tint removal, diy or shop?

[variate]

I'm not sure right place is to ask but here it goes. I just got the car and it came with pretty dark tint all five sides. I don't want trouble with the law enforcement here in California, so I need to remove tint from two front side windows.

I talked to a couple of people. Some says side window is easy just do it yourself. Another says if I screw up it'll cost a lot more. Has anyone removed tint yourself? Is it really worth tackling by myself?
Thanks.

[GSEN820]

I paid someone to do mine. I gave it a try once before not worth the effort.

[pleasecorrupt]

i cant imagine it being too hard. around 150 to take it off according to link below.

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-remove-car-window-tint%3A-the-not-messy,-chea/

[Newjack]

I recently had mine taken off professionally. I didn't want to risk doing it myself. The defroster lines in the rear windshield might actually be inside the windshield (Not sure about this) so it might not be too dangerous, but thats what I was worried about. Cost be $100 to have it done. If you want to save yourself some money you can do it yourself.

But I highly suggest using a steamer instead of a razorblade/rubbing alcohol. Steamer is less messy and if you do it right the glue should peel right off with both layers of tint.

If you want to keep the tints on just make sure it meets the requirements of California state law.

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

Good luck!

[pleasecorrupt]

+1 if its the cops you're worried about, maybe just remove fronts and get them redone? i have limo ~ 30% tints in the back and 55s in front and it works for me. no ticket thus far knock on wood.

[M0nk3y]

I'll give you instructions later tonight...I'm in a rush right now. It's fairly easy though once you know what you're doing.

Rear window will be the hardest. You have to use a scotch pad to remove the glue on the rear versus a razor blade on the sides.

[variate]

I'm not removing the rears. It's fine to have any darkness there. It's just two front sides, which I thought easy enough.

[lilcdkey]

removed mine myself, not too difficult.

[PKR]

My car came from the Southwest and had DARK tint ... I knew it wouldn't pass Maryland inspection ... so I simply removed the fronts. Now I'm moving to Florida so I'll just have the fronts done. Its not difficult to remove, but it does take some time. That said, I agree with Newjack .. no way I'd remove the rear window (defroster) tint.

[goofiefoot]

Subscribed.

I'd be interested in the DIY process for my 1988 Mr2. The back window (with heating elements) is especially jacked up, so I'd be interested in knowing the process to do it without damaging the elements. My closest tint shop quoted me about $150 to remove mine (including t-tops).

[Newjack]

I've seen a couple youtube videos that are pretty good. One thing that does help is doing this on a super hot day. idk about where you are but its gonna be in the upper 90's with high humidity tomorrow in MD. If the glass is hot and the car it hot it makes the peeling that much easier.

Just whip out the steamer and aim it at a corner until you can peel it off a little to get it started. Then just steam and peel and the glue should come right off.

The youtube video I saw had a guy turn the heat on full blast and left the car running for 30 minutes. I definitely wouldn't do that.

Just wait for a nice hot day.



My car came from the Southwest and had DARK tint ... I knew it wouldn't pass Maryland inspection ... so I simply removed the fronts. Now I'm moving to Florida so I'll just have the fronts done. Its not difficult to remove, but it does take some time. That said, I agree with Newjack .. no way I'd remove the rear window (defroster) tint.

I'm not 100% but I'm pretty darn sure that if you have a car all tints have to meet the 30% requirement. So leaving the back windows tinted super dark would still be illegal, unless your vehicle is a truck or SUV. If it is a truck or SUV then you only need to have the driver and passenger tints meet the 30% limit.

At least that's what MD law is.