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Recommend a Tint

RPD

RPD

Diamond Member
Done research on tint types and am now shopping around town to tint my 07 Avalanche. Just want to do the front two windows and whatever I can get done on the windshield. I know the windshield is illegal, but I'm willing to risk it for the lightest tint I can get for the additional UV protection it would offer.

Around here it seems 3M is very popular. I'm not looking for recommendations on the level of tint, but the type and brand. I've been offered these three windows for $270 out the door, which seems fine to me. If it wasn't illegal they would offer a limited life time guarantee.
 
Pay for the good stuff. Definitely worth it. I paid $450 for mine (Scion tC), 3M highest grade that they offer, absolutely love it looks like a factory tint job.

Max legal tint here is 35% light passage, I see lot of people with darker tint that I'm pretty sure the cops don't go bothering random people unless you look like the suspicious type in a suspicious area. Really wish I had gone for 25% or 20% on the sides though, sun still too hot in summer, and you can see in even at night-- not as much privacy as I would have liked.
Got 65% on the windshield, wish I had gone for 80 or 90%-- definitely harder to see at night-- my brights look like non-hi beams did before. Even as early as dusk, it gets hard to see.
 
Oh and, in general, 3M doesn't throw something out there unless they know they can do it right (and usually 'best'). IIRC their company has one of the highest percentages of PhDs working for them. Why tarnish your brand name...once built, most valuable asset...

Let us know if you find someone making better tint than them-- people use 3M through the shop I got mine done at on their Lambos, Ferrari's, etc.
 
is there such a tint that lets me see the outside as if theres no tint installed?
i could barely drove a friend's tinted car at night one time. it was like driving in a tunnel without any lights on
 
luv2liv said:
is there such a tint that lets me see the outside as if theres no tint installed?
i could barely drove a friend's tinted car at night one time. it was like driving in a tunnel without any lights on
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I think the sweet spot is 35% - it will still look tinted from the outside though, but from inside you see very clearly and don't notice it, unless you compare by opening the window. I think it's also a level where cops won't bother saying anything about it.
4933424165_abec07f84d.jpg


20% is definitely too dark from the outside. Something like 50% does nothing from the inside.

As for a brand, I didn't go with Huper Optik because I don't need the reflective qualities around here for double the price. In something like the Arizona heat, yes. I just went with the installer-recommended Suntek Carbon for $225 all around except windshield and it's been fine for me.
 
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I did 3M Crystalline on my CTS-V including the panoramic roof and love it. Think it cost me $450 installed.
 
35% is a good tint for a daily driver IMO, very little lost visibility out of the car, but you can still see in.
My dad has 35% on his Altima.

20% is a bit dark for my tastes for daily driving, seeing curbs when navigating parking lots and checking the side mirrors takes a bit of getting used to.
My friend has 20% on her Mazda 3 sedan, which I've driven a few times recently.

I'm looking to get a Suntek 30% tint all around on my Echo.
 
I use suntek as my value line with carbon as my mid grade and the 3m lines as my premium.

3m is nice to use but suntek goes on easier.
 
I believe mine is Llumar.

As for darkness, mine is 20% all around and 45% in the front. On bright sunny days, I always wonder if I should've gone with 10% or so. Occasionally, I do have trouble seeing out the side windows at night if I'm in an area with no street lights. With the 45% in the front, I've never had an issue seeing at night. Having done a comparison on two cars side-by-side prior to getting the 45%, I may go 35%.

Surprisingly, I never got pulled over when I stayed in SoCal. Even when I did get pulled over in WA, the cops never checked.
 
i have solar gard quantum on my cars, 16 on front doors and 4 around the rest. im going with a 70% ceramic on the windshield of my wagon. so far the solar gard film hasnt faded or failed, ive had it on my truck for 6 years.
 
Made an appointment to get the 3M Color stable done this Wednesday. Getting their CS50 on the windshield and CS35 on the two side windows, $270. Will post some pics after it's done.
 
soccerballtux said:
50 on windshield aint smart bro
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ya, my friend has it on his f150. for the most part its all good, but when we have had it up to vegas and such at night it was a bit hard to tell where the road was at times. hes got full on HIDs tho, so it wasnt too bad. i dont think id attempt that without a lot of headlight tho, too hard to see anything at night on a deserted highway. the 70% ceramic isnt at all bad tho, hardly even there. and theres no metal in the film, so it doesnt mess with your signals and such.
 
So here are some pics:
5511sm.jpg

1hds7d.jpg


A before for some context, don't have an exact same "before" shot..
fknthz.jpg

Going front to back all the windows get lighter and being black help to make it not so obvious. Has made a great difference in the cab, I haven't felt a need to wear sunglasses and I don't really notice a difference at night.
 
The guy who installed my tint said 3M was terrible - then again he sold something else, so I'm not sure how accurate it was.

I paid $150/car with lifetime warranty - some of the quotes seen here seem a little high.
 
jlee said:
The guy who installed my tint said 3M was terrible - then again he sold something else, so I'm not sure how accurate it was.

I paid $150/car with lifetime warranty - some of the quotes seen here seem a little high.
Click to expand...
You would be the first person I've come across (well the guy you speak of atleast) that has said this about 3M. Word of mouth and here I've heard nothing but good things about the product.
 
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