Tinting Windows (Must Read, Free Moleskin)

[anson9]

Hello all,
Great information concerning tints. I just got a new '06 TL and wanted to tint my windows. Any good/quality tints places in the LA, south bay area?

Thanks Dee

[flnsx]

automoleskin.com offers a kit for the TL where you don't have to remove your door panel!

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by flnsx

automoleskin.com offers a kit for the TL where you don't have to remove your door panel!

the upper part of the door panel will become damaged if you dont take the panel off!! a 1st time DIY'er will damage the panel 99.9% of the time.

$29.95 for some felt is a ripoff and should be a crime, anyone can get moleskin (felt) from me for free !!

[TSG]

Hello everyone! I'm new here and also an Acura TL noob. I just got my new 2006 TL yesterday. The first thing I usually do to the new cars I've gotten is TINT the windows!
I only read the first few posts about tinting and now I'm getting kind of leary if the shop I had in mind will do a good job.
I'm in So. Cali, Pico Rivera to be more specific. Was wondering if anyone here knows and/or can recommend a GOOD tint shop.

Thanks in advance
EDM Latina

[flnsx]

automoleskin.com took almost a year to manufacture their moleskin from scratch.

It is NOT the generic stuff that will come off in the heat and humidity and leave glue on your tint.

It's also thinner than Generic felt which is better for your window motors and tint as well.

This stuff is made specifically for window tint. Get your free stuff and when your sick of redoing it over and over come buy the real deal at automoleskin.com

[EndofFile]

New member here, just read through the entire thread and got a lot of good information. My question is when you guys say the %s your tints are, is that the % you tinted TO or the % of the film itself? My state doesnt allow anything below 35% and I want to stay legal. I read somewhere that to achieve 35% you'd have to apply 50% film (because of the factory tint on the window). Can anyone verify this?

[enigma]

Originally Posted by EndofFile

New member here, just read through the entire thread and got a lot of good information. My question is when you guys say the %s your tints are, is that the % you tinted TO or the % of the film itself? My state doesnt allow anything below 35% and I want to stay legal. I read somewhere that to achieve 35% you'd have to apply 50% film (because of the factory tint on the window). Can anyone verify this?

try this: tint the first window with 30% film. the second one with 35% film. the third one 40% film and fourth one 45%. back window 5%.

most local tint shops can provide info on that since that's their specialty. I would check with a few tint shops just to be sure.

welcome!

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by EndofFile

New member here, just read through the entire thread and got a lot of good information. My question is when you guys say the %s your tints are, is that the % you tinted TO or the % of the film itself? My state doesnt allow anything below 35% and I want to stay legal. I read somewhere that to achieve 35% you'd have to apply 50% film (because of the factory tint on the window). Can anyone verify this?

you are correct. the % we talk about is film %. so you'll be adding film % to your factory glass.

what factory glass do you have that has 85% tint?

[TLGern]

I read this entire thread. There is a lot of good information here for beginners like me. Thanks.

I have two questions.

First question: I finally found a place in the Washington, DC area that installs moleskin with the tint ($220 for SunTek Carbon). However, they charge $40/door for the moleskin. Kind of steep. Anyway, when I asked if they had to take the door panels off to do the install they said no. Is it possible to apply the tint and moleskin without removing the door panels?

Second question: When I spoke to the guy on the phone he cautioned me about "dot matrix," the stuff around the edge of the back and front windows and around the third break light. He said that the tint may not stick to that stuff. What do people do to about? What is that stuff (dot matrix) good for anyway?

Bonus question: Does anybody have a recommendation for a good tinting place in the DC area?

Thanks for any information.

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by TLGern

I read this entire thread. There is a lot of good information here for beginners like me. Thanks.

I have two questions.

First question: I finally found a place in the Washington, DC area that installs moleskin with the tint ($220 for SunTek Carbon). However, they charge $40/door for the moleskin. Kind of steep. Anyway, when I asked if they had to take the door panels off to do the install they said no. Is it possible to apply the tint and moleskin without removing the door panels?

Second question: When I spoke to the guy on the phone he cautioned me about "dot matrix," the stuff around the edge of the back and front windows and around the third break light. He said that the tint may not stick to that stuff. What do people do to about? What is that stuff (dot matrix) good for anyway?

Bonus question: Does anybody have a recommendation for a good tinting place in the DC area?

Thanks for any information.

1. odds are if they dont remove the panel from the upper door lip (hence they'll lift/bend it up to remove the wipe), they will put a noticeable crease into the upper part of the door panel, will look like raised areas, like vinyl pulling away from the substrate, but it wont feel like bubbles or anything. as to see a TL that they tinted and did moleskin without taking door panel off. sit in the car on driver's side, then look over at the passenger side at different angles/lighting, you'll see it. they need to pop some of the door clips anyways to do what they say, just a few more clips and a few screws and the whole panels lifts right off (just as i noted in my 1st post of this thread). $40 per door is a ripoff (IMHO). an extra $50-$75 for all 4 would be acceptable to me.

2. a good film and a good tinter will squeegee those areas tight, and you may need to go back later for a 2nd squeegee. the tint i had done had no issues with the matrix areas. also tell them they need to pop the 3rd brake light cover and tint under the light, not around it.

3. you may want to look at SolarGard films, they are very very good films. in the DC area http://www.solargard.com/index.cfm/f...ity/Washington

[TLGern]

Originally Posted by Acura_Kid

1. odds are if they dont remove the panel from the upper door lip (hence they'll lift/bend it up to remove the wipe), they will put a noticeable crease into the upper part of the door panel, will look like raised areas, like vinyl pulling away from the substrate, but it wont feel like bubbles or anything. as to see a TL that they tinted and did moleskin without taking door panel off. sit in the car on driver's side, then look over at the passenger side at different angles/lighting, you'll see it. they need to pop some of the door clips anyways to do what they say, just a few more clips and a few screws and the whole panels lifts right off (just as i noted in my 1st post of this thread). $40 per door is a ripoff (IMHO). an extra $50-$75 for all 4 would be acceptable to me.

2. a good film and a good tinter will squeegee those areas tight, and you may need to go back later for a 2nd squeegee. the tint i had done had no issues with the matrix areas. also tell them they need to pop the 3rd brake light cover and tint under the light, not around it.

3. you may want to look at SolarGard films, they are very very good films. in the DC area http://www.solargard.com/index.cfm/f...ity/Washington

Thanks for the info. I already looked at the dealer locater page, but it wasn't much help. I have a navigation system, and I don't want to take any chances with screwing with the reception. The SolarGard places that I called only stock the metallic films.

I have been calling around various tint places without much luck. Another poster mentioned that he was discouraged trying to find a good place. I know exactly how he feels.

For the most part, the usual response goes: We've done thousands of TL's with metallic film without any problems.

From the "only licensed Huper Opik dealer in the area": TL's scratch tint, I've never heard that before. It didn't help that he gave me a $660 quote.

This looks like a loosing battle.

[enigma]

should go to Lorenzo. he knows the stuff and very reasonable price compared to $660.

[TLGern]

If anybody is interested, I finally found a good tint place in the DC area: Solar Solutions located in Laurel, MD (301) 498-7333. After cold calling all the tint places listed in the yellow pages, I finally spoke to Carlos at Solar Solutions. He seemed to be somebody who knew what he was doing. He knew about moleskin, he tinted under the third brake light and he removed the door panels. After the initial conversation, I decided to take my 2004 TL there. Solar Sloutions looks like a small two man shop. Carlos does the tint and Brian does the radios and alarm systems. Since it was a small shop, I was able to sit down and watch Carlos work while we made small talk. It was very interesting watching how he hand cut each piece of tint. At one point I noticed that there was a very small part of the back quarter window that the tint didn't cover. I pointed it out to Carlos and without a word, he immediately removed the tint and reapplied a new piece. After talking to Carlos and watching him work, I am of the opinion that computer cut tint is a bad thing. Anybody that knows what they are doing should be able to hand cut. Computer cut tint just allows inexperienced and unskilled people to run tint shops.

I am very happy with the job Carlos did with my car, but the price was the best part. I got 40% SunTek carbon all around and moleskin on all 4 doors for under $200. I would highly recommend Solar Solutions to anybody in the DC area who wants a quality and professional tint shop.

[Army82AD325AIR2B]

How much are tints ACTUALLY going to mess with navigation reception? I don't care at all about AM/FM reception, or even XM, but navigation is very important. I'm dying to get tints, and I already know a bunch of places in the New York area (where I live) than can do it, but does it actually mess with navigation reception, because that I can't live without...

[Acura_Kid]

Originally Posted by Army82AD325AIR2B

How much are tints ACTUALLY going to mess with navigation reception? I don't care at all about AM/FM reception, or even XM, but navigation is very important. I'm dying to get tints, and I already know a bunch of places in the New York area (where I live) than can do it, but does it actually mess with navigation reception, because that I can't live without...

metallized films will degrade the signal.

however, you can test it out before they do the work, just have them cover your rear window with the tint on the outside (just lay it on the glass) and see if your navi reception is ok. i dont recall if the TL's navi has a signal meter built in, if so you can do before and after.

the darker the films the more it will degrade the signal, etc.