LexBob2

We recently bought an Audi CUV that has the privacy glass in the rear and went with the legal 50% on the front driver and passenger windows. I would have preferred a little darker but the 50% is OK.

There are several good tint shops in the Orland area. Performance, Tint To U and Abe's (Mokena). I've used Abe's and Tint To U and have been happy with both - Haven't tried Performance but heard good things.

groomerz

As a former glass tinter I enjoy hearing different tint stories. Everyone likes Cesar for 150 tint jobs. Nothing wrong with 150 tint job. Cesars reviews show he is a good installer. What you are getting is standard dyed polyester film. What most of you don't realize is that there are now High performance ceramic films that reject more heat and cost more. I prefer Johnson films for my cars . Here is a great auto tinter link pick your ride pick your tint , pick your shade http://www.johnsonwindowfilms.com/car_tinter/tinter.php

neurocity

iTrader: (17)

Caesar uses Johnson tints...for his "$150 tint job"

groomerz

Johnson makes 8 different product lines of film though starting at standard single layer dyed film, dual layer, metallic, aluminize and ceramic. Just wanted to tell people that there is more to tinting than just the light admintance number , ie 20,35, 50. The films have become high tech

uicandrew

update: I got my windows tinted in July 2013 with 3M ceramic 40%. after getting it, i felt it was too light.

a window was recently replaced, so now I'm going to get it retinted but with something darker. I have a parchment interior so I'm thinking 3M ceramic 30% or maybe something darker. I occasionally go to downtown chicago 1-2x a month, so I'm wary about going to 20% but I'm sure the parchment interior makes the interior seem brighter even with tint.

I called up Umbra's to get an estimate. They no longer carry 3M ceramic
I called up Performance Tinting in Orland/Tinley Park and they no longer carry ceramic tints (despite what their website says)

Tint to U has ceramic tint, but it is the Llumar brand

I really like the heat blocking performance of the ceramic tint, so i'm reluctant to go back to 3M color stable, etc

LexBob2

Have you considered 3M Crystalline? It's not ceramic, but gets very good reviews for all of the important properties. I have it on one car (from Abe's in Mokena) and have Llumar, not ceramic though, from Tint To U on the other.

uicandrew

unfortunately, the darkest that the crystalline comes in is 40% and i'm trying to get darker.

I went to abe's the first time and they did my ceramic tint (they special ordered it for me, but their supplier says it is out of stock right now)

i think the fact that my car is parchment inside (vs black) makes it seem lighter.

I actually called Tint to U and they have llumar (ceramic version) in 30%

what level is your tinting in your cars?

LexBob2

The car with Llumar (tan interior) has 40%. 35% is legal here in IL so I went the conservative route just to avoid any hassles. The 3M Crystalline car is a CUV and has 50% on the front driver and passenger side windows. The 50% is legal on a vehicle with privacy glass in the rear. It has a black interior and the 50% looks OK. I decided to go with the legal % on this one too.

uicandrew

i ended up getting 15% ceramic done at tint to you in orland park. they didn't come to me, but i waited there.

they did a good job. took 3 hrs, but they also removed the tint off 4 windows.

LexBob2

I had a good experience at Tint To U and would use them again.

groomerz

lex bob you were smart going with 40% tint because some cars have 2-7% tint in the factory glass. What it means is if you get 35% film and 35 is legal you could meter illegal 30. The law states total allowable transmittance of light is 35 thru the glass. If you put 35 and you have 5% in glass already you meter at 30 and illegal. There is a small 1-2 % allowed for meter error though but that could go for or against you. Most police stations only have 1 tint meter and will measure your windows and give you a document stating the results for free. Not a bad thing to do because cops on the street issue tickets just by opinion and not by metering. Chicago issues parked cars by opinion . In order to meter a window both sides of glass need to be accessed , which you can't do when a car is parked. My friend who owns a tint business which caters to luxury dealers always steers people to 37 or 40 tint because of the factory tint

Blade223

Anyone use Madico tint films?
I go the same price quoted on 3M (Abe's Mokena) and Madico (Riggs Bros Downers Grove).

thoughts?

larry13

abes in mokena. he just did a expel clear bra and tinted my tails on my 2014 is350 fsport.

LexBob2

I can vouch for Abe's too. He tinted the windows on our '13 Audi. Nice job.

Tint To U in Orland Park is very good too. He uses Llumar film.

Blade223

Abe's did the tints on my GS350 about a week ago. So far so good. Looks great and I know he'll stand behind it.

Thinking about doing the clear bra as well.