vB Easy Archive - window tinting in la/oc?

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window tinting in la/oc?
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Posted by: DS

does anyone know of a reputable tint shop in la/oc thats been in business for a while (10+ years) and takes the door panels off to get the entire window done and not just the visible part? also, does anyone have experience with huper optik on their cars? as i'm thinking about going with a huper optik ceramic tint at 40% all around. thanks.

Posted by: vietalogy

Quote:

Originally Posted by DS

does anyone know of a reputable tint shop in la/oc thats been in business for a while (10+ years) and takes the door panels off to get the entire window done and not just the visible part? also, does anyone have experience with huper optik on their cars? as i'm thinking about going with a huper optik ceramic tint at 40% all around. thanks.

Isnt that illegal for cali DS? You will be more of a magnet for popo.

Posted by: DS

yeah it is illegal for the fronts to be tinted but hopefully its light enough so they won't notice too much. hence why i'm asking for a reputable shop thats been in business since someone told me to find one that gives a lifetime warranty so if in the event that i do get a fix it ticket i can just go back there have them take it off, get a cop to sign off the ticket and then go back to the shop to get it put back on for free. not sure on the last part but i hope what he said is true.

Posted by: IsLand_BoY

A reputable shop will not install tint if it is over the legal limit as they can get in trouble (at least in my state anyway) -- and even if they were dumb enough to do it, they wouldn't be spending a few hours each time you got a ticket removing it and putting it back on. Not for free anyway.

I didn't know it was illegal to have tint on the front windows in CA. Any particular reason why?

Posted by: DS

well 40% is well within the legal limits so it shouldnt be a problem for them to put it on. as for the california law, i'm not exactly sure as to why but i remember my business law professor mentioning something about cops being able to see whos driving for their safety along with some other stuff

Posted by: paul34

Huper Optik Ceramic is some of the best stuff out there, awesome heat rejection while maintaining a high light transmittance.

But its expen$$$$$$$$$$$ive! You must be ballin to get Huper Optik, especially the ceramic stuff.

If you can just find an authorized Huper Optik installer, chances are they're more than qualified.

Posted by: IsLand_BoY

Oops, I should rephrase what I said. I meant to say that if it's illegal for tint to be on the front windows, no reputable shop will install it on the front windows. Where have your friends gone to for their tint? I asked around and found a good place - lifetime warranty included. After a few months there were cuts in my tint; I thought I had scratched it unintentionally. I scheduled an appointment with the shop that installed my tint and they replaced the tint on the two windows where it was cut [said it's an installation defect] and also replaced the back window tint because there were two bubbles.

Come to find out, the guy who installed my tint originally [and did a crappy job] is no longer working at the shop! I was made aware of this when I asked the receptionist lady to make sure they put my door back together correctly. The first time they did my tint, something was rattling around. I took my door apart and found that something wasn't screwed in right so it was rattling.

I went with standard dyed film tint. The ceramic silver tint was $100 more [$280] than the one I went with.

Posted by: DS

yeah true. i might even go lighter to 51% as it still has the high heat rejection while not looking like its obviously been tinted so it isnt a cop magnet while still looking decent.

this guy got the 51% VLT (Madico MAC5000) and it doesnt look bad at all, plus its probably a little cheaper than the huper optik

http://www.ghideon.com/g37-2/

Posted by: paul34

Madico isn't bad either. Just stay away from the low end dyed films, usually have a slight blue or purple hue to them. Ghetto tint...

Madico, Huper Optik, 3M, Llumar, SunTek... I'm sure they all make crappy low-end tint, but in general, if a shop carries these and a few other brands, they'll be very good tint that should easily last at least 10 years. Lifetime warranty, sure, but are you really going to go back 20 years later and say "hey my tint is fading"

Posted by: boost_i95

I tinted my car 5% all around. I paid $200 for it, and they did a pretty good job. And yes, any percent tint on front windows illegal, and no tint shop will put it back on for free. I've had mine for months, and have yet to be pulled over. Then again, i had 35% on my old car, and ended up getting a fix it ticket for that. it all depends on luck i guess. lol.

Posted by: chorro

Quote:

Originally Posted by boost_i95

I tinted my car 5% all around. I paid $200 for it, and they did a pretty good job. And yes, any percent tint on front windows illegal, and no tint shop will put it back on for free. I've had mine for months, and have yet to be pulled over. Then again, i had 35% on my old car, and ended up getting a fix it ticket for that. it all depends on luck i guess. lol.

the place I had mine done said that the legal tint was up to 30% tint, so I had my driver's/passenger's side light and my rear sides and rear window as dark. It's risky to have your driver's/passenger's as medium if you have limousine tint on the rear because the cops have a harder time trying to see who's in the car. But then again it's different in ventura county where they're stricter than LA county.

Posted by: DS

yeah 5% is crazy. i think im gonna stick with 40ish. anyone have any shop recommendations?

Posted by: vietalogy

I have 20% all around my suv besides the windshield and haven't been pulled over in MI and FL.

Posted by: chorro

might not be so bad if you have 40% all around instead of having the back darker and the front lighter

Posted by: DS

yeah a uniform tint looks better to me than the tacky *** light fronts and dark backs. it just doesnt look right

Posted by: RawImpact

Made in the shade, Buena Park (Orange County) did my benz all around for 150. I did medium on the fronts and limo on the back.

This guy im talking about does tinting only. He has been in business for a long time, and his work is great. He spends approx. 3 hours on each car, so make sure you make an appointment.

Here is my car with what i said:

Posted by: DS

$150 isnt bad. do you know what kind of film he used? although i'm thinking of getting a clear bra installed as well so made in the shade might not be a great choice since he only does tinting

Posted by: eimajuno

Wirelessly posted (eimajuno's: HTC-8900/1.2 Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.6))

I went to a place in huntington beach called campbell tint. They fixed the job that the last shop screwed up on. I have 18% Llumar Platinum Plus all around except the windshield. Never had any problems with he cops.

Posted by: RawImpact

oh i forgot to mention, he carries lifetime warranty on bubbles, and discoloring.

Posted by: chorro

lifetime is a joke because it's only lifetime when that particular party or business is still in business. The place I had my tint done went out of business 2 years ago. So it's best to shop for quality tint rather than looking for a lifetime warranty. I'd opt for that Llumar Platinum Plus and make sure that the place who is offering to do the tint has been doing it for a number of years so that they have experience under their belt!

Posted by: DS

i looked up that llumar platinum plus and its an all metallic film. i want a ceramic tint so it doesnt mess with the gps signal hence why i'm leaning towards the madico or huper optik

Posted by: chorro

has anyone ever tinted their wiindshield?? I've always wanted to do that, but didn't want cops to suspect that I've had it done...

Posted by: 01oo001

I did my tints in the summer I did 5% back 15% front. The cops are really picky about tints here in Glendale/Burbank area. A lot of hit and runs and crimes so cops are being cautious. The shop that I did it at was in Van Nuys. A really well experienced amigo did my tints and it's perfect. I paid 80 bucks for all around. I don't know about the film name/quality, but he does give lifetime warranty, and he will change your tints for free if you get a ticket and buy him a lemonade while he's tinting.

here's the number to his cell phone: 818-220-9788 Markos. Check with him.

Posted by: chorro

the main thing for me is to shield my eyes from those glaring headlights when idiots try to tailgate me on the freeway. The tint does help to cut down on those high beams! I wish I had limousine tint instead of dark on the back because then that would cut down even more!

Posted by: paul34

^^ Have you ever just tried flipping the glare switch on your mirror... ?

5% on the back is fine, if you like not being able to see out of the car and, you know, other cars on the road at night.

Posted by: RawImpact

made in the shade has been in the business since 01.

Posted by: boost_i95

yeah, i want to tint my windshield too... im still hesitant about it though.

Posted by: paul34

I would highly advise against tinting the windshield unless you're talking about something higher than 50%. Even then.

The reason being that not only will you get caught eventually (it's really just a matter of time, regardless of how lenient the cops are in your area), but you're opening yourself up to liability. If you ever get into an accident, you could get sued or the insurance company could start disputing your claim, with the claim that you were negligent and tinted your windshield, creating a driving obstruction that's due completely to your "negligence."

I considered it strongly at one time, too (the Florida sun is EXTREMELY hot, and heats up my dash to crazy temperatures while I'm driving... nearly making my AC useless in the summer on highway drives), but it just didn't seem worth it.

I tried to get V-Kool, which is a clear film (70% transmittance - the same as "naked" modern automotive glass ), but has a solar heat rejection of 90%+ - but they don't sell it here for cars

Posted by: DS

Wirelessly posted (hoof hearted

: HTC_TyTN_II Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows CE; IEMobile 7.6))

so im getting it done right now from tintmastercity.com in canoga park with the 3m color safe at 35% all around. pics to come tonight

Posted by: 01oo001

Quote:

Originally Posted by boost_i95

yeah, i want to tint my windshield too... im still hesitant about it though.

man with your limos all around the dash is unnecessary. It's going to be too dark, plus if you get caught it's an automatic impound and a misdiminor. don't do it. wear shades

Posted by: DS

ended up being $180 for 6 windows (fronts, backs, rear window, and moon roof). not too shabby.

before:

after:

Posted by: chorro

nice!! much meaner look with the tint in place!!