BCS996TT

Im planning to get my windows tinted. Are there any specific brands that I should look for? Most importantly, can anyone recommend a good shop in the NJ/NY area that does excellent work?

thanks

Turbo03

The V-1 guide suggests that tint with metallic flecks will decrease the sensitivity from the sides and rear.

My friend owns the "class act" tinter in my town and dissuaded me from tinting for two reasons:
1. non-metallic ones like 3-M will get Purple over years.
2. there is no great way to work around the little black dots near the borders of the windows.
They will get micro-bubbles. Or, they could shave off the black dots with a razor blade first.

Both sounded unattractive to me, and I have decided against tinting, despite my location in the sunbelt.

Hope this helps.

Greg

Sloth

Find a tint shop that has been around for a long time. The guy that I use has been in business for ~20 years.

I had my rear window tint go purple 1.5 years after having the work done in a BMW back in 1994. My tint man replace the rear film at no cost under the tint mfg's warranty (Llumar). Perhaps think of it like this... it is far cheaper and easier to replace purple tint than it is to replace a sun faded interior. I was in one older Carrera where the maroon interior had faded to a pink color.

Also a decent shop should be able to do a good job on the rear glass despite the black dots. My rear window came out pretty good IMHO.

My shop uses the Llumar titanium tint. I have found that the film holds up well on all the vehicles that I have tinted in recent years.

<img src="http://www.986host.com/albums/Sloth996/996_rear_quarter_2.sized.jpg" alt=" - " />

Trojan Man

I am not a window tint shop, but I have arranged for the tinting of about 18 cars for myself, family, and friends over the past 3 years, so I've learned a thing or 2 about it.

In response to Greg's statements:

1. True, non-metallic tint will purple over the years. This is why I have used metallic tint exclusively for the last 3 years.

Metallic tint is the only way to go for at least two reasons: the metallic particles help to reflect the sun's energy much more efficiently that standard film. Basically you cut down the heat by at least 10-25% MORE than regular film. Also, there is no purple hazing or fading issue.

Contrary to popular belief, metallic tint IS available in the black, not just the shiny silver kind (ie. Titanium Tint, Kool Krome). It is also available in the standard shades: 50%, 35%, and 20%. I do not believe that it comes in a 5% limo tint.

(in case you don't know, the numbers mean % Visible Light Transmission, so the lower the number, the darker the tint)

2. I do have my 996TT tinted all around (20% Titanium), and there was no problem with the black window matrix. Any reputable and experienced tint person knows how to properly tint over window matrix without cutting it off. They did not shave the dots off, and I have absolutely ZERO trouble with bubbling, etc... Best of all, because of all the business I refer, I only paid $150 for METALLIC film on all 5 windows. Most good shops wont even work on a Porsche with REGULAR film for that price.

Greg, perhaps your friend is just being on the safe side, not wanting to do something that might not be to your satisfaction. I would advise you not to be afraid. As long as he has a couple years experience (or more hopefully), he should do a fine job. Of course, I'm assuming its the kind of shop that specializes in nice cars, not the $99 alarm, stereo, and tint special for souped up Civics.

Hopefully I provided some useful feedback without coming off as too much of a know-it-all. If I can assist in any way, please let me know.
-Ryan
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Turbo03

Ryan,
I appreciate your note.

The RADAR detection issue is something that I think is a real concern.

See Valentine's website FAQ's........

Does anyone have knowledge about this aspect??

Greg

Trojan Man

Just got off V-1's site. What Mike is saying is that tint on the FRONT windshield will negatively affect detection of LASER.

Having 2 cops in the family, I posed a few questions, and it turns out most laser cops are NOT aiming at your windshield to begin with - they aim at your license plate or headlights. Being that laser beams only have a few INCHES of dispersion over several hundred feet, it is unlikely that a laser beam aimed at your headlight or plate will reach the detector anyway.

Also, if your detector picked up the laser beam being shot right at it, there's a 99% chance that your speed was read anyway, so you're SOL.

About RADAR detection: Police radar is actually microwave radiation (as opposed to Laser which is light radiation). These low-level microwaves can penetrate most anything except solid metals and the other usual culprits that block microwave radiation. Window tint will NOT block RADAR detection.

At the risk of getting long winded (which I think I already am), bottom line is that yes, tint will negatively affect LASER detection only (not radar). Will this effect make a difference in the real world: IMHO, NO.

Perhaps this is why so many people on the board use the LIDATEK (EXTERIOR) system in conjuction with the V-1.

Just my 10 cents.
<img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Turbo03

Good post Ryan
This will influence my thinking on the subject.

Cheers

Blue S2

I was in this situation just recently. My carf is getting tinted as we speak. I will have it on thursday. I went with a film company called Madico. I like dark windows (black smoked glass would be ideal, but way to costly..) but in MD there is a 35% limit. Normal tint at 35% does not look that dark. Madico makes a tint that is metallic black and looking directly at it, it looks a deep black. From an angle its quite translucent though. So at 35% it satisfies my desire for the black windows look, and legal limit. Do a search for "Madico Onyx". Their website shows a pretty good spec sheet. Its not cheap though.

Paul S.

I have the same Madico film on my 996 Turbo and the two previous 996 coupes I owned before it. I live in Texas, and it's so darn hot in the summer that I cannot imagine not getting tint.

It does take a good installer, but I think that's true for any car. I don't think the 996 is harder to tint than the Dodge Stealth I once had, which had side windows that curved in 4 directions. That was hard to tint, and even that car was no problem. You just have to source out a shop that has done your model (996 in this case) car before.

I think down here it's a little easier since the Porsche dealers have many buyers who tint, so they know who to have do the work. I still remember going back to Ohio in the early 90's and the local Ziebart guy was amazed at how good my tint job was. Pretty much routine stuff, here.

amfp

I used Sunshield in New Rochelle (who still is in business) about 17 years ago for my first Porsche, and it still looks fine. I got the minimum tint. Was told the minimum tint would not affect the detector range much, and that has been true.

If you haven't already, check with your state inspection/police about tint restrictions. One of the reason I choose the lighter tint too was because IMO law enforcement are not keen about dark tinted windows, even if tint is legal. Especially in very seasonal states.

Only drawback for me is the dark tint does affect my night time rear vision, so need to use side mirror more.

Btw, I have no affiliation with the company referenced.