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tinting my own windows = how stupid?

R

railer

Golden Member
The only reason I would even consider this is because I can get the entire pre-cut tinting kit for $22 shipped off ebay (probably crap film), and I figure if I screw it up I can just take it to a professional, and I'm only out the $22.

Like everything, it looks easy on youtube.

If a few people can confirm that this is, in fact, a terrible idea....then I won't even bother.

😀
 
Incoming purple with bubbles windows!

bad-tint-car.jpg
 
Ferzerp said:
Incoming purple with bubbles windows!

bad-tint-car.jpg
Click to expand...

ROFL. See .....that's what I don't want!

Although they would probably charge me a few extra buckaroos to take my existing crappy tint off (if I were to self-install and screw it up).

It's not even so much the money...I have to find someone to do it. Drop the car off. Get a ride there and back. Pick the car up. Etc. A minor PITA, assuming I don't have someone local that can do it for me.
 
If you want a good job done the right the first time then just pay someone. I would try something like that myself if I just wanted to figure out how to do it more than the quality of the job (since I know it'll probbaly be not that great).
 
You can do it if you take your time, have the proper tools and are somewhat handy.
 
I've done it a few times years ago and it never looked or lasted as long as if done by an experienced person. My last 3 cars, I just opted to go to a place where there's a guy there who's been doing it for about 20+ years. Always looks great, lasts years, never a problem. So......don't do it yourself unless you don't mind a substandard job that won't look as good.
 
I'm only paying $120-150 for lifetime warranty tint professionally installed - well worth it IMO.
 
I did the tint strip at the top of my windshield - layers of 20%, and it turns out quite well over 8 months later.

Would not do windows, and would HEAVILY lean towards not doing the rear window.
 
railer said:
ROFL. See .....that's what I don't want!

Although they would probably charge me a few extra buckaroos to take my existing crappy tint off (if I were to self-install and screw it up).

It's not even so much the money...I have to find someone to do it. Drop the car off. Get a ride there and back. Pick the car up. Etc. A minor PITA, assuming I don't have someone local that can do it for me.
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I guarantee you that's what you will get. Plus it will be a huge pain in the ass and you'll probably want to kill someone after doing the first window.

I tinted some of the windows in my house and those are flat and have easy access and it was a huge PITA. Imagine curved glass with non-linear shapes and you are confined to cramped spaces while trying to adhere the film. There is no way you could pay me to attempt to tint the windows in my car.
 
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It's actually not that hard to do if you have the right tools and think before you do.

Quick checklist

- large cutting surface
- sharp razer knife
- high quality squeege
- misc squeeze tools to get tint under window gaskets
- Squirt bottle of soapy water.
- heat gun

First you wanna make sure windows are clean!!!!! It is best to lightly scrape them with the razer blade to ensure there is nothing stuck on too, like dried boogies and such. ***Absolutely do not do this on a window with intergrated wire defrosters***

Lay a rough cut of tint on the outside on the surface to be tinted and form it with a heatgun ( make sure to form the correct side of the tint). You can tape it into place if you'd like. The tint can shrink fast and too much if you apply too much heat. This can happen quick if you have a powerful heatgun and slow hand.

Trim the top of the tint even to the edge of the windo, then the sides and then the bottom to a little bit lower than the gasket.

Remove the clear layer exposing the tacky side and spray with soapy water mixture. Do this while the tint is still laying on the outside of the window and also spray the side of the window to be tinted.

Carefully and strategically lift the tint off the window and attempt a semi accurate placement on the surface to be tinted while taking care not to krinkle the tint or do anything else stupid.

Use the squeege and start working the water and air bubbles out using long even stokes in the appropriate direction. As you get more and more out the tint will be less likely to move so make sure you get the tint into place and keep it there.

I find the the trickiest part can be getting the tint cut right when there are frames on the windows. This is why being as accurate as you can while cutting is important. really take your time and do it right.

From personal experiences, higher end cars tend to be a tougher than cheaper cars since the window seals can be wayyy tighter. My old A4 was a biatch to get the the tint under the door window seals since they were so tight.

Make sure after you tint the winows you don't roll them down for a good couple days and park in the sun.

Don't sweat certain imperfections because a day in the sun can fix a lot of funky air bubbles and stuff.
 
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Since we are talking about tint...how hard is it to remove from the back window? Will removal damage the defroster lines?

I want to go ahead and tint mine to 35%, but I am afraid of bubbling.
 
I always get such a giggle when I see a car owner who self applied their own tint. Bubbles, cut wrong, streaks, etc. etc. Sometimes, it really is the highlight of my drive! I vote for self apply tint.
 
I have my appointment this Friday to get my windows tinted and it's worth every penny of the $158 it's costing me. Just trying to do the back window alone by yourself would equal $150 in aggravation!
 
amdhunter said:
Since we are talking about tint...how hard is it to remove from the back window? Will removal damage the defroster lines?

I want to go ahead and tint mine to 35%, but I am afraid of bubbling.
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Look it up online...there are some tutorials on how to do it.

And FYI, I don't believe any shop will guarantee that they can can remove old tint without damaging the defroster.

This is a project I'll be doing this summer as the tint on our oldest car needs to be removed/replaced.
 
I watched my tint guy do it and you definitely need experience to do the cuts and measures. I tinted my own taillights (lightly) but that's about the extent of it. Not terribly difficult because lamin-x sells pre-cut. The first side I did didn't come out as nice as the other side. Experience wins. 😀
 
rh71 said:
I watched my tint guy do it and you definitely need experience to do the cuts and measures. I tinted my own taillights (lightly) but that's about the extent of it. Not terribly difficult because lamin-x sells pre-cut. The first side I did didn't come out as nice as the other side. Experience wins. 😀
Click to expand...

Isn't that illegal?
 
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