Does brand of tint matter?
09-09-2014, 07:48 PM
#1
Does brand of tint matter?
i want to get my wife's 08 accord tinted. i myself have 35% llumar ATC on my 07 TL...it's...all right, nothing to complain about really except there's a TINY scratch from rolling down the windows, even though i have moleskin....
do you guys find some brands of tint better than others? any thoughts about 3M vs Llumar vs Solar Gard vs Suntek?
3M is the most expensive..not unusual. i want some decent tints, will own the car for many years yet (but probably not too many km put on it). i'd like something above average, but don't want to pay the premium on the top end stuff
thanks for the thoughts
do you guys find some brands of tint better than others? any thoughts about 3M vs Llumar vs Solar Gard vs Suntek?
3M is the most expensive..not unusual. i want some decent tints, will own the car for many years yet (but probably not too many km put on it). i'd like something above average, but don't want to pay the premium on the top end stuff
thanks for the thoughts
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09-09-2014, 09:55 PM
#5
I have Hyper Optik
its fucking badass!
Just like anything else in the world, customers have a choice or an option for tint.
the most common type of tint is a dyed film.
this film can turn purple from the sun beating down on it all the time.
ceramic tint is by far better than a dyed film.
it blocks out UV ray's and has comparable heat rejection as 5% limo tint.
this means, you can use a lighter shade while still being protected from the sun.
since ceramic tint is a high end option, you'll certainly pay for it.
its fucking badass!
Just like anything else in the world, customers have a choice or an option for tint.
the most common type of tint is a dyed film.
this film can turn purple from the sun beating down on it all the time.
ceramic tint is by far better than a dyed film.
it blocks out UV ray's and has comparable heat rejection as 5% limo tint.
this means, you can use a lighter shade while still being protected from the sun.
since ceramic tint is a high end option, you'll certainly pay for it.
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09-09-2014, 11:01 PM
#14
All the brands listed are decent. Johnson Film is another popular brand tinters use. They are all above average.
Just stay away from Gila and similar brands, you know the brands sold at Autozone and the like; they fade quick. I doubt the pros use them anyways.
Huper Optik and FormulaOne (made by Llumar) are on the high end. I wanted to do ceramic but I thought I'll wait till I buy a premium luxury car. I personally have 3M Metallic, and I'm pretty happy with it. It's in a hard to find "in between" transmission of 30% which I find absolutely the perfect shade. Awesome heat rejection. But next time around I will do ceramic for sure, probably Huper Optik.
If your film scratched with moleskin your tinter may cover it on warranty, ask him. Mine does. As long as it's not from my doing.
Just stay away from Gila and similar brands, you know the brands sold at Autozone and the like; they fade quick. I doubt the pros use them anyways.
Huper Optik and FormulaOne (made by Llumar) are on the high end. I wanted to do ceramic but I thought I'll wait till I buy a premium luxury car. I personally have 3M Metallic, and I'm pretty happy with it. It's in a hard to find "in between" transmission of 30% which I find absolutely the perfect shade. Awesome heat rejection. But next time around I will do ceramic for sure, probably Huper Optik.
If your film scratched with moleskin your tinter may cover it on warranty, ask him. Mine does. As long as it's not from my doing.
09-09-2014, 11:48 PM
#16
Instructor
I would like to say that brand does matter in terms of tint... All the brands mentioned above are reputable and I'm sure are all great. I would think that everybody who posts would mention whatever they have, as that's what they have experience with.
I myself have the Llumar CTX on my TL, which is their ceramic model and cost me $260 installed with a lifetime warranty. I'm surprised to hear that your Llumar tint has been scratched, since my tint dealer specifically advised against the installation of moleskin, stating that Llumar has a scratch-resistant coating and would replace it in the off-chance that it did happen to scratch. I was skeptical at first in their claim, but three years of rolling windows up and down and my tint is still perfect!
I myself have the Llumar CTX on my TL, which is their ceramic model and cost me $260 installed with a lifetime warranty. I'm surprised to hear that your Llumar tint has been scratched, since my tint dealer specifically advised against the installation of moleskin, stating that Llumar has a scratch-resistant coating and would replace it in the off-chance that it did happen to scratch. I was skeptical at first in their claim, but three years of rolling windows up and down and my tint is still perfect!
09-10-2014, 01:15 AM
#18
the Llumar ATC 35 was put on by the dealer i bought the 07 TL from, at my request. in a moment of not being my usual anal self, i didn't look into the specific type or even brand (i found out it was Llumar after the fact). next time (i.e. this time for my wife's car) i'm looking into the specific brand much more carefully. and i probably wouldn't have gone with the ATC if i realized it.
the scratch is so minor, i don't even notice it, it's a pain to get it redone, the guy who did it is in the next city over, etc etc, will leave for now
one thing i do like the Llumar is the very neutral colour. i've read the suntek carbon can have a slight purple tinge...and formula one pinnacle is slightly green...
any thoughts on the colour? i want really neutral black/dark without obvious colour otherwise.
got a quote for suntek carbon at $200, $250 solar gard smoke (only 5 year waranty), forumula one classic at $325, 3M (probably average or base model) for $310, all plus 13% tax. i'm in canada too. pinnacle is probably +$100, stuff is just more expensive up here.
thoughts about the difference in price? are solar gard and suntek cheaper? formula one has more brand recognition?
the scratch is so minor, i don't even notice it, it's a pain to get it redone, the guy who did it is in the next city over, etc etc, will leave for now
one thing i do like the Llumar is the very neutral colour. i've read the suntek carbon can have a slight purple tinge...and formula one pinnacle is slightly green...
any thoughts on the colour? i want really neutral black/dark without obvious colour otherwise.
got a quote for suntek carbon at $200, $250 solar gard smoke (only 5 year waranty), forumula one classic at $325, 3M (probably average or base model) for $310, all plus 13% tax. i'm in canada too. pinnacle is probably +$100, stuff is just more expensive up here.
thoughts about the difference in price? are solar gard and suntek cheaper? formula one has more brand recognition?
Last edited by anagramjones; 09-10-2014 at 01:30 AM.
09-10-2014, 03:36 AM
#20
the Llumar ATC 35 was put on by the dealer i bought the 07 TL from, at my request. in a moment of not being my usual anal self, i didn't look into the specific type or even brand (i found out it was Llumar after the fact). next time (i.e. this time for my wife's car) i'm looking into the specific brand much more carefully. and i probably wouldn't have gone with the ATC if i realized it.
the scratch is so minor, i don't even notice it, it's a pain to get it redone, the guy who did it is in the next city over, etc etc, will leave for now
one thing i do like the Llumar is the very neutral colour. i've read the suntek carbon can have a slight purple tinge...and formula one pinnacle is slightly green...
any thoughts on the colour? i want really neutral black/dark without obvious colour otherwise.
got a quote for suntek carbon at $200, $250 solar gard smoke (only 5 year waranty), forumula one classic at $325, 3M (probably average or base model) for $310, all plus 13% tax. i'm in canada too. pinnacle is probably +$100, stuff is just more expensive up here.
thoughts about the difference in price? are solar gard and suntek cheaper? formula one has more brand recognition?
the scratch is so minor, i don't even notice it, it's a pain to get it redone, the guy who did it is in the next city over, etc etc, will leave for now
one thing i do like the Llumar is the very neutral colour. i've read the suntek carbon can have a slight purple tinge...and formula one pinnacle is slightly green...
any thoughts on the colour? i want really neutral black/dark without obvious colour otherwise.
got a quote for suntek carbon at $200, $250 solar gard smoke (only 5 year waranty), forumula one classic at $325, 3M (probably average or base model) for $310, all plus 13% tax. i'm in canada too. pinnacle is probably +$100, stuff is just more expensive up here.
thoughts about the difference in price? are solar gard and suntek cheaper? formula one has more brand recognition?
09-10-2014, 07:43 AM
#22
yah photos or thoughts about colour would be great.
13% on top of an already higher price than what you guys pay down south.
got another quote for formula one pinnacle at $375+tax. all those prices include 4 windows, rear, and sunroof.
i don't know anyone offering suntek CXP around my area, just the one guy with carbon.
anyone these days even have issues with peeling and purple tint? isn't the technology better these days and those aren't even issues anymore?
13% on top of an already higher price than what you guys pay down south.
got another quote for formula one pinnacle at $375+tax. all those prices include 4 windows, rear, and sunroof.
i don't know anyone offering suntek CXP around my area, just the one guy with carbon.
anyone these days even have issues with peeling and purple tint? isn't the technology better these days and those aren't even issues anymore?
09-10-2014, 09:32 AM
#23
My first ricer
iTrader: (4)
I'd be more worried about the shops reputation than the brand, I'd rather have the installer apply the film properly with the film they're comfortable with than get something more expensive but with bubbles. They almost all have a warranty. No issues with Llumar ATR, it looks better than the Sun Gard i put on my wife's car. Not sure what's on my TL since it was done before I bought it but fortunately it looks good. I don't think newer dyed films are bad either, they normally have a pretty good warranty now.
09-10-2014, 12:52 PM
#25
Whatever you do, don't blindly tell them to tint your car with X% without actually seeing the material yourself. That is what most people do. They just think tint is tint. I didn't have free choice with the full line of 3M I wanted. They said they'd have to special order it certain lines. I said no thanks, show me what you stock. If they say they don't stock what you are really particular for and they have to order it, go somewhere else. You'd want to see what you are getting.
Take it outside in the daylight, and look through it place it up to the car. (colors don't look true with indoor light) You don't want to cry about it once the job is done. At that point you can only hope to do it right on your next car.
The hue depends on the color of your car. I found that my tint was a hue of charcoal that went perfect with my anthracite. Some tints are bluer some are more black. Some cars actually do look good with a slight brown hue to it. But that would look terrible on other cars. I have seen greenish tint
, totally ruins the look and purple tint is definitely that 1990s Corolla look. No thanks. In high school I experimented with photochomatic tint (Changed with reaction to light. Clear at night and tinted in the daytime), it was the coolest thing 20 yrs ago, lol. Anyways it was an awesome idea, just didn't realize once I had finished that when it turns dark it is a very blue hue. I'm talking smurf blue, lol. My car actually had a blue interior so it wasn't that bad, but I got sick of it a month later and ripped it off and did a normal tint. So make sure to pay attention to the hue.
Last edited by rockyfeller; 09-10-2014 at 12:56 PM.
09-10-2014, 11:10 PM
#26
yah photos or thoughts about colour would be great.
13% on top of an already higher price than what you guys pay down south.
got another quote for formula one pinnacle at $375+tax. all those prices include 4 windows, rear, and sunroof.
i don't know anyone offering suntek CXP around my area, just the one guy with carbon.
anyone these days even have issues with peeling and purple tint? isn't the technology better these days and those aren't even issues anymore?
13% on top of an already higher price than what you guys pay down south.
got another quote for formula one pinnacle at $375+tax. all those prices include 4 windows, rear, and sunroof.
i don't know anyone offering suntek CXP around my area, just the one guy with carbon.
anyone these days even have issues with peeling and purple tint? isn't the technology better these days and those aren't even issues anymore?
09-10-2014, 11:12 PM
#27
That is another difference between manufacturers and different types of tint. Some manufacturers have a similar hue across their whole brand. Others have different hues depending on the grade of tint.
Whatever you do, don't blindly tell them to tint your car with X% without actually seeing the material yourself. That is what most people do. They just think tint is tint. I didn't have free choice with the full line of 3M I wanted. They said they'd have to special order it certain lines. I said no thanks, show me what you stock. If they say they don't stock what you are really particular for and they have to order it, go somewhere else. You'd want to see what you are getting.
Take it outside in the daylight, and look through it place it up to the car. (colors don't look true with indoor light) You don't want to cry about it once the job is done. At that point you can only hope to do it right on your next car.
The hue depends on the color of your car. I found that my tint was a hue of charcoal that went perfect with my anthracite. Some tints are bluer some are more black. Some cars actually do look good with a slight brown hue to it. But that would look terrible on other cars. I have seen greenish tint, totally ruins the look and purple tint is definitely that 1990s Corolla look. No thanks.
In high school I experimented with photochomatic tint (Changed with reaction to light. Clear at night and tinted in the daytime), it was the coolest thing 20 yrs ago, lol. Anyways it was an awesome idea, just didn't realize once I had finished that when it turns dark it is a very blue hue. I'm talking smurf blue, lol. My car actually had a blue interior so it wasn't that bad, but I got sick of it a month later and ripped it off and did a normal tint. So make sure to pay attention to the hue.
Whatever you do, don't blindly tell them to tint your car with X% without actually seeing the material yourself. That is what most people do. They just think tint is tint. I didn't have free choice with the full line of 3M I wanted. They said they'd have to special order it certain lines. I said no thanks, show me what you stock. If they say they don't stock what you are really particular for and they have to order it, go somewhere else. You'd want to see what you are getting.
Take it outside in the daylight, and look through it place it up to the car. (colors don't look true with indoor light) You don't want to cry about it once the job is done. At that point you can only hope to do it right on your next car.
The hue depends on the color of your car. I found that my tint was a hue of charcoal that went perfect with my anthracite. Some tints are bluer some are more black. Some cars actually do look good with a slight brown hue to it. But that would look terrible on other cars. I have seen greenish tint
, totally ruins the look and purple tint is definitely that 1990s Corolla look. No thanks. In high school I experimented with photochomatic tint (Changed with reaction to light. Clear at night and tinted in the daytime), it was the coolest thing 20 yrs ago, lol. Anyways it was an awesome idea, just didn't realize once I had finished that when it turns dark it is a very blue hue. I'm talking smurf blue, lol. My car actually had a blue interior so it wasn't that bad, but I got sick of it a month later and ripped it off and did a normal tint. So make sure to pay attention to the hue.
09-10-2014, 11:28 PM
#28
Safety Car
iTrader: (5)
i have solar gard and i think it's a great tint. i've had it for over 6 years now and it's a very dark color. the only semi-issue is that there is a little distortion on the back window only, when looking behind using the rear view mirror (not visible from outside looking in). just means i can't see people's facial features in the car behind me sometimes haha
on the front i have 3M (had to install and remove front driver and passenger tint a few times...aka California cops suck, especially when they give you tickets while you're parked), it's not as dark as the solar gard but not bad.
i would prefer solar gard over 3M. i originally picked it based on the claim that it reduces or blocks a decent amount of solar energy
15% rear SolarGard / 35% front 3M (looks darker because of windshield shade...and i have a black interior)
on the front i have 3M (had to install and remove front driver and passenger tint a few times...aka California cops suck, especially when they give you tickets while you're parked), it's not as dark as the solar gard but not bad.
i would prefer solar gard over 3M. i originally picked it based on the claim that it reduces or blocks a decent amount of solar energy
15% rear SolarGard / 35% front 3M (looks darker because of windshield shade...and i have a black interior)
Last edited by sockr1; 09-10-2014 at 11:40 PM.
09-10-2014, 11:51 PM
#30
Race Director
Love my Huper Optik!! Yes, I paid a premium for it but IMO worth every penny. I paid $400 10.5 years ago and it's still perfect.
09-11-2014, 08:11 AM
#33
thanks everyone for the pics and thoughts. the pinnacle actually doesn't look bad, actually similar to my Llumar ATC, and i noticed that the Llumar is actually just slightly green too...and it hasn't bothered me on my TL, so should be ok on the Accord
sockr1, what model of the solar gard did you get? anyone else have thoughts about solar gard?
when did you get this installed? was it the pinnacle or classic series, cause price seems way too low for pinnacle. could you send me a contact, shop does good work?
anyone have formula one classic, how is it?
so my considerations now:
1. the cheapest is suntek carbon, guy is nearby (convenient), has only 5 years experience tinting, i found him randomly online from local listings, 200+tax. doesn't mean he's bad, but..you know
2. formula one pinnacle, between 375+tax and 425+tax at shops that received good comments from other Acurazine members...formula classic at one of these shops is 300+tax
3. solar gard smoke (regular, not premium tint) is 250+tax at shop that has lots of good comments from Acurazine members
4. 3M (hasn't gotten back to me about model) also from shop that's nearby, found from local listings, referred by friend who got remote starter installed there, good friend of mine but what does he know about tint? (not much, lol) this is 310+tax
so remember it's for my wife's 08 accord, had since new, has only 45,000km now....so it's in very good condition, we'll probably keep it longer than i keep my TL (hopefully i'll get a TLX or something in a few years)....the car is still several years old and don't want to spend too much money, but will probably still own the car for a while even though it's not driven as much..but it's still not a brand new car
what would you guys go with?
sockr1, what model of the solar gard did you get? anyone else have thoughts about solar gard?
anyone have formula one classic, how is it?
so my considerations now:
1. the cheapest is suntek carbon, guy is nearby (convenient), has only 5 years experience tinting, i found him randomly online from local listings, 200+tax. doesn't mean he's bad, but..you know
2. formula one pinnacle, between 375+tax and 425+tax at shops that received good comments from other Acurazine members...formula classic at one of these shops is 300+tax
3. solar gard smoke (regular, not premium tint) is 250+tax at shop that has lots of good comments from Acurazine members
4. 3M (hasn't gotten back to me about model) also from shop that's nearby, found from local listings, referred by friend who got remote starter installed there, good friend of mine but what does he know about tint? (not much, lol) this is 310+tax
so remember it's for my wife's 08 accord, had since new, has only 45,000km now....so it's in very good condition, we'll probably keep it longer than i keep my TL (hopefully i'll get a TLX or something in a few years)....the car is still several years old and don't want to spend too much money, but will probably still own the car for a while even though it's not driven as much..but it's still not a brand new car
what would you guys go with?
Last edited by anagramjones; 09-11-2014 at 08:21 AM.
09-11-2014, 08:32 AM
#34
btw, the places that have good comments from forum members, not really close to home...would take about 45-60 minutes to get there without traffic....would take me away for more than half a day to get the job done, and wife and i have a baby so it's inconvenient for me to take off for so long
09-11-2014, 11:18 AM
#35
One of the greenish tints I saw once is Huper Optik. I don't know if they changed that or they have different grades but I wouldn't want that greenish look. I don't want to feel like I am sitting behind a bank teller bulletproof glass or inside an aircraft control tower, lol.
09-12-2014, 01:03 AM
#37
oh man, you guys in the US make me want to cry about how much more everything costs up here. maybe i should find someone in buffalo to do the tint and make a day trip out of it with the family....
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