How hard is it to tint the side windows of an '89 coupe oneself? I don't think a professional tint shop will do anything darker than 70% here in The Peoples Republic of California. Thought I might try and buy some 20% and do it myself if you all think it's possible for someone with no tinting experience to do this. The hatch is already tinted and looks pretty good. Don't know what the percentage is though.

 

Pop your door panels. Makes it a million times easier. There are kits for the novice. Basically a good squeagie and soapy water. Oh yeah, a sharp razor knife to trim 1/4" from around the top edge. It's perty cool and doesn't take rocket science to accomplish. Give it a shot, nothing to lose but maybe 30 bucks in materials? Good luck and let us know how ya did.
Mike

 

Thanks Mike,

Since I posted the above questions I heard someone here say something about a static cling window tint. Know anything about it?

 

I wouldn't do it, but that doesn't mean you can't. It's a lot harder than it looks. Give it a shot. The advantage of having a shop do it is that it won't bubble in a week or so.

 

I have a Chevy van I carry my tools in and did it in LImo Black so you can't see them. It's easy if you get a kit. Just make sure they are super clean. No need to remove anything. Just tuck it down a little in the window pocket it'll be fine. Your side windows need to stay up for about 4-6 days. The tint can move with them going up and down.

A shop won't charge you hardly anything to do the sides. Might be worth getting a price on. They can probably tell you what the rear glass has on it by looking at it.

 

It's really not that hard to do, but it does take patience and preperation, the biggest thing is cleaning the windows really good and following directions. I would suggest getting the tint all ready cut to fit, it's hard to get a nice even cut with a razor knife, they do it on a laser machine and it makes a neater job. you can get it here any darkness you want and cut to fit. http://www.tintkits.com/Scripts/prod...idCategory=457 comes with instructions for $29.95 for 2 front windows.

Good luck

 

Prices are different in many parts of the country. Down here, in south Florida, a good tint job is $75.00 and comes with a guarantee. I would get it done professionally.

 

It cost me $10 for a roll of Gila tint. Enough to do both doors and really is not that hard.
http://www.gilafilms.com/Automotive/...pplication.htm

 

Not on the side windows. I used it on my rear window and needed to tape it around the edges to keep it on. Since it is too dark for our inspection ***** I wanted it to come off easy and not trash the defrosters. If you put it on the side windows it will come off the first time you roll them down.

Go to Wally World and pick up a roll. Probably just cost 20 bucks or so and isn't hard.

 

tinting the side windows are very easy... just mix up some soapy water get yourself a soft sqeegee and buy the non scratch window tint and have at it. I did my windows my self and the only one that is a PITA is the hatch.

 

I bet it comes out crappy, and you scratch your glass.

 

My wife couldn't have said it better!

 

I'll probably get this kit. Professional tinters will only do 70% here in Ca. I'm thinking 20% will look good with the black acrylic targa top.

 

I was thinking of trying a kit to replace the pealing tint on the driver's window but can't judge what "shade" of tint to get. The hatch is pretty dark, though not "limo" (IMO) but the sides are quite a bit darker.

It may pay me to just have a shop do it??

 

The only way your going to be able to tint the back glass of a C2 is to heat shrink the film. There is no other way, not unless you prefer a 3 piece splice that is cut to look a one piece when cut along the defrost line. The 2 side window are a piece of cake. I'll give you some pointer seeing that my father and me owned a window tinting business for 15 year in Texas and I have just recently re-opened the doors.

Step one clean the outside glass so that you can make your template.
Step 2 apply the tint with the clear protectant backing facing you. You don't see this layer because its stuck to the adhesive. It take a steady hand to split the tint and the backing when its time to apply film.
SO back to template, lay out the film and squeege it down onto outer side of glass. Make the cut with your razor knife around the entire glass in an one hand motion. Don't stop the cut or it will be hard to pick back up where you started and you'll have 2 different cut edges.Clean the inside of the window with a single edge razor almost like your scraping the window but your not. Have a spray botttle with about 15 drop of dish soap. Spray the window and clean with razor, do this several time if your smoker or have a haze on window. Once your clean spray the window again with water and squeege. Be sure to wipe edges around molding real good to pick up fibers, dirt, etc. Spray window with soap & water split the film from its protective back. Be sure you are spraying the tint as you pull off the backing so that dirt & debri don't stick to the adhesive. Spray finger tips clean with soap bottle, crap tint and apply. Once positioned as desrie squeege out water. If this all did'nt make since go to youtube.com and type in window tinting. And if you want to see how they heat shrink back window with alot of curve like the vettes they have videos. Or if you lived in Houston you could stop by my house or shop and I would perform it for you. Hope this helps.

 

I meant C4 in the first sentence.

 

Thanks for the very helpful and detailed post, Concept 30. All of the replies here have been very useful to me.

Kim

 

i know the professionals use a mixture of water, and baby shampoo

 

I've got tint from these people too, they're prices are less.

http://search.stores.ebay.com/Precis...478031QQsofpZ0

 

thats mad, over here they will tint what ever you want, the police can be funny about how dark your front windows are if you are doing something to annoy them but generally they arnt interested. i just had my rear window done it cost £80 (app$160), i will do the fronts my self, £9 a roll, roll will do 3 side windows) theres nothing to it. ive been tinting glass for ten years plus. the trick is you need to heat the tint when applying (to remove ridges on curvy glass) and make sure glass is flawlessly clean with zero dust cloths and environment. try practice peice on a garage window or something. the bubbles just smooth out. filler smoothers are good for that.