Window Tint Advice (1 Viewer)

[tarheel40]

I'd really like to tint the front windows of my cruiser to match the rears as close as possible (I know it's almost impossible to get a perfect match with our factory tint though). I've read thru many of the window tint threads on here, most of which are a few years old. Regardless, it seems that the best choice is a reflective bronze tint, many have had good luck with a Llumar film (though one tint shop told they've been bought out by Suntek?).

The problem is that I can't find a shop in central NC that has any bronze film in stock, it's just too rare an application. A few have a more reflective tint, but it's gray and I don't think it will look good. So here are my questions - where can I buy enough bronze reflective tint to cover just my front windows without buying a whole roll? Does anybody have a roll they bought that wants to sell some to me, or is anybody planning to do that soon? Do any of the NC guys have a recommendation for a shop that may have bronze tint in stock?

Thanks for any leads in advance!

 

[hadmatter]

I had mine done last month here in Denver. Like you, I wanted the closest match and read all the tint threads here. I put this off for a long while cause I really don't care for non-matching tint jobs. I found a local shop who has plenty of the Llumar 30% bronze tint and it was $90 installed. As far as a color match, i see no difference. It does not have the same reflective quality, however so it does look different in that way. I'm happy with it.

 

[moodytico]

Where in NC are you? I got a friend in Greensboro that owns a high end detail shop called the Shine Shop. Ask for Scott, and he doesn't have it he might know someone who does. Tell him Ross sent ya.

 

[JCruse]

Hmmm, I wonder of you can put a 50% or higher silver/reflective film on first and combine the two for a matching effect...?

 

[tarheel40]

I had mine done last month here in Denver. Like you, I wanted the closest match and read all the tint threads here. I put this off for a long while cause I really don't care for non-matching tint jobs. I found a local shop who has plenty of the Llumar 30% bronze tint and it was $90 installed. As far as a color match, i see no difference. It does not have the same reflective quality, however so it does look different in that way. I'm happy with it.

Thanks for the info, good to know that this film is still out there. As a last resort, I could call the shop in Denver and see if they'd be will to sell me about 6 feet of film. I've got a guy in Durham that tinted my 4runner and did an awesome job for a great price, but he doesn't have any bronze film.

 

[tarheel40]

Where in NC are you? I got a friend in Greensboro that owns a high end detail shop called the Shine Shop. Ask for Scott, and he doesn't have it he might know someone who does. Tell him Ross sent ya.

I'm in Chapel Hill, so about an hour or so from Greensboro - definitely would be an option. I'll give him a call and see what he says, thanks for the lead Ross!

 

[tarheel40]

Hmmm, I wonder of you can put a 50% or higher silver/reflective film on first and combine the two for a matching effect...?

That's not a bad idea at all, I've think a few guys have had pretty good success combining high reflective film layer and then a layer of bronze to get a better match. My tint guy in Durham does have some extra reflective stuff, but I don't know if he has anything lighter than 35% - if so I may give the layering thing a try.

 

[tpham32]

Thanks for the info, good to know that this film is still out there. As a last resort, I could call the shop in Denver and see if they'd be will to sell me about 6 feet of film. I've got a guy in Durham that tinted my 4runner and did an awesome job for a great price, but he doesn't have any bronze film.

Did you go to TC's?

 

[jfz80]

You could add dedona audio and tint to your call list in gso if the shine shop doesn't work out. No experience with them just hear good things.

 

[tarheel40]

Did you go to TC's?

I worked with Jay Holder, he owns Sunshades window tinting in Durham but doesn't carry bronze tint. I'll give TC's a call and check into Dedona well - thanks Jason!

 

[tarheel40]

For any of the other NC guys that may come across this thread the only place I've found in or around the triangle that carries a bronze film is Dedona Tint and Sound in Greensboro. They've got a bronze Suntek film, the guy said it won't be a perfect match because it won't be reflective but he said they've tried a lot of things for this type of tint and nothing has been perfect. I'm gonna give it a whirl and see how it looks, best I can tell the Llumar stuff isn't reflective enough either so I'll see if the Suntek is any better.

I'm going tomorrow afternoon and will try to get a few pictures over the weekend. Thanks again for the all the suggestions!

 

[LFD2037]

Please post pic's after install. Thanks!

 

[tarheel40]

Please post pic's after install. Thanks!

Will do... I'm going to talk to them a little more about trying to layer two tints (a light mirror first and then a bronze), they didn't act like it would help much over the phone but worth a shot maybe. Can you actually layer tint reliably? I've only tinted over factory tinted windows, never over another layer of tint - seems like it would work though..

 

[LFD2037]

I used 5% on top of 20% & never had a problem but those are both pretty thick! I don't see you having a problem. I scraped the tint off my front 2 windows because they were messed up. I can't decide if I'm going to try to get the 2 front to match the rest(bronze-ish) or if I'm going to replace it all w/normal tint. My front 2 windows have no bronze hue in the glass but others say that they put a powder in the glass & that's where the bronze comes from. I know for a fact that my front 2 have zero bronze color in the glass. Do you know if the rest of the windows have it in the glass?

 

[tarheel40]

I used 5% on top of 20% & never had a problem but those are both pretty thick! I don't see you having a problem. I scraped the tint off my front 2 windows because they were messed up. I can't decide if I'm going to try to get the 2 front to match the rest(bronze-ish) or if I'm going to replace it all w/normal tint. My front 2 windows have no bronze hue in the glass but others say that they put a powder in the glass & that's where the bronze comes from. I know for a fact that my front 2 have zero bronze color in the glass. Do you know if the rest of the windows have it in the glass?

My understanding is the all the rear windows come with factory tinted glass, which I think is some sort of spray-on tint that cannot be removed. I've seen some of the 100 series guys add charcoal tint underneath the bronze rears and then tint the front charcoal, the charcoal film seems to overpower the bronze alright and that part matches but the rears are still way more reflective. I personally think the bronze is a cool classic feature on the 80s and makes them unique, turning it charcoal takes away a little character in my opinion.

 

[tarheel40]

Just got back from getting my front two windows tinted, went with Dedona Tint and Audio in Greensboro - the only place I could find within an hour of Chapel Hill that stocks bronze tint. The film is Suntek's 35% bronze, don't know the specific code of the film though. He charged me $80 to do the front two, a little higher than I've paid in the past, but they did an awesome job and used machine cut film to get a really great fit. Shine Shop in Greensboro said they would special order the Llumar film but just the front two windows would be $150, they also said they would try to layer two tints but I can only assume that would be more - figured I'd try the cheaper option first.

As far as the color match goes, I think it looks almost perfect - nice and bronze so in that regard it looks factory. As far as the reflectiveness goes, the rears are obviously way more reflective - looks worse in lights that accentuate the factory tint reflectiveness. I think the guys that have used the Llumar film have run into the same problem. I talked to the shop about layering films to try to get the reflective match better but they didn't seem too keen on it, said they've tried it and didn't think it was worth it. Here are a few quick pics, two at night that make the tint look great and two at dusk that highlight the difference in reflectiveness. I'll try to get a few during the day tomorrow.

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f315/mbrown14/photo42.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f315/mbrown14/photo33.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f315/mbrown14/photo23.jpg
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f315/mbrown14/photo13.jpg

 

[moodytico]

Looks good IMO. I had the same problem with mine, it's only really noticeable in certain direct sunlight. I think the exterior color of the truck has something to do with it as well. My 80 is the deep maroon color and I don't really notice the bronze that much.

 

[murf]

I went with the solarguard film: bronze 20% for the fronts, then 35% charcoal over the rest of the windows.

 

[Ayetee]

I have seen a thread on this. Does anybody know what the % is of the rear I'm pretty sure it's all the same %. But I want the exact same % as rears in front because even if it was bronze lumar or whatever the different % shade would look sh1tty in my opinion and if you know what I I'm talking about, for your next step don't go with the fartie 4ss depo sh1t check out prado. Btw does any body know what is wrong with my iphone? I can't even search fj80 in thread search.

 

[Ayetee]

Oh, FYI...because I'm thinking of buying a roll. I'll sell the ret most likely after.