Tint question

[jestamazda]

Hey guys,

I was wondering where in Toronto can you get 25%-30% tints. FX auto has 35% and 20% only. I am looking for their quality but in those %\'s.

Thanks

p.s. Anyone know of a good car audio installer as well. Anyone a good car audio installer themselves? :)

[bluntman]

I\'m not sure on what they stock, but several members have had great success with Thornhill Tints.

Welcome to the forums BTW.

[jestamazda]

Thanks I will google a contact number for them. I am in Scarborough but the drive should be worth it...:p

[billyfo]

905-780-8468 Roger.

I got mine done from him too, great job so far.

If you don\'t know the address, it locates at Elgin Mills and Newrick(sp), just 2 blocks east of Yonge, I think is street no 348.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

+1 for Thornhill Tint

the Trinidadian guy who owns the place, his name is Richard.

[JesTa]

thanks alot guys.

[Melenium]

Rather than starting another thread, I figured that I\'d just bring this one back to life...

When I get my car, I\'m probably gonna get a tint.. I\'m thinking about 35% premium all around... got 4 questions though:

1. How much does it impact night vision? I mean you don\'t drive looking out the drivers window (at least I hope not), so it shouldn\'t be too much of an issue, but what about changing lanes up north on streets without lights? How about in general?

2. Does the premium film affect the rear defogger/defroster? Its metal which could short out the element, no?

3. How easily do the tints get scratched?

4. Are they easy to remove, or does the adhesive forever leave a scum on the window?

[///M]

Originally posted by Melenium


Rather than starting another thread, I figured that I\'d just bring this one back to life...

When I get my car, I\'m probably gonna get a tint.. I\'m thinking about 35% premium all around... got 4 questions though:

1. How much does it impact night vision? I mean you don\'t drive looking out the drivers window (at least I hope not), so it shouldn\'t be too much of an issue, but what about changing lanes up north on streets without lights? How about in general?

2. Does the premium film affect the rear defogger/defroster? Its metal which could short out the element, no?

3. How easily do the tints get scratched?

4. Are they easy to remove, or does the adhesive forever leave a scum on the window?

1.) I had the same concerns as you and went with 35% - only to realize that it hardly makes any difference in terms of night vision. Now I wish I got 20%.

2.) Doesn\'t affect the defroster. I have fully metallic tints and mine works fine.

3.) They\'re supposedly \"anti scratch\". It shouldn\'t be an issue...I mean...how often do you touch the insides if your windows?

4.) Sorry don\'t know the answer to this. I\'d also be interested in knowing in case someday I decide to switch to a 20% tint.

[Melenium]

Originally posted by autoexe



Originally posted by Melenium


Rather than starting another thread, I figured that I\'d just bring this one back to life...

When I get my car, I\'m probably gonna get a tint.. I\'m thinking about 35% premium all around... got 4 questions though:

1. How much does it impact night vision? I mean you don\'t drive looking out the drivers window (at least I hope not), so it shouldn\'t be too much of an issue, but what about changing lanes up north on streets without lights? How about in general?

2. Does the premium film affect the rear defogger/defroster? Its metal which could short out the element, no?

3. How easily do the tints get scratched?

4. Are they easy to remove, or does the adhesive forever leave a scum on the window?

1.) I had the same concerns as you and went with 35% - only to realize that it hardly makes any difference in terms of night vision. Now I wish I got 20%.

2.) Doesn\'t affect the defroster. I have fully metallic tints and mine works fine.

3.) They\'re supposedly \"anti scratch\". It shouldn\'t be an issue...I mean...how often do you touch the insides if your windows?

4.) Sorry don\'t know the answer to this. I\'d also be interested in knowing in case someday I decide to switch to a 20% tint.

Hey.. thanks for the response :)

I think most likely I\'ll go with 35% all around still.. better to be on the safe side than to go too dark. I don\'t really want to go with two different % on the front/back.

\"Anti Scratch\" sounds like \"Rust Proof\"... probably scratch resistant is a bit more approprate ;) The reason I ask is because a buddy of mine had his P5 windows tinted and the drivers one got scratched somehow and depending if he keeps the car or not he may get it redone. Its not all that noticeable, but it is there none the less. I don\'t think his was the premium (its whatever the dealer installed I think).

Where did you get your tints done? Thornhill, AutoFx, or elsewhere? What kind of border do you have on the windows?

[jestamazda]

The only reason I dont want to go to FX AUTO is because of pricing. It feels like I am paying an extra $50 for absolutely no reason. That exact same formula 1 tint can be done almost anyhere for $200 tax in.

Really....why pay more?

[majic]

i thought FX Auto had very competitive prices.. for $375 tax in you get BOTH tints and the clear bra.. hnmm.. also their customer service (from what i hear) is unmatched.. YMMV tho

[jestamazda]

Ya but what if you dont want a clear bra? Can you justify spending $50 for people to be nice to you? $250 for tints is insane. IMO.

[majic]

i guess.. but most have been getting the clear bra with tints.. especially that our paint is really thin :( and i know that\'s what i\'ll be doing - driving there straight from the dealer..

also.. i\'m not sure on the job quality from other places but whoever\'s gone to FX auto (even my buddies from clubEL) have been very satisfied with the quality

[jestamazda]

To each his own, but I think following others in the forum rather than doing research to save yourself money makes no sense. Only YOU can decide how great things look/sound on/in your car. Its about YOUR eyes and ears. Some people feel comfortable paying extra for that sense of satisfaction with proven results from others in the group.

IMO tint application is tint application. I can see the logic in spending more money on people who have done Mazda 3\'s before on someting like a remote starter.

As long as your are buying a high quality tint (with a good warranty) and having it installed by a group of professionals, for me bottom line is cost. $50 may not seem like much but I like to see the benefit in spending more money for the exact same thing as money is hard earned for all of us i\'m sure. $50 just because IMO is not competitive.

[majic]

i agree.. best research is done by yourself... but if you\'ve never had tints (like me) other ppl\'s opinion matters. as well i HAVE seen and heard good thinsg about the tints on a few mazda3s and my buddy\'s 1.6EL (so it has a bit more time to be on the car) whether i can tell \'good job\' or \'shitty application\' well, i am no expert and with a known place like FX Auto who does have professionals installing it, it makes it easy for me to choose them. Especially that they do the clear bra combo at a decent price.

Problem is, you won\'t know how it looks like on your car till it\'s there. every place can f*(^ up the job. With the warranty (i\'m sure other places carry it too) there\'s that piece of mind. like someone had a bubble in tint (or the bra or both) Fx auto redid the whole affected component.

also.. if someone makes say.. 50 bux an hour.. and they are pretty busy with other things in life, 1 hr spent on research offsets the $50 savings. And believe me, i am cheap and look for deals all along, like with tires, i had time and researched what i wanted and bam.. bought them, but that\'s b/c i had time.

to me customer service is very important b.c i\'ve worked there and tried to be the best to my customers and i hope that\'s how i am treated. unfortunately that often is NOT the case so if two competitors are selling the same product (this especially applies to dealerships) and one is slimy and the other one actually wants your business and treats you like a friend rather than a customer then i\'d choose him (as long as the price is reasonable, and for my application tints+bra it is)

i mean, if you\'ve gottent tints from place X for $200 and have done it on 5 of your previous cars and your friends cars and you trust the ppl who did them as well as there are no issues with bubbling/peeling, then hey.. all teh better for you and save some cash.. btw.. whereare you plannig on getting yours done and do they do a clear bra application and how much? thx

[RedRaptor]

For the record...

Tints go for $225 tax in (club price for TM3 members), so I don\'t know where you are getting the extra $50 from. I don\'t know where you are getting your tints from, but FX Auto has been around for awhile. What \"good\" is a warranty from a private installer or a store that won\'t be around to honour it? I\'ve done my research when I did my tints which is why I did the clear bra first and then went back for tints a month later. The customer service at FX Auto is unparallel to any customer service I\'ve received anywhere else. FX Auto knows how to treat their customers and when your tint bubble or crack, they won\'t give you hassle about it or ask you to read the \"fine print\" warranty. My buddy got his Civic tinted from Ziebart 6 years ago. His tint started to crack at the back window and he took it back to them asking them to honour the lifetime warranty. Ziebart made up some BS excuse about how its NOT covered because the tint was \"abused\". Being too tired to argue with them, he paid $50 for them to fix it and told me he would never go to Ziebart again for tints.

FX Auto already offered to redo a proportion of my clear bra because it has imperfections which are mostly \"cosmetics\" and not anything fuction related. They told me to go through winter and if in the spring time I change my mind, I can bring back my car anytime to fix it. I don\'t even care about the small spot, but the fact that they offered to redo tells me that my investment in their product and service is well worth it.

You are right, to each his own. But $25 extra to pay for a company that will be around to stand behind their product and friendly no hassle customer service is nothing. Its piece of mind, but hey...whatever floats your boat man.

I highly recommend FX Auto to all my friends.

[jestamazda]

It\'s interesting to observe all this passion about tinting a car window. I am just saying that FX AUTO is not the only game in town. It\'s not the do it or die place to go or else your Mazda is doomed. The price I was given was over the phone after I mentioned I was a forum member so that is what I am going by.

Finding one real world example from your own life really doesn\'t help as I am sure there are people who have had a bad experience everywhere (including FX Auto). I am sure FX AUTO was the right choice for you.

I\'m sure that those ever so passionate about FX Auto either work there or have already shelled out money so any opinions you may have are moot.

I am not being ignorant as to what is \"Highly Recommended for great service\", but same product, installed by guys who have been in the same location for 10+ years for $50 less just makes sense....come on guys...did they give you free \"FX AUTO DETAILED!\" promotional stickers for your back window or something?.......:p

[RedRaptor]

No one said FX Auto was the \"only game in town\" and this isn\'t about passion towards window tinting, its about each person\'s experience. You claimed that some of us didn\'t do our research but I am here to tell you that I did my research. I don\'t see the fuss over $50, if its not spent on windows tint, its spent on something else like beer for most of us.

Anyways, \"choice\" is always good. When you get your tints done, do a review of the place and take some pictures so that other members who want tints can have \"choice\".

BTW: It just goes to show how good FX Auto\'s service is that we are talking about them in high regard. But maybe you\'ve figured that out already? Or not.

[Swerny]

I went to Thornhill Tint and Richard did a great job.
I got 28% Quantum tint on my orange MSP.
No problems whatsoever, no bubbles, and it\'s been 4 months +.

[midnightfxgt]

I paid $225 at FX Auto.:sarc I love the job and quality. I also have done a lot of research before going there, and can not say I found many reputable shops for the same price. And for the shops I founf with the same price, I had never heard of. Would rather have piece of mind for the same money.:D

Thornhill tints is another place I have heard good things about too.

Tint King in Scar is sketchy at best

Tint King in Oshawa did my last car. They wanted the same price, but I choose FX, becuase of the service.

Pickering Auto Salon wanted A LOT more, and wouldnt offer a lifetime warr. But that was like 2 yrs ago, on an Escort GT I had.

~JOHN

[Melenium]

I\'ll probably goto FxAuto. There\'s an old parable. If people are happy they\'ll tell a few people. If people are unhappy they\'ll tell a LOT of people. Word of mouth speaks wonders and says a lot more than any kind of promotional advertising. I\'ve read nothing but good things about the place. But there are plenty of posts from people who got cheesed off over $10 for the 8k service. They\'re not trying to rationalize it or whatever. This I think proves that Fx has a good reputation (and no, I don\'t even have my car quite yet). :p

And figure out the value of $25 or $50 to you. To me its so worth it. A lifetime warranty means squat if the place 1) doesn\'t honor it; 2) isn\'t around to honor it; or 3) does a cruddy job again. Also you car is a $25-$30,000 investment. Whats an extra $50 for the piece of mind that its not going to get harmed? ;)



Edit: smiley\'s added to reduce any hostile interpretation (there was none!) :D

[majic]

Originally posted by Melenium


I\'ll probably goto FxAuto. There\'s an old parable. If people are happy they\'ll tell a few people. If people are unhappy they\'ll tell a LOT of people. Word of mouth speaks wonders and says a lot more than any kind of promotional advertising. I\'ve read nothing but good things about the place. But there are plenty of posts from people who got cheesed off over $10 for the 8k service. They\'re not trying to rationalize it or whatever. This I think proves that Fx has a good reputation (and no, I don\'t even have my car quite yet).

And figure out the value of $25 or $50 to you. To me its so worth it. A lifetime warranty means squat if the place 1) doesn\'t honor it; 2) isn\'t around to honor it; or 3) does a cruddy job again. Also you car is a $25-$30,000 investment. Whats an extra $50 for the piece of mind that its not going to get harmed?

well said! done.. i believe jestamazda was asking for a place in the GTA that does 25-30% tints.. so if u know a reputable place.. tell him.. but i think he\'s already gotten the tints and if so maybe he can give us the lowdown on the place he gets it from..

oh wait.. didn\'t you (jestamazda) just say to us to do our research and not ask in the forums?? hmmm.. sketchy.. anyway.. let us know who you found for $200 (u still haven\'t told us) and if they are that good too (for a WHOPPING $25 difference).. hey maybe they are local to him and the trip to markham is not worth it.. that makes total sense.. anwyay.. peace

[Dr Butcher]

http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/mica/tossometer.gif

Geez guys, no need to get hostile. If you\'re willing to spend the money, go. If not, there\'s no need to make others feel dumb for choosing to pay more or vice versa.

Group hug? :)

[majic]

alright alright.. http://www.msprotege.com/vbb225/images/smilies/grouphug.gif

:D

[SGT06]

On the rear window tint...is there any advantage to having the film applied over the defrosters vs cutting the lines to avoid the defrosters ?

I heard that FX auto put a one piece film on top of the defrosters while other such as tint king does the cutting.