Norcal tint shop
04-17-06, 11:48 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by RMMGS4
Well first off it is by appointment as they have 2 locations.
You can stay there and wait but I think it takes atleast a couple of hours.
It never hurts to mention CL. They will atleast stay honest with what they have charged the rest of us and I will add future influence in trying to get us the best pricing.
We give a lot of free recommendations for their shop so it is definitely time to ask for payback. I will probably hit them up for donations at the upcoming meets.
Overall his pricing is competitive and workmanship always high. They don't really try to get over on anyone, but it never hurts to mention CL like I said.
Mentioning my name (Glen) doesn't hurt either.
You can stay there and wait but I think it takes atleast a couple of hours.
It never hurts to mention CL. They will atleast stay honest with what they have charged the rest of us and I will add future influence in trying to get us the best pricing.
We give a lot of free recommendations for their shop so it is definitely time to ask for payback. I will probably hit them up for donations at the upcoming meets.
Overall his pricing is competitive and workmanship always high. They don't really try to get over on anyone, but it never hurts to mention CL like I said.
Mentioning my name (Glen) doesn't hurt either.
04-17-06, 11:52 PM
#17
Originally Posted by AznJason
How much would it be to get V-Kool on all 7 (?) windows?
I have no clue. Another CL member did it and was quite impressed. It's too long ago to remember what he paid, but I know it wasn't cheap.
Give Sid a call for the best advice. Not sure if he recommends all the windows or not.
04-18-06, 12:17 AM
#18
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Well I took Glen's (RMMGS4) advice about a month ago from my post in the NorCal section and got my windows tinted at Auto Mall Tint Specialists. They did an outstanding job and were very patient explaining the tints, blending and giving recommendations. They have a 2 bay shop, tons of customer cars displaying their work, and almost every tint they sell on display glass so you can compare tints and % levels of darkness.
It took them about 3 hours to do the job and it looks great. Lifetime warranty on the tints and workmanship so you can't go wrong. If you tint the front windows they will ask you to sign a wavier. I did mention Glen and CL and was dealt with very fairly and given a good price. Certainly in the range of what I paid for my last 2 cars that I had done in florida.
You can drive down there and drop the car off and go test drive some cars at the 'strip' while you wait. There is also a gas station and starbucks within walking distance and their waiting room is filled with good mags. They let me hang around and watch the final rear windows being done which is pretty cool. They take good care of your car and were careful about scratches and treated it like it was their own car....I guess you can tell by now I had a postive experience with them and recommand them highly
pics here... about 1 month ago during one of our rare sunny days
It took them about 3 hours to do the job and it looks great. Lifetime warranty on the tints and workmanship so you can't go wrong. If you tint the front windows they will ask you to sign a wavier. I did mention Glen and CL and was dealt with very fairly and given a good price. Certainly in the range of what I paid for my last 2 cars that I had done in florida.
You can drive down there and drop the car off and go test drive some cars at the 'strip' while you wait. There is also a gas station and starbucks within walking distance and their waiting room is filled with good mags. They let me hang around and watch the final rear windows being done which is pretty cool. They take good care of your car and were careful about scratches and treated it like it was their own car....I guess you can tell by now I had a postive experience with them and recommand them highly
pics here... about 1 month ago during one of our rare sunny days
04-18-06, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by RMMGS4
Well sure. It has been mentioned on the NorCal section for years and now I see here on the IS section some recommendations to to go to Sidney Lee at Auto Mall Tint Specialists in Fremont AutoMall Exit.
They have been in business for over 15 years and have done tons of CL members cars. There are basically two key people that do most of the work. They are the owner (Sid) and his partner. This means the quality is consistently high and the overhead is low. I always stay away from car stereo, tint and other service shops where they have a revolving door of employees. No quality control in that environment.
Their High end is the Huber, but the best for keeping heat out is their v-cool. The films that are reflective have the metal content which can interfere with the Nav. Talk to Sid for advice on their films. He knows all the good attributes about the tint he sells and is pretty good at helping his customers decide what to get and warantees everything.
They have been in business for over 15 years and have done tons of CL members cars. There are basically two key people that do most of the work. They are the owner (Sid) and his partner. This means the quality is consistently high and the overhead is low. I always stay away from car stereo, tint and other service shops where they have a revolving door of employees. No quality control in that environment.
Their High end is the Huber, but the best for keeping heat out is their v-cool. The films that are reflective have the metal content which can interfere with the Nav. Talk to Sid for advice on their films. He knows all the good attributes about the tint he sells and is pretty good at helping his customers decide what to get and warantees everything.
04-18-06, 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted by AznJason
Is his partner's name Gerardo? That's the guy I talked with. I'll be dropping off my car tomorrow for V-Kool tinting, so we'll see how it goes.
What % did you decide on?
04-18-06, 05:06 PM
#23
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Well, since I'm doing V-Kool, it'll be 70% on the sides (V-Kool only comes at 70%), and possibly a 35% HP on the back (depends on what matches best).
I got quoted $500 flat w/ everything included. It was originally 195 for the front windows, 220 for the back windows, and 100 for the rear windshield (HP). I know V-Kool is expensive, but is this too much?
I got quoted $500 flat w/ everything included. It was originally 195 for the front windows, 220 for the back windows, and 100 for the rear windshield (HP). I know V-Kool is expensive, but is this too much?
04-18-06, 10:30 PM
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Originally Posted by AznJason
Well, since I'm doing V-Kool, it'll be 70% on the sides (V-Kool only comes at 70%), and possibly a 35% HP on the back (depends on what matches best).
I got quoted $500 flat w/ everything included. It was originally 195 for the front windows, 220 for the back windows, and 100 for the rear windshield (HP). I know V-Kool is expensive, but is this too much?
I got quoted $500 flat w/ everything included. It was originally 195 for the front windows, 220 for the back windows, and 100 for the rear windshield (HP). I know V-Kool is expensive, but is this too much?
I did HP all around and it only a few hundred less than your quote.
BTW - you coming out to the Norcal meet this sat?
04-18-06, 10:43 PM
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Originally Posted by menech
Not sure, I know V-Kool is fairly expensive and pretty rare/limited. I've never priced it myself but I doubt they are ripping you off since they support the community and members here. Maybe others that has V-kool can offer feedback on your price.
I did HP all around and it only a few hundred less than your quote.
BTW - you coming out to the Norcal meet this sat?
I did HP all around and it only a few hundred less than your quote.
BTW - you coming out to the Norcal meet this sat?
How many people usually attend? It says there's parking for 50+. I'll feel so out of place with my stock car
04-18-06, 10:52 PM
#26
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Originally Posted by AznJason
Thinking about it, but not sure. I usually don't wake up til 2 on Saturdays
How many people usually attend? It says there's parking for 50+. I'll feel so out of place with my stock car
How many people usually attend? It says there's parking for 50+. I'll feel so out of place with my stock car
04-18-06, 11:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Tony1
I think 45% is way too light, go with 35% all around, why would you want
to mix and match your window tints?
to mix and match your window tints?
Window tint on the front windows is illegal in California when I last checked. Getting darker tint in the back makes the light tint in front look less like it was actually tinted.
04-19-06, 12:02 AM
#28
Originally Posted by thenod
Window tint on the front windows is illegal in California when I last checked. Getting darker tint in the back makes the light tint in front look less like it was actually tinted.
Ahh , don't lose sight of our point from previous discussions on our blending trick.
That's the beauty of v-cool. Fading 70% on the front windows, 50% on the rear side and 20-30% on the rear window makes for a real smooth transition.
I'd say the odds are 90% in your favor that you won't get pulled over with 70% on your front windows and the blending makes all the windows look tinted without the abrupt change from say no tint on the driver door to dark limo tint on the rear passenger doors. I hate that look.
I didn't use v-cool on my car, but I have a darker 40/30/20 blended tint. With a black interior it is even more deceiving that the tints on each window are not the same.
Over 5 years and never pulled over for tint. No pull over for tickets either !
Last edited by RMMGS4; 04-19-06 at 12:07 AM.
04-19-06, 12:06 AM
#29
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Originally Posted by RMMGS4
I didn't use v-cool on my car, but it has 40/30/20 tint. With a black interior it is even more deceiving that the tints are not the same.
04-19-06, 12:18 AM
#30
Originally Posted by acl15
How is having 20 in the back? Is it hard at all to see? Is it like driving at night during the day?
The biggest disadvantage is backing up at night. You need to put halogen back up lights to help out.
In our older age, the wifey and I are finding it harder to see, so on her car we decided to go a whole shade lighter all around on her car.
Again the black interior makes the tint darkness deceiving. A light interior will have different results.
Here's the wifeys IS with Suntek 50/35/30 blended tint.
rear is 30% instead of the usual 20%.
I have had my past 5 cars tinted by Sid and the wifeys new daily driver Hybrid will be in his shop soon.