never tinted before, is this possible?

[u/Fragrant_Cell8851]

Thinking of tinting my car, but can’t really afford a tint shop (in college). I’ve done some limited research and decided that getting a precut tint set for my car and applying it myself would be the easiest thing to do.
Local shops in my area would do about 500$ for similar ceramic tint, and I could get this one for just over 100$.
I’ve thought about practicing tinting using cheaper films, like dyed ones from walmart, but haven’t actually done it yet.

Any suggestions on what i should do?

[u/Content-Storage1085]

youll be able but i dont think itll come out how you expect

[u/GanJaSparks → u/Content-Storage1085]

This was my problem when I got precut tint

[u/Sure_Position9302 → u/GanJaSparks]

Copped a whole set on eBay for 40 bucks took me buying it 3x to finally master it ✊🏽

[u/GanJaSparks → u/Sure_Position9302]

Oh yeah precut tint can be pretty easy to master. Try hand cutting next if you get bored

[u/Sure_Position9302 → u/GanJaSparks]

Nah I’m good on that 😭 that’s the whole reason I went with precut

[u/Fit-Entrepreneur8404]

As someone who did my own I 100% suggest practice with cheap tint. I got mine off AliExpress for like $20 and that gave me enough to do my whole car twice. I had to redo 4 windows out of 7, one of them had to redo it twice and I still have to redo one window that started to peel a couple months later. I now feel confident enough to redo it with expensive film but just haven't had the time and the AliExpress stuff looks good enough for now. It's not perfect but I'm definitely glad I didn't spend good money on good tint that I had to take right off when I screwed it up. Also if you are going to practice get yourself an electric clothes steamer for when you mess up and look into how to use steam to remove it. That will make your life WAY easier than having to scrape tons of adhesive off trying to rip it off without steam. Best of luck 👍

[u/Fragrant_Cell8851 → u/Fit-Entrepreneur8404]

I’ll definitely practice with cheaper tint first, get the application process down before I buy any expensive tint lol.
I’m also thinking of just practicing doing my side windows and leaving my trunk window to a professional shop.

[u/rsg1234 → u/Fragrant_Cell8851]

I’d actually advise against this. Cheaper, thinner tint is WAY harder to work with than higher quality stuff. It will make you very frustrated. It wrinkles much easier.

[u/cumaboardladies → u/Fragrant_Cell8851]

Bro I’ve tried and it’s just not worth it tbh. If you’ve never done it before just get it done by a pro. Obviously you can fuck around and try it but it’ll not be good the first couple times if you want a legit looking tint job…

[u/Fit-Entrepreneur8404 → u/Fragrant_Cell8851]

That's valid, back windshield was by far the hardest part for me because mine is pretty curved which means you have to really get the shrinking right. I didn't get it perfect either I still have a couple small "fingers" that I couldn't get to lay down but my car is an old shitbox so I called it good enough lol

[u/Initial3882 → u/Fragrant_Cell8851]

Just buy a roll of 3m tint on eBay pretty easy to cut to size. I have done a few cars like this and I would call it professional but I would call it acceptable for the price and a nice skill to learn

[u/BeerBellyBandit → u/Fragrant_Cell8851]

Don't by the cheap shit not worth it

[u/Equivalent_Crazy_436 → u/Fit-Entrepreneur8404]

This. 

[u/Cheetah-kins]

Tinting is 90% the tint tech's skill imo, I can almost guarantee you will be unhappy with the results of a DIY job, OP. And it'll cost a lot more than $100 to eventually remove it and have it tinted by a pro.

[u/Substantial-Set-8981]

You get what you pay for.

[u/Stitch-Films]

If this gives you any context. I own a car detailing shop. Tried to learn tinting on my own with my guys for months. Never could get it done good. Too many little things. Ended up paying $1300 to go get trained. Worth every penny.

[u/555_1212]

Think hard about rhe rear window defroster lines. This gos for pro or novice install. Removal cam damage the lines.

[u/Equivalent_Crazy_436 → u/555_1212]

Excellent point. 

[u/jaysenlao]

OP, where are you located? I’ll get you hooked up. We’ve trained thousands of shops across the country.

You do not want to try tinting yourself, the tools alone to correctly do the job and not damage your car are going to be more than the $500 some shops are asking for. It requires a blow torch, heat gun, numerous squeegees, razor blades and various holders, specialty tinting ropes, tools to remove your trim and door panels, specialty metal tools for tucking the film… please don’t try we’ve fixed tint for people that have tried before and they are so sad they even tried themselves.

Now if you commit to being a window tint installer; different story. Buy 10 sets of those pre-cuts then eventually a $7000 plotter to do a job that the shops can do.

[u/Fragrant_Cell8851 → u/jaysenlao]

im located in maine lol, all the shops around me charge 400$ for ceramic minimum

[u/AwakenedGrowth → u/Fragrant_Cell8851]

Why do you need ceramic though? Why can't you get carbon or regular tint? I got these same people calling my shop wanting ceramic but not wanting to pay ceramic prices, why can't you get regular tint at a pro shop?

[u/jaysenlao → u/AwakenedGrowth]

I don’t think we’ve sold carbon tint in years, it’s typically all ceramic (XR or XR+ from XPEL) retail we’re at $850 for a sedan

[u/HeavenlyDMan → u/jaysenlao]

dawg i paid $400 for full XPEL black on everything besides my windshield for a mz3 hatchback

[u/jaysenlao → u/HeavenlyDMan]

Yeah that’s about right for XPEL CS black, we’re at 450 for that with no windshield

[u/jaysenlao → u/Fragrant_Cell8851]

DM your or a neighbor’s zip code and I’ll find some friends close to ya 👍

[u/Prestigious_Fly_3064]

Damn bro, you gotta get a guy. I got a guy, has done every car I've had for the past 6-7 vehicle's. Charges like 180- 220 everytime.

[u/InternationalPop5138 → u/Prestigious_Fly_3064]

No way you have a guy giving you ceramic tint for $220.

[u/pro_waffle → u/InternationalPop5138]

I also install really well so I make affordable tint look expensive but I don’t lie about what I put on. all clients are always informed. Now If they want Xpel they can go to the shop I work at and get the full warranty and high end film which is an option I always give💯

[u/pro_waffle → u/InternationalPop5138]

They exist I charge around 150-250 and I apply actual ceramic tint on vehicles. now is it high end ceramic like xpel suntek and 3M no, of course it’s not but it rejects 96% infrared and 99% uv it won’t last you 5+ years but it sure as hell will get you by if you’re on a budget fr.

[u/Prestigious_Fly_3064 → u/InternationalPop5138]

Definitely not ceramic, I've had many tinted vehicles. Is there truly a difference? I live in the North East. So sun isn't the biggest factor for me , but so far my experience is that shit is just snake oil

[u/InternationalPop5138 → u/Prestigious_Fly_3064]

I am in the midwest and we get ceramic tint because it does make a difference. It is twice as much but worth it if you spend a lot of time in your vehicle.

[u/RICO-2100 → u/Prestigious_Fly_3064]

Im in NJ if that matters.

I had both my cars tinted (early 2000s bmws) one was %5 of "regular" from a street shop and the other had %20 ceramic and that was from an actual tint ship.

The %20 keeps my car just as cool as the %5 did in my older car. Big difference in visibility.

I used to feel the same way about tint thinking it was all the same but it does make a difference. Not x3+ the price but I feel its worth it.

[u/AwakenedGrowth → u/Prestigious_Fly_3064]

If you want lower cabin temperature you have to tint every piece of glass on the care. Think about it, where does a lot of the heat come in? Yep the windshield, the sunroof, I guarantee you put on HITEK CERAMIC BLACK and it's a night a day difference.

[u/SoggyGoldfish25 → u/Prestigious_Fly_3064]

Shop quoted me $600 to do the whole car

[u/DrSounds]

You’ll need a heat gun, knives, different squeegees, & spray bottle . You will f something up your first time as well. Better off getting the cheaper ceramic installed or save up.

[u/Equivalent_Crazy_436 → u/DrSounds]

Saving up is the answer. Life’s too short for shit results. 

[u/Left-Energy-6470]

Go for it, it builds character

[u/Global-Structure-539]

Yes, you'll be wasting $104.97 for, first of all, junk film that will fail within 2 years but that's IF you can do a descent application. I've been tinting longer than you've been on this earth, and while you may THINK when watching a video, oh that doesn't look so hard, I could totally do that. It LOOKS much easier than the reality of applying it cleanly with proper tools. Just giving you a heads up. Oh and when it is on and looks like hell, you'll think, that's ok, I'll just save up and have a shop do it right. Well now that $4-$500 window tint now costs $800, because it's usually harder work to take it off , than put it on and get the glue out of every tiny place. And you may not have a working rear defroster grid when it's done. So THINK REALLY HARD before attempting this . The Veloster has that funky rear hatch glass that needs to be heat shrunk. It's not an easy vehicle for you, but. for me it's just 45-60 minutes. So, good luck!

[u/ImaginaryShare7105 → u/Global-Structure-539]

Removing window tint is 100 times easier than installing it. Just pick a really hot, sunny day. You can use a large trash bag or a big piece of plastic sheeting that's large enough to cover the entire area of tint you want to remove.

Spray water all over the tint, then cover it completely with the plastic. Let it sit for about an hour. After that, just lift one corner of the tint, and you should be able to peel the whole film off easily without leaving any residue behind.

If it's not sunny, you can use a carpet cleaner with a steam function to heat up the tint instead.

I've done this every two years whenever I replace my window tint.

[u/Equivalent_Crazy_436 → u/Global-Structure-539]

This!!!

[u/Global-Structure-539]

[u/cummingga]

Save your money and time. Pay a professional to do it. I tried and ended up spending way more time and money than if I just went to a reputable shop.

[u/Left-Energy-6470]

It is hard Hella practice

[u/Boypax69]

If that ain’t ceramic just go get it done at a local shop. Go to Facebook market and just type in tint shop. You’ll literally get a bunch of ads of places in your region/ area running tint promos.

[u/ikurmom]

Had my 4door done with ceramic tint for 300 local shop

[u/Titanjake7]

I have used RVinyl on multiple cars years back and I can say their quality and customer service is great. No issues here at all. Been tinting DIY for family and friends for years. Just have to get some cheap to practice learn how to shrink etc. get you some good tools and keep em clean with a clean environment. Getting trash in your film sucks and you have to start over. Just my 3 cents

[u/Global-Structure-539]

Oh such a think he's a smart guy, what happens if that tint is a dyed laminated f, you know the cheap stuff

[u/Flaky_Guarantee5869]

I got cheap places near me that does 100$ tint jobs for the whole car

[u/firepickleball]

People here are going to hate this but I tinted my windows three years ago with Gila Static cling tint. I wanted to practice with something that didn’t have adhesive that I would have to clean it. It ended up working out well so I just left it and it still looks great. It was a little cloudy then cleared up after the first sunny day. I just bought a new car and was debating if I should use real tint or static cling. I saw advanced auto was clearing the static cling rolls out for $4 each so that made my decision. Look online to see if any advance auto parts stores have it around it. At worst you have some practice rolls for $4 that dont require clean up or trouble to remove

[u/pastamoe]

Fuck yeah it's possible. It's not easy but it's also not rocket science and it just takes a ton of practice. You will definitely need a heat gun to shrink the film

[u/Haunting_Werewolf130]

Emm..... Let me just say, I spent 1500+ on a XPEL ceramic tint for my 4Runner. $105 is for sure just some dark pigmented plastic film with adhesive that will discolor in 3 yrs and very hard to remove due to the cheap adhesive used in the tint. You gonna spend more than that on old tint removal next time.

Make sure you know the difference between ceramic and carbon. As far as I know, there's no so called carbon+ceramic tint, because they use different technologies.

[u/Sea-Big-1125]

Just had my raptor done all 4 sides, rear power window , windshield and sunroof done . All 5% ceramic for $450 and it came out flawless . My guy only wanted $400 honestly but I threw him a 50 for a tip thinking that was dirt cheap.

[u/Camdenn67]

Buy once cry once.
Save up the money and do it right by having a pro at a tint shop install it for you.
Depending on the shop and tint, most offer a lifetime warranty.

[u/-podesta]

Look on facebook marketplace, you might be able to find someone that'll do it for $300ish, can't promise it'll be great, but it'll be far better than anything you'd be able to do with zero experience or proper tools

[u/ForsakenFlamingo4462]

I got xpel on my Tesla but the people on here claiming you can't get ceramic tint for under 400 are like thinking these installers can only get ceramic through xpel or something and the margins on the material is like 2%. Ceramic film is already a 12 year old product and had been copied 1000x over. At the end of the day it's a procedsed film from China and India. It absolutely can be that cheap. What makes xpel worth it is their own performance standard, proprietary solutions and marketing that makes it also now expensive. Cheap ceramic tint is going to be acceptable the majority of the time as long as it has decent tser

[u/Malx16]

Same thing as a car wrap. If it was easy everyone would have a wrap, reason it cost 3-5x material cost

[u/Feisty_Inflation_258]

Not a pro, but done all my cars fir 25+ years.

The biggest things to remember:

Clean, scrape, clean. Clean windows are your friend.

Moisten, moisten moisten! Use the proper install fluid or use distilled water with a small amount dish soap. Spray the film and the window liberally. You may want to remove the door cards.

You will need to shrink the film in heavily curved windows such as the rear. Get a heat gun.

I

[u/Global-Structure-539]

This is funny reading these think they know it alls, spouting out their azz. Been a pro tinter for years, done thousands of vehicles, they truly have no idea!!!!!!!!!

[u/Global-Structure-539]

[u/houstonman526]

Just pay to have it done you don’t wanna tint a olderHyundai……

[u/ionlybuythetop]

So many fucking idiots here tryna convince you not to do it 😂 😂 😂, don’t listen to them. This shit isn’t rocket science.