MX-3.com

My plan is to paint and then get the windows tinted.. but I figured I would ask real quick if there was a reason it would be better to go the other way? Just curious.

Tunes67

::raises eyebrow:: Sigh... ::walks away::

haha, yeah i'd paint then tint, or tint then paint, i really dont see a reson why you would have to do one before the other, but yeah i'd rather have a shiny painted mx-3 with no tint than having it the other way around.

Just because you have a custom member name

Tunes67
Supporting Member
Mr. Meticulous

doesn't mean you HAVE to ask questions like this

go with the paint first... that way if for whatever reason something goes horribly wrong and you bust a window at least you will just have to replace the window without putting more tint on...

that's the best answer I can come up with for a question like that

LOL

Hey I didnt ask for the name.. I wanted Anal Bastard but Mnemonic had it tied up apparently

:::sneaks up and puts a "Kick Me" sign on Mnemonics Back as he walks away:::

As for the question.. I really dont know all whats involved with tinting.. especially on our cars.. do they tint the inside or outside of the windows?.. cause I have seen some cars done both ways. I am tempted to get the tint done first cause I will have a meltdown of major proportions if one of these Tint Monkeys scuffs up my fresh paint LOL I might even slam their laptop closed (This is only funny if you've seen the commercial)

Tunes67

paint 1st then tint tunes gahhhh!!!

unless you like having a multicolored car with some really nice tinted windows...

and next time tunes, do a search man, this topic has been covered several times...

How's the fat cat btw?

Search? Me? And Hairball is doing just fine.. he sat in the window and watched me fire up the GS last night Apparently the HLA noise was a bit much for him though.. he didnt hang out long

Tunes67

hehehe

Mnemonic wrote: unless you like having a multicolored car with some really nice tinted windows...

LOL check out my worklog of the fast car if you want to see this... I drove for about 2 years with a red and blue creek mica car + carbon fiber hood but I had sweet tint!!

and Tunes - you have a cat? I have one also... Her name is Chunky and she is 11 years old!

Yup.. Hairball is about 4-5 years old now.. weighs just shy of 20lbs.. he is half Maincoon. Here is a pic of him..



He lives upto his name too.. I swear every time I vacuum the floor I get enough hair to make 2 more cats.

Tunes67

Hmm, got the car repainted 2 years ago, and I still haven't had her tinted in the 5+ years i've owned her, lol

I aint putting $1500 + worth of electronics in the car and let it all be visible. I'd rather keep my stuff rather than show it off

Tunes67

I'd go with the paint 1st

I definitely suggest tinting first. with the summer heat, it will be nice to have protection from the sun's beating. also, another benefit that most people don't think about with tinted windows is the added protection from theft. while it's true that someone can pop you locks or door handles...most thieves will not bother busting out your windows because experience will tell them that the glass will not shatter. this means they would have to take the extra time to push the window out of the door frame...and since most are in a hurry, tint makes for a rather effective deterrent.

as for tinting, you may already know that tinting goes on the inside of the glass. although i've not yet gotten around to tinting mine (gimme a break, i bought it a month ago yesterday), i can tell you that it's the hatch glass that will me the most difficult. when cutting the tint, it is applied to the outside of the glass with simple soapy water. using a squeegee, press the tint flat using outward motions beginning from the center. cut the shape with a razorblade, then form the tint (for curved surfaces) with a heatgun. be very careful not to singe the tint. if the tint is not properly formed, it will eventually bubble (and badly considering the curvature of the hatchglass). tinting the door glass is much easier. you once the tint is layed on, simply use the top of the window as a cutting guide, then slide the tint down about a 1/4" (this keeps the tint from being stripped by rolling up the window) and then slice off the bottom around 1/2" below the door (this keeps the bottom from being stripped when rolling down the window). i strongly recommend using some sort of stencil for rounding off any sharp corners...actually a quarter works well for this. once the cuts are satisfactory, you simply peel away the clear sheeting, soap up the interior glass and apply the tint in the same manner as you did on the outside. (i think it should go without saying that you'll need to have the door panel removed for this part...but i'm saying it anyway). be sure to not roll down your window for a few days as you allow the tint to fully adhere (you can speed this up initially with a little heatgun action, but i'd still recommend the three day wait regardless).

if you plan on tinting yourself, i recommend that you use a metallic based tint...the cheaper stuff tends to fade to an ugly purple over time. if you're going to a professional, make sure that they guaranty their work because of the likelihood of hatch bubbling.