Window Tinting....To Do, or Not To Do

[sneed21]

I've just installed my amp, 10 disc CD changer, and 2 - 10" subs in the back. I can pull the cover over them, but because of the shape of the box, it's really a stretch and you can tell whats underneath. I'd like to try and cover these to discourage any "would-be theives", but haven't come up with a good idea for mounting them in the floor. In the meantime, I'm thinking of having the darkest tint legal (not as dark as other states permit.......lousey Florida) put on the windows including the rear hatch. My question is: How does it look? I've honestly never seen a 944 w/ good dark tint, and would like a personal opinion before I have it "professionally" done...(I've tinted windows in the past, but the shape of the rear hatch scares me...) Any opinions, or other options would be appreciated.

[PorscheG96]

I've got 20% rear and 35% front...looks really good.

[sneed21]

That looks fantastic. Thanks for the pic!

[adrian jaye]

sneed,

ok there are pro's and con's, so I'll give you a few poniters

1> usually when a car is decked out in window tint, it means that there is something in the car that is worth hiding.

2> limo black, is also considered to make your car look like a drug dealers waggon

3> VERY dark tint can make driving a bit more difficult, especially in fog/wet or dark conditions.

4> ICE installs, the best ones are ones were a car has perfectly normal windows, you can look in to the car and not see any of it. (believe me it can be done.

5> MY 44 cab has tinting, for various reason's.
i) orginally did thye windows in Limo black, it looked great, but was a ***** when reversing and in dark conditions
ii) so I replaced it with a "smoke" tint, even then, I had to remove it from the front quarter lights and only had it on the windows (as I could not see the wing mirrors).
iii) My idea was similar to yours, but the ice in my car has not been fitted, the head unit is all that is visible, and cabs have a boot anyway !
iv) various people have had views to the tinting on my car, me I dont give a fcuk, cos I like it the way it is
v) I was also contemplating a security film, in order to stop car jacking, people throwing spark plugs at traffic lights at car windows in order to nick whats in the car etc. but was warned against it as if a window cant be broken on a cab, they'll rip the top open, more money. so I opted for ordinary film, this will stop any opertunisitic thiefes from trying anything at traffic lights or in traffic, of course this dont apply when the top is down

6> There are some really good kits, follow all the instructions, dont cut corners. preferably in a garage or outside, on a totally breezless day !

hope this helps

Adrian

[sneed21]

Thanks Adrian:

I agree that tint leads some people to believe you've got something your trying to hide, but here in Jacksonville, where it was 98 degrees one day last week, and the sun is unforgiving, alot of people put tint on Everything...whether they are hiding "ice" or running drugs.....which may very well be the case. Thanks for bringing up visibility problems. I was wondering how well you could use your rear-view and side mirrors. Heck, I have trouble seeing behind me at night w/ my reverse lights as it is...they aren't the brightest things..
One quick question on installation: Did you use alkie and newspaper to clean and prep the windows before you applied the new tint, or is there something better to use?

[Trevor]

not to do

[todwic]

tint that mutha

[robm-951]

Originally posted by todwic
tint that mutha

I Agree!!



Rob

[Eleg]

I was also thinking of getting this done. I definately won't do it myself (I can picture the bubbles and streaks now). I wonder how much it will run me? I don't plan on going too dark.. I'd prefer if people can see in because there isn't anything in there to steal!

[adrian jaye]

Eleg & Sneed,

ok,

Black Limo tint "I" think looks the bomb ! What other people think is up to them, you drive your car.

OK, with "Limo", driving in summer, daylight, forwards, is brilliant !

reversing, fog, snow, dark, garages, (trying to spot cop cars from the back), checking rear view, wing mirrors, it is a "nightmare"

Also, "IF" you are involved in an accident, and your defense relies on the fact that you coulndt or didnt see the other party, bud you are screwed !

OK, there are quite a lot of different colours available now, including smoke, greylight, green, red, mirror, light smoke.

The idea "if its not a security issue, ie glass breaking", is to hinder sight, but not at the cost of obsuring your own.

My glass is tinted in "Smoke", now on my cab, the front windows are not one piece like the coupe', it is a two piece which has a front quarter window. Even with the "smoke" I found it very difficult (in the uk) to reverse, or see what was in my left or right side. SO I opted to not tint that front quarter the result is still good, but gives me a modicum of privacy.

You may find the "smoke" tint is ok, or you may find if visibility is bad you'll need something a bit lighter.

ok, DIY.

Yes there are companies who can do a good job and charge you mega-bucks. but it really is very easy IF you take your time and follow the below steps.

1> Most kits, usually have more than enough left over in case of mistakes, so key word here is "take your time, have the proper tools and follow all instructions"

2> Prep is paramount.
i) Area you are working on, must have plenty of room and have a clean surface with all your tools at hand
ii) If you must work outside, there must be "no" breeze at all.
iii) tempreature, not too hot/cold
iv) tools to get if not with the kit, Scalpel knife, with new blades, good quality rubber sqee-gee, one of thoes spray bottles (you usually fill with water and pump up to spray plants with, and masking tape, clear nail varnish.

3) Clean the windows: clean inside and out, the surface must be both clean and greesefree, I cleant the windows with water and some lemon juice, balled up newspaper not cotton cloths. Then I degrased it using a cleaner you can buy from bodyshops, they use it to degrease body panels prior to painting.

4) do NOT touch windows, if your hands are greasey wash them properly in detergent.

5) usually depending on the kit. you measure up the window (measure it as a square) and cut the sheets to size, DO ONE AT A TIME (in case of mistakes), you usually get a fluid which you mix with water. this is sprayed onto the window and on to the window film, the window film is sided and has a peel off section, the idea is you offer the film to the window and as it is wet you can slide it around, once the whole window is covered, using the scapel, you cut the film around the glass, use the sqee-gee to remove the bubbles and excess water. leave it to dry. go to the next window.

6) once all windows are done, let it dry pref over night, dont operate windows, and leave them down a few inches.

7) then very carefully, if there are any air bubbles left over, use a pin, and put a prick in the bubbles, spray somemore water soln, and squeegee, the bubbles out. some films, the bublles take a few days to come out, so just be pateint, if youve been really carefull, you may have only 2 or 3 really small bubbles.

8) very carefully, usuing the clear nail varnish, seal the top of the windows, and round the edges of the fixed windows, again depending on how carefull you were, you may noy need to do this. I have neede to do this on the front windwos only and is not usually noticable.

9) bingo !

it sound alot harder than it is, you can practice on small peces of glass, if your a bit hessitant.

for example (and Ive done this at least 5 tmies on 3 different cars) a proper proffesional in the uk, will charge possible £200. I can buy the film for £30 and do it in 2 days.

Of course a proffesional will do the job right in one day, so the choice is yours.

hope this helps

holla back if ya need to

[TCMdocs944]

OK,

Florida tint is only about 100-125 old tint removal included.

dont think it is worth the time and possible frustration to diy.


Big question for me is why very few porsche owners tint.
Is it a big elitist no no.. will I be looked down upon at the next swap meet? Will I not get shunned if I only tint the rear quarter.

I feel I need to tint.....tint on my brother.

[Roger Hall]

Tinting has big advantages!

It will prevent fadding and deteroation of your interior.
It will keep the car cooler.

You will need to go with a high qualitity tint. Generaly heat rejection and UV protection are due to the metal in the tint. Mine is a stainless steel which has the black color. You can get titanium (grey) or bronze (brown) there are other colors available. The cheaper tints are just plastic and they will fade. Like the cars you see on the road with the purple haze to the tint. They also provide little of the benefits other than the looks. If you do not like dark tint you can go with the lighter ones. They lighter tints (good qualitity ones) still provide good heat rejection and UV protection.

You can tint yourself but buy the time you buy the materials its not worth the time you will invest. The side windows are easy but the rear hatch is tough. The curved glass makes it difficult. To get the corners right you need to shrink the tint with a heat gun to avoid creases. I would take it to a tint shop they are cheap and plentifull but I live in Florida and all of my cars are tinted.

[TCMdocs944]

So the question remains, what the hell is the stigma attached to tinting a Porsche of any model.

Maybe we should ask the 911 bbs

[PorscheG96]

Originally posted by TCMdocs944
So the question remains, what the hell is the stigma attached to tinting a Porsche of any model.

There isn't...unless someone is dumb and likes to give you a hard time.

It sure didn't keep my 968 from getting 2nd place in a local PCA concours last summer.

[TCMdocs944]

Thanks for the encouragement.

All of the P-cars I have seen(for the most part) are sans tint.

Hi ho, Hi ho its off to the tint shop I go..

Full rear and quarters, 3/4 drivers and passengers