serotta50 Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hello, Anyone have experience with do it yourself window tinting or is it better left to a pro shop? I'm getting killed this summer with the sun in my 95 legacy lsi wagon. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NV Zeno Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 When I lived in Phoenix, tint was almost a necessity. There were (are) lots of "tint shops" all over town, all reasonably priced. Most do a great job. One can always spot an amateur do-it-yourself job a mile away. Generally, the tint doesn't last as long as a pro job, either. Think about it..you've got a brand-new car, and isn't it worth spending a couple hundred bucks for a good tint job? Just my 2 bucks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hklaine Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 I am no expert with tint, but have done a few old cars (Loyale, GL, ...). I let the pros do my '96 Legacy Wagon. It was a greenhouse in there! $200 w/ LifeTime Warranty and it's perfect. Not to mention it has a one-piece back window. For $200 it wasn't worth the aggravation and supplies needed for a job that I don't think would have been as good. If you can afford to have it done it's worth every penny. No bubbles, it doesn't turn purple (cheap material), and the good stuff often blocks some UV too! Just my $0.02. -Heikki (Click on the link below for a pic of my car. You can't see the quality of the tint, but a tinted car if that interests you.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 Hello, Anyone have experience with do it yourself window tinting or is it better left to a pro shop? I'm getting killed this summer with the sun in my 95 legacy lsi wagon. Thanks I had the same question..... Thanks... :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serotta50 Posted July 12, 2005 Author Share Posted July 12, 2005 Thanks for your help, pro shop it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbey1982 Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 have a pro do it....its cheap, it will get done right, and its guaranteed to last forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted July 12, 2005 Share Posted July 12, 2005 pro's definitely. i picked up a soob with a bad tint job, all bubbly. no good. and while the tint may absorb some or all the UV...autoglass does the same thing so that's not really any added value. that's why you don't get sunburn while sitting in your car driving 1,000 miles on a road trip. (unless your windows are down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballitch Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 i did my own tint (20%) in my 98 legay sedan, i didnt do the back window, i wanted the police to be able to see in from the back, makes them feel safer or some crap. i bought this stuff at lowe's, its called GILA WINDOW TINTING SPRAY its a lotion/water/oil solution stuff that allows you to move the tint around after it contacts the window, then oyu use the supplied squeegies to ghet all the excess lotion/water solution from between the window tint and the glass, and let dry for 3 days without rolling down windows. ive had it for like a year and a half, no bubbles and no polarized looking "spots" on it at all. just some scratches from toolbelt and stuff. it also helps to do this in a garage with no wind, if you do it outside on a windy day, your going to kill someone with your temper. ~Josh~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballitch Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 oh and it cost me $40 to do all but the back window................and 3 hours of my time. ~Josh~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95legacy Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I did my own tint on my first car, a 1988 acura integra hatch. Let me tell you, it is a biatch and a half doing it by yourself especially if you are a rookie or amateur at tinting. I think the back hatch alone, I spent like 4 hours to do and turned out I screwed up the rear defogger!! It was an experience but for $150-$200, get a pro to do it. If you are lucky, you can get one that even warranties your tint so in case it starts to bubble or peel, go back and have him/her fix it for you. Bottom line, it's a matter of money. Sure it was an experience but I do not think I will bother with it ever again imo. my $.02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spazz698 Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 OK I did the tint on my 93 wagon, the side windows are no prob but the back is a royal PITA. I ended up wasting a good 6 hrs total of my life JUST on that window. It's still ************ed up at the moment (2 tries later) but my tint is so dark you have to really look at it to notice it. I do find it a lil amusing, just because my side windows look perfect (with the exception of one crease, not bubble but crease) on one but then you see the back...lmao. Come to think of it I still have leftover tint. Think I'll try it one last time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spokane-Pete Posted July 15, 2005 Share Posted July 15, 2005 I just had my Lexus ES300 windows tinted. I'd hate to do it myself. Hot work, hard on the back, pain to get right. I'm very glad I had it done and made a deal to get the glass sunroof done in limo black. If I want to see out I'll open it! Seriously keeps the heat out. I did the windows 33% which was plenty. The back looks darker only because of the combination of the 3 back windows adding to each other. Its much less glare and much cooler. Well worth the $165. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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