Hmmm.
Since I rebuild engines and transmissions. Do frame up restorations including body work and paint, I can't stand the thought of actually paying someone to work on my car.
I have never attempted window tinting.
Can I buy a "kit" or do I need to buy the tinting and then some tools that a pro would use?
Or will I end up with a crappy tinting job?
Anyone do this yourself?

 

it isn't easy. i dont necessarily have experience on cars, but have tried it on house windows. not fun IMO

I think you can buy pre-cut tint on eBay if you choose. let us know how it goes if you DIY

 

I would never ever do tint myself.

Tyler

 

Tinting the majority of the windows on the car wouldn't be too hard. It is usually the rear window on most cars prove to be that back breaker due to the curvature of the window. If you do choose to do this make sure that you are in a dust free environment and use high quality film. It wouldn't hurt to have a hair dryer or a heat gun handy as well. The internet will provide you with the instructions.

 

The internet, mother of us all.
I won't tint the front windows for safety reasons, just the back doors and hatch windows.
Time to start reading.

 

I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to stuff like this. I can't stand the thought of paying someone to do something I know I could do myself. I had helped a friend tint a 3rd gen Camaro about 20 years ago and I don't remember it being very difficult, so I figured I'd go for it. I was thinking I'd use one of the eBay precut kits, but then I started reading the feedback of one of the sellers who sells the kits and was not too sure of the quality of his film. It was cheap at around $30, but too many buyers said they thought the film was too thin, and wrinkled too easily. I searched the net and found a site that claimed to sell the highest quality tint on the market, and the kit for a Fit was about $80 from them. I then called a couple of local shops and the best price I was quoted was $175, with a lifetime warranty on the film. I figured it was hard to beat that, and if the tint ever went bad I was covered, so I just sucked it up and had them do it. I paid $190 out the door for 30% tint all around. The extra $15 was for the 6" strip at the top of the windshield.

That was only two days ago, so I can't comment of the longevity of the film yet, but they did a very professional job and the car look s a lot better with darker windows. Feels better inside as well.

 

considering that the Fit's windows are mostly flat it shouldn't be too hard
to do especially if you buy the pre-cut ones. ive seen them sold online.
the rear corner glass might be challenging unless you remove that
seatbelt tensioner thing. it gets into the way.

the hardest(?) part would be to make sure you got no crap left on your
glass before you lay down your film. best would be to clean the glass
using a glass MF towel and then wet it down with the solution, squeegee
the glass.. then re-apply the solution and lay your film.

ive done tinting and clearbra installs in the past. it's time consuming for
the inexperienced like me. make sure your fingers are wet when you
handle the adhesive on the film.

 

Personally i wouldn't do it but hey if you feel like you're prepared go for it and post that DIY. watch out for those bubbles though. hate seeing cars with millions of bubbles in their tint because they did it wrong

 

If you are going to do your tint yourself *I didn't*. I would get whole sheets instead of precut because precuts tend to be in a smaller size and it doesn't cover all the way up to the window. When you do install the tint do not install it on the inside first do the outside to get a template and you can cut to size in a way with a fine metal file. This is from the many times I've seen professionals do it.

 

i wouldn't do it myself.
thats for sure.
but if you do don't forget to make a DIY post about it!

 

i did mine myself

the seatbelts do get in the way but are able to be worked around,
it will be way easier to take them off tho bc the window will need A LOT of squeeging
also the hatch needs to be squeegyed a lot too,

just buy the rolls and cut it your self

spritz the outside of the window and place the tint (NOT seperated) on the outside and cut with a knife, then spritz the inside and peel the backing,

dont worry about spraying too much bc you will squegy it out anyway-- its if you put too little on when you have a problem, you want the moisture behind to hold off the adheasive

and ya you can find a little kit, it will have the knife, squeegy, and spray solution, the tint will be seperate

 

Good to hear.
Do you have any pics of your tint?

 

not specifically, but if you click my signature theres a few pics in there

 

I`ve been tinting windows for 22 years and I`ve had my own shop for 5 years, I have seen alot of DIY tint jobs over the years and 99% of them look like they were done in a dirt lot with the wind blowing. Spend the few extra dollars and take it to tint shop, you will get a better job and a warranty.

 

Another piece of advice. Spray the floor with water. That will help reduce the amount of dust to get kicked up.

 

ooo
also
if its cold-- put on the rear de-froster to heat the glass...
lol
lets just go back and forth with 1 tip at a time

 

x2, well never again.

 

i'd do a lot of work on a car, but tint is something i wouldnt.

 

yea i try to do as much of my own work as i can on my car, but when it comes to stuff like window tinting, i say leave it to the pros. take off your door panels, and take it to a place. get a discount for them not having to take off the panels. that might save you about 80 bucks. thats what i did.

 

I can say that I have NEVER seen a good tint job by someone who did it themselves. It always has bubbles or peels somewhere, or isn't straight. Not worth it IMO, just take it to a pro.