[Pimpsy]

Is there a widely accepted best tint material?
Can anyone please share your tint pics? I'm considering 80% front and 35% sides and back.
Thank you!

[ResIpsaLoquitur]

Originally Posted by Pimpsy

Is there a widely accepted best tint material?
Can anyone please share your tint pics? I'm considering 80% front and 35% sides and back.
Thank you!

Most will probably say ceramic if you're in an especially hot climate like the south or out west. In my experience, it's been more resistant to heat than dyed film, which is your standard tint. Standard tint gives you good looks and privacy, but is nowhere near as good in cutting down on heat as ceramic tint. Standard tint will also fade over time. Even though it's called "ceramic" tint, it's usually also just dyed film, but it's coated with ceramic particles.

[Maverik259]

Nano ceramic is the new hotness. 95% IR rejection. Have regular ceramic on my X5 and nano on my M5. Pretty big difference.

[Pimpsy]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Nano ceramic is the new hotness. 95% IR rejection. Have regular ceramic on my X5 and nano on my M5. Pretty big difference.

Neat. Any particular brand stand out?

[windtendo]

Stek is one of the better (if not the best) when it comes to PPF and tint. Their NEX series ceramic-graphene tint is what the higher-end installers are using from my observations.

[brandoncoen]

Originally Posted by Pimpsy

Neat. Any particular brand stand out?

I'm having 3M crystalline installed on Monday. Curious if anyone has experience or strong opinions for or against. Doing all four doors and rear for $700.

[josec70]

Xpel Prime XR Plus -
Nano-Ceramic

35% Windows
70% Windshield

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by brandoncoen

I'm having 3M crystalline installed on Monday. Curious if anyone has experience or strong opinions for or against. Doing all four doors and rear for $700.

Don't forget windshield and sunroof (if ya got one)

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by josec70

Xpel Prime XR Plus -
Nano-Ceramic

35% Windows
70% Windshield

This is what I have. Love it.

[josec70]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

This is what I have. Love it.

Tints look great as does the entire car!

[brandoncoen]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

Don't forget windshield and sunroof (if ya got one)

I do have a sunroof, unfortunately. I should do that. Can't do windshield in CA. Guaranteed to get pulled over.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by brandoncoen

I do have a sunroof, unfortunately. I should do that. Can't do windshield in CA. Guaranteed to get pulled over.

I had mine done in CA on my AMG and no one ever noticed. Pulled over 3x in my tour in Mugu.

If you do like 70-90% you can't tell but still get significant heat rejection.

Also recommend going rather dark as you can on the sunroof to maximize IR rejection. I went lighter thinking I wouldn't be able to see out of it. My mistake. Plenty of light and much rather reject the heat lol. If I want to look it I always open anyway. Lol

[Danny D]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

I had mine done in CA on my AMG and no one ever noticed. Pulled over 3x in my tour in Mugu.

If you do like 70-90% you can't tell but still get significant heat rejection.

Also recommend going rather dark as you can on the sunroof to maximize IR rejection. I went lighter thinking I wouldn't be able to see out of it. My mistake. Plenty of light and much rather reject the heat lol. If I want to look it I always open anyway. Lol

Interesting I never thought of doing the windshield.
Does it reduce glare ? How is it at night ? does the HUD still function normally ?
Thanks in advance !

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Danny D

Interesting I never thought of doing the windshield.
Does it reduce glare ? How is it at night ? does the HUD still function normally ?
Thanks in advance !

World of difference and protects the dash leather from the uv rays on top of the heat stress.

No issues with HUD or glare. I didn't do very dark (70%) so no issues at night.

[Pimpsy]

Thanks for all the great info.
I'm going to stay with 35% all around. I was going to do 80% on the windshield but does 70% really not impair vision at night? I already struggle a little with night vision but I would do 70% if it doesn;t have a real impact.

[Pimpsy]

Originally Posted by josec70

Xpel Prime XR Plus -
Nano-Ceramic

35% Windows
70% Windshield

Looks perfect! Know a solid Xpel installer in the NYC area?

[josec70]

Originally Posted by Pimpsy

Thanks for all the great info.
I'm going to stay with 35% all around. I was going to do 80% on the windshield but does 70% really not impair vision at night? I already struggle a little with night vision but I would do 70% if it doesn;t have a real impact.

I honestly have not felt any impairment with the 70% at night … 51 year old eyes for context. I wear contacts and it has been fine.

[josec70]

Originally Posted by Pimpsy

Looks perfect! Know a solid Xpel installer in the NYC area?

I don't know any in the NYC area.

[Pimpsy]

Originally Posted by josec70

I honestly have not felt any impairment with the 70% at night … 51 year old eyes for context. I wear contacts and it has been fine.

Thanks. I'm about to have the car wrapped in XPEL or STEK stealth (not sure which yet) and I'll let them tint it at the same time.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by Pimpsy

Thanks for all the great info.
I'm going to stay with 35% all around. I was going to do 80% on the windshield but does 70% really not impair vision at night? I already struggle a little with night vision but I would do 70% if it doesn;t have a real impact.

No night vision change for 70%. Will barely even notice during the day but your leather dash will thank you and so will the temps in the car.

[brandoncoen]

Originally Posted by Maverik259

No night vision change for 70%. Will barely even notice during the day but your leather dash will thank you and so will the temps in the car.

So I ended up doing 40% on doors and rear, 20% (the darkest 3M makes Crystalline) on the sunroof, and 70% on the windshield. Don't regret a thing! Here are some initial pics for those interested.

[Maverik259]

Originally Posted by brandoncoen

So I ended up doing 40% on doors and rear, 20% (the darkest 3M makes Crystalline) on the sunroof, and 70% on the windshield. Don't regret a thing! Here are some initial pics for those interested.

Why crystalline?