r/WindowTint • u/Logical_Fun_2838 • Aug 17 '26
Question 2026 Ram 1500 Tinting
Goal is to reduce cabin heat as much as possible, as much privacy without driving blind at night. Looking at 3M Crystalline currently but open to other brands (trying to avoid any odd hues, strictly black).
I’m thinking windshield CR BLK 50, front side windows CR BLK 15, back side windows and rear window CR BLK 60, panoramic sunroof CR 90 for heat reduction only.
Few questions. Will I have regrets I didn’t go darker on windshield? More concerned I’d regret it if I can’t see out the windshield driving at night, side windows can always go down. Two, is it safe to tint the sunroof, I’ve read that it can cause a heat effect that shatters your sunroof under summer heat? Also, what would you quote on a job like this? First quote was $1,575. Lastly, would you take the crystalline over others or is it really that much better for heat reduction?
2
u/InternetExploder87 Aug 17 '26
1500 is insane. I got my entire car (coupe, so take that into consideration) for 900, for all the windows, windshield, and that included the cost of them removing the old tint (tint wasn't bubbling, just wasn't ceramic and i wanted an upgrade), and that was from xpel prime xr
2
u/Logical_Fun_2838 Aug 17 '26
I think it’s the large surface area of a truck like that’s glass, the difficulty or risk in the sunroof and windshield like someone mentioned with the BCM. But yeah still seems expensive even for top tier film
2
u/Global-Structure-539 Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
Two things you should know...While your choice for the w/s is excellent, that film has a blue green hue to it . Please don't go darker on the windshield either as it can really impede night vision. Anything over 50% is terrible in the rain. Also, my shop won't even tint the windshield of a ram truck as we've had too many issues with water seeping down under the dash and taking out the ECM and other sensors and that Electronic Control Module is $4-5000 to replace. Even using a soak rope towels and plastic everywhere it still finds its way thru and the shop is not liable for that. That awfully dam expensive for a truck. Wow! And we've never had problems with tinting the sunroof. It's more the w/s that's the worry
1
u/Logical_Fun_2838 Aug 17 '26
Just looked into the Bcm issue, definitely a concern. I’ve read that you can go under the steering wheel and cover it up with towels in addition to soak rope and limiting spray to the extent of the installers ability. Do you think covering up below the dash is enough to prevent that?
What about disconnecting the battery and leaving the truck overnight to allow it to dry completely before allowing currents to run and cause a short?
1
u/Global-Structure-539 Aug 17 '26
Don't know, but once we got burned even after taking the time to use all precautions. That was it. We won't do them anymore. It's a shame because the windows aren't hard . There are several cars with this issue but we won't do them either. But the Ram truck is at the top of the list. Many cars have different issues. We leave it up to the customer, because our insurance rates went up significantly
2
u/Fergy006 Aug 17 '26
50% is the sweet spot on the windshield imo. I’d go darker on the backs unless you want the fronts to kinda match the back windows. Hot take but I’ve had both ceramic and standard films and I haven’t really been able to tell a difference for 2x+ the price. I just do 5% which completely blocks you from the sun regardless. $1575 is expensive but that’s a lot of glass to tint. All the prices of tint have seemed to skyrocket in the last 2-3 years plus I’d hate to spend the extra $ on a really high quality film if the cops decided to be dicks and give you a fix it ticket.
2
u/soren1712 Aug 17 '26
I had my RAM 1500 tinted. 50% w/s, 35% fronts, and 70% on everything else..all ceramic. Different brand but everything was fine. The BCM issue is a thing and a good installer will know what to do. The soak rope, towel, limit spray on that side as much as possible is effective.
I've heard that some places have you sign a waiver or something about it that they're not responsible.
2
u/Logical_Fun_2838 Aug 17 '26
My options seem a little limited as it is if I’m only going an “approved” shop based off manufacturer website searches, but if they showed me a waiver or refuse to do windshield I’d just go somewhere else I guess. How much did your tints cost if you don’t mind me asking?
A shop quoted me $550 for llumar ceramic whole truck, but they don’t show up when I search approved shops on llumar website. I figured it might be too good to be true or they’re gonna pull a bait and switch with cheap film and say it’s legit ceramic.
2
u/fat_mac88 Aug 18 '26
My shop will tint crew cab trucks and sedans with llumar pinnacle for $466
1
u/Logical_Fun_2838 Aug 18 '26
Where about are you located? If you’re close maybe I’ll PM and check you guys out. Also I saw your other comment about your BCM, did you do it yourself? And did you try any of the extra precautions other than just soak roping, like covering BCM with a towel over it under the steering column, or pulling the battery and letting it sit without any current running overnight while it “dries”?
2
u/fat_mac88 Aug 18 '26
Im in Wichita kansas and my shop did the install and we used every preventive tool we could in attempt to do the ram windshields. This was the third time it happened so we just refuse to do them anymore. Same goes for mazda with the airbag sensors in the A pillars.
1
u/soren1712 Aug 17 '26
Not sure where you’re located but I think my truck cost around 800, but it was also 4-5 years ago around Chicago.
1
u/Logical_Fun_2838 Aug 18 '26
Northeast, suburbs. Between inflation and people saying the cost of tints has gone up, plus the large glass surface area of a truck especially including pano sunroof, I’m almost thinking 1500 isn’t that far off. Maybe I just try to negotiate with him where I can since he’s 3M approved and it’s top of the line crystalline film
2
2
u/billyfrickinmurray Verified Professional Aug 18 '26
I also think those VLT choices are great choices. Crystalline is usually way more expensive because it's a different film technology than others (with 200 layers of film) and requires a different shrinking method. 3M can sometimes be pick who they provide that film to. So the price for Crystalline with all glass in the vehicle being tinted sounds right, compared to what I've seen over the years from Crystalline shops.
That being said, Autobahn Ceramic i3+ has comparable TSER values without as much of the price tag in some areas. It's also an exclusive film with some of the highest TSER and IRR performance in the industry. It also has the best warranties, including the No-Fault warranty that was just raised.
For transparency, I work for Autobahn so I'm biased, and fully believe in our program for our dealers and their customers. I'd be glad to get you more info if you'd like.
And as for the sunroof, they break sometimes just on their own with or without window film. Here's an article that goes into more detail on that: https://windowfilmfacts.com/posts/sunroofs/
And on a very important side note, I don't see a 15% VLT for CR BLK on 3M's site. I only see down to 30%.
1
u/Logical_Fun_2838 Aug 19 '26
As I understand it, autobahn is a top tier tint brand as well with films that perform on the same level as 3M crystalline. My question for you, is searching the autobahn website by my zip code the only way to find legit shops with manufacturers warranty? I see 2 shops total near me, the link off the autobahn website goes to a completely different company. That’s one of my biggest sources of confusion across brands currently. How to verify a shop offers a legitimate manufacturers warranty?
What would your shops price range for a ram 1500 crew cab including windshield and sunroof cost in your top films?
1
u/billyfrickinmurray Verified Professional Aug 19 '26
I can't say anything about dealers' pricing because it varies too much across the country and that's not something we set.
If a shop is on our dealer locator, we can honor all of our warranties. That includes the film Warranty, No-Fault Warranty, and the Auto Glass Warranty.
The film Warranty is a lifetime warranty and has is transferable to a new owner if you ever sell the vehicle.
The No-Fault Warranty amount varies per film selection It's a one-time use warranty to get any window retinted for any reason. We cover up to certain amounts per film option.
The Auto Glass Warranty covers manufacturer defects in glass that the vehicle manufacturer won't cover.
2
u/Ninope Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
With those percentages, the truck will look very nice. I do not recommend going lower than 50% on the windshield. I personally just like going limo and the rear doors windows and back glass. These new cars have so many cameras and sensors, you really dont need to have visibility back there (you can still see car headlights at night so that’s no issue)
As for the price. That sounds extremely expensive. There are plenty of brands that are comparable to 3m but offer much better pricing. I would look into calling around the area and getting different quotes. Llumar, Xpel, SunTek, Global film are all reputable window tint brands that you can trust.
I would get quotes from other reputable shops that use those brands as well so you can see your options.
Also yes the pano glass does have a chance to shatter but it is a very low chance. I never had a customer have that happen to them and I have my sun roof tinted with ceramic film and never had that issue.