Window tint is a thin film fitted to the inside of your car’s glass. It cuts heat, glare and UV, and it adds privacy. Good film does all that without making the view out any worse.
It’s for anyone who sits in summer traffic, parks in the sun, or wants to keep a nice interior from fading. We install XPEL PRIME film, and we’re an XPEL Certified Installer.
This page covers the films, how dark to go, how the install works, and what the warranty does and doesn’t cover.
Ceramic or dyed
Ceramic window tinting rejects far more heat and costs more. Dyed gives you the same UV blocking and the look, for less. These numbers are XPEL’s.
| PRIME XR PLUS | PRIME CS | |
|---|---|---|
| Film type | Multi-layer nano-ceramic | Color stable dyed film |
| IR rejection | Up to 96% | Up to 35% |
| IR energy rejection | Up to 70% | Up to 32% |
| UV blocked | 99% | 99% |
| Glare reduction | Up to 95%, in the darkest shade | Up to 95%, in the darkest shade |
| Signal interference | XPEL lists none | XPEL lists none |
| XPEL warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
Which one should I pick?
- Go XR PLUS if heat is the reason you want tint. It’s XPEL’s top film for that.
- Go CS if you mainly want the look, privacy and UV protection, and want to spend less.
- Not sure? XPEL also makes PRIME XR, which sits between the two. Call us and we’ll talk it through.
Phones, GPS and radar detectors
XPEL lists signal interference as “None” for PRIME CS, XR and XR PLUS. That chart doesn’t mention radar detectors by name, so if you run a windshield detector, tell us before we tint. A built-in radar system is a different story, because its antennas aren’t behind the glass.
How dark should you go?
Tint shades are named by roughly how much visible light they let through. A lower number is darker. These are the XR PLUS numbers from XPEL’s spec sheet.
The swatches are a rough guide, not an exact match. Your glass affects the final look.
You don’t have to use one shade all around. Many people go darker on the rear passenger windows and lighter up front.
Check the law first
Each state sets its own tint limits, and XPEL points out that the darkest legal shade depends on where you are. Tell us where the car is registered and where you drive, and we’ll go over it before any film goes on.
How the install works
How long it takes depends on the car and how many windows you’re doing. Curved glass on a Porsche, Tesla or Range Rover takes more care than a flat side window, but the steps are the same.
Pick the film and shade
Tell us the car and what you want from the tint. We settle on film and shade together.
Clean the glass
Dust and dirt ruin tint. The glass gets cleaned before any film comes near it.
Cut by computer
Patterns are cut by plotter for your make and model, before the film touches the car. We don’t take a blade to your glass.
Shape and fit
Curved glass takes heat to shape the film so it lies flat. Then it goes on the inside of the glass.
Finish the edges
On frameless doors, common on sports cars and coupes, we file the top edge of the film flush with the glass for a factory look.
Hand it back
We go over care, and how long to keep the windows up.
In the shop
Real photos from our shop.
What the warranty covers
There are two warranties here: XPEL’s on the film, and ours on the work.
| Who | What’s covered | How long |
|---|---|---|
| XPEL | Defects in the film: discoloration, fading, bubbling, peeling, cracking and delamination | Lifetime warranty, for the life of the vehicle |
| Enthusiast Auto Works | Labor on any issue that comes from our install, like lifting, marks or an edge that has let go | No stated term. Bring it back and we’ll put it right |
What isn’t covered
Scratches, stains, damage from improper washing, and accident or impact damage. Tint lives on the inside of the glass, so it’s protected from the road, but it can still be scratched by anything that rubs against it.
If you move
We register every install, so your XPEL coverage travels with the car. If you move away, any XPEL certified shop can help you.
Why have us do it
- We’re an XPEL Certified Installer, and film is a big part of what we do every day.
- You can do it all in one visit: XPEL paint protection film, ceramic coating or windshield protection film.
- Pickup and delivery is available. It’s free locally, out to about Greenwich, CT. Farther out it may cost extra.
We’re a certified collision repair shop for Rivian, Jaguar Land Rover, Genesis, Infiniti, Nissan, Kia and Stellantis, and an XPEL Certified Installer. Those credentials cover collision repair and film. See our Jaguar Land Rover and Rivian pages.
Tell us about your car
Let us know the car, which windows you want done, and how dark you want to go.
Request an Estimate
Tell us about the car and what you'd like done. We call back the same day. On a busy day, by the next morning at the latest.
Common questions
Ceramic film uses nano-ceramic particles and rejects far more heat. Dyed film gives you the look, privacy and the same 99% UV blocking for less money. XPEL rates PRIME XR PLUS at up to 96% IR rejection and PRIME CS at up to 35%.
It depends on the state, and on the window. Tell us where the car is registered and where you drive, and we’ll go over it before we start.
XPEL lists signal interference as None for PRIME CS, XR and XR PLUS.
XPEL doesn’t mention radar detectors by name, so we can’t promise anything for a windshield unit. Tell us before we tint. A built-in system has its antennas outside the cabin, not behind the glass.
No. It covers defects in the film, such as bubbling, peeling, cracking, fading and discoloration. Scratches and stains aren’t covered.
Ask us. A very light film is an option for heat, where the law allows it. We’ll go over what applies to your car.
No. The film needs time to dry. We’ll tell you how long when you pick up the car.
It depends on the car and the number of windows. Call us with the year, make and model.
Where we work
Our shop is in New Rochelle. Customers come to us from:
Enthusiast Auto Works
55B Plain Ave, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Open Monday to Friday
(914) 630-1668 · Contact us