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Help with tint comparison

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by the fish, Mar 17, 2006.

  1. the fish

    the fish Member

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    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?
     
  2. Bill Lumbergh

    Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer

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    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):

    [Broken External Image]:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b161/rodgerboles/leftsidesmall.jpg

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

    [Broken External Image]:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b161/rodgerboles/windmills4small.jpg

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

    [Broken External Image]:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b161/rodgerboles/leftside3small.jpg
     
  3. the fish

    the fish Member

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    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.
     
  4. the fish

    the fish Member

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    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?
     
  5. airpolgas

    airpolgas New Member

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    Boxter...WRX.. Prius?

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

    Bill Lumbergh USAF Aircraft Maintainer

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    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.
     
  7. the fish

    the fish Member

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    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.
     
  8. gqscientist

    gqscientist New Member

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

    bgdrewsif New Member

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    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.
     
  10. jbarnhart

    jbarnhart New Member

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    The antenna for the GPS is under the dashboard, right up in front. You should be OK unless you tint your windshield.
     
  11. Rancid13

    Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius

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    Looks good!

    My tint guy didn't tint the lower hatch window either, as it already had some tint to it. I got 20% tint on all the rear windows, and I don't notice any real difference between those windows and the lower hatch window. My guy said it looked like that tint was in the 30% range, FWIW. I did get 30% tint on the 4 front windows (nothing on the front windshield).
     
  12. San_Carlos_Jeff

    San_Carlos_Jeff Active Member

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    Helpful site, thanks for the link.
     
  13. AlphaTeam

    AlphaTeam Member

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    I really like the 32%. I'm going to have it done and the installed reccomends "medium tint" does anyone know what percentage that is?
     
  14. BellBoy

    BellBoy Member

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    That does look great. I was planning to have a tint done as well, but I was curious...why tint the back window? Doesn't that interfere with dealing with traffic issues? I have the auto tinting mirror (or whatever ya call it) for night driving and during the day it doesn't seem to be an issue either. Would it look weird if I just did the side windows?
     
  15. PetersPrius

    PetersPrius New Member

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    what is the factory tint % on the windows as delivered?
     
  16. the fish

    the fish Member

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    Thanks! Perhaps it will look different out the upper hatch after the drying process is complete.
     
  17. Rancid13

    Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius

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    I have my rear windshield tinted (20%-pretty dark) and haven't experienced any interference with traffic, even while driving at night in very rural areas. You can still see out very well with the tint, but it's harder for outsiders to see in. I did it to maintain a uniformity with the windows all around the car and to get a sense of privacy.

    I like to keep some items in my cargo area, but don't want to deal with pulling the tonneau cover out every day to prevent people from seeing what's in there. Honestly, one would have to have their face literally pressed up against any of my rear windows to be able to see what exactly is inside. My front windows are only 30% tint, so it's a little easier to see in, but not by much.
     
  18. the fish

    the fish Member

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    I think they use medium/light/dark as a description to keep it simple. Any film should express the visible light transmitted in terms of a %. And, as bgdrewsif pointed out above, this is important to know as it relates to whether the tint is legal or not. I would not rely on the dealer for that legal determination as you would get the ticket.

    The installer for the dealer should know that %. For example, in GA, 32% (+/- 3%) is legal and my installer advised me on what % film I was having installed.
     
  19. the fish

    the fish Member

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    I don't know the official % - I called my dealer (sales and parts) and Toyota Customer Service but got no answer. You really need a visible light meter to tell.

    With both qoutes I got, the installers estimated no more than 5% reduction already (so 95% VLT). The flim applied was 32% so my net should be 30.4%. GA allows 32% +/- 3% so I should be alright.

    Makes me think ... why the need for the +3% - that should certainly be legal since it is higher than 32%.
     
  20. cgraham

    cgraham Member

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    Why is there a reluctance to tint the upper 1/3 of the windshield? Or am I misinterpreting the comments? I think I need it there more than anywere, in New Mexico (STRONG sunlight). Even in winter I frequetly drive with the visors down.

    Recommendations?

    C