Rear Window Tinting
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 938
Likes: 16
From: North Carolina
Rear Window Tinting
Well, after 2 tries and 5 hours later I was NOT able to install the rear window tinting on the car using the film. What I MAJOR pain in the butt. Of course I did this on the car with the laws of physics (gravity) fighting me all the way!!! 
How many of you have your back window tinted? Did you do it yourself or have it professionally done?
A few pictures please...
How many of you have your back window tinted? Did you do it yourself or have it professionally done?
A few pictures please...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,071
Likes: 0
From: clackamas oregon
mine is. looks great too. there is a little discolor up at the top where the black spots are on the glass. LET A PRO DO IT!!! it is not easy and is only a cost of around $200 done right.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,394
Likes: 6
From: Melbourne FL
Well, after 2 tries and 5 hours later I was NOT able to install the rear window tinting on the car using the film. What I MAJOR pain in the butt. Of course I did this on the car with the laws of physics (gravity) fighting me all the way!!!
How many of you have your back window tinted? Did you do it yourself or have it professionally done?
A few pictures please...
How many of you have your back window tinted? Did you do it yourself or have it professionally done?
A few pictures please...
At a minimum you need good quality tint and a heat gun. Heat gun is used to shrink the tint to fit the convex curves of the glass before installing it. I believe mine was donw w/o using any water on the tint during the heating process. Side windows need some water sprayed on them to keep the tint cool and help spread the heat out.
The top of the rear window is usually a problem even with professional tinters to keep the bubles to a minimum. I chose to cut the tint below where the dots start and paint that area using a black paint in an airbrush. It turned out beautiful and very factory looking.
Best of luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,383
Likes: 2
From: The real question is; When you turn your car on, does it return the favor..
Cruise-In VIII & IX Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Just had the wifes done before CI. Both Side windows and rear cost 190.... This is something I would rather let a pro do..... This way any problems I can take it back to them.... 
I'll post some pic's when we get home...
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 843
Likes: 1
From: Carlisle PA
We had it professionally done...it's a little darker than we wanted it but it does look great and it really cuts down on the sun/heat inside A little more difficult to see out through rearview mirror (esp at night).
Last edited by vette99coupe; May 27, 2007 at 11:07 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 430
Likes: 2
Professionally done. $180 for rear and sides. took about 1.5 hours.
If you insist on doing it yourself...
Take the protective fim off the side that does not have the adhesive. Clean the back window exterior with a razor blade and soapy water(careful not to scratch it.) Wax the back window with quality carnuba wax (light coat.) Lay the sheet of tint on the back window over a good coat of soapy water. Starting from the center, work the water from under the tint. Kent at Tint Masters in Ontario, CA started from just below the dots and worked straight toward the taillights. Then slowly started working outward. As he got to places that would not lay flat, he used the heat gun to shrink the tint. This is terrible to do right and super-easy to melt the tint. Practice on some flat windows first.
Did I mention that the film is 3-m and carrys a lifetime materials and labor warranty? Not having to do it twice is worth $180 to me.
If you insist on doing it yourself...
Take the protective fim off the side that does not have the adhesive. Clean the back window exterior with a razor blade and soapy water(careful not to scratch it.) Wax the back window with quality carnuba wax (light coat.) Lay the sheet of tint on the back window over a good coat of soapy water. Starting from the center, work the water from under the tint. Kent at Tint Masters in Ontario, CA started from just below the dots and worked straight toward the taillights. Then slowly started working outward. As he got to places that would not lay flat, he used the heat gun to shrink the tint. This is terrible to do right and super-easy to melt the tint. Practice on some flat windows first.
Did I mention that the film is 3-m and carrys a lifetime materials and labor warranty? Not having to do it twice is worth $180 to me.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,108
Likes: 0
From: San Jose CA
Had mine professionaly done. They cover the dots with a film similar to what surrounds the windshield, so no discoloration. It was worth the $150 I paid, the guy gives me a great deal cause I send him a lot of business.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,735
Likes: 14
From: Visalia CA
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,829
Likes: 45
From: Las Vegas Nevada
tint
had mine done. the tech did it w/ 1 piece of film, so
no seams. He had to use a head gun (carefully) and
it took him 2.5 hrs. Has some "fuzz (?)" at the top
from the infamous dots, but otherwise is perfect.
no seams. He had to use a head gun (carefully) and
it took him 2.5 hrs. Has some "fuzz (?)" at the top
from the infamous dots, but otherwise is perfect.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 578
Likes: 0
From: Mission Viejo CA
I would definitely have it done by a tint shop. As always find one who is experienced with vettes. I was looking at tint shops this weekend and i believe the way to go is painting of the dot matrix. Any one have a picture of a rear tint that was painted to black out the dots?
savage1
savage1