TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:43 pm

Can anyone recommend at place to get their (91 Vanagon Carat) windows tinted near Portland Oregon? Also, how much should it cost.

Thanks,
Avi

Sun Mar 24, 2013 10:58 pm

What a great question, maybe it's cheaper down there!

I just looked into it here in Richmond BC:
http://www.automagic.com/

Was told the tinting would be $300 AND to do it properly, I'd have to pay someone (else) to remove them first. Unless those sliding windows are out, he cant' get them right to the edge, which looks funny. He also can't do the back closet of the Westy.

This guy used to have a Westy himself and did my car tinting. Great job on my car, was there b/c the dingbat that detailed it sprayed something on the tinted window, which made it lift, so they were replacing it (for free).

Best of luck!

tam

Mon Mar 25, 2013 7:56 am

Tommy,s 915 se 12th.they do good work.when i worked 4 cadillac dealership they used him

Wed Mar 27, 2013 12:45 pm

I had Moose's window tint done at Tommy's. Go talk to Tommy himself, he's usually there.

I wouldn't trust anyone else with my windows.

They do phenomenal work.

Fri Mar 29, 2013 7:08 am

Timely post! I've got a 90 Westy and have been thinking about redoing my tint as well. I'd be interested in talking to Tommy, too ... Maybe we can have them do both at the same time for efficiency? Send me a PM if you'd like to coordinate that.

Ty

Fri Mar 29, 2013 9:02 am

I would be interested as well. What was the ball park price?

Fri Mar 29, 2013 9:06 am

I'm smelling a "group buy" ...

Fri Mar 29, 2013 7:53 pm

I could be in a group buy.... Let me know

Tue Apr 02, 2013 8:20 pm

Yes very timely post. I am looking to get mine done this week as I'd like to get started on getting my interior back in as it's currently out for a restoration that I've been doing on it. I'll be calling tomorrow but would like to know what quotes others have received and if anyone's organized a group rate?
Cheers,
glen

Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:58 pm

I could certainly be into a group rate if available. The trick isn't so much hiding the money spent from my wife it's trying to hide the tinted windows.....
Unless they are some how safer than untinted windows??, hmmmm :lol:

Wed Apr 03, 2013 5:19 am

x3 on a group rate, I know a guy who knows a guy! I will look into it. I know he's been doing it scince the days of the bass bumping mini trucks. Thank god some trends die-

Wed Apr 03, 2013 6:52 am

I'm in on the group buy, too! Has anyone contacted Tommy's on this?

Jahbah, it is a safety issue! Tinted windows keep your car cooler AND protect your stuff from thieves.

John

Wed Apr 03, 2013 1:05 pm

Y'alls may want to read this thread:

tint on front windows, pro-con?
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=425464

IMHO, the best way to deal with the rear Westy cabinet is to just remove the cheapo cardboard panel next to the rear driver window. This allows TintMan to do your rear left window and gives you a bit more storage room in the closet.

I am loving the 20% tint here in Portland.

Be SURE your windows are super clean on the inside before you give the shop your van! The shop may not clean them as well as you would.

-CJ

Fri Apr 05, 2013 8:48 am

I called Tommy's and they said that it's one of those types of vehicles that they like to see to quote due to the access issues with various vans. I was able to send pics of mine which has a completely gutted interior and brand new window seals all around. So there's the access issue and they also take out the middle slider windows to get the film in all the way around. So the fact that they are new or are being replaced is important to them. They quoted $295 for the job.
Again no group deal it looks like :-/

Another place is windowtinking.com. I was quoted $229 for a minivan having been quoted from their online tool.

anyway food for thought!
-glen

Fri Apr 05, 2013 1:10 pm

Methinks $295 is a fair price from a reputable shop.
I paid bit less than that from a not so great shop, and have slight regrets.

Fri Apr 05, 2013 3:30 pm

Any preference on the % of tint?? Any regrets going too light or too dark??

Fri Apr 05, 2013 3:33 pm

I was just going to ask the same question ~ doing mine this summer too.

I've had suggestions of fronts 25%, mids 35%, and rear hatch 25%.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the tint get darker the lower the percentage?

what would be considered, 'limo' ?

Fri Apr 05, 2013 6:02 pm

Limo is 5%. I went with 15 or 20% tint (can't recall which) for the rears, and 35% for front sides. Nothing on the windshield, though I'd consider the Llumar or 3M designed for that application simply for the reduction in heat transfer. No tint per say, just a filtering film.

When making a decision, the film quality is just as important as choosing the right installer. 3M and Llumar are top brands, and I know there are a couple others I can't recall right now.

Fri Apr 05, 2013 7:19 pm

if you have a branch of accutint down there, stay away !!

I thought they'd do a good job on a pair of small doka sliders and they f'd it up and refused to refund my money as they said they would if I wasn't happy.

I proved to them that what I wanted could be done with cheap tint, but they said they couldn't do it. I don't even tint for a living and I did a vastly better job then they did.

all I wanted was for them to slide the tint under the slider window felt so that felt seal was covered by the tint. they said it's very hard to do and if they couldn't, they would put a "small" stripe of vinyl tape to cover it...small is 1-1/2" wide tape ?!?!?
and they added the same black tape over the bottom edge felt too...man what losers !!
ya know I figured with the Porsches and Ferraris in their lot they could manage to tint 4 pieces of dead flat glass...but no, they cant.

Wed May 22, 2013 8:06 am

Any updates on tint? How did it turn out?