1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Window Tint Advice

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by The Critic, Jun 25, 2011.

?
  1. 30% on all side roll-up windows and rear hatch

    23 vote(s)
    59.0%
  2. 40% on all side roll-up windows and rear hatch

    6 vote(s)
    15.4%
  3. 50% on front roll-up windows, 30% on rear roll-up windows and rear hatch

    10 vote(s)
    25.6%
  1. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The only illegal thing I'd ever consider is HID fogs, for Prius or any other future cars. Not into messing with intakes or exhausts.

    Suspension upgrades, lowering, rims, interior upgrades, tints, and other cosmetics, it's all legal to some extent.
     
  2. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,323
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Here is another picture of the tint from this morning. It is an extremely cloudy day.

    The tint does have a very hazy look to it. Hopefully this is completely due to the water in the film.

    MB860 ?
     

    Attached Files:

    1 person likes this.
  3. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    953
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Yeah, but to make it into something really cool like bino's car requires multiple violations, as the vast majority of JDM parts aren't US DOT-approved.
     
  4. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    ^Yeah I do like me some a Bino's car. :)
     
  5. oldasdust

    oldasdust Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    356
    47
    0
    Location:
    illinois
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    35% all around it's the law in the land of Lincoln.
     
  6. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,323
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    2+ weeks with Huper Optik. I think the film has mostly dried out. This stuff isn't black at all-- but instead has a weird hazy grey appearance from the outside. My 30% doesn't even look 30%. From the inside, the visibility is awesome-- which I like.

    As for my tinter's work, the side roll-ups and side fixed glass are perfect. Not a single spec to find. The rear hatch does have 4 specs though, which I guess is acceptable since they are not noticeable unless you use flourescent lighting to go looking for flaws like I did, lol.

    Heat rejection is better than the llumar air blue 80 I had on there previously, but I wouldn't say it was a day and night difference. Overall, I highly recommend the Huper Optik film and the guys at Automall Tint Specialist for their work, professionalism and after sales service.
     
  7. olyprius

    olyprius Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2011
    194
    31
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    In regards your Automall Tint Specialist experience:

    1) Do you remember how much Automall quoted you out the door for the entire install including material?

    2) What was the turnaround time? Did you hang around and wait in the lobby?

    3) What made you decide that it was worth tinting the front windows? As you already know that's a big no no here in cali but is the 50 grade almost undetectable?

    4) Do you think the "hazy grey" appearance will go away over time and if not, will it bug you later? Is the haze due to the tint or the installer?

    5) Did you have to tint the back lower strip, the strip between the tail lights that was tinted by factory or was it an even match?

    6) What made you choose the Huper Optik ceramic over the Llumar ceramic tint? Mostly for heat rejection? I've had Llumar ceramic in all my cars and would like to know the difference.

    I checked with Automall website and they look like a very professional group. I'm still deciding if I should go with them or another reputable installer near Pleasanton.
     
  8. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    953
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    It's already dried out so that's just how HO looks, some grey/carbon color. If you want blacker ceramic tint, get F1 Pinnacle instead. Check out this comparison (although I think here the HO is reflecting the blue sky so it looks blue rather than hazy grey/carbon).
     
    1 person likes this.
  9. olyprius

    olyprius Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2011
    194
    31
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three

    Thank you for the heads up on the comparison shots. My other vehicle is a Toyota Sienna with factory tint and excellent privacy, without any hazing or any weird reflective coat. I'll bring my $$$ in to the lucky installer who can get me the exact match as my factory Sienna tint. I'll be leaning towards the F1 Pinnacle or just stick with the Llumar ceramic if there is indeed any hint of reflective blue in the HO. So far the best thing going for the HO is its superb heat rejection. I'm sure the F1 is comparable.
     
  10. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I really like the Carbon XP they installed at AutoMall. The Critic got scared out of it because it is a "dyed" film and some turds on the internet thought it looked pink and green. No problems here though. Plus I'd rather have good looking dye than a gray haze, no offense.

    If you want a black film that is the one I suggest. It is some black s**t.
     
  11. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,323
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    1) $365 for Carbon XP and $500 for Huper Optik, cash. However, I had some unusual circumstances so I think he may have given me a slightly better price.

    2) If I had left Greg alone, probably around 3 hours. But we had a nice chat, people came in, so we were sorta "hanging out" while he did it so for me it took much longer.

    3) Anyone who tells you that 50% tint is unnoticeable is not being honest with you. Having 50% tint on the front windows is sorta like driving 10mph over the limit all of the time. Usually you'll get away with it, but if your police department runs a tight ship it's a risky proposition. I used to have Llumar Air Blue 80 on the front windows and windshield and that stuff was completely unnoticeable and IMO, a much safer bet.

    4) The film was very hazy for the first week or so. You can see from the pictures on the previous pages on how hazy it was and how clear it later became. So no, I think it has dried and has gotten as clear as it ever will.

    5) I did, but this is not normal practice. I think you should tint this strip so that the outside color would match. But I am an extremely picky person, so I bet most people would not notice the color difference if you did not tint the lower strip. Do note though, that if you tint the lower section with Huper Optik 30%, it will appear slightly darker inside (but looks the same from outside).

    6) It was mainly because I was running around with Llumar Air Blue 80 on the front windows only and that tint job was poor from a different installer. I wanted to have it fixed ASAP and Automall Tint Specialist was able to fit me in right away. My "normal" tinter is Matt at Rocky Mountain in Livermore and he was not able to fit me in for a few weeks. I had my friend's Mazda 3 tinted by Matt last May and the work was fabulous. Matt uses F1 Pinnacle and charges $400 for the entire car, and he also stocks Llumar Air Blue 80. Both are great shops and you can't go wrong with either. If you want to see the Huper Optik in person, just shoot me a PM.
     
  12. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    953
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    Keep in mind that the factory glass is already tinted green so all tints are going to have a greenish hue to some extent, even if the film itself is black. Also privacy glass on SUVs look black because it's tinted black in the glass; no film is used.

    Yes, dyed black is the way to go to achieve the blackest look. Some shops don't like to carry dyed films though.
     
  13. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I did mine during my lunch hour at work and stayed there to watch them do it. Greg did the side windows. Sidney did the hatch and 2 rear portholes.

    .

    +1. 50% tint + the 70% stock window = a little darker than you might expect. I think F8L also has 50% on his front windows, and I can definitely tell it's tinted.
     
  14. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,081
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Actually my front windows are 70% and the rear stuff is 5%. I had 35% but after two tickets I said to hell with it. lol

    You can tell my fronts are tinted but it is pretty light.
     
  15. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    953
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    There are so many dark front window tint violators in California that 50% film (or rather 35% aggregate) looks pretty much stock. I had 35% aggregate in a previous car for 10 years and never got cited for tinting the front side windows despite being pulled over for not having a front license plate (twice) and speeding.

    Also, 50% film can look lighter or darker depending on the color of your interior and whether you black out the rear windows.
     
  16. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I can't afford to tint my front windows. I look at my car in the parking lot and think, even though there's nothing illegal about it, it is a cop magnet. The blacked out emblems and gunmetal rims just don't help me out.
     
  17. 32kcolors

    32kcolors Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    5,683
    953
    124
    Location:
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    A Prius is hardly a cop magnet and yours doesn't look that modded.
     
  18. The Critic

    The Critic Resident Critic

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2005
    3,193
    2,323
    0
    Location:
    CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Actually I think they have been pretty aggressive on catching the violators here on the Central Coast. I rarely see cars with any front window tint nowadays. Even in Sacramento, I used to see a lot-- but not as much anymore.

    Like I said it is a real ymmv. Even Automall was telling me that he has seen a few cars comeback for removal with 50% on the front windows and this is something that just recently began to happen. Fremont is also notorious for running a tight ship on tint so that's probably why macmaster is being careful.

    PG86100 ?
     
  19. olyprius

    olyprius Member

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2011
    194
    31
    0
    Location:
    California
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I'm going to go with my gut feeling/tight budget and go with the Llumar ceramic with the installer that I trust. I think I can talk him into getting me a returning customer loyalty discount, although it is summer time so I will have to improve my social engineering skills. :D

    Also, the exterior of my car is black and I think the overall look will go best with a darker tint then the HO I see in the critic's picture. I have a cousin who has HO on his jet black bimmer and I think its a 30 or 40 and he wanted it darker. In the critic's case, he has a winter grey exterior so in my opinion the HO "neutral grey" looks really good on his car. I am sure he is already enjoying the added heat reduction of the HO.
     
  20. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    4,050
    730
    5
    Location:
    USA
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Context, bro. In SoCal every other person's car is modded so yeah, I wouldn't stand out much there. But when I look at a line up of cars, mine is almost always the most rogue looking.

    Prius isn't a cop magnet but put an Asian dude in his 20s w/ long hair and a backwards cap, and tell me cops will 100% ignore me. Again, context.