TW50 Windows Tint: Do you like it?

I believe Toyota uses 3M for their port installed window tints. It looks good, and I'm sure they do a good job with the installation, but you can find better films for a lower price elsewhere.

 

Just talked to my local installer and he uses a brand called MaxPro. Anyone know anything good or bad about it?

 

MaxPro is okay. It's a reletively new non-metallic film that is inexpensive. The only negative I've heard is that the color can be a little too green.

How much is your guy charging and how many windows do you plan on tinting?

 

I only asked the hatch price and he charges $75 for that

 

Counter with $50.

 

LOL i can do that.
Now i have a question. He said that a Prius hatch window was a double curve. I've never looked that close and know what he means but is he correct?

 

Not really sure what that means. It sounds like he's trying to make it seem like the Gen III hatch is more difficult to work with, in order to justify the high price. A hatch is generally easier to tint than sedan/coupe back windows.

 

He was saying it was that way in a genII hasn't seen a III yet

 

Unless you live in a low income area I don't see how anyone can stay in business tinting a rear window for $50. That wouldn't begin to cover the overhead unless it's a backyard type deal. lol Futhermore, I'd expect to get bubbles, cheap tint, and possibly dust particles between the tint and window.

 

A IV has water-resistant driver and passenger door windows. Will tinting impact that feature?

Thanks,

Rich N.

 

Unless someone tried to apply tint to the outside window I don't see why it would. If there is any sort of inside glass coating there is the possiblity of complications with the tint adhesive but it is doubtful. You could always conact the tint manufacturer about the concern and see what they say. I recommend LLUMAR tint.

 

All Prius windows in the G2 have slight double curvature, but it is not very pronounced. I did my own film tinting and the hatch was the easiest to do and came out best of the lot.
I don't think the G3 would be any worse to do. OTOH, I would suggest getting it done professionally. There is definitely an art to doing it well, as I discovered!

 

Thanks F8L. My ignorance not knowing how they go about tinting. So if they do it on the inside everything should be OK.

Do people regularly only tint some of the windows? Any reason (besides cost) not to do 4 plus the hatch?

Thanks,

Rich N.

 

My pleasure Rich. Not many people understand how tinting works so it is totally understandable. We do tinting at my other job and I get the oddest questions so yours was actually a good question and very pertinant unless you fully understood the tinting process.

Like HTML explained, there are laws prohibiting tint in specific locations and/or tint shade levels (i.e. you cannot go too dark in specific locations). Regardless of laws, some people choose to only tint certain windows due to visibility reasons or for asthetics. Some people have trouble seeing out of the back window at night so they choose a very light tint, others choose to go as black as they can and then progressively lighter as you move towards the front of the car. It's all up to your personal preference and how you chose to follow your state's laws.

 

tinters seem to like suntek tint. word is these people use to make llumar film and started their own company. i had suntek film on my car and no complaints.

 

I know currently LLUMAR makes their own film. I cannot verify at this time if they used to farm out their film production. I can find out on Saturday though.

They do seem like one of the few that offer a nation-wide warranty that covers not only the film but the removal and reinstallation of film in the event of a manufacture defect. Those are important things to consider from any company. I'm not biased.