My car was tinted by Gulf States Toyota, the distributor for TX, OK, LA, MS, and AK. All they stated was "3M Window Tint", and the paper work says 3 yr / 36,000 mile warranty, honored at the Toyota dealers. 3M makes many grades of film. Only the entry level dyed film carries a 3 year warranty, everything else is lifetime. Did they use the cheap stuff? The dealer does not know and googling it yielded no result. Does anyone know what kind of 3M film GST puts on cars?
Sorry, I have no additional information on the window tint, either. It doesn't look like the cheap stuff to me, but it's nothing I can prove. Gulf States Toyota only has minimal websites for sales, dealer locator, and careers (see below). There is not a primary website for GST. Buyatoyota.com Gulf States Toyota Dealer Locator Careers at Gulf States Toyota (GST) - Independent distributor of Toyota vehicles and parts The only phone number I found for them isn't toll free: Gulf States Toyota, Inc. | Company profile from Hoover's | 713-580-3300 No, I don't think they want to be contacted. Yes, this is seriously bad customer service and support.
Thanks Bruce. The film certainly does not look like the cheap stuff and the workmanship is the best I have personally seen. I would think an operation of their size would get materials from 3M at a substantial discount and they have no reason to cheap out. I might just give them a call.
You're welcome. Yes, the tint install on my Prius was first class work, too. I was thinking of installing a more expensive heat resistant tint, but it's very tempting not to touch it because the install was so good.
FWIW, I was told it was ceramic by my dealer when I bought my 2010. He had no reason to lie, since I was getting a special promotional deal, that gave him little or no profit on the port-added options I chose. Whatever it is, it was applied nicely and has held up well, as others have noted.
I got the following response from GST: "The 3M Color Stable Tint we install falls just below the top of the line “Crystalline” tint that is offered by 3M. We cover the warranty." Based on 3M's website, that would be ceramic: 3M™ Automotive Window Films – Ceramic Series Nano-ceramic technology combines excellent heat rejection with amazing clarity Helps maintain car's original appearance: window tint allows 30% to 50% of the light into your car Improves comfort: rejects up to 80% of the sun's IR rays and rejects up to 59% of the heat coming through your windows No signal interference: Ceramic Series films are non-metallized Interior protection: blocks up to 99% of harmful UV rays to reduce fading of your car's interior UV/Skin protection: provides SPF of up to 1000, a Skin Cancer Foundation recommended product Never turns purple: guaranteed for the life of the film
Color Stable seems to be its own line: Color Stable Automotive Films - Tinted automotive window film for cars, trucks - Color Stable - 3M US
ggood, thank-you for checking with GST. There's no substitute for going straight to the source. Wow, even if it's the 3M Color Stable film instead of Ceramic Series, it's still a surprisingly high quality tint. Looking at the Color Stable Brochure PDF, I'm guessing they installed Color Stable 20 (19%).
I would guess they did mine with Color Stable 50. Since the tint job was labeled Louisiana legal. They require the front windows to be at least 40% VLT. Thanks again GGOOD.
So I also have the gst window tint and have made an appointment to have sun busters redo the tint job. 1 because I want it darker 2 feel it may be a better product Have any of you had the gst tint redone and do you think I should just keep current tint?
I am keeping my current tint. Ripping tint off may damage defroster wires, etc, and might get water in the dash when the do the front quarter windows.
I'm not too worried about a professional getting water in my dash, but the defroster wires on the other hand worry me a little. They do guarantee their work, just not sure it would be that much of an upgrade.
What do you have now? I have the LA compliant package, which is 40% front. I wish it would be a little darker, like 30% but oh well. I have family in GA so I drive through LA anyway and don't wanna be harassed by LA cops.
I have the same you have. I'm wanting the 30% in the front and the limo tint everywhere else. I don't drive out of state very often so I'm not worried about that.
On TxDPS site; Sunscreening devices can be applied to the side windows to the right and left of the driver if the following conditions are met. Sunscreening devices, when measured in combination with the original glass, have a light transmittance value of 25% or more. Sunscreening devices, when measured in combination with the original glass, have a luminous reflectance value of 25% or less. Side Windows to The Rear of The Driver These windows are completely exempted from regulation under the Texas Transportation Code.
Yea I would have gone darker if it was up to me. I have Led headlights and a backup camera now. On the last car I went 25 on the sides and 15 on the back. Felt good in the sun but a pain to back up, and to turn on unlit roads at night. SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 ? 2
I think I'm going to go ahead and have it redone and hope my defroster still works. The heat reduction is bound to be worth it.
