challer2000

I just bought a 94 Subaru Impreza for my beater now I can finally put my 7 in hibernation. While its in napping I was thinking about re tinting the windows. Has anyone done it them selves? And how hard is it? If I don’t have it done professionally, what is a good tint to buy?

GavinJuice

get it done professionally, it will be worth it.

Naegleria_Fowleri

Pro-status is the only way to go.

good choice on a "beater" as well.

challer2000

Thanks I probably should have used the term “nice beater” but it still not as nice as a 7.

clbsinvaders

Agreed. but do the tint professionally, not that stuff from AutoZone or Pep Boys, it bubbles up and looks like a pos. Just take it to a shop, it's worth it as stated. My friend did his on his celica and regretted it.

Naegleria_Fowleri

Ah, I'm looking for an older BMW as a beater.

challer2000

There was an 84i in the lower part of Michigan for around 1800 it was a manual with low miles if I remember right. It was on mlive.com if your interested.

Naegleria_Fowleri

I actually need something about ten years newer for the sake of its going to become a daily driver, plus haul around a kid when my girlfriend has her baby. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't even be looking for another car.

dj55b

iTrader: (2)

do it the pro way, its reallly not that expensive. Make sure you use the mettalic stuff (i think thats the right term), not the dyed stuff. The dyed film fades over the year thats what you usually see on the older cars.

DriftFB

The previous owner tried doing it himself on my car, it looked like ***, all faded purple, wrinkles in it.

So since I know a tint guy I too it to him, the side windows are all easy enough, but he said the back window is a 8/10 on difficulty, it took him maybe 30-45 minutes of cutting, heat shrinking, measuring, repeating, to get it looking good.

So in short, have a pro do it.

nick812

lol I took the glass to get it tinted they said they never had any 1 do it that way. It looked really good because they was able to tint the whole window. The hatch they said was 100x easyer that way.

twinkletoes

iTrader: (17)

I got tint on my windows and its pretty good. Its professional though. I didn't get it either. I would have a profesional do it.

challer2000

I'll have a profesional do it, does 200 sound like a fair price for hatch and 2 doors?

aa35199

iTrader: (1)

Just got my beater, a 91 sentra that was declared totaled 4 seperate times and has a racing battery switch to keep the battery from discharging when the cars off. $100, I think I got ripped off.

*Edit* Forgot to mention that the frame is so trashed (accidents, rust, or both) that when you open the door it drops 2 inches.

SPERRYsan

iTrader: (1)

get the rear hatch professionally done
but you can get very good results on thequarter windows and roll ups
Mine turned out perfect except for damn dog hairs on the roll ups

take the door panels off and unscrew the windows pop off the clips and you can pull the window out
makes it very easy to do

dont worry if you screw up a couple times its still alot cheaper than pro jobs

Nismo Convert86

iTrader: (7)

I know it's not a nissan forum, but that sounds like it's more hinge pins, my old Sentra did the same.

1badFB

iTrader: (1)

The most important part of tinting your windows is prepping them. If the glass isnt 100% free of any dirt or crap its going to show up under the tint.
The actual job of tinting is easy (except for the rear window) IF you are comfortable taking the glass out of the doors. With the glass out of the doors the job is one of the easiest things to do, the hardest part is trimming the tint along the edge of the window.

I tinted my side windows by myself, and it was quite successfull considering I had never even touched tint before that. All you have to do is follow the instructions with the tint, and do the trimming on the door windows after everything is dry. The rear 1/4 windows are super easy as well, but require the tint to be cut into the right shape before applying. This is very easy because they are already black around the perimeter so your cuts arent as crucial as most windows. I cut a rough paper template just larger than the transparent part of the window from the outside, and then just made sure it fit nicely on the inside, I then cut 2 pieces out of the tint and they were ready to apply.

Just remember that if it wrinkles, or your not happy with it just pull it off while you can. Once its dried on, it takes some nasty stuff to get it off.

The only reason the back window is tough to do is because the compound curve in the window requires that the tint is heated and sorta streched into the contours. Its do-able if you take some time to research the techniques, but a single window like that is only about 80 bucks to do (much better than what a whole car would cost..maybe 200+).
Theres also nothing more satisfying than doing it yourself. Here is a picture of my first tinting job.

I vote you give it a shot yourself, worst case scenario you've spent and afternoon and 20 bucks on tint. I feel the risk is worth the potential payoff! Just remember that if you dont like how it looks, pull it off and have a professional to do it.

1badFB

iTrader: (1)

If you want to give it a shot, and have any more questions feel free to PM me. I am willing to help a brotha out with whatever I can!
Good luck if you decide to tackle the project.