Window Tinting

[5.0ALM]

With Mustang delivery fast approaching, thoughts are concentrating on window tinting.

My last brand new vehicle purchase is approaching 30 years ago!
Back then I had window tint by Tint.a.Car fitted to the MY1995 Toyota 4Runner.
(Paperwork from back then is long gone, so I don't know what specific product was fitted.)

I recall when I sold this vehicle in 2009, the window tint was still in impeccable condition.
No evidence of bubble, ripples or discolouration.

So, I'm inclined to get Tint.a.Car again.

There is a total of 13 variations available amongst the three product lines above.
And I'm expecting there will be a "ceramic tax" for the Spectre range, simply because their marketing people use the word "ceramic".
(The same as using "organic" with food - you can automatically charge a significant premium)

What are other Aussies considering for their S650 window tinting?

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[DFB5.0]

With Mustang delivery fast approaching, thoughts are concentrating on window tinting.

My last brand new vehicle purchase is approaching 30 years ago!
Back then I had window tint by Tint.a.Car fitted to the MY1995 Toyota 4Runner.
(Paperwork from back then is long gone, so I don't know what specific product was fitted.)

I recall when I sold this vehicle in 2009, the window tint was still in impeccable condition.
No evidence of bubble, ripples or discolouration.

So, I'm inclined to get Tint.a.Car again.

There is a total of 13 variations available amongst the three product lines above.
And I'm expecting there will be a "ceramic tax" for the Spectre range, simply because their marketing people use the word "ceramic".
(The same as using "organic" with food - you can automatically charge a significant premium)

What are other Aussies considering for their S650 window tinting?

I have Tint-a-Car Octane on my XR6, very happy with it.

Brand new, no tint......................................

Octane tint........................................

I once had a customer at the nursery who would come in regularly, a lovely older lady who was always dressed immaculately and drove an equally immaculate red 1980's Mitsubishi Starion. I'm not sure how she discovered that I also drove a bright-red coupe, but a comment she made has stuck with me ever since. She told me that you don't put window tinting on a car like a Mustang, that's because you want everyone to see who's behind the wheels. Considering how shy I am, that probably didn't appeal to me as it did for someone as flamboyant as she was. In any case, I never did have window tint installed on my S550.

Sadly, that Starion was written off a couple of years ago after someone t-boned it. Her son made her buy a Kia Picanto to replace it, but she hated it. That broke my heart. Despite regular encounters spread over many years, I was always her go-to, the last time she was in, she didn't remember me, which also broke my heart. Still immaculately dressed though.

 

[5.0ALM]

I just spoke to a local Tint.a.Car franchise in Milton, and they claim to have done "heaps" of Mustangs.

Ballpark pricing is as follows:
Spectre $695
Octane $595
Black Panther is an eye-watering $995

Being independent businesses, it also pays to check reviews.
The Tint.a.Car in Moorooka has too many bad reviews on Google to ignore.

 

[5.0ALM]

Ringing around continues...

Another local tinter in SW Brisbane offers a different range of tint films, the better one being Genesis.
$495 to do a Mustang.
This tinter actually did the tinting for the dealer where I'm getting my car from, so they are very familiar with Mustangs.

Things I listen for are passion and enthusiasm.
This can be a good indicator of pride in workmanship and attention to detail, and there was no shortage of this. As opposed to talking to someone who doesn't really give a crap.

 

[5.0ALM]

Hi mate,

Jake here from Bespoke Window Tinting.

In regards to Tinting your Ford Mustang, I have three film options, which are IR Xtreme, Ceramic Xtreme & HP Xtreme.

IR Xtreme is constructed with an inter-layer of titanium nitride particles for extreme infrared rejection, making IRX the perfect choice for clients who demand the ultimate choice in window film. IRX is built for Xtreme conditions and could possibly be one of the best performing films in the worlds harshest environment. IRX offers up to 94% infra-red heat rejection.
The IR Xtreme films are backed by lifetime warranty.
Available in a full range of VLT's, including 19%, 28%, 45%, and 70%.

To tint your vehicle in IRX will be $750


Ceramic Xtreme Nano performance shades are spectrally selective-blocking infra-red heat while letting in visible light.
The Ceramic Xtreme range offers 99% UV rejection and up to 85% infra-red heat rejection.
The Ceramic Xtreme films are backed by lifetime warranty.
Available in a full range of VLT's, including 5%, 15%, 18%, 20%,25%, 35%, and 40%.

To tint your vehicle in Ceramic Xtreme will be $550


HP Xtreme is a high-performance hybrid construction, signal friendly film.
The HP Xtreme range is a step down from the cermaic while it still offers 99% UV rejection it does have a lower heat rejection.
HP Xtreme films are backed by Lifetime warranty.
Available in a full range of VLT's, including 5%, 10%, 20%, and 40%.

To tint your vehicle in HP Xtreme will be $450


If any existing film needs to be removed, there will be an additional charge of $175

 

[VB50GT]

Good comparisons 5.0ALM

Given that Jake has noted the lowest performing tint is "signal friendly", does that mean the ceramic films will affect phone reception/ sat nav etc?

 

[5.0ALM]

Good comparisons 5.0ALM

Given that Jake has noted the lowest performing tint is "signal friendly", does that mean the ceramic films will affect phone reception/ sat nav etc?

Just found this from RACQ, which I trust more than a brochure written by professional BS artists (marketing people).

Ceramic films have no metallic content to begin with, so the "signal friendly" is just marketing fluff.

I've come to conclusion that all the mid-range films are much the same +/- in the $500 - $600 bracket.

I'm wary of spending more on diminishing returns.

 

[5.0ALM]

 

[N1T3MRE]

Getting the Xpel tint with the PPF - was hoping a package bundle would be cheaper - will have pics next week

 

[Deano1978]

I'll prob do the same but will end up using Suntek for PFF and tint, not because I think it's better than Xpel or 3M but because the installer I have in mind uses it. Based on some googling it appears that the quality of the installer far outweighs the quality of the film/tint.

 

[5.0ALM]

I'll prob do the same but will end up using Suntek for PFF and tint, not because I think it's better than Xpel or 3M but because the installer I have in mind uses it. Based on some googling it appears that the quality of the installer far outweighs the quality of the film/tint.

Totally agree.
When you peel away the marketing BS, most of the films in their respective price brackets appear much the same.

You could get the most expensive XYZ and if it's installed badly, then what's the point?

 

[5.0ALM]

Edit:
My initially ramblings need to be tweaked!


For those interested, the factory glass appears to be tinted, up to a maximum of 30%.

A summary of what the States permit:

https://australiatintlaws.com/

Front windows:

If the minimum transparency is 70%, that means the factory tint is already approaching 30%.

Oxford White provides an easy-to-see visual comparison:

If our factory tint is VLT 70% and you apply a IR33 film that means the overall VLT is 33% of 70% = 23% This is below the legal limit of 35% for front sides.

The IR40 film will result in an overall VLT of 28%, still low. (40 x 0.7)
A seemingly high IR70 film equates to an overall VLT of 49%. (70 x 0.7)


Rear ¼

Suck the gut in, and wave hello!


Rear window (which has the same part number as an S550 rear window)

The good 'ol A4 copy paper comparison:

I know the tinters will do whatever you ask for, but they don't care about the consequences of YOU being pulled over for excessive tinting. And they won't discourage this, because where are you going to go to get it removed/changed, and at your extra expense?

Probably back to where you had the tinting done, that's where.
Ka ching!


I'm not sure if illegal tint makes a car unroadworthy, I guess it would (?), and therefore invalidates any insurance claim if/when that should happen.

 

[5.0ALM]

Some basic math applied to you tint film will reveal the overall VLT (Visible Light Transmission), which is expressed as a percentage.

OEM tinted glass has 70% transparency (VLT)

Multiply your chosen film's light transmission % by 0.7

Example: IR70 film
70% of 70% = 49% overall light transmission

These low VLT products are obviously meant for glass that has no tint to begin with.

Looks like I'll be choosing IR70 on the front sides, and IR40 on back sides and rear for overall 49% and 28% respectively to keep it legal .



.

 

[VB50GT]

Found this which agrees with what you are saying...

Calculating the Combined VLT of Your Existing Window and Preferred Tint​

Before making a final decision about the level of tint you want to pump up your ride with, you need to consider the VLT of the existing windows on your vehicle and the VLT of the film you want to apply. When you combine film onto an already tinted window, your VLT will be lower than expected.​

​

As a refresher, 60% VLT means 60% of light will pass through, and about 40% will be reflected. A lower percentage specifies a darker film. But today, many automakers install some tinting beforehand. Because manufacturers apply a high level of VLT to cars, it means you have to consider the original tint along with the tint you want to add to your windows.​

​

Calculating the combined VLT of a glass window with film over it and the tint you want to install involves the multiplication of the VLT of the glass by the window tint. For example, if you mount a 5% film to a glass window with 80% VLT tint, it will equal 4%. So, the glass and shade will have a collective VLT of 4%.​

https://www.rvinyl.com/tint-percentages-explained​

I guess the question now is, how are all the installers working it out? Every installer that I have spoken to, even going back several years with various vehicles, has always quoted the "Darkest Legal" as 20%VLT and 35%VLT.

I will be picking mine up from the tinters tomorrow, so I'll ask the question.

 

[5.0ALM]

Found this which agrees with what you are saying...

Phew!!!

I guess the question now is, how are all the installers working it out? Every installer that I have spoken to, even going back several years with various vehicles, has always quoted the "Darkest Legal" as 20%VLT and 35%VLT.

I'd say, just a guess, installers are living in the past and assume the glass has no tint, or very little tint to begin with.

The last time I had a new vehicle tinted was January 1995.
A lot has changed in almost 30 years!

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