Taking in my Malibu to get the windows tinted on Wednesday. I can't decide if I want to go with 35% or 20%. Legal limit here is 35% but I'm leaning towards 20% although am worried about getting pulled over.

Opinions?

I also want to get it all the way around the car so that it looks uniform, even though its not allowed on the front windows. What do you think? Am I just asking for trouble?

Edit: Went with 20% the whole way around.

20% all the way around.

http://www.cheddarcheesemedia.com/mbugallery/tint1.jpg
http://www.cheddarcheesemedia.com/mbugallery/tint2.jpg
http://www.cheddarcheesemedia.com/mbugallery/tint3.jpg

Here is a site that you can hit to see what your car will look like with tint. I am going to have mine tinted in the next couple months but I am going to stick to the legal limit. I don't want to give them a reason to pull me!

http://www.tintcenter.com/quote.php?t_id=4831d0f32a82e

http://www.chevymalibuforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=110

about halfway down there are some pics of my car (black car)

I went 20% all around except for the front windows. I got the front ones 35%. Looks good and there is no difference at night

Well I decided to get 20% the whole way around. Looks good and I'm happy. Now to avoid the unwanted attention....

I went with the 15% all the way around. It makes the chrome stand out better. matches the paint color

What is the going rate for a tint job?

I paid $240 for all five windows.

I paid $240 for all five windows.

Thanks!
That isnt bad at all!
I will check around here for pricing.

Dealer quoted me $315 but I found a local guy who's been doing it for 20 years that did it for $180 for all 7 windows. (Everything but the windshield) :)

mine were $160 for all but the windshield.

I paid $240 for all five windows.

Correction, I forgot about the two small windows in the rear doors. So $240 for all but the windshield. The guy who did mine has also been doing it for about 25 years and only uses Llumar® high performance window film. It also came with a Lifetime warranty.

I am in TX and had mine done about a week ago. I have the front 2 at the legal limit of 30% and all of the back windows at 15%. I really like the look. If anyone is in the Fort Worth Area, SunRay Tinting on 377 is where I had mine done and they did a GREAT job! Paid 215.

Dealer quoted me $315 but I found a local guy who's been doing it for 20 years that did it for $180 for all 7 windows. (Everything but the windshield) :)

Bucky, I might have to get his number from you once I get my bu'. Is he located in southeast Michigan?

Bucky, I might have to get his number from you once I get my bu'. Is he located in southeast Michigan?

Yep. Right off of 19 Mile and Schoener.

Let me show pics. 20% all the way around.

http://www.cheddarcheesemedia.com/mbugallery/tint1.jpg
http://www.cheddarcheesemedia.com/mbugallery/tint2.jpg
http://www.cheddarcheesemedia.com/mbugallery/tint3.jpg

Bucky - Looks Great...

I would also be interested to see other's who have tinting done....especially the 15% ones.

Post pic's everyone if you can.

Thanks.

I am a tint "newbie". These questions may seem simple to you experts so please don't kill me. I want some unbiased opinions rather than depending just on the guys who's business it is.

Here in Ohio I was told that the front two windows could be a max of 50% but the back windows could go as dark as I want. I want the car to look good. Does anyone have any suggestions on how dark to do the back ones?

Is there any concern about the rear window with the defroster and antenna?

Should I be concerned about the tint scratching when the windows go up and down?

The place I am looking at uses Llumar film. Is that good?

What should I ask and/or look for when I visit the tinting business?

The price I was quoted was $189 which seems in the range others have posted. They said it would take about 3 hours. Does that sound about right for a quality job?

Thanks in advance for any and all help!:D

I am a tint "newbie". These questions may seem simple to you experts so please don't kill me. I want some unbiased opinions rather than depending just on the guys who's business it is.

Here in Ohio I was told that the front two windows could be a max of 50% but the back windows could go as dark as I want. I want the car to look good. Does anyone have any suggestions on how dark to do the back ones?

Is there any concern about the rear window with the defroster and antenna?

Should I be concerned about the tint scratching when the windows go up and down?

The place I am looking at uses Llumar film. Is that good?

What should I ask and/or look for when I visit the tinting business?

The price I was quoted was $189 which seems in the range others have posted. They said it would take about 3 hours. Does that sound about right for a quality job?

Thanks in advance for any and all help!:D

As for your questions....
1. If you are going to a good tint shop with experience then there are no worries about the defrost and antenna. FYI... if you have the built in antenna the tint will disrupt AM radio.
2. Like above, if it is a good respectable place then you wont have to worry about the tint getting scratched as it goes up and down. The film becomes part of the window. Now, you will need to be careful not to scratch it yourself or keep from getting anything in the opening where the window is, this can scratch it.
3. I would look for experience. See how long the shop has been around and a lifetime warranty.
4. Mine took about 3 hours. If a place is doing the job right it should take up to 2.5 to 3 hours.

Hope this helps!!!

I have 15% on all of my back windows, but I can't figure out how to post my pics on here. Sorry!

Thanks for the comments B-RAN.:D

I talked to a couple of shops and they all said the same thing. One talked about using a metallic film but said that may interfere with the AM radio.

The shop that took the most time with me suggested that if I was going to stay with the Ohio legal limit of 50% on the front windows I probably wouldn't want to go more than the 35% range on the rear windows because darker would look quite a bit different from front to back. I'm not trying to be stealthy,I'm just looking for something that looks good and to cut down some of the sunlight and heat. Before the Malibu I owned an Ford Escape and really liked the factory tinting of those back windows. I just don't know what percentage the factory tint was.

Anybody else with thoughts?

I have limo on the back windows and 15 on the front (driver and passenger), not legal for Texas but I like it.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o10/tamjash/DSCN4638-1.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o10/tamjash/DSCN4647-1.jpg

mrs take 2....

Nice Malibu, now more importantly though...Who's truck? Looks beautiful!

mrs take 2....

Nice Malibu, now more importantly though...Who's truck? Looks beautiful!

Thank you. That is my husbands truck but he just sold it and now has a '67 Chevy C10.

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o10/tamjash/67%20chevy/DSCN6244.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o10/tamjash/67%20chevy/DSCN6247.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o10/tamjash/67%20chevy/DSCN6241.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o10/tamjash/67%20chevy/DSCN6254.jpg

WOW - That's another beauty!!! Tell your husband he has great taste in trucks!!!

WOW - That's another beauty!!! Tell your husband he has great taste in trucks!!!

Thank you again. He is very particular about his vehicles as am I. Our other toys for a different kind of scene are a 01 Camaro and 99 FRC Vette. The Vette is his of course and the Camaro is mine. I take mine to the track every chance I get.

mrs take 2 - What mod's have you done to the camaro? What kind of numbers you pulling down with it?

mrs take 2 - What mod's have you done to the camaro? What kind of numbers you pulling down with it?

My camaro has;

Full Bolt on's - under drive pulley, Patriot gold springs, Comp push rods, LS6 Oilpump, Rollmaster Dual timing chain
Comp HKE Cam 238/240
12 Bolt Mosier Rear End
Built Trans
3800 Stall
255 Fuel Walbro Fuel Pump
Pavlock Performance Adjustable Lower Control Arms
Pavlock Performance Panhard Bar
QTP 3" electric cut out
Pacsetter long tubes
3" off road Y
Cold Fusion Wet kit

I usually race on motor and cut an .05 light and consistantly run 7.8 in the 1/8 mile. My best time in the 1/4 is 12.4.

My husband can do 7.3 using the nitrous in the 1/4.

Sorry y'all - didn't mean to jack this thread.

WOW - Impressive numbers....Sounds like they are your babies....YOu must have a big garage I couldn't imagine let any of those sleep outside at night!

WOW - Impressive numbers....Sounds like they are your babies....YOu must have a big garage I couldn't imagine let any of those sleep outside at night!

The camaro is actually sleeping outside (double car covers) because daddy's truck and vette are in the garage.

Legal limit here is 35% but I'm leaning towards 20% although am worried about getting pulled over.


Hey man....I don't know where you got your info from.....but you're allowed as dark as you want (on the back windows)

BUT you're not allowed ANY tint on the passenger or driver side windows though (only a 4" strip)

Same on the windshield...no tint except for a 4" strip

Hey man....I don't know where you got your info from.....but you're allowed as dark as you want (on the back windows)

BUT you're not allowed ANY tint on the passenger or driver side windows though (only a 4" strip)

Same on the windshield...no tint except for a 4" strip

Someone care to research and sort this one out? Seems to be quite different understandings.

Question though, does tint law in the U.S. go as micro as county to county? or is all done solely with state law?

Here is a website that shows the state laws on tinting.

http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html

Thanks Sparks - Think that clears it up now!

Cheers!

I had my windows tinted this morning. Here in Ohio you can legally only do the front sides at 50% but the other you can do as dark as you want. I wanted to stay legal so the fronts are 50% and the rears are 35%.

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3843/copyofmalibu3rd0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf0041yj9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6481/dscf0041fw0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sparks - Looks nice and clean. I like it!

Thanks DOA:D

I wasn't sure if I should do the rears in 35% or 20%. After talking to the tint guys and looking at a couple of cars they had just finished I decided on 35%. I didn't want a big noticeable difference between the front and back. What I did notice is if you have a dark interior the tint will look a lot darker from the outside. (I have the titanium interior)

While one shop told me it would be o.k. to use metallic film the guys that did my job advised against it. They said the metallic film can cause problems with the antenna in the rear window (AM radio, GPS for OnStar, etc). From what I have read the metal in the film can cause the antenna to ground with the defroster.

I did a ton of reading on the forum below before I made my decision.
http://www.tintdude.com/forum/index.php

I'm gettin 5% on mine just like my older car

Had the rears done at 20% :D
http://img353.imageshack.us/img353/6595/99014az5.jpg

^ Damn, the white mali looks hot

and it's not my business to tell another person my opinion on what to do to his car (becasue cars are really just people's opinions) but I'd get 20% in the front too cause it'll be consistent opposed to people who swap different % from the front to back windows

Actually I find if you keep it within 5 to 10 % difference it really is not that noticable. Now on my current GP I have 20% all the way around although in Ontario legal limit is 25%. However they say with cars that have dark interiors you can usually get away with another 5% because it is hard to tell if it is the tint or the interior causing the darkness.

We put 5% on the back doors and window , and 50% on the front. I love it. We did the 50% on the front because in iowa it is not legal to have any on the front but the back is so dark that they cant tell anyway. we payed $150 for everything.

On my "bu" I got 5% all the way around. Plus the windshield. It cost me $200 in Florida

On my "bu" I got 5% all the way around. Plus the windshield. It cost me $200 in Florida


Good lookin.

The only right way to get your windows tinted is 5% or a double layer of 20% / 30%.

I had a 20% and 30% double layer on my other car and it was darker than my 5% now that I have on the 'bu.

Meaning, I had a 20% tint + a 30% tint on all windows but the windshield.

The windshield was tinted @ 50% on my last car and it was HARD as hell to see at night.

I didn't tint the 'bu's windshield :cool:

great tint on the malibu's guys!! besides the percentage, what color/shade, brand of tint is on your bu's? I have the Amber Bronze Met. Malibu and I'm still debating what color to choose!!

not sure what brand it was, but I got black tint. I didnt go with the colored tint, because you never know what its gonna look like.... so I went with ol' reliable lol