The tint should be in any day so I'll give it a shot. I've tinted windows before but not with a window with as much curve as my I1. If I fail, I didn't lose much.
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Proud owner of a Blue 2001 MT as of May 2011.
Yup, yup. All the expense is in the labor to install it. Many shops buy it precut if they don't already own the machine to do so. I used 4 rolls of the suff at wal mart to tint mines.
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Tint shops don't buy pre-cut tint. They buy monstrous rolls of tint.
When you tint a car, you cut a section from the sheet, put a light on the inside of the window (if you need it), soak the film, let it cling to the window, and cut it to size with a razor blade.
Then you heat shrink it to the curve of the window, spray everything up, pull the sticky side, spray that, stick it to your window, and squeegee. voila.
The tint should be in any day so I'll give it a shot. I've tinted windows before but not with a window with as much curve as my I1. If I fail, I didn't lose much.
Good luck and have fun . You can always learn something new if you like to DIY. The only way you will learn is by doing with tint. I would strongly recommend watching a few videos on youtube on heatshrinking with tint. Use dryer sheets on your window and film when you are heat shrinking. Soak it to death before you apply to the inside and use a decent sized scraper/hard card.
If you fail, you should be able to go to your local tinter and buy a few feet of good tint for less than $10. Of course you'd need to cut it yourself.
Sorry, wish I could help more, but the I1 is not a very friendly car to tint :/
The tint should be in any day so I'll give it a shot. I've tinted windows before but not with a window with as much curve as my I1. If I fail, I didn't lose much.
All installed, I will give the details in another post with pictures. The short answer is that for 15 bucks, it is a steal. The pieces were truly pre-cut. No trimming at all! Took about 3 hours total and with the exception of a few small bubbles, there were no issues.
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Proud owner of a Blue 2001 MT as of May 2011.
I don't mean to sound offensive, but unless you are experienced in tinting or make several attempts at the rear hatch window, you are not going to be able to get it on there without bubbles.
Look at the shape and curvature of the window. That flat, non-formed piece of pre cut film is not going to mold itself to the window. You have to heat shrink it. Heat shrinking it is also not a first timer friendly thing
I've already been through tinting my I1. Rear window took me 2 attempts. I'm not a professional tinter, but I have tinted all of my cars myself and have all the tools. I spoke to prominent tint shop that I always buy my film from and even they had trouble tinting the rear window on an Insight. (they recognized it when I showed them)
My advice would be to just take it to a tint shop and pay them 100-150$ to tint it with metallic based film. (non-metallic will turn purple after a few years)
GL
You have scared me sufficiently. I will be paying a shop.
Thanks.
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- 2000 5sp A/C, MIMA #34, Matiz rear, ScanGuage II, Warm Air Mod, Valentine One.
To tint any curved glass you need to do it twice. You tint it once on the outside to get the shape, then you do it fo real on the inside in a hot sun with a credit card and spray.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdstew
You have scared me sufficiently. I will be paying a shop.
Thanks.
15 bucks for pre cut? I spent 40 bucks for a few rolls at walmart to tint my car. Then I had to use a razor and box cutter to trim it up.
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Enginer 4 kilowatt PHEV, 3000k 35 watt fogs, Eco bulb highs, 4300k 35 watt low all w/relay kits, DRLs/Rear Wiper removed&rear interior gutted, Sony HU W/front speakers, Tanabe nf springs, 35% tint all around, all LED lamp replacement, 09 fit progress rear sway bar, OEM block heater, full gril block, KN Filter, Honda vent visiors, group 51 battery, home made balancer/grid charger Best/Worse MPG 96/36
To tint any curved glass you need to do it twice. You tint it once on the outside to get the shape, then you do it fo real on the inside in a hot sun with a credit card and spray.
15 bucks for pre cut? I spent 40 bucks for a few rolls at walmart to tint my car. Then I had to use a razor and box cutter to trim it up.
Yes, this was truly pre-cut. It went around the wiper motor and rear defrost connections. The side windows were the perfect shape too. I doubt it was the metal film stuff though. In three years if it turns purple, I'll just do it again.
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Proud owner of a Blue 2001 MT as of May 2011.
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. You can always learn something new if you like to DIY. The only way you will learn is by doing with tint. I would strongly recommend watching a few videos on youtube on heatshrinking with tint. Use dryer sheets on your window and film when you are heat shrinking. Soak it to death before you apply to the inside and use a decent sized scraper/hard card.
