Cost to tint all around (except windshield)?
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gixer2000
Retrofit or Bust
In my area the front 2 are $80 alone. I haven't done the rest because 20% privacy glass is enough for me.
rexster314
Full Access Members
I've had 3 Expeditons, one Enclave, and I never needed to tint the windows other than the driver and front passenger windows. So all of them were in the 75-90$ range
When I had my Audi A4 Avant tinted 6 windows and rear glass granted it has been a number of years but I was just shy of $600 with ceramic.
Ceramic tint has come down a bit since then so I would guess 450-500.
Ceramic tint has come down a bit since then so I would guess 450-500.
ManUpOrShutUp
Full Access Members
There are a lot of variables, such as region/city/state, type of tint, etc. I paid about $120 to have my wife's entire sedan done in hand-cut 3M Color Stable in a semi-rural area of PA. I paid about $150 just to have the 2 fronts done on my Expedition in laser-cut Llumar FormulaOne Pinnacle (ceramic) down near Philly.
I dislike how the cargo area is somewhat visible in the Gator, I want it blacked out properly
Going_Going_Gone
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Just had my two front door windows done in ceramic tint which I think was $120 but I also got a clear bra put on the hood, visor tint on the upper windshield, and clear bra film on the rear door sills (grandkids). I negotiated a package price so not 100% positive how it broke down on individual costs.
I just do the fronts too. It makes the vehicle look better. Looks terrible with the rear and SUV part dark and the fronts looking clear.
You can still see inside the back cargo area though with factory if you walk up on it so you will have to tint if you are looking for hiding contents or "privacy"...I say privacy because..does anyone else thing if you fold all the seats on the ones that fold flat (like 03 -06 and I think the newer Navigators) and put an air mattress....you could "ahem" sleep back there.
I looked them up. They have cool fill in mattresses for making back seat a bed that sticks down into floor and makes it flat.
I only saw some generic ones in rectangles.
I would thing they would have an exact fit for each year with a built in pump to plug into the outlet back there.
Then you would have to have 2 kinds. One rectangular for the good rear seat that folds and one for the stupid 98% of made certain years with the rear center in the way console.
I hate that thing!!
It's only use for me is to put 2 liters and milk in on way from store.
As soon as I find someone with a black (i might even spray dye) jumper seat that want to trade...I'm there dude.
I might eventually run into one cheap enough to buy also.
ManUpOrShutUp
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Ceramic is high-end tint that excels at blocking UV and blocks 5-10% more solar heat than carbon tint. Like carbon, it also does its job without interfering with cepp, GPS, and radio reception (unlike metallic tint).
I think it's just marketing hype but I've been opinionated and wrong plenty of times.]
I do know the commercial tint the shops use and the guys that do a lot of it is FAR superior to anything you can buy at the parts store.
I think Gila has dominated stores for years.
Lots of people complained that the cheaper stuff turned purple and it did BUT I LOVED the purple. It was cool.
The peeling and bubbling is what I can't stand and a professional grade from large rolls with a skilled installer is almost permanent.
I do know the commercial tint the shops use and the guys that do a lot of it is FAR superior to anything you can buy at the parts store.
I think Gila has dominated stores for years.
Lots of people complained that the cheaper stuff turned purple and it did BUT I LOVED the purple. It was cool.
The peeling and bubbling is what I can't stand and a professional grade from large rolls with a skilled installer is almost permanent.
ManUpOrShutUp
Full Access Members
It is somewhat marketing hype as ceramic is not considerably better than carbon despite being quite a bit more expensive. The real appeal for me is that ceramic is noticeably thicker and not easily nicked. My wife put a bunch of nicks in the tint in my last truck from whacking the passenger side window with the seatbelt, her rings, etc. After 3.5 years not a mark in the ceramic though.
Re the installation, I get pickier about that every time I go. Not only can I not stand bubbles, but now that so many shops are offering laser cuts, I won't even go to the guys that hand cut them. The visible gap when you put the window down always bugged me and with the laser cuts you don't have that.
Didn't know they had pre-cut ones but makes sense.
I never mind the gap at top when you roll down but I there should never be gap at bottom and some amateur installers don't get it below the weather stripping at the bottom. Not many but I've seen it.
Nice to know about the ceramic being much better for nicks. That could be a big plus for some applications.
I never mind the gap at top when you roll down but I there should never be gap at bottom and some amateur installers don't get it below the weather stripping at the bottom. Not many but I've seen it.
Nice to know about the ceramic being much better for nicks. That could be a big plus for some applications.
ManUpOrShutUp
Full Access Members
It's actually cut on the spot. They put your make/model into the computer software and it precision cuts the pieces.
The factory tinted windows have always been adequate for my gal's 2005 Expedition, but after having my van done with ceramic, I couldn't wait to have some put on the Ex.
I had the van done with Llumar Ceramic 80% rear and 20% front doors....decent pricing, lifetime guarantee, etc., etc...........but that is not what I got excited about.
Llumar has a special (ceramic) product called " Air 80". It is especially designed for windshields. I know......I know.....you shouldn't tint windshields, but with all the surface area of a van windshield, there is a ton of heat that pours in on even a cloudy day. I was skeptical but it looked harmless enough color-wise, plus it's only $125.00 extra.....AND comes with a Lifetime Guarantee. May 2017 pricing.
Gentlemen, let me tell you this has to be the single greatest upgrade you can do for your vehicle. I've driven west into the sun on the Interstate just to enjoy just how much heat it blocks from getting into the van. Long story short........I did the Ex a few weeks later.
The wife had a bit of a problem with the dark 10" or so tint strip at the top as I did at first (also included), but we both have learned to love it. Looking directly into the sun without having to reach for your visor is a small perk often enjoyed at a quick stop or a take out line.
I saw it at first, but quite honestly, there is no way you can tell it is installed. I do not notice any loss of vision or clarity at night, which had me a tad worried with the 80/20 specs. I love it......but you already knew that, huh?
I had the van done with Llumar Ceramic 80% rear and 20% front doors....decent pricing, lifetime guarantee, etc., etc...........but that is not what I got excited about.
Llumar has a special (ceramic) product called " Air 80". It is especially designed for windshields. I know......I know.....you shouldn't tint windshields, but with all the surface area of a van windshield, there is a ton of heat that pours in on even a cloudy day. I was skeptical but it looked harmless enough color-wise, plus it's only $125.00 extra.....AND comes with a Lifetime Guarantee. May 2017 pricing.
Gentlemen, let me tell you this has to be the single greatest upgrade you can do for your vehicle. I've driven west into the sun on the Interstate just to enjoy just how much heat it blocks from getting into the van. Long story short........I did the Ex a few weeks later.
The wife had a bit of a problem with the dark 10" or so tint strip at the top as I did at first (also included), but we both have learned to love it. Looking directly into the sun without having to reach for your visor is a small perk often enjoyed at a quick stop or a take out line.
I saw it at first, but quite honestly, there is no way you can tell it is installed. I do not notice any loss of vision or clarity at night, which had me a tad worried with the 80/20 specs. I love it......but you already knew that, huh?
ManUpOrShutUp
Full Access Members
Air 80 is part of the FormulaOne Pinnacle series. I was going to get it done on my windshield also as the shop owner had it on his car and it looked great. The issue is that they would had to have cut it around the inspection sticker which would have looked like s**t.
Ceramic is not just a marketing ploy.
Others are mettalic and certainly can interfere with all sorts of electronic signals.
It does a substantially better job at keepin heat down and it is far more scratch resistant.
HuperOptik is by far the best film one can purchase (though very few automotive installers around) and you’ll likely spend $400 for the 2 front windows alone.
FormulaOne would be next
Then Lumar and 3m would be behind them.
Now of course is you use a crap installer film won’t make a lick of difference.
Others are mettalic and certainly can interfere with all sorts of electronic signals.
It does a substantially better job at keepin heat down and it is far more scratch resistant.
HuperOptik is by far the best film one can purchase (though very few automotive installers around) and you’ll likely spend $400 for the 2 front windows alone.
FormulaOne would be next
Then Lumar and 3m would be behind them.
Now of course is you use a crap installer film won’t make a lick of difference.
We bought an 04 Trailbazer last summer and it has a dark about 10 inch tint at the top and we hate it. Just haven't got around to taking it off yet. Procrastination is an art form!
We constantly find ourselves bending down to look under it!! Lol
The sides are tinted too (not sure if rear door windows are tinted or just factory as they are pretty dark) and the hole thing is so dark you have to roll the front windows down at night to back up!
Annoying
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