pinebaron

This question is for W211 owners who have tinted windows.

Do you have tint on entire glass in rear doors quarter windows? When they did tinted my 2007 Bluetec, it was not possible to fill a small triangle piece in the quarter window close to the trailing door edge; this area is blocked by the door frame. Anyone manage to have that section tinted and how? I will post pictures if my question is ambiguous.

Pekkle

They did tint my quarter window in the back door, it doesn't looks pretty good. You will have to wait till tomorrow so I can take some pictures to show you. However I am not exactly sure how they did it, but they did it.

Efivehundred

Yeah, It's possible to tint that part of the window. I think it just takes a competent installer. Here's a thread about it https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...lp-urgent.html

Vik888

1) get huper optik from an auth dealer.
2) i've got it all around except windshield.

K-A

If I'm not mistaken, they call that the "shark fin" correct?

Common with these cars, I think if you took apart the interior piece you can probably have it fully done.

It doesn't bother me though, I don't really notice it, nor do I think it looks bad really.

pinebaron

Thanks to all who responded with valuable information especially the link Efivehundred provided.

So it is all up to a skilled tint person; all that BS the tint guy and shop owner gave me. He wanted $150 to remove door panel etc. (after the install). I may have agreed to additional $150 if he had warned me prior to commencing the job. I have no problem spending the dough if it makes sense and I am not being taken for a ride.

Later in the day I removed the rear door panel since I am planning to upgrade my speakers (see my thread inthe audio section). Removal of door panel (as the link suggests) is not required since it does nothing to help fill the "Shark Fin" (Thanks K-A). I'll be back at the tint guy soon else I'll just order the tint and complete the job myself since I like jobs completed to perfection.

K-A

Yeah just read that Thread. Looks like no removal is needed. Now I'm kinda pissed they left the shark fin there on my car in that case. Still not convinced it looks all that bad though, although it does look cleaner without it.

pinebaron

On my detailed black car, it looks extremely obvious and terrible, like a patch of gray in the mass of black. I just took these pictures in the garage.

K-A

Yikes, yeah that's kind of bad. Maybe I just haven't paid much attention to mine, or the fact that it kinda blends in with my color helps that. Sticks out like a sore thumb on a Black car indeed.

220S

There was a similar thread about this very same issue months ago on the AMG forum.

Bottom line: lazy and incompetent tint installers. Find someone with tinting skills and experience with these cars.

There's nothing uglier than a bad tint job.

ps, go with Huper Optik as Vik888 says. Authorized dealers are top installers and the product is superior.

pinebaron

The problem is the installer said it could not be done and the tint job is actually complete, minus this issue. I printed a picture of a vehicle with full tint from the link Efivehundred provided and intend to show it to the installer. The tint used was Johnson 35%; its too late to change to another one I think. I will attempt to pursuade the installer else I'll have to do it myself. In the meantime my attention is diverted to an audio system upgrade.

220S

Good luck, hope you get it resolved. Here's the other link you can show the installer: https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...led-socal.html

Vik888

Ultimately, you get what you pay for. People think I'm crazy for paying whatever $300+ I paid for Huper .. but I've seen the other tint jobs .. I got what I paid for .. 100% SATISFACTION.

Pekkle

Sorry Pinebaron, I misunderstand your post. Mine looked the same like your pictures. It's ugly, but I learned to live with it.

MJ50

i have huper optik all around...
install was flawless...

Pekkle

MJ50, how much did you pay? and where did you have it done?

MJ50

i paid like 500 at STM...
johnson makes comparable one for less...

Pekkle

Alright thanks MJ50!

chokaay

For Huper Optik, there are only a few authorized installers in SoCal (I think 3 now). For my car, I went to:

Perfect Window Tint, Inc.
Salvador - Owner

3071 S. Harbor Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 546-1002

To tint everything except the windshield was $400+. Out of all the authorized dealers in SoCal, they were the cheapest for Huper Optik (when I had my cars done). It also didn't hurt that they were the closest one to me too!

Go for Huper Optik! You won't be disappointed!


EDIT: Also, as with most competent tint installers, they tint your entire rear window (no untinted "shark fin").

Pekkle

I just noticed the Huper Optik only has up to 30%, currently I have 5% all the way around and wish to stay the same, although I just got pulled over recently because of my front tint and no front plate.

What would you guys pick if you have a black exterior and black interior, how dark would you pick? I like the way my car looks because it make it looks more mean.. but Huper Optik doesn't make 5%

chokaay

IMO, I'd pick Huper Optik Ceramic 40. It's dark enough to look "cool", and will keep the inside of your car very comfortable, but light enough where CA cops won't give you trouble (unless they're having a very bad day and are looking to give someone a ticket).

One of my cars has Ceramic 40 and IMO it looks great. My second car has Ceramic 60 (since this was the one I got tinted first and didn't want to risk getting pulled over), and it looks OK, but I wish it had the superior heat-reflecting properties of Ceramic 40.

IMHO, I wouldn't go less than Ceramic 40 if you want to stay relatively "safe". When I know I'm going to a heavily patrolled area (like LAX), I drive my Ceramic 60 car.


EDIT: If you're dead-set on getting 5%, you can check out other brands of ceramic or carbon tint. I know V-Kool and F1 Pinnacle are both widely popular brands, just like Huper Optik. You may want to check them out as well.

Vik888

I've got Huper 40 .. *love it*

pinebaron

Money was never a criteria for the tint, I did not care what it cost; my son arranged the tint job from the only local upgrade shop, Imagine Audio of Cherry Hill NJ whom we have used before with no problem. This is the first time he has given me pain, will be the last; I paid $294.25 for the job. I did not even know what I paid till this very moment when I looked for the invoice.

Upsetting me will cost the dealer in lost business since several friends/enthusiasts who stopped by to check the job have cancelled their planned work from this store. I originally planned to give this dealer a complete audio upgrade job for my car a $3.5k plus job (he did not even know I had this planned), mainly because I have limited time to do it myself. Since this episode, I commenced the upgrade myself; its just going to take me much longer doing one piece at a time; door panels, trunk etc. are all dismantled presently. One set Focal speakers will initially arrive tomorrow; I need to confirm these fit in the front doors since I want to avoid heavy modifications.

By the way there is no Automobile Huper Optik intaller in this area in NJ; the nearest one is miles away in PA.

Pekkle

Thanks for the info, I will probably have to go check it out at the installer and see the difference, I like 5% because it looks good on a black on black car, and I thought 5% would make my car look more ghetto so less people would cut me off, but they do it anyways.. So I will probably pick the darkest possible the Huper offers or I will have to check out the other brands you mentioned in the post. But thanks for the great info..

chokaay

If you go to Perfect Window Tint, tell him to show you the "hot box" demo... it is simply amazing.

And yeah, the only thing I found that will reduce the number of people cutting you off is if your car looks like a cop car... or to drive with DRL on. I've tried numerous trials with DRL's on and off, and found that DRL's noticeably reduces the frequency I am cut off (without changing the car, my driving style, the locations involved in the "experiements", the days and time range used in the "experiments", etc). Many times a car will turn on their blinker and/or begin to edge into my lane, only to turn their blinker off again and/or stay in their lane until I pass. The only thing I can think of is that DRL's make your vehicle look like it's coming faster than it actually is, and/or it makes other drivers ahead of you pay more attention to your vehicle, so they are less likely to double-think their move (and most of the time choose to err on the side of safety).