tinting

[rbhigday]

Anyone in houston get tinting done on the windows?
If so how dark did you go?
where did you go and how much was it?

Thanks

[Rmichael1]

I'm in Austin, I was gonna have it done at the Round Rock center. About $290. What's it cost up your way?

[RLove]

I did mine with a 35% (legal) tint on the fronts, and 20% for the rest - and paid $145 to a guy that's done all my cars in the past...but, that's pretty much a normal price. The dealers seem to run about twice the price - gotta get that 100% markup.

I'm in Plano.

[Rmichael1]

OMG! The dealership told me it was all about the precut material specific to the smart that made it worth it. Hm.

[angel]

Window Tinting

25% is the legal limit here. That's total. So might want to have them check what/if there's any tint to the glass already.

Originally Posted by Rmichael1

OMG! The dealership told me it was all about the precut material specific to the smart that made it worth it. Hm.

bee. ess. ALL tint shops cut the film to fit.

[Rmichael1]

I'm gonna check "Mother's Window Tint" they've done all our other cars (except the mini-van, F that, it has too many windows). We had this really cool tint on my New Beetle (car prior to the mini-van) and we still have it on the truck. It was kinda silvery and kinda like a mirror effect. Kept out the rays and people could NOT see you (something my partner will appreciate). I say LET 'EM LOOK!

[CruisingAZ]

Originally Posted by angel

bee. ess. ALL tint shops cut the film to fit.

Some shops now have a computer that cuts the sheets to the exact size of your window so that they are a more perfect fit. most smaller shops cannot afford such equipment but it is becoming more available.

Same kind of machine that makes precut letters for signs and things like that.

[rbhigday]

Got dealer tint for 199 in Sugerland, south of houston. Supposedly as dark as legal allowed but I see a lot of car in the dealerships of other car with darker.

The tint is not dark enough for me or to make much difference imho

[Rmichael1]

Checked with a local company in Austin (Mother's Window Tint) which has been around for many years and guarantees their work. They said they have done one other smart car and could tint it for $150 (legal darkness, 99%UV, 50 -60% solar energy). Sounds pretty good to me.

[smartier]

Can anyone provide a close-up photo of the perimeter of a tinted rear-hatch window? I'm curious to see how well the tint sticks to the glass in-between the small dots (thus eliminating or reducing the whitish line that you see around the perimeter of some tinted windows. The small rear side window of the Mazda 3 hatch comes to mind). On the smart, the dots are well-spaced-out, compared to some cars, so I'm thinking adherence is pretty good. I was also told that on a hot day, one can carefully press the tint against the glass (with a paper towel and your fingernail) in those spaces to get it to stick. Anyone tried this?