Tinting an expedition with privacy glass

[Bow512]

Will the heated windshield wiper wires cause the tint any problems? I have never checked how hot they get but it will clear a strip above and below them when the window is frosted over.


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Shouldn’t be any issue considering it’s the same stuff used on the rear window defrosters and nobody has any problems there.

 

[Grey ghost]

I had clear ceramic with a sunstrip on the windshield then had a light ceramic tint put over that later, all windows and the sunroof have ceramic tint. I would do it the same way again. You can't imagine how much cooler it is in the Florida heat! Everyone wants to ride in my car.

 

[Dice Roll]

Anybody use 3M Crystalline? Claim it’s above ceramic in performance. I sent an inquiry in. Interested to see price difference.

 

[Yep-Retired]

I bought a 2013 King Ranch XL Expy in summer of 18. The drivers window tint recently buckled & cracked. When I call or go for estimates, what price range should I expect to redo just drivers door or to maybe redo entire vehicle except for windshield & hatch glass? I'm in East Texas and it's been hitting 90 lately. I don't want to wait until it's 100!
Thanks.

 

[bushpilot]

Has anyone had the panoramic sunroof panels tinted? I'm getting ceramic tint installed Tues, want to ask him about doing the roof as well. Already over 110 in Phoenix and, even with the sunroof screen closed, a lot of heat comes in. Is tint on sunroof even possible?

I'm in south Texas...

In March I put 15% (light transmission) on the sunroof of our '20 Max....no issues....some will try tell you that it will crack the glass but thats a crock of...well you know.
I tinted the sunroof of our '17 Superduty F350 crew cab - same way....15%.....no issues in over 3 years.

Oh, another tint question: I had a '08 Expedition and had a tint strip placed on top of the windshield, thinking about having same done on '18 BUT I have the rain sensing wipers (which aren't working, yes, turned on). Will a tint strip hinder that sensor (or navigation, as someone else mentioned)?

I have the eyebrow tinted on our '20 Expy (and the '17 F350), the rain sensor is not affected (nor are any of the other nanny items including auto dim headlights, or lane keeping system).

 

[bushpilot]

I bought a 2013 King Ranch XL Expy in summer of 18. The drivers window tint recently buckled & cracked. When I call or go for estimates, what price range should I expect to redo just drivers door or to maybe redo entire vehicle except for windshield & hatch glass? I'm in East Texas and it's been hitting 90 lately. I don't want to wait until it's 100!
Thanks.

Around here (houston), the side window will run you less than 100 bucks and the tinting might run you $20

 

[Yep-Retired]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like the glass cracked... only the tint is bubbled & cracked. Thanks for the info!

 

[Bow512]

Anybody use 3M Crystalline? Claim it’s above ceramic in performance. I sent an inquiry in. Interested to see price difference.

We have it on our Grand Cherokee windows and roof (used to have the windshield too but a rock got that glass). It’s a nice tint, but I didn’t go with it on my Expy as the price wasn’t worth it to me. My guy is a 3M dealer and he also carries Xpel. This time I went with the Xpel Prime XR 20 all around (sans windshield) and am happy, plus it was much cheaper than crystalline .


At the time crystalline only came in a 40 as the darkest, but I think they have darker now. It can also make some laminated glass look purple when not in direct sunlight as it did on front doors on our Jeep so just FYI.

 

[DenSanAZ]

My '18 Limited is in the shop right now getting tinted. I'm having ceramic tint on all windows and sunroof panels, and a windshield strip. He didn't recommend doing the sunroof, saying something about the curvature of the glass and possibility of the glass shattering? I'm having it done anyway, way too much heat comes through now. He said he could do the entire windshield BUT if it needs replaced from cracking (in AZ windshields crack a lot from heat, I had 3 windshields in one car within 3 years) insurance covers glass but not tint (which was $200 to have done). I already have a tiny crack and lots of pitting so he suggested the strip for now, then full tint if/ when the windshield is replaced (which he can do, applying the film before installing the glass). He's doing 20% in front windows (just higher than legal) and 15% on all the privacy glass (so it's a uniform look). I've had "limo tint" in previous cars and during the day it's fine but at night it's very hard to see through the back windows so not going that route.

Total price for removing existing tint from 2 front windows and doing ceramic on all windows, sunroof, and windshield strip: $825 (plus tip of 20%), so just under $1k. I'll update how I like it when I get out back. Going back up to 110 in Phoenix by tomorrow, just in time!

 

[bushpilot]

.... He didn't recommend doing the sunroof, saying something about the curvature of the glass and possibility of the glass shattering?

what a crock! as if the curvature of the roof panels is MORE than the windshield (front cockpit doors) SMDH! Ive NEVER heard of windshields cracking from HEAT (that seems nutty).

The pano-roof on or Expy is easier to tint than it was on our '17 super duty....the super duty pano-roof had silkscreened dots on the interior side...where the expy is smooth glass.


I thought I paid a lot ($600) for tinting on our MAX....800 seems excessive
I had ceramic film, 5% on everything behind the front cockpit & 15% on the pano-roof, eyebrow & front doors.

 

[ExplorerTom]

I’ve lived in Phoenix. Never had any issues with windshields cracking.

 

[DenSanAZ]

what a crock! as if the curvature of the roof panels is MORE than the windshield (front cockpit doors) SMDH! Ive NEVER heard of windshields cracking from HEAT (that seems nutty).

The pano-roof on or Expy is easier to tint than it was on our '17 super duty....the super duty pano-roof had silkscreened dots on the interior side...where the expy is smooth glass.


I thought I paid a lot ($600) for tinting on our MAX....800 seems excessive
I had ceramic film, 5% on everything behind the front cockpit & 15% on the pano-roof, eyebrow & front doors.

Perhaps I didn't phrase that right. He said the tint on the sunroof could increase its possibility of breaking, not from heat, from something hitting it (hail, perhaps? ). He did a great job on everything, I'm happy with it, reduced the heat incredibly just driving home with the sunroof screen open.

 

[DenSanAZ]

I’ve lived in Phoenix. Never had any issues with windshields cracking.

I've had windshields replaced on almost every Ford I've had (and others before that) which is 6 in the last 15 years! My '13 Edge went through 3 in 3 years. It's always been from heat, a small crack appears and very quickly spreads. Had a Toyota decades ago, drove through an underpass in summer and a giant split went from top to bottom in milliseconds. I'm not alone, know many people who've had them replaced on various makes.

 

[bushpilot]

ive seen CRACKS in windshields increase in size from expansion/contraction (temp changes) and vibration - but their origination was from being hit by debris. This year I replaced a windshield in everything we own (Miata, Jeep, F350 & Freightliner)....imo todays windshield glass is sub par, ultra thin / light weight and PRONE to cracking.

I fail to see how a plastic coating (which is flexible even when applied to glass) would INCREASE the chance of cracking from HAIL hitting it on the outside! Find another tint shop!

 

[FormerGermanFan]

I would have to agree with @bushpilot! I owned a Land Rover which had a clear film installed from the dealer on it, thought I got scammed. Let me tell you, that $600 clear film has been hit with all sorts of road debris (mostly rocks). Not only did that vehicle's windshield look much better than the bumper by the time I traded it in, I hadn't spotted a single crack let alone chip in it!

Couldn't hurt to at least get a second opinion on your tint.

 

[Dice Roll]

Windshield on our 12 Camry cracked across a corner one day while we were at a show. Came back in the parking garage and was shocked.

 

[bushpilot]

I would have to agree with @bushpilot! I owned a Land Rover which had a clear film installed from the dealer on it, thought I got scammed. Let me tell you, that $600 clear film has been hit with all sorts of road debris (mostly rocks). Not only did that vehicle's windshield look much better than the bumper by the time I traded it in, I hadn't spotted a single crack let alone chip in it!

Couldn't hurt to at least get a second opinion on your tint.

got to watch that exterior film - its supposed to be changed out every 6 months (per the mfg) - it sounds ridiculous (from a life expectancy). Around here we can buy an after market windshield for less than 200 (installed)....and lots of insurance policies include replacement w/ $0 deductible.

 

[Michael D Morris]

I'm considering 3M Ceramic-IR on my 2019 Expy Max. #% on front windows, 70% on rear, sides, and back. 70 on the windshield. This is compliant with Florida regulations.

Does anyone have 3M Ceramic-IR on their vehicle? What do you like or not like about it? Any low angle haze?

What is a good price to have this installed all the way around including the windshield in the Tampa Bay area?

 

[1alembic]

Michael - I ju

I'm considering 3M Ceramic-IR on my 2019 Expy Max. #% on front windows, 70% on rear, sides, and back. 70 on the windshield. This is compliant with Florida regulations.

Does anyone have 3M Ceramic-IR on their vehicle? What do you like or not like about it? Any low angle haze?

What is a good price to have this installed all the way around including the windshield in the Tampa Bay area?

Michael - I just sent you a PM regarding what I have done.

 

[Sunflowergirl]

Hello. Our expediting came with privacy glass in the back windows. Is there tint already on the factory windows that needs to be removed? Or can they just tint on top of the way it is.

I had factory tint on my 16. Went with 5% on everything minus the front two windows which got 55%. Legal limit in VA