Have read the horror stories about Tint King online - enough to make me stay away. Looking for someone in the Mississauga/Oakville/Halton area.

Whats the best tint - and who should do it?

 

Haveing a black interior, I'd be interested in hearing about this aswell. Maybe include the Burlington area aswell.

 

are you going for the Gangster-Ish Tint?

 

My shop specializes in flat glass films, most security laminates, but learned a thing or two about car tinting. There are dyed films and metalized films. Metalized comes also in greys and other colours and looks quite sharp. Metalized films have a very thin amount of powdered aluminum sputtered onto the surface and that can also have an effect on radio and data signals as the car becomes shielded. Dyed film was on the outs for a while but the radio situation has brought them back. They tend to be thicker than metalized films, but you'd be hard pressed to notice after it's on the glass. There are a couple of rules ( police rules) you need to know. In some jurisdictions laws dictate how dark you can tint the drivers and front passenger windows. It's almost always 35%. The rear windows can be darker 20%. The % is the amount of light that passes through the film. Ontario does not have a law and strictly speaking nothing is allowed beyond OEM. However it become discretionary on the part of LE. Generally 35% will be accepted but the rule is generally that the driver must be identifiable and that other users of the road can make eye contact. Makes sense to me. In any case reputable shops will not go darker than 35% for driver and front passenger side.

Most shops that offer tinting don't do it themselves and have mobile tinters come in on demand. There are several who are very, very, good at it, comes down to the 10,000 hour rule. The more you do the better it gets.

It is my intention to offer tinting, paint protection and wraps in my new location in West Oakville. The plan is to do enough business that our staff will do all the work. The place i'm looking at is over 4000 sq ft of shop so there lots of room to work with. We expect to be operational mid November and start slowly getting the systems in place and training staff and have a grand opening in Spring of 2012. During that time we will be looking for cars to work on and rates will be ridiculous. So if you can wait?

Outside of that let me know and i'll hook you up with some guys. You'll need a garage, nice and clean with good lighting.

 

Great information Jim, and something to file for future reference. However, I was under the impression that you could go to 5% (i.e. Limo Tint) on the rear? I had this done on some cars "back in the day" and it was legit at the time, unless the laws have changed.

 

I had a Cop Pull me over when i had my VW in High School. My Tints were Legal but the cop felt it was not and removed or Peeled most of it off on the Spot. there was nothing i could do. Since then i have never Tinted any of my cars. F*&^ing Pigs

 

Yes, that is so. You can completely black out the windows back of the driver.

 

Jim, I would like to have your guys do the back window of my 944. Like the 968 window, it's a notoriously hard piece to do, and I am not that convinced of the local skill level where I am.

Could you also re-seal the hatch glass to the frame?

 

Sure, but you'd have to sign a waiver. I had a 944 and know of what you speakith. There is a technique for heat stretching convex windows, it takes a lot of time though. I've asked about the 944 windows and they are infamous in the trade. Some folks won't touch them, some quote stupid rates, like 800 bucks hoping you'll go somewhere else. BTW that's not how I do business so if you want your 944 hatch done, consider it done.

 

Hey guys, I know a guy - his name is Mark and he is THE BEST. He has his own shop - Tint Excel. He does many dealerships, including Audi, BMW, Porsche. Uses only the best stuff, lifetime guarantee, and he is an independent guy that loves cars and especially working on Porsches.. He is a great guy, will take care of you, takes pride in his work, and will do an amazing job. He has done all of my cars, and it always turns out perfectly. He even re-did my 911 twice because I am so picky and thought it was too dark... He is located just west of Cawthra north of Dundas. Give him a call - tell him "RO-RO" sent you - he'll take care of you. He isn't cheap - but my experience is you get what you pay for.
PM me for his contact info if you are interested.

 

JimV8,

Any updates with your plan mentioned above?

TIA

 

After careful consideration, mostly relating to willingness to take on aggravation, I decided against opening a retail film outlet.

 

So did you end up finding a place to do the tinting, and if so how did it turn out?

I just booked with Superior but still have time to change if there are convincing reasons to do so.

TIA

 

It's on hold for now. Jim told me at breakfast a few months ago he wasn't going to do a start up and as it was winter at the time we put it off. Now I'm trying to complete most of my renovation before the end of April when I go away to Germany so the tinting is off for now until after. Also getting the IMS bearing changed out along with a few other upgrades while I'm away so the caddie tint is on the back burner.