Help with tint comparison

the fish · 03-17-2006, 09:10 PM

Sorry for another tint post but I didn't want to hijack anyone's thread for my little comparison. I am trying to compare the look of Llumar High Performance Charcoal to Madico Onyx. Any personal thoughts (and pics!) would be appreciated.

My tint story so far:

The most recommended local tint shop (Shop A) only uses Llumar tint. This shop does work for most of the local car dealers included Toyota and has done Prii before. They recommend the Llumar High Performance Charcoal 35% (hybrid, 38% VLT, 44% SER, 8% VLR) for $180 for my Prius. I like the look of this tint, but it seems to have a greenish hue to it. I suppose that makes it look more nuetral for any color car. I would prefer something of a more true black for my silver Prius, like the look of the factory tint on my other car (silver Honda Odyssey). I know that is probably 20% which makes a difference, but I like the contrast of silver and black.

Shop A also can use Llumar Platinum Plus 35 (metallic, 37% VLT, 52% SER, 18% VLR) for $200, but they say is definitely looks more mirrored. Not sure if I want that.

Shop B is a reputable custom car stereo and tint shop. They use Madico tint and recommended the Madico Onyx 35 (metallic, 32% VLT, 49% SER, 7% VLR) at $200. This tint definitely looks black in color compared to the Charcoal line of Madico. I don't know thier work as well as Shop A.

The problem is that I can't compare the look of these two tints side by side. I would like to use Shop A based on the recommendations, but I would prefer if they used a black tint instead of charcoal. They only want to use their two films based on their experience with them.

Does anyone here have an opinion or experience with any of these films?

Bill Lumbergh · 03-18-2006, 12:45 AM

I've got Llumar on my 05 silver Prius and it looks great. The shop I had install it did a fantastic job and I have zero issues. It looks very black to me (I think I got 20%) and repels light well. About the only thing I've noticed is with my polarized sunglasses I can see a rainbow effect when inside the car, when looking out through the windows. This is common with most tint, though.

Before (day after I picked up my car):

After (two days after tint, still can't roll down the windows!):

A couple days ago, holding up fine after 8 months:

the fish · 03-18-2006, 08:38 AM

Wow, that looks great! Thanks for posting the before/after pics of your silver beauty. Your Llumar tint looks pretty black to me. Of couse the 20% VLT and grey interior helps.

Do you know what grade of Llumar film (High Peformance, Platinum Plus, etc.) that is? If you don't, perhaps the name of the tint shop and I'll call them myself.

Thanks a bunch.

the fish · 03-20-2006, 11:09 AM

Decided to go with the Llumar ATR 30 on all windows which has a VLT of 32% (legal in GA).

Does anyone know how much the factory windows on the 2006 already reduce light transmission?

airpolgas · 03-20-2006, 03:54 PM

Boxter...WRX.. Prius?

Nice tint. But what really got my attention were the wheels. Can you please PM me with the specs?

Bill Lumbergh · 03-20-2006, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by the fish@Mar 18 2006, 09:38 AM
Wow, that looks great! Thanks for posting the before/after pics of your silver beauty. Your Llumar tint looks pretty black to me. Of couse the 20% VLT and grey interior helps.

Do you know what grade of Llumar film (High Peformance, Platinum Plus, etc.) that is? If you don't, perhaps the name of the tint shop and I'll call them myself.

Thanks a bunch.

[snapback]226394[/snapback]

Pretty sure I got the High Performance. The second pic looks darker than the third because of the angle of the sun when I took the shot, if that matters. It hasn't faded a bit.

the fish · 03-21-2006, 08:18 PM

Got the tint job done today. Used Llumar High Performance ATR 30 which is 32% VLT. Here is the before pic of just the windows:[attachmentid=2665]
Here are the windows just after the tint job:[attachmentid=2666]
And here is the whole car:[attachmentid=2667]
I am pleased with the job they did. It's no problem to see out of the windows. I passed on the windshield strip. They did not tint the lower hatch window, and that now seems lighter than the upper hatch. May have to get that done.

gqscientist · 03-22-2006, 02:57 AM

Is it true you cant get metallic tint if you have Navigation (disrupts signal)? One tint shop told me this

bgdrewsif · 03-22-2006, 03:18 AM

Just to add to this topic i found this resource that details the window tint laws state by state: http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/ You may want to check your states laws before having any tinting done... I know ohio has very specific regulations... i.e. different tint %for front and rear windows, mandatory state certified tint sticker on each tinted window, etc.

jbarnhart · 03-22-2006, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gqscientist@Mar 21 2006, 11:57 PM
Is it true you cant get metallic tint if you have Navigation (disrupts signal)? One tint shop told me this

[snapback]228363[/snapback]

The antenna for the GPS is under the dashboard, right up in front. You should be OK unless you tint your windshield.

03-17-2006, 09:10 PM	#1
the fish Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 175 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Sorry for another tint post but I didn't want to hijack anyone's thread for my little comparison. I am trying to compare the look of Llumar High Performance Charcoal to Madico Onyx. Any personal thoughts (and pics!) would be appreciated. My tint story so far: The most recommended local tint shop (Shop A) only uses Llumar tint. This shop does work for most of the local car dealers included Toyota and has done Prii before. They recommend the Llumar High Performance Charcoal 35% (hybrid, 38% VLT, 44% SER, 8% VLR) for $180 for my Prius. I like the look of this tint, but it seems to have a greenish hue to it. I suppose that makes it look more nuetral for any color car. I would prefer something of a more true black for my silver Prius, like the look of the factory tint on my other car (silver Honda Odyssey). I know that is probably 20% which makes a difference, but I like the contrast of silver and black. Shop A also can use Llumar Platinum Plus 35 (metallic, 37% VLT, 52% SER, 18% VLR) for $200, but they say is definitely looks more mirrored. Not sure if I want that. Shop B is a reputable custom car stereo and tint shop. They use Madico tint and recommended the Madico Onyx 35 (metallic, 32% VLT, 49% SER, 7% VLR) at $200. This tint definitely looks black in color compared to the Charcoal line of Madico. I don't know thier work as well as Shop A. The problem is that I can't compare the look of these two tints side by side. I would like to use Shop A based on the recommendations, but I would prefer if they used a black tint instead of charcoal. They only want to use their two films based on their experience with them. Does anyone here have an opinion or experience with any of these films? __________________ 2006 Silver Pkg 5 with Headlight EV mod; Mudguards; Rear Bumper Protector; Tint (Llumar HP ATR30 all windows).

03-18-2006, 12:45 AM	#2
Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Marysville, CA Posts: 509 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #1 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 1	I've got Llumar on my 05 silver Prius and it looks great. The shop I had install it did a fantastic job and I have zero issues. It looks very black to me (I think I got 20%) and repels light well. About the only thing I've noticed is with my polarized sunglasses I can see a rainbow effect when inside the car, when looking out through the windows. This is common with most tint, though. Before (day after I picked up my car): After (two days after tint, still can't roll down the windows!): A couple days ago, holding up fine after 8 months: __________________

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03-18-2006, 08:38 AM	#3
the fish Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 175 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Wow, that looks great! Thanks for posting the before/after pics of your silver beauty. Your Llumar tint looks pretty black to me. Of couse the 20% VLT and grey interior helps. Do you know what grade of Llumar film (High Peformance, Platinum Plus, etc.) that is? If you don't, perhaps the name of the tint shop and I'll call them myself. Thanks a bunch.

03-20-2006, 11:09 AM	#4
the fish Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 175 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Decided to go with the Llumar ATR 30 on all windows which has a VLT of 32% (legal in GA). Does anyone know how much the factory windows on the 2006 already reduce light transmission?

03-20-2006, 03:54 PM	#5
airpolgas Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 105 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Boxter...WRX.. Prius? Nice tint. But what really got my attention were the wheels. Can you please PM me with the specs?

03-21-2006, 08:18 PM	#7
the fish Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 175 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Got the tint job done today. Used Llumar High Performance ATR 30 which is 32% VLT. Here is the before pic of just the windows:[attachmentid=2665] Here are the windows just after the tint job:[attachmentid=2666] And here is the whole car:[attachmentid=2667] I am pleased with the job they did. It's no problem to see out of the windows. I passed on the windshield strip. They did not tint the lower hatch window, and that now seems lighter than the upper hatch. May have to get that done.

03-22-2006, 02:57 AM	#8
gqscientist Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA Posts: 36 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Is it true you cant get metallic tint if you have Navigation (disrupts signal)? One tint shop told me this

03-22-2006, 03:18 AM	#9
bgdrewsif Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Glendale, Arizona (formerly Bowling Green, Ohio) Posts: 484 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Just to add to this topic i found this resource that details the window tint laws state by state: http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/ You may want to check your states laws before having any tinting done... I know ohio has very specific regulations... i.e. different tint %for front and rear windows, mandatory state certified tint sticker on each tinted window, etc.