Lots of questions, so I figured I'd start my own thread.

Should I get some DIY tint or go to a shop?

For DIY I'm looking at this pre-cut tint:

http://www.snaptint.com/car_ti....html

Is that stuff any good?

In MN the legal limit is 50% all around.

Could I get away with 50% on the front doors and 35% for the rest?

Any pics of 50% or 35%?

Also, how much does a professional install usually cost (from a reputable place)?

And can a shop go lower than the legal limit?

If a shop costs less than ~$150 I'd probably go that route.

 

my local shop does all 5 windows for 149 plus tax.

 

The legal limit in my state is 35% for the side windows and 20% on the back. I got a ticket for 2 1/2% so I decided to get 35% on the front and 15% on the back sides and the back window, and yes the shop did it. Usually they won't put their logo under the tint or warranty it if they do it illegally though. It was $206 to do my entire car, brow and all. (sedan)

Edit: I can take a pic of the 35% tomorrow if no one beats me to it tonight.

 

I paid 120 without tax for my 4 door Saturn with a lifetime warranty. Lifetime warranty is something that I'd try and find. Some shops wont offer it.

The people who did mine did a sub par job on cutting the back piece but you cant even notice it from the outside since its overlapping whatever that black stuff is called thats on the border of some windows. But hey, if it ever peels or bubbles I can just take it back. I keep the receipt in the glove box so I know Its always with the car, even 8 years from now.


edit:

My Accord is all bubbled to hell on the back window (previous owner got the tint done - unsure where) and the same shop wants 59. install + 10. to remove... Sucks...

 

Hey someone else from MN cool! I did my back windows at 20%, and never got stopped or pulled over. Of course I ONLY did my rear windows, which may explain. I go to a community college where EVERYONE has their windows tinted, and I've never heard of any of them getting stopped, and usually if you do I think you'd only get a warning or something. I think I may go 10% all around. How much do you all think that would cost to do the whole car?

 

I had gotten a quote of around $150 or $160 for the rear three windows of my sedan. I didn't actually do it but had considered it.

In Illinois you can't have any tint on the driver's / passenger window.

 

Unless you have experience with tinting windows you will most likely find this job completely frustrating and not looking nearly as good as if you would have payed the money. But you can try if you like.

 

Go to a shop so it doesn't look like ***. I have had 35% on all windows (except front) on my 4 door and love the look. You don't want to go too dark or you'll have trouble seeing and will attract more attention from the police.

VA law is 50% front, 35% rear

I'll most likely be getting 35% or 20% all the way around on my coupe

 

Well I did the rear doors myself, but I've got bubbles and a huge streak where I creased the tint. I'll probably just have a shop do it. Good call.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by xluben &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Lots of questions, so I figured I'd start my own thread.

Should I get some DIY tint or go to a shop?

For DIY I'm looking at this pre-cut tint:

http://www.snaptint.com/car_ti....html

Is that stuff any good?

In MN the legal limit is 50% all around.

Could I get away with 50% on the front doors and 35% for the rest?

Any pics of 50% or 35%?

Also, how much does a professional install usually cost (from a reputable place)?

And can a shop go lower than the legal limit?

If a shop costs less than ~$150 I'd probably go that route.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Unless you are skilled with a heat gun and tinting techniques I wouldn't even bother trying. I have tinted windows before and anything that is not flat and is slightly round will give you "fingers" or vieny air bubbles that will be impossible to get out unless you know how to shrink the tint to fit with a heat gun. Tinting takes skill... a lot of it to do it right. Trust me. Even with that precut tint you still have to figure out how to get the fingers out because they only come cut not prefitted.