Window Tint advice

[peter_rabbit]

This is pretty a continuation from JadeM45 posts referring to which window tint is good for the car. Yesterday i went to a couple of tint dealers and they are basically saying that because of the antenna for the radio being in the glass, the cheap tint will decrease the reception. Not that i was going to put the cheap stuff on, but just curious to see if anybody has had any problems with the tint affecting the reception of the radio..?

Sorry JadeM45, I'm not trying to still yo' thunder...

[jadeM45]

Hmm, ive never heard that before. I wonder if thise with tint can chime in to tell us if there is a difference. I just cant see spending the 350 for the new stuff, when I can get it for 130 for the normal stuff.

No problem on the stealing thunder, Im interested in this too!

[jankenpo30]

That was an issue 5-6 years ago with metallic based tint. Not so much an issue these days even in the "cheap" stuff. My 2 abe lincs, Get the good stuff. Cheap stuff will start to get small air bubbles after 2 years. Especially if constantly exposed to the sun.

[M45-Zero260]

Not sure if anyone else has had any problems with radio reception, but I have the "cheap stuff" on my car and have not noticed any problems at all. I ordered some lifetime guarenteed pre-cut tint online when I got the car and installed myself for less than a hundred dollars, but if I could do it all over again, I would have gone with something like what Mark Linkous has...the more expensive stuff professionally installed. I've tinted about 10 cars now, but it's not perfect from a perfectionist point of view.

[szh]

I would strongly recommend the Huper-Optik! It is not tint in the sense that it darkens your windows without purpose - it actually reduces the heat transfer through the glass.

Which is more important than simply darkening - IMHO, this is a safety issue at night. As I discovered after doing a 90% tint on my old Q45 (my son was allergic to sun in the early days of his infancy). Simply tough to see cars (let alone the kind with lights on top) behind us clearly enough to feel comfortable. Not impossible, but it just made driving at night a bit of a a stressful experience.

Z

[peter_rabbit]

I was thinking of going with the more expensive tint to begin with. I just don't like to be fed B.S. by someone trying to make a sale. I can't see spending $500. $350 is more on the high end of what i want to spend. So i will definately do more researching and let it be known of my findings.

[Mark Linkous]

Hello,While I understand that Huper Optik is more expensive, you really pay for what you get with this stuff. Especially for Jade, this is a worthwhile upgrade. Living in Florida, even 1987 Buick Century Custom's driven by Granny have tint. It is not called the Sunshine State for nothing. I suppose all I can say is to go somewhere they sell Huper or Formula 1 and see the Huper display. The display is a box with a heat lamp inside. On each of the four sides, a different tint technology is used. You will be amazed at just how much cooler the Huper side is. I would imagine the same could be said of other Ceramic based films. If planning on keep this car long term, the price difference is peanuts.Cheers,ML

[jadeM45]

Well I havent found the Huper in orlando but I did find Formula 1 ceramic for 255. I may go with them. I will let you all know if I do and how it comes out.

[striz923]

I an looking to get my windows tinted in Louisville, KY and I call to ask about Huper or F1 tint and I get the response uhhhhh... no we have (blah blah blah). Basically one guy said he had a polypropylene tint that wouldn't bother GPS, but nobody had a "ceramic" based tint. First, any experience with Polypropylene tint, i.e. bubbles, fading and such. Second, any suggestions?

[Mark Linkous]

Hello,I called Huper Optik USA and it seems the closest dealer would be in Tampa. Since I have had my car done as well as three of my friends, I might be able to get you a discount here in Sarasota. I paid $325 when I had my car done. My friends paid $300.00. Formula 1 makes an excellent product. I am not entirely sure what differences there might be between the two.Cheers,ML

[mpgmusic]

Hi,I just got my new (to me) '06 M45 tinted with Lumar (lifetime warranty) film. It is a non-metallic tint. The outfit that installed it charged me $200. But they do all of the infiniti vehicles at a local, respected Inifiniti dealer here in Dallas.

He told me that the metallic-based tint material may NOT necessarily cause issues with the antenna in the window, but it could possibly interfere with other electronics such as keyless entry.

My tint looks awsome on my Crimson Roulette color and I went with just 35% grey all the way around.

Lifetime warranty is the main thing to ask about as that means it will never bubble, turn color or crack or it will be replaced for free.

So, even though metallic may or may not cause issues, I played it on the safe side and am very happy.

Hope that helps.

[Slider4105]

Not to butt in but I have Formula 1 Pinnacle on my G. It's basically the less expensive version of Huper OptiK ceramic and it works wonders, keeps my car a lot cooler than my old one with standard tint. Well worth the money if you live in a sunny hot place like South Florida.

[jadeM45]

Not to butt in but I have Formula 1 Pinnacle on my G. It's basically the less expensive version of Huper OptiK ceramic and it works wonders, keeps my car a lot cooler than my old one with standard tint. Well worth the money if you live in a sunny hot place like South Florida.

Do you have a direct side shot of your car. I am looking at the pinacle too but the shop wont offer a warranty unless i stay legal on the front windows. This means that i need to either have the legal all the way around our have the fronts lighter than the rears which may look funny since the windows are right up against each other.

[Slider4105]

Sweet some photo whoring. All these shots were taken at about 2 p.m. with no clouds in the sky. My interior is the stone gray color. It doesn't look too bad, I mean you can tell some difference but its not obnoxious. In the first one you can really see the difference, but it doesn't look too horrible IMO, I mean it's not THAT much of a difference. I'm 35% front, 15% all the rest. I like it and I'm glad I went this way, now i don't get bothered as much by the po-po, and it's easier to see at night. (my last car had 15% all around)

If you're still undecided, those pictures were shrunk on photobucket and I have them in Hi-Res on my comp to give you a better view, just email me.

[Slider4105]

Oh yeah, I paid 253.47 to get it all done with the lifetime warranty. It only took the shop about 30 minutes to put it on.

[Mark Linkous]

Hello,That is a damn good looking G. The tint looks a good deal like Huper. That is, a matte finish, not glossy. This really helps with night vision compared to dyed films.Cheers,ML
Modified by Mark Linkous at 6:15 PM 7/23/2008

[Slider4105]

Thanks man. Yeah I looked for awhile to find a nice matte finish, I hate really reflective tints, it just looks cheap to me.

[Mark Linkous]

Hello,No worries. Uh oh, are you a Gator fan? Looks like you might have a accursed Gator on your plate.Cheers,ML

[Slider4105]

LOL. It's great to be a Florida Gator!

You one of them Criminoles?

[Mark Linkous]

No, UGA grad. I have gone to Jacksonville every year since college to watch the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party". I still cannot fathom why Georgia agrees to play this game every year in enemy territory. I know ticket allocation is split down the middle, but still. This Year's game should be rowdy.Go Dawgs,ML

[Slider4105]

I was at last seasons, it was so sad . I'm def liking UGA now that they're so....rough...As long as the SEC dominates that's really all I care about. I'd love to see a USC v. UGA nat'l championship with the dogs bringing it home.

[Mark Linkous]

I like you. Given the depth of talent native to Florida, you guys will always contend. Urban Meyer has really acquitted himself well in the transition from the Mountain West to the SEC. Many Sports Writers contend Meyer's coaching against Ohio State was one of the premier coaching performances ever. Does not mean that I haven't spent many hours cursing UF. Spurrier years especially.Cheers,ML

[Slider4105]

Yeah I think it has been proven time and again that SEC speed > anything else. Back when it was between FSU, UF, and UM no one school could gain all the talent, but now that FSU and UM have fallen off all the talent is going to UF which will help out alot.

jadeM45, if you're used to really dark tint and really want a blacked out look, don't waste your time getting legal tint because you'll just strip it off and replace it. If you're going from fishtanking it to now tint, then I would think that the 35 front 15 rest would be fine, especially considering the M is more luxury and you don't want to make it look cheap or anything. Plus the warranty is a huge plus, my last car the tint lasted about 3 years and then started to get some weird discoloration in areas. It was like wavy and would turn slight shades of green or purple at certain angles.

[jadeM45]

Yeah I think it has been proven time and again that SEC speed > anything else. Back when it was between FSU, UF, and UM no one school could gain all the talent, but now that FSU and UM have fallen off all the talent is going to UF which will help out alot.

jadeM45, if you're used to really dark tint and really want a blacked out look, don't waste your time getting legal tint because you'll just strip it off and replace it. If you're going from fishtanking it to now tint, then I would think that the 35 front 15 rest would be fine, especially considering the M is more luxury and you don't want to make it look cheap or anything. Plus the warranty is a huge plus, my last car the tint lasted about 3 years and then started to get some weird discoloration in areas. It was like wavy and would turn slight shades of green or purple at certain angles.

I dont want the "blacked out look". I actually like the fishbowl look. I dont like the fishbowl feeling though. I think I am going to go with the lighter all around.

[peter_rabbit]

I agree with you Jade, i'm going to go with the lighter tint on all windows. I have black interior and the lighter tint actually looks darker than what it truly is. I'm still making phone calls and no one in St.Louis carries Formula 1 or Huper Optik

So the search continues

[jadeM45]

If i could get the darker with the warranty then I would, but whats the point of paying for better tint and not getting the warranty with it.

I really think with how the M's windows are right next to each other it will look funny with darker and lighter tint next to each other. I will take uniform all over instead of the darker in rear.

[Slider4105]

At the very least you should be able to get the warranty on the darker windows that are legal from the shop. The place said that did mine said Pinnacle would warranty anything that is legal, just not illegal work.

[jadeM45]

The shop said if they do anything illegal they require it to be a cash job, no receipt and no warranty. So ill just stick with the lighter all around, as long as it is cooler in the car thats my main concern.

[ronez82]

I have the metalic film on my car now and I notice no difference in radio reception or key fob distance. Tint looks good it is not shiny just a nice dark charcoal color. I notice you are in Orlando. I used to use a shop on the corner of Semoran and 50 called Classic Tinting before I moved down south. He does great work and will do any percentage you want and still gives you the warranty.

[Slider4105]

Well the warranty is from the tint manufacturer, so if anything goes wrong anywhere, then you bring it to an authorized Pinnacle dealer and they will fix it free. I had that deal on my last car where it was cash, but "warranty" from the shop who did the job and when I went back because the tint started to peel up he said "I don't remember you," and that was that.