Window Tint - Am I too picky?

[Rick-n-Miami]

Saturday, I went to what is regarded as a very good window tinting outfit down here, "Solar Tint." They computer cut the film, etc. I decided to go with their top of the line offering, the Huper Optik Ceramic 30 (about $300).

At first, they seemed a little hesitant to install the film on my car. They stated that the rear window was very bubbley and that it would require a lot of work (molding it to the outside first, heat treating, etc.) After a couple hours, they had it on but could not get the edges down right. There are little "fingers" along the edges of the rear window tint.

They said that it was too wet to work with, because this film is supposedly very thick and in combination with the little dots all around the rear window, they couldn't make it stick. They suggested I bring it back on Monday, to let the film dry some and become more tacky. OK, I said.

Come Sunday (today), I began inspecting the rest of the tint closely. I noticed that every window had a bunch of tiny little dots (bubbles)! Some areas are as smooth and clear as can be, the rest looks like crap (up close). I'll point it out to them tomorrow.

My question, is this common place with window tinting? I've never done it before, so I'm not sure what I should be expecting. I'm sort of a perfectionist and cannot stand to see something "not up to par." In my mind, the tint should be perfectly clear; especially givin the amount I paid and the fact they state "computer cut, error & bubble free" on their store sign.

Should I give them a chance to correct it? If so, what should I expect them to do? Or should I have them take the film off and go elsewhere?

[Petrograde]

Too picky? well,.. if you are, then I am too. ..and for $300 there better not be one bubble you can see!

I spent $250 for my 20% tint. It's practically flawless. no bubbles larger than a pin head, and you really have to look for those.

I just went out and looked at mine. they cut the film right to edge of the dots, not over them.

[Amsoil_Dealer]

Should I give them a chance to correct it? If so, what should I expect them to do? Or should I have them take the film off and go elsewhere?

No you are not to picky. For $300 it had better be right. Take it back, tell them you are not satisifed and see what they say. If you paid by check you can always threeaten to stop payment. If you paid by credit card I think there is some kind of service where you can stop payment.

Good Luck,

Don

[Donny Carlson]

I had my tint installed by Custom Sun Control in Marietta, GA. It was and is flawless. It literally looks like factory installed tinted glass. My cost was $300 as well, and I have a gaurentee good at any Formula One dealer. That's because CSC installed the best - Forumula One Performance Automotive Film,

http://www.formulaone.com/

FormulaONE provides a manufacturer's lifetime warranty to replace any defective product for free for as long as you own your vehicle. If there is a problem, just bring your car and warranty card to any FormulaONE dealer from coast to coast and it will be replaced at no charge to you.

There are three dealers in the Miami area, but try calling this one:


Boca Sun Control
(561) 391-2356

I would go back to your other installer, insist they REMOVE that crap from your windows and refund your money.<!--StartFragment -->

[Smokie]

Doing a complete car and being PERFECT by definition is very difficult to achieve. I paid $180 for mine 3M tint, lifetime warranty over 2 years ago. Let me tell you what I tolerate as less than PERFECT. One of my windows has a few tiny "pinprick" bubbles. Cut should be perfect, adhesion should be perfect.....a few tiny bubbles I can live with....I would not allow any other type of flaw.

[Petrograde]

Doing a complete car and being PERFECT by definition is very difficult to achieve. I paid $180 for mine 3M tint, lifetime warranty over 2 years ago. Let me tell you what I tolerate as less than PERFECT. One of my windows has a few tiny "pinprick" bubbles. Cut should be perfect, adhesion should be perfect.....a few tiny bubbles I can live with....I would not allow any other type of flaw.

absolutely! I've done window tint. It's a total PITA! the 'pinprick' holes in the the tint are very,very difficult to completely eliminate.

So, my standard is this: With a good tint job, you should see no defects at a distance of 2 feet.

[tmac1337]

Park the car in the sun. They should have told you that most of the bubbles should dry out within a few days. If not, return the tint.

[ncmm]

Park the car in the sun. They should have told you that most of the bubbles should dry out within a few days. If not, return the tint.Ditto. . . and be sure NOT to roll down the windows for a few days.
I went a week before I did just to be safe. Plus keeping the car in a warm enviroment(sunlight) helps the process.

Enjoy your new tinted MM :2thumbs:

[Patrick]

Hey Rick, If you can take pics before you go back, do so. Have them fix it and get all info (warrenty) in writing and receipt. Then take a pics after that. Wait a few days and if your still not happy with the results then have them redo it or just simply have them remove it, at thier expense and get a refund. I hope you get this resolved. I paid $175 for mine and had to go back for some small touch up things but like he told me after I left, if thiers a prob just bring it back, He will take care of it. At his time and expense.

Last thing, check around from people who have tint done, they will tell you who is good and who is a :bs: artist!!

[CRUZTAKER]

I got screwed by THE FINISH LINE here in Ohio. They claimed that EVERY tint job had a few defects.

I sued them over a spoiler fiasco....but decided to just disown them after the tint turned up bad a few weeks later.

Get it done right, or have them remove it. Somewhere, there is a place that will do it right. And hell, you live in Florida, there is tint shop at every corner!!!

[looking97233]

I spent $250 in Portland, or. for Formula One tint at 35%. It is flawless. Goes from edge to edge. The shop I used has been in the same place for almost 30 years and guarantes thier work for life. So, no you are not being too picky. The installation on my car took almost three hours, about half of it shaping the film for the rear window with a heat gun.

[Rick-n-Miami]

I took it back in. They stated that it's still too wet to get all of the pinhead bubbles and little fingers out. Apparently this Huper Optik Ceramic film is twice as thick as regular film and is very difficult to work with. They asked that I let it dry for two weeks and then bring it back in. If they cannot get it to work at that point, they'll take it off or redo it.

They did spend about 3-4 hours on the car on the initial install. They did have to heat treat and mold the rear window from the outside first, etc. Most of the problems are coming with it overlapping the little raised dots around the edges. It just doesn't seem to stick.

We'll see what happens.

[THE_INTERCEPTOR]

Geez you guys, I paid $140 for a lifetime warranty. 5% limo tint all 7 windows. That was back in October 2001. Here is is December 2004, and not a single bubble in any of my windows. ;)