Window Tinting

[Houtex]

I didn’t wait long to get my windows tinted after getting the car. I did some research, but not exhaustive research like I sometimes do. I settled on Xpel XR Plus, which is a ceramic window tint. I decided to do the two front windows and the windshield. This is the first time I’ve ever tinted the windshield in a car. I am very happy with the results. My car has been sitting outside in the Florida sun for three days and I can tell you it makes a huge difference.

I did the fronts with 30% and the windshield with 70%. The 70% does not affect the darkness of your windshield, even if it’s hard to tell from the pictures. The ceramic tint does not interfere with any of the car’s electronics. The Xpel XR Plus is expensive, but I am glad I did it. They offered insurance in case of a chipped windshield, which I did not take, but for me that’s like a coin toss and I may go back and purchase it if I’m still able to.

 

[hinckley]

These things are difficult to capture in pictures, but I'm surprised that the 30% side window tint looks lighter than the factory's tint on the passenger and rear windows.

I did even less work than you did. When I asked my (great) sales guy about a tint shop recommendation, he offered to pay for the side windows personally. As I say, a good guy. I didn't want to be ungrateful and didn't ask anything more. I figured if I didn't like what he did, I would re-do it myself. But I think my side windows came out a bit closer to the factory tint, which was what I wanted.

@Houtex, yours is a great looking vehicle. We don't do enough glamor shots on this forum. Here's mine . . .

 

[markfm]

These things are difficult to capture in pictures, but I'm surprised that the 30% side window tint looks lighter than the factory's tint on the passenger and rear windows.

I did even less work than you did. When I asked my (great) sales guy about a tint shop recommendation, he offered to pay for the side windows personally. As I say, a good guy. I didn't want to be ungrateful and didn't ask anything more. I figured if I didn't like what he did, I would re-do it myself. But I think my side windows came out a bit closer to the factory tint, which was what I wanted.

@Houtex, yours is a great looking vehicle. We don't do enough glamor shots on this forum. Here's mine . . .

View attachment 20862

Is that the Silver Radiance exterior? I'm trying to decide if I want to go for that or the Whisper Blue Metallic Clearcoat (in a '25). I'm leaning towards Whisper Blue, but the silver might work nicely with the Black Onyx/Medium Light Space Gray interior (I expect the BO/MLSG should be nice for screen visibility)

 

[hinckley]

Is that the Silver Radiance exterior? I'm trying to decide if I want to go for that or the Whisper Blue Metallic Clearcoat (in a '25). I'm leaning towards Whisper Blue, but the silver might work nicely with the Black Onyx/Medium Light Space Gray interior (I expect the BO/MLSG should be nice for screen visibility)

I really like the new Whisper Blue. It's unique and looks great with the black roof. It would have been my second choice if it was available for MY24. Mine is Chroma Caviar Dark Grey, which I think is a Black Label only color. It's darker than Silver Radiance with beautiful brown metallic flecks. It's a very rich-looking color, I think.

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[olderbudweiser]

Just had 15% 3M ceramic put on front driver and passenger windows, 70% ceramic on the rest except for the windshield. Me likeee

 

[hinckley]

Just had 15% 3M ceramic put on front driver and passenger windows, 70% ceramic on the rest except for the windshield. Me likeee

Pic please?

 

[swindler]

Car looks real nice @Houtex. I might suggest getting all windows tinted though, even the rear windows. They don't have the IR-stopping powers of the ceramic tint. Just use the same 70% you used for the windshield.

Anybody use Llumar? The film is US made by Eastman and is supposed to be the most durable and longest lasting.

I've used XPEL twice before and I think it's great, I was just wondering if anyone has experience with Llumar.

 

[foo3922]

Car looks real nice @Houtex. I might suggest getting all windows tinted though, even the rear windows. They didn't have the IR-stopping powers of the ceramic tint. Just use the same 70% you used for the windshield.

Anybody use Llumar? The film is US made by Eastman and is supposed to be the most durable and longest lasting.

I've used XPEL twice before and I think it's great, I was just wondering if anyone has experience with Llumar.

I’ve used Llumar Stratos for my last two cars, and Pinnacle the one before that. Llumar works very well and I’m happy. I’ll say though, it doesn’t match the color shade of the factory tint as well as Pinnacle when looking from the inside out. A minor gripe.

I tinted my front and windshield. The windshield is Vue (I think that’s the name) which is a specially formulated “clear” tint for maximum heat rejection. It was the only thing the shop in Texas would allow me, citing regulation.

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[swindler]

I’ve used Llumar Stratos for my last two cars, and Pinnacle the one before that. Llumar works very well and I’m happy. I’ll say though, it doesn’t match the color shade of the factory tint as well as Pinnacle when looking from the inside out. A minor gripe.

I tinted my front and windshield. The windshield is Vue (I think that’s the name) which is a specially formulated “clear” tint for maximum heat rejection. It was the only thing the shop in Texas would allow me, citing regulation.

Thanks. I've been looking at the Stratos and IRX lines. I think the clear line is 'Air', as they have an 80 and 90 film. They also have one that's just UV, but I don't think I'd be interested in that.

I've heard some of their films can have a slight blueish tint. Is that what you're seeing? The dye-based films can offer a great color match, but they don't work well for IR rejection. I'm in a Texas as well, and those 100° days are just around the corner.

 

[APL Rep]

These things are difficult to capture in pictures, but I'm surprised that the 30% side window tint looks lighter than the factory's tint on the passenger and rear windows.

I did even less work than you did. When I asked my (great) sales guy about a tint shop recommendation, he offered to pay for the side windows personally. As I say, a good guy. I didn't want to be ungrateful and didn't ask anything more. I figured if I didn't like what he did, I would re-do it myself. But I think my side windows came out a bit closer to the factory tint, which was what I wanted.

@Houtex, yours is a great looking vehicle. We don't do enough glamor shots on this forum. Here's mine . . .

View attachment 20862

30% (darkest legal) Pinnacle I believe is what they use.

 

[Houtex]

These things are difficult to capture in pictures, but I'm surprised that the 30% side window tint looks lighter than the factory's tint on the passenger and rear windows.

I wanted to be legal in both Texas (25%) and Florida (28%) where I spend most of my time. I posted several pictures of the front so you could see the difference depending on how the light hits it. It is definitely lighter than the back windows, but I’m OK with that. I think it’s the nature of the ceramic tint.

 

[Houtex]

Car looks real nice @Houtex. I might suggest getting all windows tinted though, even the rear windows. They don't have the IR-stopping powers of the ceramic tint. Just use the same 70% you used for the windshield.

Anybody use Llumar? The film is US made by Eastman and is supposed to be the most durable and longest lasting.

I've used XPEL twice before and I think it's great, I was just wondering if anyone has experience with Llumar.

Thanks. I did consider doing the the backs and I may yet in the future for the reasons you mention.

Llumar was another one I was considering but when I started looking for dealers in Houston, I was having trouble finding any near me.

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[olderbudweiser]

Pic please?

I'll try, but if you have read some of my posts I'm zero tech and or up to date on that stuff.

 

[RetiredGuyinFL]

I also installed the Xpel Prime XR 30% front doors and 70% windshield soon after I picked up my car on February 10. Very satisfied. And although most states don't permit windshield tinting except the top few inches (which are already), the 70% tint is not apparent to anyone but still provides the UV and IR rejection and heat reduction. As far as blocking transmitters, they must be mounted in the Frits area around the mirror housing -- that area of the black matrix dots. The Mach-E manual clearly calls out that is the only area to mount RFID transponders, and not anywhere else on the windshield. This warning did not make it into the Nautilus manual.

 

[ArloHenry]

I didn’t wait long to get my windows tinted after getting the car. I did some research, but not exhaustive research like I sometimes do. I settled on Xpel XR Plus, which is a ceramic window tint. I decided to do the two front windows and the windshield. This is the first time I’ve ever tinted the windshield in a car. I am very happy with the results. My car has been sitting outside in the Florida sun for three days and I can tell you it makes a huge difference.

I did the fronts with 30% and the windshield with 70%. The 70% does not affect the darkness of your windshield, even if it’s hard to tell from the pictures. The ceramic tint does not interfere with any of the car’s electronics. The Xpel XR Plus is expensive, but I am glad I did it. They offered insurance in case of a chipped windshield, which I did not take, but for me that’s like a coin toss and I may go back and purchase it if I’m still able to.

Glad to hear the tint worked out so well! Ceramic really makes a difference in the Florida sun and sounds like you made a smart choice with the Xpel XR Plus.