, then you might have problems. I've only gotten 1 warning ticket in 16 years of driving. I also don't have a front plate either (which is also illegal), and have gotten one ticket in 16 years (that was an add on ticket from a pull over for speeding). Bear in mind that if you make your car illegal it's an excuse for the cops to pull you over at night or something to give you a sobriety test, so use extreme caution if you drink and drive.
Any pics of your ride?
Old 12-14-2005 | 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by XtraKrispy
Any pics of your ride?
Weather has been too crappy since I bought it. This is my A4 that is sitting next to my TL in the garage. This also has 35% tint (so you can see what it looks like).

Old 12-14-2005 | 09:06 PM
  #31  
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Does anyone know a good place to get tints in the NYC area?
Old 12-14-2005 | 09:31 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by MightyTL
Does anyone know a good place to get tints in the NYC area?
lorenzo'z in the Bronx. Lorenzo's does alot of celeberties its about 350 for all the windows except te front. a lil expensive but he does a real good job. hes been on funk master flex's car show i forgot wut it was called on spike. Wher in queens are u?
Old 12-14-2005 | 10:03 PM
  #33  
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Im here in flushing... daymmm 350... i was looking more in too 150-200 for tints... Whats the diffrence with the moleskins?
Old 12-14-2005 | 10:45 PM
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depends on who u go to u might want moleskin Lorenzo has a lifetime warantee. i mean a lot of people have lifetime warantees but he is mainly tint. wen u go to his shop hes got some of the nices cars. hes got his range. hes alwas got the same hummer cuz he also partly owns a custumization shop like audio and shyt and then mercedes bmw, porsche, ferraris, that was the placei first saw the ranger rover sport. hes is a lil steep but i think its well worth it.
Old 12-14-2005 | 11:57 PM
  #35  
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I just got my windows tinted (and pinstripping by "Sid Did it" for those who have been around a while) the other day by Blackout Window Service in the Milwaukee area. The guy does all the tinting for the Acura dealer and some other dealers in the area. He said the Acura dealer tells him to do 30% tint if the car has a parchment interior and 35% for the darker interiors.
He always puts the felt on the TL because the rubber molding that is pressed up against the window is now a hard rubber instead of the fuzzy felt that was typical in the past. There are a few other models out there that use the same hard rubber like the Accord and I believe he said some Mercedes Benz models. If the installer is taking off the door panels when doing the tinting, it takes only a few extra minutes to put a felt strip on the hard rubber stripping since the stripping just pops off and back on. He said he gets calls for this felt kit from others around the country.
I paid $205.00 for my tinting and includes a Lluminar lifetime warranty that is good at any Lluminar dealer/installer. Seems to be a good film since you don't have to worry about using non-ammonia based window cleaners like I had to do on some previous tinted windows.
Old 12-16-2005 | 07:04 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by HiTEC
In addition to my above post (sorry too late to edit).

To anyone local, who may ask the question.....

For anyone else in the Chicago burbs.... I got mine done in Naperville for $240 (I think) for 35% all around. I got my past 4 Audi's tinted up north at a place called Shaded Days. I think their in Waukegan. I just didn't feel like dragging my ass 75 miles up north to get it done. I'm happy with the job I got in Naperville. Also if you've never had tint in Illinois, yes it is illegal to put any grade of tint on your front windows. My experience is, as long as you don't make youself a target you won't have any problems. Meaning if you don't drive a car that is orange with stickers all over it then you want have a problem. If you have a rice mobile, and drive like it, then you might have problems. I've only gotten 1 warning ticket in 16 years of driving. I also don't have a front plate either (which is also illegal), and have gotten one ticket in 16 years (that was an add on ticket from a pull over for speeding). Bear in mind that if you make your car illegal it's an excuse for the cops to pull you over at night or something to give you a sobriety test, so use extreme caution if you drink and drive.
Where did you have the tint done in Naperville?
Old 12-16-2005 | 11:01 AM
  #37  
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From: Geneva, Illinois
Originally Posted by titlex
Where did you have the tint done in Naperville?
I went to Z-Tech, it was right across from the Mercedes dealer on Ogden. I think they charged me $240.
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