3M Cyrstalline tint

[john970]

After doing some research it looks like the recently released 3M crystalline tint is the new king of the hill in high performance tints. My tint shop doesn't have this in yet, has anyone had any experience with it? It is not metallic but uses some new process 3M developed that uses similar coating technology to LCD displays. They actually make their own base film as well. It is supposed to have the same UV and heat rejection as limo tint but at a 40 percent level.

I think I will be getting this all around and am considering the lighter 70 percent for my windshield down the road. The black on black is killing me (lemon next time...)

[Bullitt]

I thought Huper Optik and Formula One were the best non-metallic tints available, until I heard about this new Crystalline tint, which appears to have superior specs in about every category.

[RobLS]

Hm, another option to consider.

[InsaneSkippy]

Hmm, I'd like to find some customers' thoughts on the stuff. So far it looks promising. I just wish you could get it darker than 40.

[RobLS]

I'm not gonna go real dark, never liked it much. So this option sounds nice for me, either that or that Huper Optik. How's everyones' tint holding up though, since the BMW's have the black dots around the windows.

[mikeo]

I called a 3M dealer after reading about Cyrstalline on this thread. He said they were one of the beta testers of that product and related that it had 'shrinkage' issues, particularily on the curved back window, and was not in their product lineup at this point. He though it would be great when they got those issues fixed.

[InsaneSkippy]

Originally Posted by mikeo

I called a 3M dealer after reading about Cyrstalline on this thread. He said they were one of the beta testers of that product and related that it had 'shrinkage' issues, particularily on the curved back window, and was not in their product lineup at this point. He though it would be great when they got those issues fixed.

Thanks for bringing this up. I was almost sold on this tint. I'll have to see if they've resolved that issue since the beta stage (I would hope so).

[john970]

Pulled the trigger on it, will let you know how it turns out.

[Robert]

What you guys thought on metallic vs. ceramic besides signal interference issue?

[john970]

Originally Posted by robert

What you guys thought on metallic vs. ceramic besides signal interference issue?

My comfort access and cell phone already have issues, would hate to see what would happen w/ metallic tint.

[Justin(OKC)]

I had it put on my car. Let me explain what happened. I got the car back and the windows looked just a bit darker than I expected. They did look wonderful!! I noticed, however, that as the sun went down and light reflected off the windows that it looked a bit purple. In fact, my driver's door looked purple and the quarter window did not. The passenger side looked purple. I took it in and sure enough it had different tint on it. Turns out the purpleish stuff was the NEW crystalline. He had enough old crystalline to make mine all the same. Now....here's the review:

I do believe that the NEW crystalline performed better than the old stuff, but they both work great. I didn't want my tint to be too dark so I am actually very happy with the old. I almost think that I would go with the NEW if I did it again. I highly recommend this tint as it is wonderful and looks perfect with no bubbles, stretching, or anything less than desired.

BTW, comfort access and my phone work perfectly!!

[Spook]

Originally Posted by Justin(OKC)

II do believe that the NEW crystalline performed better than the old stuff, but they both work great.

I'm confused. It was purple looking but it was good?

[Justin(OKC)]

It did not look purple looking through the glass. It onlly had a purple tint when light reflected off the windows and you certainly didn't see it very often at all. I would just check out a sample of it to see if it was something you liked, but from a performance standpoint I do think it might be a bit better than the older stuff.

[akak1997]

Sounds like a perfect match for 1er in SGM!! Purple tint on paint AND tint, Sweet.

Justin, how does the "Dot Matrix" look with your tint? any problems there?

[imported_Katera]

My guy used Hanitatek film...worked good. Looks good.

[john970]

I got this installed and it looks hazy/cloudy looking through it in the sunlight, also it doesn't seem to stick well at all to the dot matrix part - none of mine is adhered to those parts of the glass. Not sure if the installer screwed this up or what.

I think the haze might be the film working - reflecting more light when it's in the sun? not sure... overall it looks great though. not too reflective or dark.

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by Justin(OKC)

...
They did look wonderful!! I noticed, however, that as the sun went down and light reflected off the windows that it looked a bit purple.
...
I highly recommend this tint as it is wonderful and looks perfect with no bubbles, stretching, or anything less than desired.

BTW, comfort access and my phone work perfectly!!

Thanks for your impressions! I am strongly considering this.

1) So would you say it's SGM-ish? Or more purple than that?
2) Any shrinkage in the back which Mikeo referred to?
3) Any haziness or dot matrix issues like john970?
4) Any visual defects or irregularities when wearing polarized glasses?
5) Pics?

[adrean8j]

[Justin(OKC)]

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10276

This thread that my brother started has pics of all my cars. At the time these were taken it had both the old and new tint on it.

1. It may be a bit more purple than SGM, but it doesn't look purple most of the time. Honestly, it isn't bad at all.
2. No shrinkage what so ever.
3. The dot matrix is not too bad, although I need to work on the passenger side a bit. The thicker the tint, the harder it will be for the dot matrix to look right. Huper would be way too thick for it to look good (just an example).
4. I don't have any polarized sunglasses so I am not too sure. I can look
5. Here is a pic before I had everything switched to the same tint. So for reference, the driver's window is NEW crystalline and the quarter window is OLD crystalline.

[tiintegra]

i just got quoted $750 for madico advanced ceramic. I just laughed at that!

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by john970

After doing some research it looks like the recently released 3M crystalline tint is the new king of the hill in high performance tints.

V-KOOL was highly recommended to me recently. I did my research, and it appears to be a better overall performer than even 3M Crystalline.

I posted the specs in another thread:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showp...7&postcount=28

[tiintegra]

They have a dealer locator? I never heard of that tint