60 series clear window tint (2 Viewers)

[jonnyd42]

I'm baking and need to do something about this. I want to preserve the fishbowl look and am looking at a few options including ceramic and 3M crystalline. We have a model 3 in the family with OEM tint and I'd be ok with that level - looks like it's 80 VLT.

Can you guys share pics of your rigs with ceramic or 3M crystalline, and which specific SKU you picked + how you like it?

 

[78Mustard]

Following...love the fishbowl look, too. I want to go Ceramic, but I think it's a small fortune for clear ceramic.

 

[kody472]

Here's mine. No tint vs ceramic tint. A slight blue tint, but really not noticeable. I love it. Makes a huge difference.

 

[dbbowen]

Im a big believer in ceramic tint and do it to each vechicle I own. I prefer Llumar IRX but i also do 15% on my vehicles. IRX only goes as light as 50%. Llumar Stratos goes up to 70% and Air clear goes as clear as 80% VLT but also has the option for 90% which will be even less tint than the 3m crystalline. If you do tint your 60 tint ALL of the windows including the windshield. I know you want the clear window look, but the darker vlt gets better blocking of heat and UV/IR rays as you go darker. All of the 80 and 90% VLT tints have a blue-ish hue to them regardless of the brand. Most tint shops that arent exclusive 3m dealers that ive spoken to generally say the llumar is a higher quality film than the 3m over the whole range

If it was me going light... i would go with the Llumar if you want to do it now (better low angle haze on llumar).... but if you can wait, 3m is releasing a new film this year called Crystalline Black, and its supposed to have better low angle haze than their current offerings, and have a black hue instead of the blue hue that all of the "clear" films have.

https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1161043O/automotive-window-film-crystalline-brochure.pdf

 

[jonnyd42]

Im a big believer in ceramic tint and do it to each vechicle I own. I prefer Llumar IRX but i also do 15% on my vehicles. IRX only goes as light as 50%. Llumar Stratos goes up to 70% and Air clear goes as clear as 80% VLT but also has the option for 90% which will be even less tint than the 3m crystalline. If you do tint your 60 tint ALL of the windows including the windshield. I know you want the clear window look, but the darker vlt gets better blocking of heat and UV/IR rays as you go darker. All of the 80 and 90% VLT tints have a blue-ish hue to them regardless of the brand. Most tint shops that arent exclusive 3m dealers that ive spoken to generally say the llumar is a higher quality film than the 3m over the whole range

If it was me going light... i would go with the Llumar if you want to do it now (better low angle haze on llumar).... but if you can wait, 3m is releasing a new film this year called Crystalline Black, and its supposed to have better low angle haze than their current offerings, and have a black hue instead of the blue hue that all of the "clear" films have.

https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1161043O/automotive-window-film-crystalline-brochure.pdf

What does ceramic tint usually cost? Is it still film based or is it sprayed on?

And for these rigs, do they do it with the windows in or do they remove the windows?

 

[dbbowen]

What does ceramic tint usually cost? Is it still film based or is it sprayed on?

And for these rigs, do they do it with the windows in or do they remove the windows?

its installed the same way as normal window tint, its just got ceramic particles in the film to either absorb or reflect heat, UV, and IR rays to keep it out of your vehicle.

As far as cost, its normally a good bit more expensive than the normal window tint thats just dark. Im not sure on cost as i tinted my own windows but expect like close to a grand probably for the whole truck id imagine

 

[LazarusTaxa]

its installed the same way as normal window tint, its just got ceramic particles in the film to either absorb or reflect heat, UV, and IR rays to keep it out of your vehicle.

As far as cost, its normally a good bit more expensive than the normal window tint thats just dark. Im not sure on cost as i tinted my own windows but expect like close to a grand probably for the whole truck id imagine

How hard is installing tint? I might want to try myself to save a ton of $$$ and would be taking all the windows out, etc...

For others, I had a windshield and front two windows ceramic tinted on another car and it was like $450. Not cheap

 

[dbbowen]

How hard is installing tint? I might want to try myself to save a ton of $$$ and would be taking all the windows out, etc...

For others, I had a windshield and front two windows ceramic tinted on another car and it was like $450. Not cheap

So what makes doing tint hard is you never get to practice. Ive tinted 2 cars and both ive had some tiny air bubbles here and there, or a dog hair in the tint. Ive also wasted A TON of tint. Tinting itself is not that hard... but since youre not tinting multiple cars a day you wont ever get to the point where you can do it flawlessly like the tint installer can. The guy installing tint has probably done 5 cars a day for years and could tint in his sleep.

Theres many videos on youtube showing you how to precut onthe outer window before transferring to the inside. What tools to use. Pre shrinking. etc

The other hard thing is getting name brand high quality tint. The window film companies operate as cartels to control the pricing of the film and the distributors/installers. You cant just buy 3m or llumar or xpel tint. I was able to get some myself through the back door of a tint shop but thats hard to do. There are some companies online that will sell to the consumer but i cant speak to their quality

 

[tarheel40]

There is some good info in this thread, I’ve copied my post below. The short version is Llumar Air 80 has made a night and day difference for me during the summer months, was around $700 for everything except the windshield. No template in my guy’s computer for a 62 so had to be cut by hand, he did a great job.

I’ll echo the comments from @John Staton above. When I bought my 62 it had 5% limo tint all around and it looked so out of place, I ripped it off the first night I had it in the garage . Love the fishbowl look but I take the kids to school in the 62, drive it to work, etc and it was awfully hot - even after I got the AC sorted out.

I had Llumar Air80 installed earlier this year after a year of no tint, it’s the clearest film my local guy carries. Has a slight bluish tint, it does look a bit darker than clear glass but still very see thru - looks like lightly tinted factory glass to me. I didn’t do the windshield, I just use a shade when I’m parking in the sun for a long time. It has made a night and day difference, both with heat coming in while driving and how hot it gets when parked in the sun. @wngrog uses 3M 70% charcoal film on a lot of his builds and that’s another good option that is pretty light, though slightly darker than Air80 based on pictures I’ve seen.

Here is a before and after, hard to tell unless you’re looking for it.

View attachment 3795812

View attachment 3795814

 

[jonnyd42]

Alright I got a quote from a place today that will do solargard 70 VLT on all windows + windshield for $1k. I think I'm gonna do it.

 

[78crzr]

Full clear ceramic including front window, done during previous ownership. Seems to work as well as the dark ceramic in the Texas sun, which we have in all of our other vehicles. Does have a very light green hue to it in certain lighting conditions. Fish bowl took a little getting used to when you’re accustomed to dark tint.

 

[yotadude520]

Alright I got a quote from a place today that will do solargard 70 VLT on all windows + windshield for $1k. I think I'm gonna do it.

$1,000?!?! I just had my whole truck tinted with ceramic for $299.

 

[BurntToast]

$1,000?!?! I just had my whole truck tinted with ceramic for $299.

I wish, mine was also ~1000 for ceramic

 

[yotadude520]

I wish, mine was also ~1000 for ceramic

Holy mackerel that's crazy. Might be cheaper to drive out to Tucson and get it done I guess

 

[BurntToast]

I should have!

 

[DrRock]

Here’s mine with 50% ceramic tint, $500 out the door for side and rear windows. Held off on the windshield as I’m getting a paint job soon and might be replacing the windshield.