Quick question on tint
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 697
Likes: 160
From: Rochdale Mass
Quick question on tint
Going this month for 35% tint (highest allowed in MA). It will be a ceramic tint. Installer quoting me $300 for the job or $400 for highest grade ceramic. Anyone know the difference between the two. At this time I don't know who the tint manufacturer is. Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 797
Likes: 283
Good friends of mine own a high-end shop, they've worked with all manufacturers but swear by 3M. 3M actually interviews the shop owners before allowing them to be an authorized installer. I have it on all my cars.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,982
Likes: 1,039
From: Georgetown CA
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C7 of Year Finalist
I had all the windows of mine (including the windshield) done here in Sacramento, CA for $395 with Xpel Prime XR Ceramic tint. Sounds like you're dealing with an Xpel dealer, which is may be what he is quoting for the ceramic tint, seems in line with what I just paid.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 641
Likes: 126
From: Chandler Az
30 years of having tint on my cars here in sunny hot Arizona.
Doesn't matter what kind you get. I had my 14 Z51 vert done for $100. Looks great 3 years later.
Save the cash, make a donation to a food bank.
So much hype!!!!
Doesn't matter what kind you get. I had my 14 Z51 vert done for $100. Looks great 3 years later.
Save the cash, make a donation to a food bank.
So much hype!!!!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,982
Likes: 1,039
From: Georgetown CA
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C7 of Year Finalist
I think, much like doing a clear film on your car, a really key thing is making sure you find the right installer. Someone that has done Corvette's and works around higher end cars that will take care of the vehicle properly.
Your cars windows do block a lot of UV light (sides I believe not as much), but not as much on the heat (infrared) side. Tint will provide additional UV protection (my wife has skin cancer, I'm all for the UV protection) as well as additional IR, at least good films will.
Your cars windows do block a lot of UV light (sides I believe not as much), but not as much on the heat (infrared) side. Tint will provide additional UV protection (my wife has skin cancer, I'm all for the UV protection) as well as additional IR, at least good films will.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 697
Likes: 160
From: Rochdale Mass
I think, much like doing a clear film on your car, a really key thing is making sure you find the right installer. Someone that has done Corvette's and works around higher end cars that will take care of the vehicle properly.
Your cars windows do block a lot of UV light (sides I believe not as much), but not as much on the heat (infrared) side. Tint will provide additional UV protection (my wife has skin cancer, I'm all for the UV protection) as well as additional IR, at least good films will.
Your cars windows do block a lot of UV light (sides I believe not as much), but not as much on the heat (infrared) side. Tint will provide additional UV protection (my wife has skin cancer, I'm all for the UV protection) as well as additional IR, at least good films will.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 818
Likes: 179
From: Los Angeles
Dyed tint will fade over time and does not provide a lot of UV protection. If you've ever seen a car with purple tint and probably bubbling, that's the cheap stuff. Ceramic tint, even the lighter darkness, provides lots of UV protection.
https://www.newsforshoppers.com/whic...erns/36714763/
https://www.newsforshoppers.com/whic...erns/36714763/
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 250
Dyed tint will fade over time and does not provide a lot of UV protection. If you've ever seen a car with purple tint and probably bubbling, that's the cheap stuff. Ceramic tint, even the lighter darkness, provides lots of UV protection.
https://www.newsforshoppers.com/whic...erns/36714763/
https://www.newsforshoppers.com/whic...erns/36714763/
And you will pay twice for cheap tint if you experience delamination--tinters charge dearly to remove old tint that's bubbling, and I don't blame them because you can tint two cars in the time it takes to get old tint that's gone bad, off.
There's various brands of ceramic tint--I've got huper optik on my Porsche (cost over $300) 11 years ago, and it's not that dark but rejects heat like a champ. My rule of thumb: if you're gonna own the car for more than 5 years find a good tint shop and go with film that has a lifetime warranty including a warranty against fading.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 8,433
Likes: 147
From: Destrehan Louisiana
high end ceramic has better UV protection - ceramic does not affect your blue tooth, or nav, etc. what I am told vs normal tint
received a price this week in Louisiana for Llumar - $395 basic, $40 more for high end - Llumar has life time warranty anywhere -
look up tint and they grade them on several topics - Llumar is one of the best
received a price this week in Louisiana for Llumar - $395 basic, $40 more for high end - Llumar has life time warranty anywhere -
look up tint and they grade them on several topics - Llumar is one of the best
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 10,548
Likes: 176
From: Upstate NY
I had mine tinted last summer using a 50% ceramic for $150. The dude was very fussy and did a great job. Unfortunately, I have to strip the side windows because NYS has decided to check them on annual safety inspections. Constant harassment in NY! 
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,785
Likes: 1,417
You should check the law. In Maryland, I'm pretty sure they mean when it's installed, it must not be darker than 35% total. The factory windows are already tinted, and putting a 35% tint on that will make it less than 35% total.
Just saying.
Just saying.