Window tinting-is it worthwhile?

[Geoff C]

I've never had window tinting, and the horror stories of purple windows
with huge bubbles makes me wonder if there is a way to choose a good
company? Some say the stuff scratches easily too. After all, it is plastic.
Melb SE suburbs. Prestige Tinting in Dandenong currently have a $100
special but I am wary and probably won't get it done unless I am confident
of a good outcome.

[Shane Brittle]

Geoff C wrote:
> I've never had window tinting, and the horror stories of purple windows
> with huge bubbles makes me wonder if there is a way to choose a good
> company? Some say the stuff scratches easily too. After all, it is plastic.
> Melb SE suburbs. Prestige Tinting in Dandenong currently have a $100
> special but I am wary and probably won't get it done unless I am confident
> of a good outcome.

Only good for cosmetic purposes, but some companies (Solace) claim
their tints make your windows harder to smash. It won't make your car
any cooler in summer.

It's best to spend the money on something decent. The tinting I had on
my old Subaru was done by Solace, who had a ten year warranty or
something like that on the tint. Before I sold it last year I noticed
it was looking a bit streaky though (you had to look really hard to
notice it).

I've heard that metallic-based tints are best as they don't fade.
Apparently 3M make some good tints.

[John B]

Shane Brittle wrote:
>
> Geoff C wrote:
>
>>I've never had window tinting, and the horror stories of purple windows
>>with huge bubbles makes me wonder if there is a way to choose a good
>>company? Some say the stuff scratches easily too. After all, it is plastic.
>>Melb SE suburbs. Prestige Tinting in Dandenong currently have a $100
>>special but I am wary and probably won't get it done unless I am confident
>>of a good outcome.
>
IMO $100 would give you a very poor outcome.

>
> Only good for cosmetic purposes, but some companies (Solace) claim
> their tints make your windows harder to smash. It won't make your car
> any cooler in summer.
>
Personally I do reckon that it does keep the car "slightly" cooler in
summer, if you sit in the car with the window partly down on a sunny day
and have your arm half in the shade created by the window and half not
then you will notice a difference.
Now try it with an untinted window, I dont think its the same.

> It's best to spend the money on something decent. The tinting I had on
> my old Subaru was done by Solace, who had a ten year warranty or
> something like that on the tint. Before I sold it last year I noticed
> it was looking a bit streaky though (you had to look really hard to
> notice it).
>
> I've heard that metallic-based tints are best as they don't fade.
> Apparently 3M make some good tints.
>

Apparently they do.

I have used Tint-A-Car in the past and found them to be very good.
Tint Professor, while slightly cheaper also gave a very acceptable
affect imo.

Google this group to see past discussions.

JB

[a9x5l]

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 03:12:37 +0000, Geoff C wrote:

> I've never had window tinting, and the horror stories of purple windows
> with huge bubbles makes me wonder if there is a way to choose a good
> company? Some say the stuff scratches easily too. After all, it is plastic.
> Melb SE suburbs. Prestige Tinting in Dandenong currently have a $100
> special but I am wary and probably won't get it done unless I am confident
> of a good outcome.

A good quality tint shouldn't peel, bubble, turn purple or scratch easily,
but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful with it either. Make sure
the tinting provides proper UV protection, and if you aren't sure about this
particular tinter, ask if you can look at some of their finished cars.
$100 sounds ridiculously cheap, but the price of tinting has dropped heaps
in recent years.

--
a9x5l

[rmcgrice]

Geoff C <notinterestedin@spam.com> wrote in
news:Xns967E85B4E6B7Etestnospamcom@61.8.0.29:

> I've never had window tinting, and the horror stories of purple
> windows with huge bubbles makes me wonder if there is a way to choose
> a good company? Some say the stuff scratches easily too. After all, it
> is plastic. Melb SE suburbs. Prestige Tinting in Dandenong currently
> have a $100 special but I am wary and probably won't get it done
> unless I am confident of a good outcome.

Too cheap!

It would not be worth it.
I have three of my cars tinted with 3M film. It cost $280 per car and
comes with a lifetime guarantee.

The good part is you don't get burnt from the sun shining through the side
windows, it keeps the car slightly cooler (helps air conditioner) and cuts
down on glare.

Regards,
Ron

[Greg Stewart]

"Geoff C" <notinterestedin@spam.com> wrote in message
news:Xns967E85B4E6B7Etestnospamcom@61.8.0.29...
> I've never had window tinting, and the horror stories of purple windows
> with huge bubbles makes me wonder if there is a way to choose a good
> company? Some say the stuff scratches easily too. After all, it is
> plastic.
> Melb SE suburbs. Prestige Tinting in Dandenong currently have a $100
> special but I am wary and probably won't get it done unless I am confident
> of a good outcome.

It is worthwhile, but don't go for a cheap company with cheap tint.. at the
very least, get a tint that comes with a lifetime warranty against bubbles,
craizing, change of colour..etc..

I have always had 3M on my cars, on one occasion I had some small ripple
marks appear in the tint on each window after about 5 years, it was not
obvious, but could be seen on a close inspection., I took it back to the
company who applied it and they re-tinted the whole car under warranty.

Tint does cut down on heat.. It won't make a hugh difference to the
interior temp of your car when it's parked in the sun all day, but while you
are driving, you can certainly notice the difference.

[Mot Adv-NSW]

In addition to other respondents, the tint does have the effect of holding
most smashed side wondow glass together, think rollover etc and so on.

Only specifiy 'life long' guarantee tint, nothing less. 3M is suggested.

J.



--
Buy a hazard warning triangle for your vehicle for use at crash scenes (to
prevent secondary) and breakdowns, store it in the boot. I suggest Hella
Part Number 2901, or BMW Spare Part Number 7160 1095 457. Race & Rally of
Greenacre in Sydney have an ECE triangle for $23 with slightly reduced wind
stability, a worthwhile budget option! All are superior to Australian
Standard 3790 and 3790B type.

[Scotty]

"Shane Brittle" <sbrittle@velocitynet.com.au> wrote in message

> Only good for cosmetic purposes, but some companies (Solace) claim
> their tints make your windows harder to smash. It won't make your car
> any cooler in summer.

What a load of bollocks! I tinted the wifes car and what a huge difference
with the heat reduction tint. (67% reduction claimed but closer to 30-40 Id
say)

>
> It's best to spend the money on something decent. The tinting I had on
> my old Subaru was done by Solace, who had a ten year warranty or
> something like that on the tint. Before I sold it last year I noticed
> it was looking a bit streaky though (you had to look really hard to
> notice it).
>
> I've heard that metallic-based tints are best as they don't fade.
> Apparently 3M make some good tints.

Yes, good advise 3M do great products but also do shit ones as well, pay
more for a good film, stay away from the $100 jobs as they tend to be just
to get you in the door. Okay if you just wanna sell your car.

Definately go for a metallic film as they claim that they will not fade for
a very long time.

Make sure that the window seals remain dirt free as this is how the films
get scratched as well, clean as recommended by the installers. (Mild
detergent only, I just use a small dampened with water chamois)

As for harder to break your windows, pop down to your local wrecker and find
a car with a tinted window and try and smash it! (If its within sight of the
front desk you may offer them $5 for the window first!) I bet that you will
find it only slightly harder to break but a lot bloody harder to get through
once broken.


>

[kevcat]

Geoff C wrote:
>
> I've never had window tinting, and the horror stories of purple windows
> with huge bubbles makes me wonder if there is a way to choose a good
> company? Some say the stuff scratches easily too. After all, it is plastic.
> Melb SE suburbs. Prestige Tinting in Dandenong currently have a $100
> special but I am wary and probably won't get it done unless I am confident
> of a good outcome.


I have had all my cars tinted
especially as I live in QLD
it makes the car noticeably cooler inside and that of course helps the
A/C at keeping the inside cooler in Summer

there is also the fact that you won't get sunburnt while driving long
distances with the sun on you

I only use the metalic tints, these have 100% UV protection
get in a car with tint in the sun and see how much the heat on your arm
is reduced

the Tint will also protect you from flying glass in a crash as it holds
the window in one piece and the glass is on the other side of the film

as for faded and bubbled tint
mostly home applied(bubbles) or very cheap plastic type(fade/purple
colouring)

when I got my XE done 9 years ago the colour of the tint was called
"Steel Blue"(matched the car colour very nicely)

it was on the car for 9 years and showed no sign of fade, wear or
bubbles
it came with a warrenty for the life of the car from 3M
oh and it got a few scratches, kids with a bicycle pump
very hard to scratch with anything other than metal


if the tinting mob with the $100 deal(not unheard of in winter) use 3M
metalic tints you shouldn't worry about the tint at all
just how it is applied

Kev

[girl-sat]

Tint-a-car are a ripp off,they change allot for their
time,however,tinting windows is hard work,
I think tint-a-car think their time is worth $150 per hour,but wanky
for me.

[girl-sat]

>if the tinting mob with the $100 deal(not unheard of in winter) use 3M
>metalic tints you shouldn't worry about the tint at all
>just how it is applied

Yeah....one bit of grub or grease is enough to fuck the whole
thing.........dust specs that are invisable,will cause ripple in years
to come.

In my opinion if they are saying they can tint windows,they are not
going about it half assed,You can't just wack tint on,there is an art
too it.

[Geoff C]

Geoff C <notinterestedin@spam.com> wrote in
news:Xns967E85B4E6B7Etestnospamcom@61.8.0.29:

> I've never had window tinting, and the horror stories of purple
> windows with huge bubbles makes me wonder if there is a way to choose
> a good company? Some say the stuff scratches easily too. After all, it
> is plastic. Melb SE suburbs. Prestige Tinting in Dandenong currently
> have a $100 special but I am wary and probably won't get it done
> unless I am confident of a good outcome.
>

Thanks to respondents. To sum up, 3M is the best film, tinting will reduce
radiant heat and sunburn. Keep door tops clean, go for good warranty.

[Mot Adv-NSW]

> Thanks to respondents. To sum up, 3M is the best film, tinting will reduce
> radiant heat and sunburn. Keep door tops clean, go for good warranty.

Not good, LIFETIME.

--
Buy a hazard warning triangle for your vehicle for use at crash scenes (to
prevent secondary) and breakdowns, store it in the boot. I suggest Hella
Part Number 2901, or BMW Spare Part Number 7160 1095 457. Race & Rally of
Greenacre in Sydney have an ECE triangle for $23 with slightly reduced wind
stability, a worthwhile budget option! All are superior to Australian
Standard 3790 and 3790B type.

[Geoff C]

"Mot Adv-NSW" <mot.adv@gotalk.net.au> wrote in
news:42bb4fd5$0$18650$14726298@news.sunsite.dk:

>> Thanks to respondents. To sum up, 3M is the best film, tinting will
>> reduce radiant heat and sunburn. Keep door tops clean, go for good
>> warranty.
>
> Not good, LIFETIME.
>

Noted.

[Clockmeister]

"Geoff C" <notinterestedin@spam.com> wrote in message
news:Xns967E85B4E6B7Etestnospamcom@61.8.0.29...
> I've never had window tinting, and the horror stories of purple windows
> with huge bubbles makes me wonder if there is a way to choose a good
> company? Some say the stuff scratches easily too. After all, it is
plastic.
> Melb SE suburbs. Prestige Tinting in Dandenong currently have a $100
> special but I am wary and probably won't get it done unless I am confident
> of a good outcome.

I got mine done at Tint-a-car through a trade associate for $100 and got the
lifetime warranty stuff. For a retail customer the $100 stuff is most
probably cheap shit and can be expected to last about 3 to 5 years. Better
pay a bit more and get quality stuff that will last 10 years or more, and it
comes with that guarantee.

Regards,

Clockmeister.

[Lily Lubis, attorney at law]

On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:30:18 +1000, "Mot Adv-NSW"
<mot.adv@gotalk.net.au> wrote:

>In addition to other respondents, the tint does have the effect of holding
>most smashed side wondow glass together, think rollover etc and so on.

oh yeah forget roof structure it's the tinting film that's important.

it's not true.

--

Lily Lubis (Ms)
Attorney at Law
5/37 Paknabiel Way
Denpasar, Indonesia.

Defamation cases our speciality!

[OzOne]

On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 11:51:46 +1000, "Lily Lubis, attorney at law"
<legal@eagle.com> scribbled thusly:

>On Thu, 23 Jun 2005 18:30:18 +1000, "Mot Adv-NSW"
><mot.adv@gotalk.net.au> wrote:
>
>>In addition to other respondents, the tint does have the effect of holding
>>most smashed side wondow glass together, think rollover etc and so on.
>
>oh yeah forget roof structure it's the tinting film that's important.
>
>it's not true.

Yep, it is true, the film is also used to make window glass in homes
safer as well.


Oz1...of the 3 twins.

I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.

[Lily Lubis, attorney at law]

On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 12:18:45 +1000, OzOne <> wrote:

>>
>>>In addition to other respondents, the tint does have the effect of holding
>>>most smashed side wondow glass together, think rollover etc and so on.
>>
>>oh yeah forget roof structure it's the tinting film that's important.
>>
>>it's not true.
>
>Yep, it is true, the film is also used to make window glass in homes
>safer as well.
>

if someone wants to break your window they will

--

Lily Lubis (Ms)
Attorney at Law
5/37 Paknabiel Way
Denpasar, Indonesia.

Defamation cases our speciality!

[OzOne]

On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 12:28:33 +1000, "Lily Lubis, attorney at law"
<legal@eagle.com> scribbled thusly:

>On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 12:18:45 +1000, OzOne <> wrote:
>
>>>
>>>>In addition to other respondents, the tint does have the effect of holding
>>>>most smashed side wondow glass together, think rollover etc and so on.
>>>
>>>oh yeah forget roof structure it's the tinting film that's important.
>>>
>>>it's not true.
>>
>>Yep, it is true, the film is also used to make window glass in homes
>>safer as well.
>>
>
>if someone wants to break your window they will

You don't seem to understand.
In a vehicle accident, a film will help stop the bits of glass flying
around and injuring people....in your home, it helps prevent people
from falling thru a window, or glass from flying around.
I didn't say that it will prevent the breakage...and there are films
that will stop someone being able to gain easy entry after smashing a
windows
Here's the first link I found
http://www.courage.ca/windowfilm/safety.htm


Oz1...of the 3 twins.

I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you.

[Lily Lubis, attorney at law]

On Sat, 25 Jun 2005 16:35:02 +1000, OzOne <> wrote:

>>
>>if someone wants to break your window they will
>
>You don't seem to understand.
>In a vehicle accident, a film will help stop the bits of glass flying
>around and injuring people....in your home, it helps prevent people
>from falling thru a window, or glass from flying around.

i've never fallen through a window at home. if you are prone to that,
buy the tinting.

in a car, windows are made of safety glass.

>I didn't say that it will prevent the breakage...and there are films
>that will stop someone being able to gain easy entry after smashing a
>windows
>Here's the first link I found
>http://www.courage.ca/windowfilm/safety.htm
>

it's 12mm thick!!!

--

Lily Lubis (Ms)
Attorney at Law
5/37 Paknabiel Way
Denpasar, Indonesia.

Defamation cases our speciality!