Window Tint - 3M vs Suntek Carbon

[Ammunition]

Hello everyone. I am considering getting the windows of my new FR-S tinted. My previous car did not have tinted windows, and I'm having a hard time deciding if I want to go with the 3M film or the Suntek Carbon series.

I've found a couple shops in my area that I believe will do quality work - the only difference being that they all seem to use either 3M or Suntek Caron exclusively.

After asking why they prefer x over y, I am more or less given the same answer.

I had a guy that works with 3M email me stating that he uses it "because they are the best. Better heat rejection, better color, quality, hard coating and the they are the longest lasting films out. SunTek is the cheapest film out and that's not what I am about I focus on using the highest quality products..."

Anther guy I spoke with over the phone at a shop that uses Suntek Carbon said that he feels the color is better, and that years down the road the tint will still look the same as the day it was installed. He said that 3M tends have, or develops a purple or green hue to it.

The price to have an all around tint done is about the same - with the shops that use 3M running a bit higher. They all seem to offer a lifetime warranty, and have decent heat rejection, so my concerns between the two are mostly cosmetic.

That being said, I could use some help deciding, as I want my tint to look good and compliment the car. Does anyone have an opinion or experience with either 3M and/or the Suntek Carbon series?

If you can post pictures of your tint done with either of these, that would be a big help as well. I am considering either an all around 35% tint or a 35% tint on the front sides with a 20% on the back sides and rear windshield.

I did check out the tint thread, but I wasn't able to find enough images of cars done with either of these brands around the tint level that I wanted to get a good enough idea of what they'll look like - so I figured I'd ask here.


TLDR; which tint brand should I go with between 3M and Suntek Carbon?

[retrosmiths]

I have 3M Crystalline 70% installed all around, including windshield for $800. Yes, I paid that much, and yes, that's the going price for the best quality tint from 3M around the area (SoCal).

(Note: 70% is the amount of light that can pass through the tint -- the lower it is, the darker the tint color)

So how good is the tint? It's AWESOME. It blocks around 50% heat from the sun. I don't need to roll down the windows a bit when parking for long durations. On sunny days, I have the windows up instead of down to let the wind in, because it's much cooler that way. I don't even have to turn on the AC most of the times. And during periods that I turn it on, level 2 would be the highest I need it. You won't even feel the sun hitting your skin.

However, it still does not perform as well as the 30% version. I should have installed 30% in the back and rear windows instead and just 70% in the windshield and the front sides, but there are pros for not doing so...

First, I can be in reverse all day and not have to worry about not being able to see outside.

Second, in CA, no tint is allowed for the front windshield and the front side windows, except factory ones. But the 70% is really light. Having the same color all around the car, it looks very, very factory. I've been pulled over for speeding and the officer did not notice the tint at all.

Cystalline, I think comes in 30/50/70/90. The 90 sucks because there's very little heat rejection, while 50 is already a bit too dark to be noticeable in the windshield, so I went with 70.

Will I pay $800 for it again? No. I would get the Suntek CXP and save $500 at the cost of ~3% reduced performance.

[FnFast]

Of those two choices.... 3M

[mav1178]

Originally Posted by retrosmiths

Will I pay $800 for it again? No. I would get the Suntek CXP and save $500 at the cost of ~3% reduced performance.

I have the same thing as you (Crystalline 70 all around), and it's been easily the best thing I've done to my car.

Different angles of my tint:






-alex

[sirisvirus]

I went with 3m limo tint, never had any problems cops can't pull you over for it anymore in Florida. But I've always used 3m tint it's the best never had any fading over time on any of my vehicles


Sent from my BRZ limited using plastic cup 2.0

[Mooseknuckle44]

I've used Wincos, and 3M. The Wincos is really expensive but for price comparison(20% all around, 70% on the windshield PLUS the strip at 20%) my Dodge Ram Crew cab was $850. I got quoted $350 for the FRS but decided not to go with these guys when they showed up stoned and drunk to do the job.
I don't have a problem with stoners and drinkers. But do it on your own damn time. Not at work.
My 2000 Maxima has 3M on it for 8 yrs now and it is purpling a little bit. But I mean barely. Quality stuff. My wife's Altima has the Wincos for 4 years now and still looks exactly like it did day one. Also 20 %.
Always been told the Suntek is garbage. But never by an actual window tint pro.
Good luck with your choice.

[deucethemoose]

I went with the Suntek Carbon almost two years ago. 18% all around.

[fourvalleys]

Originally Posted by sirisvirus

I went with 3m limo tint, never had any problems cops can't pull you over for it anymore in Florida.

Just because they "can't" doesn't mean they won't.

I got stopped by FHP in December and the first thing the cop told me was that he had me speeding but not at enough to give me a ticket. I was accelerating normally from a 25mph toll plaza and hadn't even reached the speed limit. He walked up to my car with his tint tester in-hand and tested my windows (legal limit) and gave me a written warning for not updating my DL address. No mention of the speed on the warning at all.

I can't imagine he would have wasted both of our time by pulling me over just for a reason to test my tints since I wasn't actually speeding, but who knows.

[cdo221]

Which specific 3M line are you deciding between? Suntek carbon isn't the top of line film from suntek (I believe cxp is), so make sure you're comparing the same "level" of film from 3M vs suntek. Also make sure the film is either ceramic or carbon.

All that being said, I got my car tinted at place that 3 tint brands, Suntek, 3M, and Llumnar. I had a hard time deciding between the 3, like you. But the guy who owned the shop told me all three brands are good. That's why they did the same price no matter what brand film I choose, bc the difference in cost is neglible. The owner also said that the shop has a lifetime warranty on any brand film they install against peeling, fading, bubbling, color changing, etc. as again, they all perform about the same.

The owner did recommend Llumnar if I want the highest possible heat rejection but in real world use, I wouldn't really notice a difference between any of the three brands as long as I'm choosing the top of the line from each (Llumnar CTX, Suntek CXP, and 3M Crystalline). I ended up with Suntek CXP 45% tint all around plus a 20% tint strip on the front windshield. 45% isn't too common and wasn't offered by the other brands (at least at the shop I was at)

[Gunman]

Suntek CXP, 45% on mine. Both places I talked to sold this brand, I went with the one that I felt most comfortable with. They also did a layer of a clear UV/IR film on the windshield.

[cdo221]

TBH, I think most shops have a contract/deal with either 3M or Suntek and the shops just try to sell their respective brands.