Tinting

Was that the only tint shop near you? The ceramic film is expensive but damn man that's Cali prices!! I dont care if it has lifetime guarantee that's alot!

But it was a few years back I could only imagine the price now! I feel ceramic for a tacoma would be around 325 without full windshield

 

2nd gen problems, don’t mind my sun faded roof and hood, they’ll be getting repainted in the next couple of months.

I’ve got 50% on the windshield, and 5% on the doors and back windows. Driving during day or night with 50% on the windshield, I have absolutely no problems whatsoever. If it’s an overcast day like it is today, usually people cannot see in thru my windshield, and if it’s sunny then usually they can see in but not much. 5% on the other hand, many streets near me currently do not have street lights so I have to pay attention a lot more when taking turns into neighborhoods or around shopping centers when driving at night.

 

I messaged a couple shops around me I got one quote for $240 Ceramic IR with a lifetime warranty, one quote for $375. I feel like the $240 is just wayyy too cheap to be real

 

And how can I present the soapy water from getting in the dash? Windshield tinting.

 

Usually use a bath towel, line it along the edge of the dash. Usually 2 should suffice. You’ll get some water down the dash, but as long as you’re not spraying the water on with a hose you’re fine

 

You learn a lot by having the pros do it the first time after watchin vids and talking to people who have done it.

I did.
Just slide a $20 across the counter for the shop and ask if you can stand quietly and observe the tint tech do his thing after you hand him another $20

An extra $40 is so worth it if you live in a tint ticket prone area and plan on ripping it off and reapplying it yourself.

Cant help you on what to do when the tickets progress to the "real deal" ticket except go to the lightest tint on the front sides until they leave you alone.

We cant have ANY non-factory tint on the front sides and they know the difference.

I envy those of you that can tint the fronts.

 

Get a doctors note, problem solved.

 

Hi TW, I also want to know when tinting front windshield should I tint over the dot matix?

 

I’ve got 50% ceramic on the windshield with a 5% sun strip and I made the rest of the truck look like 5% including camper. All ceramic film.

 

Here’s one of my shop cars. It’s full 5% ceramic all the way around with 20% on the windshield. I even put 5% on the sunroof.

 

In a average sized spray bottle you want 2 or 3 drops of Dawn dish soap.

When the tint is rolled out you want to lay it horizontally across the window. The clear on the tint goes to the outside and the tinted side goes on the glass. Force all of the fingers to go vertically. Shrink the finger evenly a little bit and then move the finger. Repeat until the fingers are gone.

Once the fingers are gone cut it with a razor knife. SS blades are best. Change the blade often, every 2 or 3 cuts.

When tinting a windshield (or any other window) keep towels away from the area as their full of lint. Definitely do not lay a towel on the dash to tint the windshield. The water runs all over the place, it isn't a problem at all most of the time, and when it is a problem it's on specific vehicles on specific windows and the Tacoma isn't one of them.

Dot matrix can be tinted over but it sometimes takes some extra effort to get it to stick. Dot matrix is usually made out of teflon. Use a hard card with a paper towel folded over on the inside with a heat gun on the outside and that will help a lot - do not hold the heat gun in one spot for very long.

If your cuts are a little off on a stationary window you can paint the edge of the tint with a black paint pen.

You can either put the cut edge close to the edge of a roll up window or you can put the tint so that it barely hangs off of the edge of the window and use a fine file to "cut" the tint - looks factory.

It ain't as easy as it looks. Good luck.

 

Has anyone tried to tint their headlights? I also bought some headlight tint. Please send me some pictures of your Tacoma with tinted headlights.

 

So, should I tint over the front windshield dot matrix? Or will it stick?

 

Most places tint over it

 

We tint over it. It will stick. You’ll have a white line all around the outside where the dot matrix. No big deal though.

 

You might try a new thread for that question
Most LED are mounted in the plastic below the headlight,
It's easier to remove and put back in place.

 

Hi guys so my windshield have 2 bullseye( repaired with RainX windshield repair kit) and one star. Can I use the RainX windshield repair kit plug it then tint it or don't tint the windshield?

 

This is the star. I heard that if the windshield has cracks or stuff it will make it worse if you tint the windshield.

 

Bump

 

The ceramic stuff is the real deal. Had it on my vehicle before my truck. If you commute, definitely check it out.