Window Tinting

[turtle]

I’m looking into tinting the rear windows of the 90. On doing a search for company’s in my area only two appear, I have approached both of these and obtained quotes,

The first £200 + VAT (seems a bit steep) :(

The second doesn’t tint Defenders as in their words “Due to their aged design, & unusual shapes they are very, very hard to tint.” So no quote… :(

So the question is, does anyone know of companies that tint windows within the MK area that tint windows.

[muddyweb]

It's the side windows that are tricky.

You have to remove the glass of the windows in order to be able to tint them.  The back door is easy since it's just clamped in place.  The quarter-lights are a bit harder as they are in rubber seals, and the side windows are a pain as you have to battle with the runners.

You *can* do it yourself if you are feeling brave.  The tinting film is just the same as graphics vinyl, so a wet-application method works.  It shouldn't be underestimated as a job though, it's easy to get air bubbles under there.

I hate to say it, but 200 quid sounds about right... most of that is labour charges.

[turtle]

Cheers for that Tim, I have considered doing myself with the film you mentioned, but then thought it would be a tricky thing to do, like you say if I got bubbles under the film etc I would end up with a tacky looking job.

I thought 200 was quite steep but as you explained it’s about 2-3-hour job so on reflection would sound about right. Better start saying my pennies.

Cheers for the info

The two companies I contacted were both on the web the £200 +VAT  quote was from http://www.specialistcartint.com/ based in Dunstable. And the one that wouldn’t touch it with a barge poll are http://www.mototecnic.co.uk/2261/frames.php based in Bicester. Just in case anyone’s interested.

[orlando]

If you've got a heated rear window you'll have to spend a long time getting it to look good.

The wires on the heating element are a real pain to get the film over - and even the best job still looks a little home made. You don't want to end up looking like a nova-boy.

Don't know if LR stock a factory tinted window the the defender, but if they do it may be worth waiting (ahem..) until you break it and gett the glass co to fit it as a replacement..

[turtle]

Good advise.

Thanks Orlando.

[George the Disco]

Having just tinted one of the side windows on George I think that the companies are talking s#!te. (It gets dark too quickly to do the rest when I get home at night so the rest will have to wait til saturday). LR have wonderful things such as flat windows so there are few compound curves to stretch or shrink the film around.

Basic principle;

1) £15 "limo black" tint film from Halfords.
2) Make a soap solution of roughly 1 teaspoon ful of *green* washing up liquid to 1 litre~ish of water into a spray bottle. It must be green or the windows will have a hint of the colour of washing up liquid (pink, blue, etc).
3) figure out which is the clear side of the film
4) Sellotape the film with the clear side outermost onto the outside of the window to be tinted.
5) use a sharp stanley knife to cut the film to suit.
6) lay the trimmed film on something flat.
7) peel the clear layer off the film and spray the solution onto the (very) sticky side of the tinted bit of film. (This is where White Van Man cocks up by not spraying anything and the film sticks instantly causing loads of creases).
8) spray the inside of the window.
9) place the film onto the window.
10) slide the film into position
11) use a rubber squeegie from the centre out towards the sides horizontally to get the flim "positioned".
12) work towards the remaing outside edges, but don't cause any creases.
13) where there are "fingers", use a heat gun (high setting) until the film wrinkles, then use a damp cloth to push the wrinkle flat.
14) repeat on the wrinkles that appear to either side.
15) repeat 14 until its totally flat.
16) Dry the interior of the car.
17)sit back and admire your work and think what bits you can buy with the money you've saved!

If this isn't detailed enough have a loot at the "tint dude" web page on t'internet as that's exactly where I got all this from.

So far my side window is perfect except for the dimples in theglass which have appeared following something "eating" the glass over the last 15 years.

Chris

Oh yeah, best of luck! :D

[muddyweb]

Having just tinted one of the side windows on George I think that the companies are talking s#!te.

As I said, professional window tint companies will usually remove moving windows and even some fixed windows to do the tint properly.  This is why they charge so much.

I'm not saying you can't do the job yourself, but it's easy to get wrong.  If there are overlapping windows, as there are on many 90 side panels, this will add some complication too.

[turtle]

Cheers George.

I have considered doing it myself, but like Tim says, on the 90 the side windows overlap, so these need to come out to do the job properly, hence I was looking for a company to do the job.

Thanks for the advice which if I decide to do will follow.

Many Thanks

[George the Disco]

Fair comment.

Cheers

Chris