Window Tinting / D110 5-door

[mitherial]

I am considering adding window-tint to my five door D110 to help keep the internal temperatures down in the summer and provide a little more privacy in the rear, as I like to keep recovery and overlanding gear in the cargo area, and yet frequently have to park in built-up areas (and it is not like these trucks aren't attention magnets anyway).

I will have a tint-shop do the actual work, but can you give me pointers what kind of application process to use, and things to to watch out for? Will the sliding rear windows need to be disassembled?

At the very most, I'd like something close to the factory tint level of most modern cars; aesthetically and practically, very dark tints are not my thing.

 

[mitherial]

As an aside, why do Land Rovers (and other vehicles) in Europe often not have *any* tint in the rear windows?

Assuming it's not just bureaucratic regulation (always the most probable reason for Europe, even though you can buy the same vehicle with opaque "van" sides), it seems like in areas with high population-densities, you would want *more* tint, not less.

 

[javelinadave]

I had my windows tinted on my previous 110. In my case the rear sliders need rebuilding so when they were apart I brought them to the tint shop in pieces and then reassembled them after being tinted. The real important part is to have all sliding tracks and the edge of the rubber gaskets on the fixed windows super clean. I went almost limo tint on the back and middle windows to discourage prying eyes and AZ legal on the front two windows.
As for what shop to use, cheap shops use cheap material and may lack in skill and quality. Buy once and cry once really sums up window tinting shops in my area.

 

[MountainD]

If you off road a lot, I’ll just say tinted sucks at night. But I get you the other 90% of time. I’m rigging trail/reverse cameras up to my console screen before I tint.

 

[rover4x4]

I cant say enough good things about high quality tint. I am using a 3M crystalline on 3 vehicles and it does an excellent job at blocking heat, I cant have a vehicle without it...

 

[mitherial]

If you off road a lot, I’ll just say tinted sucks at night. But I get you the other 90% of time. I’m rigging trail/reverse cameras up to my console screen before I tint.

"If you off road a lot, I’ll just say tinted sucks at night."

Oh absolutely. But the 110 will be more of a camping rig.

 

[SaintPanzer]

As an aside, why do Land Rovers (and other vehicles) in Europe often not have *any* tint in the rear windows?

Assuming it's not just bureaucratic regulation (always the most probable reason for Europe, even though you can buy the same vehicle with opaque "van" sides), it seems like in areas with high population-densities, you would want *more* tint, not less.

It's the bureaucratic regulation.

Yes, it's obvious that tinting the back windows would make sense.... but without the market to apply tint, there's no reason for a business to spring up that applies tint...

 

[MountainD]

I cant say enough good things about high quality tint. I am using a 3M crystalline on 3 vehicles and it does an excellent job at blocking heat, I cant have a vehicle without it...

Now to figure out how to block heat from the sunroof! Can’t apply tint due to the dots all over it. Foil bubble wrap is my current remedy…

 

[Wolf Fabrication]

I just had my 110 done a few months ago. Did all the windows, included a clear on the windshield - make sure you do the windshield! It definitely cuts down on the heat. I didn't go very dark, just UV and IR blockage were the main concerns. No issues wheeling at night.

 

[novasupra]

also, make sure you find a shop that is comfortable working on Defenders or older vehicles in general. Lots of high-end shops use printers that spit out pre-cut window film and they usually don't have Defenders in the data base. Then when the template doesn't work, they don't know what to do when they realize they have to do it the old fashioned way. I learned this the hardway and I can tell you where not to go in the DC area.

The truck is really easy to tint, all the windows are flat and square, you just need to find a guy that is comfortable working on it. I tinted my truck and did not take apart the sliders, they could not tint the section of the window that overlaps each other but I don't think it's really noticeable, i see it as one of those things where I know what happened but noone else does.

 

[mitherial]

^Thanks! This is all good advice

 

[rocky]

The only tint worth doing for is crystalline or ceramic tint, which reduced the heat load on the interior, aka the sun’s “microwave” effect but doesn’t reduce light transmission noticeably unless you choose a tinted version.

 

[LazyRabbit]

Anyone can speak about the ball park cost for the good ceramic or crystalline tint?

 

[MountainD]

I just had my 110 done a few months ago. Did all the windows, included a clear on the windshield - make sure you do the windshield! It definitely cuts down on the heat. I didn't go very dark, just UV and IR blockage were the main concerns. No issues wheeling at night.

I’m 100% about doing this. Which film did you go with?

 

[Wolf Fabrication]

Let me dig out my receipt tonight and I'll let you know. I think I paid about $800 total.