[ds968]

a search produced little ( actually nothing relevant ) on this topic. I'm very interested in hearing opinions from both those who tinted the windows on their 968s as well as any others who haven't but are willing to share pros and cons as you see it.. I'm thinking about going with the lightest shade of about 5 tint options, so I don't think it'll have a dramatic impact on looks, but just enough of a darker touch and about 20% temperature reduction..or so it's claimed... ( always a goal of mine when it comes to cabin temps <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ).



Was quoted $ 400, most of that going to the hatchback which is a b***h to work with, apparently.



Also heard that ANY tinting is now illegal in California, and yet it's advertised and done just about everywhere, by tons of shops including major outlets, evidently without the least bit of concern <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

on the legality subject, here is a page that lays it out:



http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/CA/



as for shops that install it in those places that are illegal, like many other things, they can sell it and install it, and you can have it on yoru car, but you just can't drive it that way



i would also be concerned about the affects it would have on the rear defogger

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[sasilverbullet]

Just about every car down here in south Texas is tinted, to include my 968. The rear glass is heavily tinted, the side windows have the legal limit for Texas. I love the look it gives to the car! When I installed my new hatch, it wasn't tinted for about two weeks and I couldn't wait for it to be tinted again.

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[ds968]

thanks Bob, very informative link.



Michael, I'm guessing with a darker color car the tinted windows ( even mid to dark range ) will not stand out as much as it would on a white or polar silver and might "blend in" better aesthetically, so I think on your car, as well as on my iris blue it probably works very nicely..



I'll see if they can paste a sample of the film on the windows and check out the result before I decide ..

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[rustech]

Just FYI, the last cars I had tinted were done about 7 years ago, but it only cost me <$200 each (top of the line tints). My 944 with the rear hatch was one of them.



Another FYI, there is no trouble tinting over the rear defogger, the trouble is if/when you choose to remove it.

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[sasilverbullet]

Yep, it looks great on the darker colors, and Speed Yellow. Be sure to get someone that has done complex glass before. I paid $495 just for the rear hatch! Expensive, but it was done right the first time and it looks like a factory tinted window.

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[PorscheDude]

I have a light tint on my polar silver coupe.

I wish I would have went with dark.



I used to live in Miami, and I can not live without tinted windows.





Have the tinting done by someone with lots of experiance as the size and shape of the rear window is a challange even for the bset guys.



BTW rear defogger is completely unaffected by the tint.

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[bob blackwell]

I had very dark tint on a previous black, 944S2 Coupe and it looked great and was very effective out here in Albuquerque at reducing interior temperature and glare. Probably helped protect the interior leather too. Good luck, Bob Blackwell.

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[flash]

really? that's cool - the tints they used to make would bubble when you used the defogger, and they always looked kind of foggy after the first time the window fogged up on the inside

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[rustech]

[quote name='sasilverbullet' post='37383' date='Jun 25 2007, 04:39 AM']Yep, it looks great on the darker colors, and Speed Yellow. Be sure to get someone that has done complex glass before. I paid $495 just for the rear hatch! Expensive, but it was done right the first time and it looks like a factory tinted window.[/quote]



Wow, that is a crazy price. The place I went was quite professional, and the tints turned out perfect. I do know I got a good deal at the time since between a friend and myself, we had multiple cars to be done.

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[EEZATOY]

Dan,



I don't know if you still have pix's from when I came down for a play day...but here are a couple of pixs of my car with the hatch and quarters tinted (and out the back through the tint) - I got it done shortly after got my car, way to hot in Sacramento not to have tint on the hatch <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> . After almost four years I have had no problems with the defogger and would speculate that helps avoid the delamination problem(?)



Sam

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[ds968]

Thanks Sam, the photos are helpful. Eric, I think you got a pretty good deal ; could be be the volume discount and also could be that prices might have gone up a bit in the last couple of years.



I stopped by two other shops today, both are used by the local Porsche dealer and Mercedes dealer, in business for 30 years, so pretty reputable places as things go.. ( the shop from which I got the first $ 400 quote is a very small place that specializes in high end auto sound systems, so not so sure about that one )..



The regular film, with ALL windows tinted the job wil be about $ 300 The shops were within a few dollars of each other. For ceramic film it's about is $ 500. Tint level being equal, the ceramic supposedly blocks out 75% more heat and UV than the regular film. I'm probably going with the ceramic.



As for appearance - I put various large film samples agianst the windows ( various darkness levels ) and after much deliberation I think I'm more likely go with one whose tint is almost undetectable, yet it has a significant heat and UV reduction rating. So I'm wimping out on the dark and mysterious look for the car

( it'll be less than 10% darker ) and going strictly for the functional factor. May be. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/dry.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Damn these hard decisions <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[BigL2U]

My wife is allergic to the Sun of all things, so I always get my windows tinted. I usually go with the legal tint and it looks great. You still get that "mysterious look" at night but I like that. (Especially when cruising around DC or Baltimore). The heat reduction in the car and on your skin is definitely noticable. The shop I use is called picture perfect and they charge $60 per window with a lifetime warranty.



L

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[sasilverbullet]

Yep, do the ceramic stuff, much better results after many years... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Straight Four]

yeah pay someone to remove it if you dont like it. My dad hated my 944's limo black tinting (prev owners installation) he was afraid a cop was going to shoot me when/if i got pulled over.



it took me three/four days to clean that sucker off. the hatch was the worst, in the end i only knicked two defrost lines. but my fingers HURT SOO much from holding that razor blade.

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[rhudeboye]

[quote name='BigL2U' post='37495' date='Jun 26 2007, 05:15 PM']The shop I use is called picture perfect and they charge $60 per window with a lifetime warranty.

L[/quote]



May I have their info and did you get the hatch done also?



David

Metro DC area

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[ds968]

in the process of looking at these tinting options I also discovered a solution ( though in appearance only ) for the hatch's black strip "disintegration" problem. The shop said they can laser cut a strip the darkest tint film they have - almost pitch black - and place it over the original. I'm thinking it should completely mask the problem, or at least, make it significantly harder to detect unless you look at it from very close range. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[BigL2U]

[quote name='rhudeboye' post='37577' date='Jun 28 2007, 08:36 AM']May I have their info and did you get the hatch done also?



David

Metro DC area[/quote]



Here's their website http://www.pictureperfectmobile.com/maintprogram.html.

The link says $80 a window but they will negotiate with you.



L

PS. I have a cab..

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[S_Cal968]

I coincidentally added tinting not long ago and yes it does add to the overall look. I was also considering doing the hatch but decided not to b/c it involved removing the hatch. And, I've heard that re-alignment is tricky.

Instead I tinted the section between the frame [at the top] and the first defrost wire. This is just enough to block direct sun on the back seat and is above view when using the rear view mirror.

The only problem I ran into was the film along the frame disintegrated upon getting wet. This is a typical issue with older cars. I ended up using a special window tape that masked the areas where the film came off.



I also had the rear windows done with a light tint to reduce heat. After checking the link Bob posted I may get the front windows done with the light tint.

The price for the hatch strip and rear windows was $130 including tip, [this vendor came to my house]. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/cool.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Gregg]

My ex CA coupe has limo tint and it is comming out for the lightest available.

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