to tint or not to tint??

[woody31]

im thinking about getting my windows tinted on my wagon , how much should i expect to pay for a quality job???
is it worth it ?? my a.c. works so i think the tint will help keep it kool ??? any ideas thanks

[Carlola]

not sure on price, it is cheap enough that a quality job won't be much more than a crappy one. I saw a monte carlo tint job where the glass got gradually lighter towards the bottom of the window, gives a sleek look to a G-body and didn't look plastic/tacky like some overly dark tints. Definitely my choice when the time comes.

[pencero]

get reflective tint front and back at least but maybe skip the side windows. Expect $40-80 a window and get multiple quotes. You can do it yourself on a hot day w/ a blow dryer (proper tool is a heat gun on low actually) the right kind of adhesive and a window tint strip from advanced or auto zone but I'd probably only do the back if I was you since you obviously dont know how to do it very well. Just read the instructions and some of them you have to seperate a clear layer at the corner of the tint strip and peel it off before you adhere it so make sure to read if you have to do that and then there should be a little crappy plastic squeegee in the box w/ the tint strip you have to smooth out all the bubbles and that part is critical so watch somebody do it on youtube maybe 1st if you're going to try doing it yourself. Also maybe get your own little plastic squeegee cause the one w/ the kits suck its really small and make blister on your finger (takes like 1-2 hour to smooth all the bubbles out if you fuck up)

Dont try to install tint on a cold day it will reject the tint and bubble up

[jking78]

I paid $80 for my malibu. I'm thinkin $160 but always cheaper to do it your self. I would've done my own malibu but it was a gift from my ole lady

[Bowiemontecarlo86]

Wagons always cost 30to40% more then regular cars same with SUVs. I got a quote for my car for 80 bucks to 120. Just Gotta shop around and try getting references.might wanna ask friends where they went and then check out the job they did on they car.also check and see if your county our state has tint laws. Like here in Florida I can't get darker then 15%

[shortydoowop138]

At the stereo shop where I work, we charge $40 a window unless we're removing old tint. We use 3M, SunTech & Sun Guard tint. You can do it yourself, just need a wall paper scrapper (razor blase) to clean the windows, spray bottle with baby shampoo solution, a blow dryer & some good lights so you can trace the film. It's not hard, just time consuming.. & PLEASE don't use ammonia to clean your tint!!!

[1980PontiacWagon]

I paid 200 for my wagon...I'm very pleased with it...mine was more expensive than all the prices that everyone is throwing out because, 1. its a wagon. 2. my tint in not legal for virginia

[Longroof79]

Yeah, to do a wagon it's somewhere around the area of $200-250. Make sure they use a quality product, not that Gila shit or the stuff you buy at Walmart or Advance Auto.
Use a good squeegee and a wider plastic body filler spreader.

I've done it myself, it's not too difficult. It's takes care and patience, and the windows must be extremely clean. I may have it professionally done this time around.

...and as Shorty said, don't use ammonia on your tint. It will turn it purple.

[woody31]

thanks yall gona do the elcamino first ill take pictures tomm

[lsx80monte]

Dark boyz is the only way I roll. My tints gotta be the darkest cause I like to black out my trim on my cars. It gives it the solid black look that I like which contrasts whatever color I paint my ride. It definitely helps with the heat and better with a/c. Didnt cost me much as I had my door and quarter windows out when they painted my car and my brother did the tint for me. Whole lot easier applying the tint with the windows on the bench. My car is a daily so I wasnt too picky about a couple of tiny bubbles here and there. I will tell you I have been stopped twice in Tampa for my tint. But something tells me thats just the cops excuse to stop someone with all the tax fraud goin on around here. They justwanna see if they can get you for something bigger. Neither time did i geta ticket.

[Longroof79]

I was also giving it thought about tinting the glass with the glass out of the car. That sounds alot easier to do, being that all the glass is removed. Hmmmmm....I kinda like that idea.
My one concern would be how well the tint sticks to the urethane or butyl tape.

[lsx80monte]

I was also giving it thought about tinting the glass with the glass out of the car. That sounds alot easier to do, being that all the glass is removed. Hmmmmm....I kinda like that idea.
My one concern would be how well the tint sticks to the urethane or butyl tape.

The tint is on the inside of the glass and the butyle tape on the quarter windows is on the outside. If you are doing the back glass out of the car then you should leave some space for where the glass will be incontact with butyle or urethane. I didnt remove my windshield or back glass when the car was painted.

[Longroof79]

The only glass I'd be concerned about would be the quarter windows. On a wagon, they're the only glass that's glued in other than the windshield.
They do glue on from the outside. And of course that's where the tinted glass would make contact with the window frame.
As you said, the edge where the glass makes contact could be trimmed away.
Again, it's sounding better tinting the glass while it's out of the car.
The left and right front door glass tint would have to be trimmed where it slides in the channel. The rear door glass is stationary, so that wouldn't be an issue.

I wonder if anyone lazer cuts tint to fit a G-body wagon? That would make it easier and probably less difficult...not that's it's difficult. It would make it go faster with the pieces already cut out.

[lsx80monte]

i do believe ive seen precut tint for gbodies on ebay