TInts
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: olney maryland
TInts
Hey guys I just got quoted at a local place for $130 for tints on my 08 coupe. When i go to the place what type of questions should i ask? or what am i looking for in a good tint? My friend said that he puts some type of liquid on the window to clean it and it leaks onto the interior, is this normal? Any information on tints would be appreciated =]
Thanks, Mike
Thanks, Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,136
Likes: 212
From: Long Island New York
Did you research this tint guy to see how many C6's hes done? Pics of Corvette customers, testimonials, Corvettes at shop? The back window is very difficult to do in one piece and have it done right. First time C6 tinters likely wont get it right.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 392
Likes: 41
From: Burlington, Ontario
Got mine tinted last week. 5% in the rear and 20% on the sides. The guy was a professional and has been in the business for over 15 years. He knew what he was talking about, I just let him take care of it. If anything goes wrong, he can fix it for me. Nothing leaked into my interior and there were only a few water bubbles in the window but they disappeared after a day in the sun.
Here are some pics...
Here are some pics...
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Columbia South Carolina
On my first C6 I took it to a buddy who did it for $80. It took him 5 and a half hours to get the rear window right (MANY START OVERS). He said he will never do it again for under $220. To my knowledge everyone else in Columbia SC charges around $250 to do it. So at that price it cant be beat. But I would pay close attention to the rear window upon pick up due to the amount of heating and shrinking that must be done to get it to form to the glass. I will be going through this again within the next week or so as I haven't gotten his one tinted yet. Good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,499
Likes: 1
Good luck, I had mine done by the guy that does it for the local Chevy dealer. He did it twice and it is no better than the first time. The top part where the matrix is is a mess. It should have some sort of coating applied to level it out but like I said this guy does it for the dealer and he has been in bussiness for about 20 years. I would try it and see how it looks. If it is not right don't pay for it........
Racer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 401
Likes: 5
From: Magnolia Texas
I had my second C6 done a couple of weeks ago by a guy who's been doing it for almost 20 years. He specializes in corvettes. They are very hard to do unless you know what your doing. One of the problems is the dot matrix at the top of the rear window. He uses a product that is solid black vinyl and is made especially for the dots and does a great job in that area. The window is tinted with 20%. No air bubbles or creases. Once he's done you can't tell any difference from the tint part and the black matrix part at the top. There's no white in the dot matrix part at the top. Looks fantastic and is guaranteed for the lifetime of the car. Cost $200 for the sides and back. This guy is an expert!
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 11
From: Beverly Hills, MI
I had mine done by an independent that has been in the business for 20-some years. Kristan (Windows by Kristan) did it in one piece, and took about 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Yes, a water/soap solution is used to do the initial placing of the film on the inside of the rear window, and ONLY after the tint was pre-formed with heat on the outside of the window to get it shrunk properly. The pre-forming took the most time due to the complexity of the curves, probably about 1 - 1 1/2 hours itself. She took her time and got every krinkle out before she transferred it to the inside of the window for the installation and final shrink-and-stick. Cost to me was $150 for the rear window only. Here in MI, the front side windows can not be tinted except for only the top 4" (which looks stupid).
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,446
Likes: 314
From: Tarpon Springs FL
FL Events Coordinator
I had mine done by an independent that has been in the business for 20-some years. Kristan (Windows by Kristan) did it in one piece, and took about 2 - 2 1/2 hours. Yes, a water/soap solution is used to do the initial placing of the film on the inside of the rear window, and ONLY after the tint was pre-formed with heat on the outside of the window to get it shrunk properly. The pre-forming took the most time due to the complexity of the curves, probably about 1 - 1 1/2 hours itself. She took her time and got every krinkle out before she transferred it to the inside of the window for the installation and final shrink-and-stick. Cost to me was $150 for the rear window only. Here in MI, the front side windows can not be tinted except for only the top 4" (which looks stupid).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 11
From: Beverly Hills, MI
Good point to the OP. Never get anything except the lifetime warrantee stuff. Also, make sure your installer also specifically states that he/she will re-do the job if there is ever any fading (or turning purple). Don't go with the cheap stuff. You will regret it.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,168
Likes: 3
From: Dyer IN
Ask if they have prior experience with C6's. Ask what brand tint they use. Ask how long they expect to have the car (if they say anything under 3 hrs., walk away). Ask about their warranty. Ask them how they plan on dealing with the dot matrix on the top of the rear glass too.
I'm waiting to have my windows tinting done by a guy who has been in business for 17yrs. He came highly recommended by the GM of a Porsche dealership and has a three week waiting list (a good sign). I called around and every tint shop said that the C6 has the hardest back window to tint, so be careful that whoever you choose knows exactly what they're doing.
I'm waiting to have my windows tinting done by a guy who has been in business for 17yrs. He came highly recommended by the GM of a Porsche dealership and has a three week waiting list (a good sign). I called around and every tint shop said that the C6 has the hardest back window to tint, so be careful that whoever you choose knows exactly what they're doing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,355
Likes: 11
From: Beverly Hills, MI
Ask if they have prior experience with C6's. Ask what brand tint they use. Ask how long they expect to have the car (if they say anything under 3 hrs., walk away). Ask about their warranty. Ask them how they plan on dealing with the dot matrix on the top of the rear glass too.
I'm waiting to have my windows tinting done by a guy who has been in business for 17yrs. He came highly recommended by the GM of a Porsche dealership and has a three week waiting list (a good sign). I called around and every tint shop said that the C6 has the hardest back window to tint, so be careful that whoever you choose knows exactly what they're doing.
I'm waiting to have my windows tinting done by a guy who has been in business for 17yrs. He came highly recommended by the GM of a Porsche dealership and has a three week waiting list (a good sign). I called around and every tint shop said that the C6 has the hardest back window to tint, so be careful that whoever you choose knows exactly what they're doing.
All very good suggestions. One thing I'd add about the dimples part is what my tinter did. There are various ways to work with the dimples, but what my tinter did was take steel wool, then shoot the glass with a soapy water solution, and run the steel wool over the dimples. From what I understand, this reduced the heighth of the dimples so that the film didn't have to go over tall dimples and have such a small contact area on the glass on the areas where the dimples were larger. This is a very important step to do or your tint job in the dimple area will have a lot of bubbles or areas where the tint does not stick.
And also, the C6 rear window is one of the hardest to tint because of its size and complex curves. Make sure your tinter already knows this. You'd hate to find out after they start the job. Also, the rear window CAN be tinted in one piece.
Last edited by inthehunt2; Jul 8, 2009 at 09:40 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Destrehan La
It took my tinter 3 hours and he nailed it! He came highly recommended by another C6 owner in my club (GNOCC). Best part is that he only charged $145. I am well satisfied with the job and will also recommend him to others in the New Orleans area.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,663
Likes: 0
From: DFW TX
130 is way too cheap. Maybe just for the back window. You get what you pay for. Dont take it somewhere cheap where theyre only going to make a mess. Pay a little more and have it done right the first time. My tint job cost 250 and its flawless.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,296
Likes: 156
From: Location: Location: kAnSaS
great advise (ask the tint guy if he has done one) they did my back in one peice and it was a tuff job even for him and he has done about ten C6's. If they do the strip thing you wont like the results. good luck, this may be one time you will want to pay more somewhere else knowing the job will be better.
