DIY Window Tint?

[87Warrior]

Has anybody successfully used any of the DIY auto window tinting? I am contemplating about doing it to the back 3 windows of the 2door XJ. No moving windows to worry about. The goal? Some privacy and to keep the interior temps down in the heat of the sun.

 

Can it be done, at home, and result in a quality job? If so, what are the tips and tricks you would suggest? Soapy water and a credit card?

 

Most of the shops that do window tinting seem real shady in my books and I would rather not give them a Jeep to, enjoy...

[comanche12]

i do but i highly recommend you to take it to professional because of lifetime warranty, more likely perfect install, better quality compare to auto part stores that sell tint films.

[88pioneer]

if you take your time it can be done pretty good in my opinion. did the windows on my XJ an my buddy's S10. Came out pretty good. If possible do it indoors, the wind makes it a pain

[1990 Pioneer 4x4]

Wouldn’t do it. Use your credit card to hire a pro. I only spent $140 on three windows for my Dakota. They came out to my house and warrantees the work for as long as I own the vehicle.

 

Ever see those cars/trucks with the real bad bubble job on the tint? There’s a reason for that.

[comanche12]

Wouldn’t do it. Use your credit card to hire a pro. I only spent $140 on three windows for my Dakota. They came out to my house and warrantees the work for as long as I own the vehicle.

 

Ever see those cars/trucks with the real bad bubble job on the tint? There’s a reason for that.

:agree: thats exactly why i highly recommend to take it to a pro.

 

ouch 140 is pretty high. i did mine for 150 on 5 windows

[terrawombat]

I've gone both routes. I tried to tint the windows on the hard top of my old YJ. I thought I followed the instructions to a T, but it was bubble city as soon as the sun came out.

 

Had my Mitsubishi 3000GT professionally done for $250 at a very reputable shop and it came with a lifetime warranty. Been on that car for 5+ years and not a single problem.

[btm24]

idk my brother had his 79 trans am done at a place in town for 100 and it looked great but for 20 me and a buddy did his windows in his f150 and that looked great. took a while but if u don't have a $100 do it your self 8)

[MjPioneer]

I tried mine myself and let me tell you a few things... Make sure you don't buy purple! I thought I was getting black and when I slapped it on it was and still is Purple! Don't bother trying to do it outside the wind will blow the tint all over the place and it will stick/grab anything it touches. Be patient! I have many little bubbles in my tint because I wanted to be done with it.

 

But I'd do it again.

[johnnyc]

I've had the same place, Tint Masters, do two Jeeps and a Protege. Excellent work and the lifetime warranty. I always make an appointment for a Saturday morning. Drop the vehicle off, walk to Denny's for breakfast, read the paper, walk back, and it's done.

[XJ Maki]

I just did mine about a month ago with 20% film. 1 roll did all 7 windows for about $15. I think they came out great. I've also had windows tinted professionally on 2 vehicles, one came out amazingly perfect and the other not so good and 2 windows needed to be redone within a month.

 

On my MJ I pulled the door glass and did them inside, that way I was able to extend the tint all the way edge to edge to hopefully reduce the chance of it peeling up when the windows are rolled up & down...so far so good. On the back glass I made templates out of poster board and cut the film inside. The back windows have 1/2" wide dark strips on either side that give you some leeway with positioning the tint. Remove the latch, don't try to trim around it.

 

Clean everything really well first, use a razor blade on the glass and a lint free cloth. Then use a spray bottle filled with water and tiny bit of dish soap and spray it generously, both the windows and the film as you peel the backing away. That step is especially important to prevent bits of airborne dust from getting sttracted to the film's adhesive. You can slide the film around and into position once on the glass with everything good and wet. Then use a quality soft plastic squeegee and take your time squeezing the water out to the edges. Spray both sides of the film to help the squeegee slide better.

 

I'll post a pic when I get home. Like anything else if you take your time and concentrate on the quality of your work you can do a near professional job yourself.

[comanche12]

also other tip when ur clean ur window after tinted.. use non-ammonia cleaner only.

 

ammonia will damage the tint film and eat the tint glue.