Just got the front windows of our box tinted with SolarGard HP 22 -- perfect match.

Also, if you are in the Pittsburgh area and you need your box tinted, you have to go to John and Mark at Advantage Window Tinting in Youngwood (near Jeanette and Greensburg). It's worth the 20 minute drive and every penny you'll pay. They were $75 for the two windows, including CRL moleskin channel liners on the inside window rubbers. We talked to 4 other places and they were all $50-$60 and had never even HEARD of channel liner tape. John and Mark did a very high quality job!

thanks guys

 

I haven't heard of this either. They put moleskin in there so it doesn't scratch the tint?

 

yes. It's made by C R Laurence company and comes in a 1 or 1.5 inch strip i think... they trimmed the strip lengthwise to fit the rubber after popping the door panels off.

check the posts by tintsem -- he mentions the tape also.

 

They removed your door panels to apply the tint? Is this normal or a must with an xB? Getting my windows tinted mext week......

 

again, you should ask around, but the best tint people will tell you that it is a must...

if you don't, you can't get the film well below the window rubbers. After about a year (or less depending on window usage), the film can start to roll up at the bottom and the bottom corners).

Popping the door panels off is very easy on the xB.

Don't let the tint people talk you out of doing a pro job.

Check the site called tintdude.com for comments from pros.

 

Of the 5 cars I've had tinted with this one guy 3 sit in the driveway. Of the 3 I cna say that none have any problems. One has been tinted for well over 4 years now. I'll ask if he removes the door panels or not. Definitely got to see about the felt stripping. Can this stuff be purchased at local shops such as Pep Boys, Lowes, Home Depot, ACE Hardware, etc...? Who knows maybe he has this stuff. I'll call him tommorrow to see.

 

well.. on SOME cars it is, but not on a xB, the channels are very loose on a xB and the rubbing is so minimal it makes little difference, but it certainly doesn't hurt either.

Yes, they are very easy to remove and it makes for an easy tint job, I remove them myself - but still a totally unneeded process on an xA or xB. Many tinter also use a 'gasket wizard' which totally eliminates the need to pull a panel - I don't have them (don't like them), but they work. The bottom gasket of the two inside the door is not but 1" below the top edge, any tinter with any 1 of 10 different wedging tools can slip the tint right in there past both rubbers - and you're right, you don't get past both - it can peel after a few years, not likely, but possible.

Actually, no, they wont. Many of the BEST probably haven't even heard of the stuff (moleskin), it's pretty uncommon stuff around a tint shop. The "best" simply tell you your options, let you know that it's not a perfect or permantent fix and then let you make an informed decision if you want to use it or not. I 'felt' the plastic door swiperson SOME cars, but only those that are incredibly tight like a Mercedes. As far as the moleskin - you'll find after awhile it will begin to peel off the rubbers, CRL moleskin is not very sticky over the long run. It's funny that the shop knew about it, about the only people who do are the ones who were upsold on getting it and the ones who actually do it (and found out by trolling the window tinting messege boards - there are several).

People who know about moleskin are the same tinters who know what dryer sheets, spray sizers, furniture polish, wood clipboards, matrix-dissolvers, backrolling and etc are used for (in a tint shop). Not many - and if you found one - let everyone in your area know, he's learned his craft.

you mean NON-tint people.... why would an actual window tinter talk you out of doing a 'pro job' ??? He IS the PRO.

OMG.. that's the funniest part.. That site is visited mostly (but not entirely) by amateur window tinters and the ones who aren't are going to be extremely hostile towards any posts/questions you make there. It's actually a very BAD idea to go on that site. If you're familiar with the site, it becomes quite surprising how little many of them actually know. For the most part, it's jokes about gays, references to drug usage, paranoia about the gov't, and _____ing about the boss that they'll never be(since most are just 9-5'er employees at a tint shop). You can "check for comments" from pro's, but I would not suggest commenting yourself. They are very hostile towards "trolls" and regular non-tinter people coming in - as they put it - non-tinters trying to suck up "THEIR" hard learned skills for themselves and not giving anything in return. They're afraid you're going to try and learn yourself and take work from them. Yes, stupid I know... if you don't want people to know your secrets - then maybe they shouldn't be posted them on a website (????)

I'm really not trying to slam on your tint - it sounds like you found a true professional. It's good that you got a GOOD job (rare now) and that you're happy with it (even rarer). But, for others, just becuase your panels weren't removed or you didn't upsell and get the felt liner glued to your plastic window swipers - you can still get an incredible job done.


Last, I noticed that the tinter went to the trouble of the felt, removing the door panels and etc (and obviously has trolled the message boards). Did he go all 'show car tint job' and file the top edges of the tint and make them look even better like the factory colored glass on the back roll-up windows, or did he leave a small gap between the top edge of the tint and the top edge of the window?????

 

I took a look at the channels yesterday with the window all the way down. I can get my finger or whatever in between to clean the debris from the stripping if needed. Do you guys recommend cleaning them every so often? What is a good method to use?

About the filing of the tint at the top edge. How is this done? The tinter I use takes the tint to the top edge of the window, but not sure if he files it down....

Thanks for the feedback about the moleskin and removing the door panels. The guy did my first tint in 1998 on my Honda Civic. Who knows how long before that he started tinting windows, but he's been doing it full time out of his house since then....

 

Using a tint meter, the back, factory tinted windows allow 25% of the light through.

The front windows, next to the driver, allow 76% of the light through.

Keep in mind your local laws on front window tint, because you don't want to be out to much money when the mean officer says that you have to remove the tint.

 

Two shops (that have been in business for 10+ years) tried to talk me out of the moleskin channel liner. They said they didn't do it because "in their experience it made things worse". The real reason is that they just idn't want to do it. These same shops also said they could have me in and out in 15 minutes.

so much for alleged "pros"

for someone who spent an obviously long amount of time dissing a post, you clearly can't "speak for the pros"

 

and hey if you actually read what I said about tintdude.com, I suggested they go t here and look for comments from pros about moleskin. Nobody suggested they post something.

"OMG" -- you need to lose the attitude dude.

 

Just because they've been in business for 10+ years does not mean they're pros. Tinters are probably dime a dozen and it just depends on who you are talking to.

I don't see the channels being a problem with my xB. I'll just make sure to keep them clean as I hardly put the windows down anyhow.

 

I was actually wishing I coud remove the tint on the rear windows.
Is that possible on the XB?

 

Nope, the glass isn't tinted, it's actually colored.
The bB in Japan has clear glass though. I'm sure you could have that glass imported but it will probably be really REALLY expensive!!

 

And illegal.
It has to be DOT approved.

 

DOT, schmeeOT

 

Just my opinion- but I would stay away from aftermarket window 'tinting'. Factories don't use stick-on films. Neither should you.

The film stuff starts peeling and bubbling after a few years, and looks like crap. And the next owner will have a hell of a time trying to remove that. Nothing screams 'ghetto' like peeling tint films. I avoid that chit like the plague when I'm shopping for used cars.

 

the factory doesnt install film tint becuase the US DOT wont allow it.

also, factory colored glass doesnt filter heat, UV radiation or glass breakage protection.

the way to look at it is, which is better? A window film that was installed well and lasted 7-10 years and then needs to be replaced or no film at all and after 7-10 years and interior that is faded and sun damaged becuase there was no film on it.

It's a lot cheaper easier and faster to replace a tint job than it is to restore an interior.

Any good tinter can easily remove window film without damaging the car in any way for not very much money.

Sometimes I don't get some of the people in my own local area who argue against getting window film when they come in the shop, they wouldn't dare go outside without sunscreen on, but will think nothing of sitting in a car for hours everyday with no UV protection on the glass.