[CDJohn1223]

Got quoted $375 for 3m color stable tint on 4 windows and rear window.

I see pre cut tint on eBay:

http://r.ebay.com/9LkWye

Anyone try this? How forgiving is it? Thinking about trying it.

[Billfitz]

Installing tint takes experience, most of it via trial and error, and perhaps the easiest part is cutting it to size. Watch videos, buy tint by the roll, with the assumption that the first effort or two won't work very well and you'll end up doing it over again. Also consider that tinting the front windows is probably illegal.

[Tribalpinoy911]

I disagree cutting it to fit precisely is one of the hardest parts. Getting the bubbles out is easy. I have used rvinyl precut tint kits to good effect. Check them out

[vooonoo]

Aw man don't use 3m, a lot of the shops i talked to when researching my tint said they were terrible, they would fade or turn purple after a couple years... Where in pa are you? if you're close to nj i can tell you a bunch of the places i went to. I ended up getting formula one pinnacle (ceramic tint) done on all 4 windows and the back for 350 and that's supposed to be a step above color stable.

[CDJohn1223]

Originally Posted by vooonoo

Aw man don't use 3m, a lot of the shops i talked to when researching my tint said they were terrible, they would fade or turn purple after a couple years... Where in pa are you? if you're close to nj i can tell you a bunch of the places i went to. I ended up getting formula one pinnacle (ceramic tint) done on all 4 windows and the back for 350 and that's supposed to be a step above color stable.

3M makes several types of tint, the whole point of the color stable is that it isn't supposed to fade or turn purple...maybe those shops were talking about a lesser quality 3M? I've never used any of it so I'm just going by what 3M says but I've always thought of them as a name brand with good quality stuff.

I'm in York county...so I'm a few hours from NJ.

Another shop told me $175...they advertise Sun Tech...I don't know anything about it but I'm guessing it's cheap if their prices are so low.

[Billfitz]

3M is top quality, so if a shop talks it down it's probably because they don't sell it, probably because they don't meet 3M standards as installers. That brings up a point about 3M: they don't sell retail, only to installers. The only place I've found 3M is on ebay, from sources in China. That makes no sense, as 3M is US made. What does make sense is that it's counterfeit. Maybe not, but I won't chance it myself.
I get my tint here:
https://www.precutautotint.com/

I don't get it pre-cut. They sell bulk too, by the foot or by the roll. I like the Solar Gard and the ceramic. The sample packs they sell help in choosing.

[CDJohn1223]

Thanks for the recommendations. I'm definitely thinking about giving this a shot. Some of those kits are really cheap, I might get the cheapest one as "practice" and see how it goes.

Any tips? Seems like keeping it wet is they key, then just some patience to get the bubbles out? I'm hoping to do it without having to remove any of the door trim, looks like the tint slides into place as is.

The guys in the videos make it look so easy haha.

[Tribalpinoy911]

Only way is to try it yourself. Start in the middle of the window and work your way outwards, thats how I get all the bubbles out.

[TXDaddy]

Tint is something you should always leave to pros. The savings isnt worth the price...

[CDJohn1223]

So I ended up getting the pre cut Solar Guard tint from https://www.precutautotint.com/ I used my SUV as a guinea pig and did the front windows for $30 to match the factory rear windows.

Install went great, no bubbles or creases. Everything was cut perfectly with about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch extra on the bottom so that it stays below the weather stripping. Can't believe how easy it was. Hopefully doing the Bimmer this weekend.

[TXDaddy]

Looks pretty good, they got ceramic?

[Zopperman]

Nicely done!

[TXDaddy]

I still wouldnt try doin the F30 back window - Im way to impatient for that...

[CDJohn1223]

Originally Posted by TXDaddy

I still wouldnt try doin the F30 back window - Im way to impatient for that...

Yeah the back window made me it's b*tch.

I ended up taking off the door panels and the weather stripping on the bmw. The weather stripping was really tight to the window and it was really short. So even when I got it pulled back I could barely get a squeegee in there. Windows came out great.

Ordered another 10ft of tint. That will give me 2 more shots at the back window. Definitely have to heat shrink with a heat gun before you stick it to the window.

[BMWILUVU]

Originally Posted by CDJohn1223

Yeah the back window made me it's b*tch.

I ended up taking off the door panels and the weather stripping on the bmw. The weather stripping was really tight to the window and it was really short. So even when I got it pulled back I could barely get a squeegee in there. Windows came out great.

Ordered another 10ft of tint. That will give me 2 more shots at the back window. Definitely have to heat shrink with a heat gun before you stick it to the window.

How did the back window turn out?

[EDWYER]

Not worth it.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by ProjectBoost

Not worth it.

There are lots of things that aren't worth it, from changing your own oil to cooking your own meals or doing your own laundry, because you have more money than time and/or skills. Not everyone fits that description. And there's those who have the money but still prefer to do for themselves for the satisfaction that comes with it.

[CDJohn1223]

Back window came out pretty good. I put it on the outside and used a heat gun to pre shrink a few areas before applying it on the inside. I used 2 strips and used the defroster lines to hide the overlap.

If you get right on top of it you can nit pick a few imperfections, but it looks great from 5ft away

Totally worth it

[BMWILUVU]

Originally Posted by CDJohn1223

Back window came out pretty good. I put it on the outside and used a heat gun to pre shrink a few areas before applying it on the inside. I used 2 strips and used the defroster lines to hide the overlap.

If you get right on top of it you can nit pick a few imperfections, but it looks great from 5ft away

Totally worth it

How does it look at the edges of the rear along the dot matrix? Did you get it to stick there?

[ooshnoo]

Originally Posted by ProjectBoost

Not worth it.

To you maybe, not the OP, so what is your point?

[EDWYER]

Originally Posted by ooshnoo

To you maybe, not the OP, so what is your point?

Let me clarify. To me it is not worth it for this particular job. As a DIY'er myself I totally get someone getting the satisfaction of doing it though. Make sense?

[Tribalpinoy911]

I have preformed this on my f34. If you want to learn and have tons of patience then for sure give it a shot and buy duplicates. If you're new to it all and want to save money don't do it.