Snafu-Si

Has anyone tried doing it themselves? I figure my old CR-V is a nice guinea pig to do some DIY I've never tried. The Houston sun is roasting inside that car. Local places charge around $250-$300 for 5 windows, both fronts, rears, and back.

I've only called two places, there are plenty I can still check around.

I've seen some tint rolls at various auto stores, people say stay away from them and get some nicer tint rolls, I've seen some nicer higher quality tint rolls online, they're about$ $100.

I've also seen some pre-cut tint car specific ranging from $90-$170 Dr Tinto-3M.

Other than tint, videos on youtube seem pretty straight forward about doing it yourself.

Nice thing is that all the windows on the CR-V are pretty accessible.

So has anybody have some cool DIY tint, or some horror stories to share?

driftin90

I would pay someone else to do it if it was like $10-20 per window just cause after the first one, you will wish you did. There are variables like dust, hair and air bubbles to contend with. So you may be paying for more tint to redo it. Also, many places offer some sort of warranty if any of these things were to occur, even over time.

If you decide to go for it, look for a good vinyl supply store around your area to get the tint from and they will also offer a good solution to spray on and the necessary materials like squeegees.

Hope this helps.

Snafu-Si

After researching a bunch of forums, various sites, and recommendations, going with a higher quality tint is recommended, and overally not that much more expensive. Consistently told to stay away from cheap tint like the stuff you'd find at Walmart (Black Magic) or at autozone/advance auto like (Gila). Though Gila is not horrible, it was said their adhesive sucks.

Pre-cut I found some strongly recommended ones that are not as expensive as other ones I have found online. I think I went to the most expensive place where some pre-cuts were as high as $170.

I was recommended Northerntint.com and I ran into some precut options, tru cut, 1 ply, 2 ply, etc.

I do actually want to remove some UV and I don't mind spending only the extra 10 bucks for 2 ply if it offers more UV protection from the 1000000 degree heat and 1 GILLION percent in humidity it is down here in Texas.

http://store.northerntint.com/comple...tint-kits.html

They had more expensive options for fancier tint but honestly, I don't think I need lifetime tint on my 15 yr old CRV. That being said I never like to go with the least expensive option either and its was only 10 more bucks to go with a midgrade level.

I can probably buy the tools at a local lowes for a little less but if needs be, I suppose I can add it to cart of necessary.

So it comes out to $53 bucks for PRE-CUT 2 PLY tint. Which doesn't see so bad. About 1/6 to 1/5 the cost of what local shops here have been quoting me for. That and I get the satisfaction of telling everyone.

"EYE DEED ID MYSALF!!!".

That or I get to say
"EYE FACKED ID APP"!!

Snafu-Si

Does anybody have some pics of their tinted CR-V and what % the tint is at? I'm trying to get ideas to see how dark I should go. I don't want to go too dark, I'm not looking for that blacked out look, I just want something to stop the whole greenhouse feeling from the Texas sun.

I'm thinking of going 35% all the way around.

I can't remember what % tint my EM1 has, its been so long since I had it done. I think my EM1 has 15% and its kind of annoying to see out of at night.

I haven't seen any packages with 25% because I'd like to see how dark that is from the inside and the outside.

kiseliok

I have 35% all around and it's sufficient. Good balance between 'dark enough' and not getting hassled by the cops.
If your local laws allow a darker tint, go with 25%, imo.

Hard to tell, but you can see through the windows just a bit.



Less sun - more visible

kiseliok

Forgot to mention:
The shop I had it done at bitched about the back window - the wiper assembly had to be take apart completely to get the tint done right. You can probably cut around it, but it might look iffy.

ian1006

Friend Tried a couple times using precut film on one of my windows, he tinted two cars before and it came out like garbage twice on mine. Just pay, the rear window is a horrible job.

Snafu-Si

Maybe I just do the rest, and if I fack up on the rear window, I'll just go to a pro place for them just to do the rear window.

Snafu-Si

More tint examples PLZ!

Snafu-Si

Anybody got some some tint pics on their CRV's they want to share?

Curious to see other examples of tint on CRV's and what % grade tint is on it. Thinking of some still not sure, debating on 20% or 35%

ian1006

I have 25% front and 15% from front windows back...hard to back up at night haha so the window goes down...if I was doing it and didnt buy it this way I would have gone 35 front windows and 25 rear windows

ap1jnky

Super pitch black limo front sides back

Snafu-Si

Note taken, 15% probably too dark. 2 votes for 35% Not too eager to stick my head out the window to backup

Snafu-Si

Limo is 5% right? Definitely looks cool, not sure how easy it is to live with