I trust that they're good, but they aren't coming up on 3M's website as Crystalline Certified.

 

Well if you find someone who is good and not an arm and a leg let me know! Maybe we can get a group buy for window tinting?

 

Agreed. But there seems to be a few of us in the inland empire on here. Plus I think there might be a bit more margin in tint then dash cameras.

 

Very true! Sadly I'm getting better discussion from IE on here than I am the TMC IE group.

Another potential group buy is dash cam install too.

Out there for everyone, who all is in the Inland Empire? Of those that are, what are your delivery estimates?

I'm in the Riverside area with a Nov. to Jan. window.

 

I'm down in Wildomar. I'm a month behind you for the window. Dec - Feb

 

I used to live in Riverside until I moved down here. Driving to San Diego for work from Riverside was killing me. Cut the distance in half with the move, although people at work still think I'm nuts

 

Thank you moderators for moving this over, I was starting to think about it this morning!

 

I'm in North Fontana with Dec-Feb delivery window. I would definitely be interested in a group install for window tint.

 

I'm in North Fotana with Dec-Feb delivery window. I would definitely be interested in a group install for window tint.

Glad you can join us!

To reply to a few things from our DM... the biggest difference is from XPEL and 3M tint is the IR protection. 3M's tinting has around 8% higher protection... UV light is what gives you sunburns and sun bleaches car interiors while IR is what heats up your car. So given an increase of 8% IR protection, I feel, is pretty significant and worth the price. If that's not as big of a concern for you, the 3M Color Stable Series (nano-carbon, non metallic, est. $350) is pretty equivalent to XPEL Prime XR.

I didn't check XPEL's warranty, but I can tell you that 3M has a lifetime warranty. So if you have any problems with bubbles, streaks, peeling, etc., you can have the tint replaced for free (just keep your receipt)! To top it off, from what I'm understanding, in order to become a certified 3M Crystalline installer, there is additional training that has be completed in order to get that tag.

 

Just to try and condense what all is happening here...

-3M tint appears to be the way to go (I'm open to other suggestions)
-I'm only looking at a Certified Crystalline Installers within the IE (likely Corona or Ontario areas)
-retail price for the install is between $500-725
-working on confirming a single piece back window tint and lowering that price
-Once a shop is settled upon, we'll start working out the details of how to setup appointments and still get a group discount (due to the different delivery windows)

Let me know if there are any other tint brands that should be considered!

Also, given this is already rolling, should we looking into a group dash cam install as well?

 

Hi Guys,
New member to the forum, I am in Rancho and would be interested in the potential group buy for tint so keep me in the loop! I have a Feb-April delivery estimate.

 

Welcome! Glad you can join us!

 

I'm in riverside also, but Jan-Mar window. Looking for crystalline all around

Glad you can join us!

It looks like we have 6 people on board right now. I haven't dug around too much since I last posted since we're still a ways out. It's going to be some what of a challenge given the delivery dates we have:

2 for Nov-Jan
2 for Dec-Feb
1 for Jan-March
1 for Feb-April

Here's hoping that they really ramp up come Dec/Jan causing the deliveries to be as close together as possible!

 

Hey guys I’m also form North Fontana and interested but I am going with the small battery so I have a April - June window.

 

Hey guys, so far I've spoken with 4 different Crystalline installers and they all seem to willing to drop the price by about $50 for the group. Only one would say they'd do the back window in one piece for sure, but was about $125 more (as I've previous mentioned). I'm still waiting to hear from the fourth installer, it's sounded like they're willing to do the back window in one piece and possibly drop the price a little bit more in exchange for the exposure. Hope to hear from them in the next day or so.

Anyways, I was curious to see if anyone was also interested in clear bras or ceramic coat protection for their cars? Reason I ask is because a few of the shops I have looked at offer paint protection as well as the window tints. With enough interest, we could look at places that do both so as to make it a one stop shop. If needed, I'll just split the discussion into a separate forum.

Personally, I'm kicking around the idea of getting a clear bra because of the highway driving I typically do.

 

Thanks for making me aware of the discussion here on Tint @Paul Torres

Not sure what our plans (my wife and I) are for the Model 3, but the Tesla Owners Club of Orange County has been offered some breaks in price for installs by several places in the OC before... Granted these are on Model S and Model X, but I'm sure they would work with a group for Model 3 as well.

Most recently by DP Tint in Tustin.

I am unsure as to whether they will plan on doing the entire glass roof as one piece or not as we don't have any members with a delivered Model 3 yet.

 

If you know any other reservation holders in the OC that are interested, please let them know! The bigger the group the better break we'll be able to get!

 

I'd be interested in a clear bra as well. Figuring something like that will keep the front of the car from chipping etc as fast. For some reason I wasn't tagged as watching this thread (so of course hopefully this post will fix that).

Going to OC from IE can take just as long if you have to be there in the morning. But from my experience people who live in OC they always think it takes ages to get to the IE but really it doesn't take that long as long as you avoid the traffic times, and that is true no matter where you go.

My wife drives from where we live (near temecula) to newport beach for work and does it in about an hour. The other place we looked at moving to was in San Clemente and the same drive to newport for the same shift would have taken her about an hour as well (20 miles vs 60). We just got a nicer place and we both commute like crazy people. Come on elon.. I need that hyperloop. But for the time being I'll settle for EAP.

 

I would be interested in clear bra as well.

 

I’d be interested in tint/clear bra. Murrieta/Nov-Jan delivery estimate.

 

Random thought as I'm going over things... I'm going to assume we're all doing a local pick up, which would be at either the Costa Mesa or Torrance Service Center. It would be benefit to @AEDennis and honestly everyone in SoCal, arguebly, to pick a shop close in the OC. I think being able to pick up and drop off your 3 at a near by shop would be very beneficial. Should probably consider splitting a window tint and clearbra group buy by pickup location instead of by region.

I've looked at a few shops over in the OC (Santa Ana and Orange) and those that only want windows tinted would have the same retail price as the window tinters I've spoken with in Corona and Ontario (rear window in one piece is questionable until these shops start seeing the 3 around more).

tl;dr...
1) instead of finding a local shop to work with, should we find a shop near the service centers that the 3's are being picked up from?
2) should we kill this regional thread and divide it up by pickup location?

 

My experience has been most of the shops in OC charge more. They’ve got higher rent etc so their cost is higher.

The last shop I used was about $150 cheaper than the quote I got in OC.

I dont think I could handle picking up the car and driving it to a shop to hand it over. I’ll need to drive and play with it after waiting this long. Tint can wait a couple of days.

As a side note there is no guarantee when we’ll get to pick up the car. Could get it at 4 pm and no shop will wait around for you all day. Normally it is best to have the car and an appointment.

 

My experience has been most of the shops in OC charge more. They've got higher rent etc so their cost is higher.

The last shop I used was about $150 cheaper than the quote I got in OC.

Nearly across the board, every installer has been $600 retail for Crystalline from OC to Ontario. The only exception to that is one installer in Corona that wanted $725 and guaranteed the back window in one piece.

I dont think I could handle picking up the car and driving it to a shop to hand it over. I'll need to drive and play with it after waiting this long. Tint can wait a couple of days.

I'm thinking more for the clearbra, I want to minimize scratches from driving it down the freeway. Depending on what all you get covered this can only take a few hours to a few days if you cover the entire car. Tinting the windows typically only takes a few hours, who knows exactly with that rear window though. If you can get it in the morning, you can likely drive off with it that afternoon.

As a side note there is no guarantee when we'll get to pick up the car. Could get it at 4 pm and no shop will wait around for you all day. Normally it is best to have the car and an appointment.

From what I've watched on YouTube, you can select the time you want to pick up your car. Maybe that's just for the S and X, but if Tesla is going to go over the car with you then they would need to make sure each new owner can be there at a designated time. Once you know when you're picking up your car, you can schedule you appointment to get the tint/clearbra done.

 

So OCDetailing released another video that talks about how they did the back window tint in one piece! Definitely good news moving forward!

 

The facts:
If we want to find a single shop that stores PPF and 3M Crystalline the available shops narrows down considerably. These are the two closest shops that fit the bill:

XACT Window Tinting
5140 E Airport Dr, Ontario, CA 91761
-3M tint
-Xpel PPF

Ultimate Shield
817 W Collins Ave, Orange, CA 92867
-3M tint
-3M, Xpel, and Suntek PPF

Retail pricing:
Both shops do Crystalline starting at $600 (I'm betting cost will go up some with the rear window).

PPF starts at about $1,900 for full front protection. Only covering part of the hood can drop that cost a few hundred. Only one of the shops (working on the other one still) was willing to quote for full vehicle PPF which was $5,900 to start.

Commentary:
Xpel and Suntek appear to be the leaders in PPF. Since they both now come with 10yr warranties, they are literally neck and neck with protection. Talking with installers and doing online research, Suntek seems to be a little easier to install, give a little better shine, and believed to be a hair better at healing.

Both shops do offer the whole line of 3M window tint which would allow for various budgets. Going with Ultimate Shield would also allow for options in PPF (same price for any), be a bit closer to the delivery center, and would allow those in OC to more easily join to make a larger group as well.

Just in case this thread isn't being followed...
@Derik @kvelarde23 @Wilk's 3 @Varun @rsbell

 

So unless a question comes up, I think this will be the last reply in regards to information from the shops. I'll be waiting to hear from everyone hear, at least a majority, before moving any more forward.
Sorry if it feels like I'm giving a slant towards Ultimate Shield, their website gives significantly more information and my communication has been through Email primarily while Xact has been primarily via phone call since my email was ignored.

XACT Window Tinting
5140 E Airport Dr, Ontario, CA 91761
-3M tint
-Xpel PPF

Ultimate Shield
817 W Collins Ave, Orange, CA 92867
-3M tint
-3M, Xpel, and Suntek PPF

Retail pricing:
Both shops do Crystalline starting at $600 (I'm betting cost will go up some with the rear window).

PPF starts at about $1,900 for full front protection. Only covering part of the hood can drop that cost a few hundred. Only one of the shops (working on the other one still) was willing to quote for full vehicle PPF which was $5,900 to start.

In regards to the window tint...
Ultimate Shield said that they feel that the rear window can "most likely" be done in one piece and "don't really see too much of an issue" based off the dimensions (57" x 43") while Xact Window Tinting seemed to be a bit more hesitant, they're both noting $600 to start. I believe one of the bigger reason behind the hesitation is that they will have to do a special order on the film roll. The standard roll that is used appears to be 36" and then it shrinks during the installation process, so in order to do the rear window in one piece they have to order a 60" roll. With that in mind, which ever shop is picked, we really need to be mindful and respectful of the shop for doing a special order to tint our cars nicely.

This is where it's really starting to get hard. As you can imagine, there are various factors in getting PPF installed.
-So for those just looking at cost, here are the base prices for full car... Ultimate Shield starts at $5980 while Xact said $4000 (might have been $4500, I didn't quite hear him).

-Keep in mind that the prices above are "kit" installations (corners would not be covered and you'll be able to see the PPF edge at those points). Currently, neither shop seems to have gotten access to Model 3 kit since it's so new. To get a nicer wrap the price obviously goes up. Ultimate Shield gave me a full break down so here is what the retail pricing would be for a full wrap from them:
Base price: $5980
"Signature" wrap (20%): $1196
Tax (8% on half the total): $287
"Signature" Total: $7463
Non-"Signature" Total: $6219

-Just front protection (nose, bumper, front quarter panel, hood, headlights, and side mirrors) was within $100 so I'm going to ignore that one, you're looking at about $1900 like I previously noted.

-Beyond the pricing, Xact didn't mention everything they do to the car unfortunately (I checked the website as well), I'm sure it includes decontamination of some sort. Ultimate Shield notes a 3 step decontamination process before the PPF install as well as a paint sealant (read that as "wax") afterwards that'll last about 3 months.

-Ultimate Shield opened in 1995, Xact opened in 2002. I have visited both shops, both were quite clean and willing to chat and show off the cars they had there. They are both definitely proud of their work. Please do check out both shops in person and/or their websites

-Both are also willing to work out a group deal. I haven't got details since I felt a shop should be picked first, but I'll gladly inquire if people want to use that to help decide on a shop. I believe that the best route to go for everyone involved would be to require a deposit once things are negotiated. This would allow the shop to have confidence in the amount of work they're getting and hopefully allow us to lock in a discount rate despite our deliveries being scattered.

 

I used Xact to tint all my windows on my current Hyundai back in 2011. The tint still looks good so I have no issues using them. However looking at Ultimate Shield it looks like they do great work too. I would love to get PPF but there is a reason I’m getting a 3 not an S!!!

 

I used Xact to tint all my windows on my current Hyundai back in 2011. The tint still looks good so I have no issues using them. However looking at Ultimate Shield it looks like they do great work too. I would love to get PPF but there is a reason I'm getting a 3 not an S!!!

I'm there with you, I've actually chose to not get EAP on delivery so I can go ahead a protect my car. Wish I could get it all!

 

Yeah I may do the full front protection so I can have something. I am also debating which window tinting to get. The crystalline is the best but the darkest they offer is 20. I currently have the 3m color stable with 5 in the back and 20 in the front and I like how it looks. I have a work car so the model 3 will only be my night and weekend car and will be in the garage when not in use. I may stick with the color stable so I can spend the money on other stuff.

 

It appears to be 40% tint, not sure what brand. The shade definitely makes it seem dark.


UPDATE: 3M Crystalline

 

Inside shot, it looks pretty good only going up to the defrost line!

 

Hey, just wanted to check in with everyone about what they were thinking on this since it's been a while.
I'd expect those who ordered on the first day to be starting to configure soon.

@Derik @kvelarde23 @Wilk's 3 @Varun @rsbell

 

Hi Paul, Appreciate the continued energy around this. I am a non-owner April 2016 reservation, so my current delivery window is Mar-May so I expect April/May. If others are taking delivery earlier I would not have a problem putting down a deposit for the tint or pre-paying in order to get the group rate. I would obviously like to see what it looks like on a Model 3 prior to putting anything down, but I am definitely willing to do whatever it takes given my later delivery window. Keep me posted!