So I showed up for my scheduled appointment and they were already working on two cars. I got a very nonchalont welcome and a promise that they would be right with me to talk about films.
Despite their website claim of comfortable guest waiting area and highly professional service I was left to sit out on the curb, but it did allow me to watch them work. After about 15 mins of sitting, watching guys in khaki shorts roaming all over an BMW, with their belts, zippers touching the paint work, I decided my $300+ was going to be spent elsewhere.
Maybe I am a bit too picky, but if I am going to spent top dollar to get my car worked on I expect to at least be by people who care about my car and care about me as a customer.

So the search goes on for a good professional service.

 

Good call, I would have done the same thing.
Plus $300 sounds pretty steep for tint. I had my entire R50 done, including the panoramic roof for 150. Might be cheaper out here because many places do tint in the LA area so the competition for competitive prices is stiff??

 

Yikes, I don't blame you. I would have done the same. I feel bad for that BMW. I'm glad you followed your instincts.

Have you checked with your local MINI dealer? They might be able to recommend a good tint service if they don't do it in house already.
I'm using my dealer to install the tint partly due to the fact that I'm 100% positive they are used to dealing with tinting Coupes and they did my MA's MINI and it looked perfect!


By the way Chor, I love your Coupe! If I hadn't already had a blue MINI for the past 8 years I probably would have copied your exterior! I really like what you did with the wheels!

 

Whoa! $300+ for tint on a Coupe??? I use a guy who tints show cars, and does all that jazzy decorative tint with logos, etc. And he only charged me in the $150 range. (about the same he charged for my 2 R53's) Told me he'd tint my '92 Supra for about $160-180, and that includes removal of old faded tint.

For $300, they should have been serving you complementary cold beverages and snacks while you played Wii/XBox/PS3 on their 80" 240Hz LED television from the comfort of their overstuffed leather recliners. And not rubbing their zippers on your fenders.

 

Yeah there is a complete derth of places around here who provide good tinting services. Lots of cowboy places, but noone who realize specializes and has a good range of ceramic options.
There is another place in Bedford I am going to check out and I am going to call my MA and see if he knows anyone. Will keep you all posted.

 

SoCal Here. Paid 180.00 for Front sides, rear sides, back and dual panoramic sunroof.
I also went with 5%(Limo) all around

CA rules, any % of tint on the front passenger windows = Illegal

So whether I went with 35% or 5% I was screwed.

With that being said. 35% is very deceptive. Sometimes it looks really dark. Other times it's very light. Depends on the way the photo was taken.

Just take a trip to a local tint shop and compare the films in the sunlight. For me my MCS is black with black leather interior. It gets really hot out here in SoCal so my decision was based on performance as well as looks. 5% looks sexy.

I was concerned about night driving. Out here where I live, there is always some ambient lighting. Is it harder to see out at night? Yes. Is it dangerous? No.

You just need to decide what it right for you. I actually agonized over it for a few days. Once I saw the 35% at the tint shop I knew it would be to light for what I was looking for.

 

Spent $270 for Suntek XP carbon 35% tint here in Portland. They did a good job.

 

So I dropped off Lightning McMini at a place called Driven Perfection in South Weymouth, MA last night.
They are tinting sides and rear with 35% ceramic film and doing an external detail. Expecting it all to be about $300, I'll post photos and give my impression after I pick it up tonight.

 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...&type=1&ref=nf

OK I can say I am pretty satisfied with the work Driven Perfection did.

 

Chor that looks awesome!!!


I can't wait! At the moment I'm scheduled to pick up my new MINI on Oct 22nd! (Complete with 35% tint!

 

Not a coupe, but u can see the front has zero tint, the rear is 35%

 

I just had my coupe tinted yesterday, 20% all around. I've never gone lighter than 20% and I see just fine at night. It actually helps with glare from other headlights at night, since it seems that this car sits lower and always getting blinded. This is what it came out like:

 

^ That looks great Chris! It really ties the whole look together


-Steven

 

Thanks Steven!

Love your sig.... The ride looks incredible!

 

Actually, you can have up to 30% on the passenger/driver window. It's the reflectivity that is illegal (unless you're in one of the counties/cities that has a special ordinance that prohibits the front windows; mostly due to past/present gang violence bs).