getting tinted this Thursday...help me!!!

[chirayus]

Guys, I'm a newbie to this forums. Heard good things about Huper Optik so I went having a look (http://www.huperoptikusa.com/products_ceramic.cfm). I called local tint workshops that carries this brand and they asked for $400 for Ceramic 30. Is this a reasonable price for this kind of tint? Is Huper Optik the right way to go?

[EcianIce]

had a friend get his tinted 20% for $140. all windows.

other places quoted him around 200, but he had some hookup with this guy.

[TMac325is]

im not familiar with this Huper Optik. $400 is ridiculous for window tint, whats so special about it?

[gonzo499]

i agree with tmac. that is pretty ridiculous, for four hundred dollars that film should taste like beer when you lick it. i dunno though, i checked out the site and it seemed pretty impressive if it can live up to it's numbers.
FYI-mine cost me 125 dollars and the film is perfect. (20%- sorry tho, i don't remember what brand it is)

[Silver4evr]

The Huber Optik is pretty much the highest UV filter rating (84%).
I was quoted $475 for my ride (4 sides and rear).

Here's some info I received from an installer:
----------------------------------------------------
The Huper Optik Ceramic films are better because they provide superior sun protection, as much as 84% Infrared Light Filtration, while appearing more subtle and less reflective than conventional metal window films. Ceramic window films also allow AM, FM, Cell Phone, and GPS signals through in order to keep all the components and electronics working properly.

We do also install a conventional auto film made by Madico, but I only quoted you on the ceramic film because I thought you were referred by Huper Optik. The Madico film is $215 for your car and also carries a lifetime warranty.

If you're looking for privacy, a conventional film is your best bet. But if you're look to block the most heat and protect your interior as best as possible, then the Huper Optik ceramic would be the best choice.

[komodo]

Yeah, $400 is way out, for any kind of tint. 20% on all my windows here, $160 tab.

[Torque]

100 to 150 should get you good normal tint. I don't know who (if anyone) would pay 400 dollars for tint.

[brien4787]

Don't waste your cash. Get some quotes from a few different places around you. I got Llumar on my car. Llumar has a pretty good reputation too. It shouldn't matter what tint percents you get, even if it varries from window to window. Do not spend over $300 for removal of tint from all windows and retinting all windows. Do not spend over $200 for just tinting.

Prices will be more expensive in some areas than others. Where I live(south OC)...shit is way over priced, but whatever...

Make sure you get a lifetime warrenty too. It will insure that it doesnt turn purple or bubble up on you.

Also, if you have a 2 door coupe, your prices should be less than a 4 door.

If you have any other questions, shoot.

[chirayus]

Thanks you guys a millions for giving me a second though on the Huper Optik tint. Finally, I decided to go with the LLumar Platinum Plus 35% and really love it. Total is at $225 flat, though I should've called to more places for better deal. The car with tint is a whole new BMW experience for a Texan like me where temp some times goes to 110F in Summer!!! Thanks a bunch you guys B)

[brien4787]

tinting wont keep a whole lot of heat out, but it should be noticable..

[RICHat22]

Read the entire post before replying...

I would like to jump in this one as a tinter. I think you guys have priorities buried deep somewhere behind you. I get so sick of seeing guys bitch and whine about pricing on tint jobs. I have been working on high end cars for more then 10 years. I do NOT believe in high pricing a car because it's more expensive then the next. I do believe in going the extra step in making sure your car is tinted a bit better then the next. As long as you morons keep going to the cheapest shop, you will never know the difference. Go check up on tinting and find out what a GOOD job looks like and I will pay your tint job if you don't see the difference. I do not use Huper simply because I have had good luck with others. From the dealers I have spoken with that do sell it, it's a great film and pretty impressive over standard. Along with the fact that tinting is mostly the install, you are paying for a service, Huper is an expensive material. You are paying for metal-like hat rejection without the radio interference. I sell on my qaulity and film alone. I do not price match. And it pisses me off daily to hear "The guy up the road said he'd do your 175 dollar job for $160" and then the guy comes back whiining about dust, fading, purple, etc. The film industry is hurt by asshats like you guys that go spend $35-70K on a car and then whine and post about a $100 difference in price. If you ever saw the difference in service and quality you got in a job like this, you would never go back. Do you go to a Kia dealer to get your BMW serviced? Take your car to someone that has worked on hundreds of these and knows your car like you should before you start bashing the $300 and $400 jobs. I could not count the number of BMW's I have had to strip and retint, AND peeled off the defroster lines with the tint film, because some dick put the $125 tint job on and 3 yrs later it faded clear, purple'd, bubbled, or whatever. I just did a 325 a few weeks ago. The guy whined to me because HE stripped the film off and the defroster lines were gone. He did NOT use a blade. It peeled off with the film. I have seen this amny times before. I pointed it out BEFORE I touched the car while still in the parking lot. It was a 2001 model with your GOD-like LLumar film on it. All film will fail sooner or later. It is your job to give what you consider the best car, the best film to last a lifetime. Just because it has a lifetime warranty, doesn't mean it will be with you 10 yrs later. Or even 5 for that matter.

In closing...Before you jump on the $160 bandwagon, do your research on film quality. Know what you want. Then look for the absolute best installer so you don't damage your car. The door panels have to come off. The back glass has to be tinted. Give it the best. Not the best deal.

Hope I haven't offended anyone too badly, but this thread gets me where it hurts. I'm sick of low class installers locally and nationally trading pricing to get a job they can't handle.

Good day

Brian

[white 330ci]

i don't see any one here complaining about their cheap tint job going bad...

just you yelling at us because people at your work dissapointed with their tint.

two different groups of people so ck

[brien4787]

Whoa there buddy, calling us morons really makes us believe that your point is correct....

I havn't seen anyone complain about poor tinting, fading, bubbling, ect.
As long as the tint shop has an okay reputation, uses good tint, and offers a life-time warrenty against bubbling, fading, ect., then that tinter is just fine to go to.

Not all of use can cough up an extra $100. Just because we drive BMWs doesn't mean that we are all rich.

Get off this board if you want to be a dick.

[thetintshop]

Originally posted by brien4787@Jul 28 2004, 02:39 AM


Not all of use can cough up an extra $100. Just because we drive BMWs doesn't mean that we are all rich.

do you use this same line when meeting girls?

i have this little saying, it goes like this--if you know nothing about the subject being discussed, keep your mouth shut.

aside from a couple of posts here, most of you know squat about film. don't give a guy advice when you don't know what you're talking about. a lifetime warranty DOES NOT ensure your film will not turn purple. (read your warranty card, it won't say anything about covering against color change or fading. unless you paid quite a bit, more than $200, for a good film)
$100-$150 is gonna get you some dyed, basic film that will last you maybe 2 years. (less in places like texas and arizona) and probably not a very good installation job. no tinter with experience is going to work on your baby for $100. that means you'll have some 6 month trainee getting in your car with a razor blade, or someone who doesn't care about his quality of craftsmanship. not either i would be willing to let in my car.
BMW's start at $225 in my shop, and go up to $400. and i don't even use Huper. you guys need to quit price shopping, and shop for the best you can find. afterall, you're all "enthusiasts", right? quit being a bunch of cheapazzes.

what's the difference in a BMW and a porcupine?
the pricks are on the outside of a porcupine.

[LOS]

Thanks for the advise Tintshop... I'll consider the film quality.
As for lifetime warranty, it implies they will replace the film if it fails assuming that they're still in business!!
I give you credit for NOT mentioning your business name. It sounds like you take pride in your job... Sometimes it hurts to hear it straight up! ouch!!

LOS