Ive tinted a few cars before (84 trans am, 73 cutlass supreme, 93 tarus) but as you can see, non of them have been worth having a pro do it. I did a pretty good job by myself but, I was wondering if anyone here did it themselves, how bad/easy it was and if you have any tips.

Also I have made up my mind how dark I want to go so if you'd post a pic with the percentage, it would help me out alot!

 

Don't go darker than 25%. It becomes difficult to see at night. I used to have 2% on my tib, I could barely see anything outside, it was actually kinda dangerous.

Tinting yourself isn't hard, especially if you've done it before.

My advice, make sure to take a razor to the edge about a 1/4" around the top of the entire window, otherwise, it starts to peel after awhile, and looks like crap.

Also, removing the door panel can make it easier. I didn't do it, but it would have helped a little. Depends on the quality of tint and how experienced you are I suppose.

Good luck.

Oh yeah, and don't buy cheap tint. Makes a big difference.

 

i should have gone 25%. i got 20%. makes you uncertain at night, lowers confidence.

 

I was thinking 30% all over.

 

30% would be perfect. i went 35 to try and remain legal, but i think an extra 5 would have been just right.

1. take off door panels
2. cover entire quarter windows, even the black part
3. the hatch is a b****. have a couple friends help for that part.

 

Almost a decade ago, I did the tint to the black pony myself.

I removed the glass and did the tint individually in the bathtub (MAKE SURE SURFACE IS CLEAN!!) and it worked very well.

Two weeks later, I installed Stellar power windows in the pony, and the chain feed tube ruined them by scratching them to shit. I have since learned to cut off an inch of the feed tube to avoid scratching.

I have not redone them since.

The ones that stayed intact: no bubbles. Nothing.

BTW do it with a shirt on, I permasealed one of my armpit hairs inbetween the glass and the tint on the passenger side glass (since smashed)

 

they stencil the tint film on the outside of the glass with an edge knife. all there is to it. my question is how difficult is it to clean off when you take the tint off? i remember it was a job to clean off the adhesive.

yeah 30% would be just right.

 

35% on the doors, the rest is 20% on my car, just right for me.

 

I have 20% tint all around and it really doesn't affect night driving. It's nice on the rear window to dim down people's lights, and I don't really need to see out the side windows. It's slightly illegal, but it's Alabama.... We need tinting...

The place that put mine on had an interesting (and very good) way to do it. They first put it on the outside of the window to have a good template to use. They used a heat gun to help mold it into place (especially for the rear hatch since it's so curved), then cut it exactly to shape. Then they simply peeled it off and put it on the inside of the window. Makes it so much easier to already have it molded and trimmed to size.

To get off old tint, I'm pretty sure you're supposed to use windex or something with an ammonia(?) type base. I know there's some common cleaning chemical that quickly removes the stuff that's really good to use for it.

 

I'd say I am pretty damn ambitious about a lot of stuff, but tinting windows is just something that really pays off taking to a professional shop. Its a lot of work, and its a whole HELL of a lot of work if you get bubbles and have to take the tint off and redo it. Its your ride and your time, do what you want, but remember that most shops guarantee their work for the life that you own the car and most also guarantee the tint from fading. If it where me, I'd take it to a shop.