It's approaching 90F+ in Cali and I'm thinking about window tinting again. Multiple dealers and individuals recommended California Auto Tint (http://www.calautotint.com), and I got a quote for $425 for all sides + rear. They bake on the films so there's no waiting period for them to dry. The only brand they carry is Global ceramic.

1. From searching through the forum, I've heard of 3M, I've heard of Hüper Optik, etc., but I've never heard of Global. Are they any good?

2. Does it really make a difference, having the films baked on? I'm not sure I like someone at a tinting shop taking out off the glass pieces and putting them back. Recipe for future issues / rattles?

3. Anyone here from nor-cal (specifically south bay / sunnyvale / san jose / etc) who can recommend some other good shops?

Thanks!

 

You'll probably get better responses in the SoCal/NorCal club section.

 

im not an expert...but if its 90+ it shouldn't take that long for your tint to dry....and i definitely wouldn't want them taking the doors apart to take the glass out...

 

personally i won't bake tint. i mean for any reason if you get pulled over for tint ticket, you can't "fix" it. that's too painful

i have huper optik and i love my tint. very cool. makes it kind of silly coz' now when i drive, i feel a lot of heat from the front windshield which is untouched!

 

Oh neat. I didn't realize those sections existed. Reading a thread over there now on their recommendations.

 

do you have any ghosting/flame marks/discoloration (under certain angles of sunlight) in the corners or edges of the tint, esp the back glass?

and did they remove your door panels to tint the sides?

 

nop, i don't have any ghosting. i did read/hear about those problems on huper optik coz' they are quite a bit thicker than normal tint. it seems like technique is the key. talking to my installer they say if it's not installed correctly or wrong use of heat, ghosting will appear. now it's been almost 3 years and no matter it's day time or night time / lighting, etc... no ghosting.

they didn't have to take out door panel on my gs350 to install it. on my ls460 they had to pop the top of the door panel (didn't remove it). same with the 2is from what i heard

 

Anyone tried V-Kool? The local 3M dealer here admitted that V-Kool is far superior in terms of keeping heat outside (blocking infrared radiation). I'm extremely pleased with it. Do not need too dark tint (easier to drive at night) and still keeps the car cool.

 

You guys should check this youtube video out for Huper optik tint comparison to other tints http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wol01dFkmtA

 

I drove for a month with the sides and rear done, but nothing on the windshield. Finally got the windshield done in 3m Crystalline 70 on Monday and it makes a big difference in heat cut. Drove from ATL to TPA this week and sun was directly straight in on the windshield driving down.

 

According to a video on V-KOOL website they show a reading of 409 for traditional window tints and 72 for V-KOOL. Could Huper optik and V-KOOL use similar technology....? Performance wise looks similar.

 

I was thinking of getting the 3M crystalline 70 or HO 60. However the GS460 has infrared and UV reducing glass so I am wondering whether I really need to get it.

 

seriously i am keeping this car, i am tempted to do a 60 or 70% up front

nice video, but yeah, it helps quite noticeably. though the guy says it's layers of metals? (dunno if i heard it wrong). that's not correct, huper optik is ceramic. that's the good thing about it, for sure won't have effect on navigation or other antennas

 

Is there a big difference between what brands you get for tint? I got this shop doing full tint + lifetime warranty for 180. Yay or nay?

 

Got Huper Optik on my 3gs and loving it. I think it's well worth the money.