2005 S60 2.5T (black) window tinting

[JNavas]

Location: Greater San Francisco Bay Area
Want factory look, not ghetto or limo look. Thinking front sides 50, rear sides and back 30.
(California limits front side tinting to 70, but you can usually get away with a little darker.)

Step 1: Pick the film.
I want quality, long life, and heat reduction, so I decided to go with ceramic.
Narrowed it down to:

• 3M Crystalline (top quality, very expensive, somewhat bronze tone, darkest only 40, harder to install)
• FormulaOne Pinnacle (high quality, expensive, charcoal tone, darker shades available)

I've decided to go with FormulaOne Pinnacle for reasons of neutral color, darkness, cost, and availability.

Step 2: Pick the shop.
3 shops in the greater San Francisco Bay Area that get stellar ratings and reviews:

1. A Shade Darker in Santa Rosa
2. Auto Image in Belmont
3. Rocky Mountain Windowtint in Livermore

I've decided to go with A Shade Darker. Class act on the phone, good pricing ($400), reasonable lead time (10 days). Others were less well organized, and had lead times of 6-8 weeks.

A Shade Darker just called with a cancellation, so I'm getting it done tomorrow, will report back on how it comes out.

[JNavas]

Just back from getting it done. A Shade Darker is indeed a class act. Clean Facility. Comfortable waiting room. Congenial professional staff. State of the art equipment. Completed in 3 hours well ahead of schedule. Went with 50-30 as planned. Looks fantastic. Quick cell phone photo doesn't do it justice. More photos in a week or so when it's fully cured.

After I get my headlights polished out again, I plan to cover them with clear protective film.