Xpel Prime CS Window Tint

Xpel Prime CS

Welcome to my take on dyed window tint!

Today I'd like to go into the very basic of my favorite window tint brand Xpel Prime! Namely Prime CS.

CS stands for "Color Stable" and Color stable is another way to say that this tint uses a dye that is unaffected by UV! so it will never go purple or fade to clear! which is fantastic news for anyone looking for a budget friendly tint!

"When comfort and cost is key, dyed window tint won't let you down. PRIME CS BLACK can cut out the glare, protect your skin from harmful UV rays, and make any journey that much more enjoyable"

Some of the features of Prime CS are listed on Xpel's Website here, for those of you interested, but lets get a little more unbiased opinion and I'll walk you through the Pros and Cons of This film, starting with its UV protection

View Prime CS on Xpel's Website!

UV Ray Protection

UV Protection isn't usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think of window tint, but it really should play a factor when your thinking about which windows you want to tint in your vehicle.

Unlike heat rejection performance, you don't have to pick a dark, low VLT tint to gain the the highest performance! in fact, how dark your tint is has nothing to do with it! no matter how dark or light your tint is, you'll reap the benefits of blocking 99.9% UV A and UV B that can lead to numerous skin cancers, premature aging and skin cell damage. It works so well as a UV Protectant that is Recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation

Dyed Tint blocks UVA and UVB!

Crystal Clear Signal

Something I never would have thought about before getting into this industry is selecting a window tint that wouldn't interfere with my Bluetooth, radio or cell phone. Some window tint film contains alloys and other precious metals that can interfere with all of the above in the name of Heat rejection performance!

Dyed Tint won't block any signals!

Dyed window tint like Prime CS from Xpel contains no metalized particles ensuring that it does not interfere with any of the signals you use on a daily basis.

Appearance And Warranty

This film always looks great from the outside of the vehicle! Prime CS Black especially matches the factory tinted glass from domestic vehicle manufactures very well! We've seen this tint on new Ford F150's and the match is almost Perfect!

The glare reduction is fantastic, and due to the color of the film it ends up looking a little darker then it's Carbon color counterparts from other manufactures which usually ends up coming through as a Green or brown color which I've never been a huge fan of.

A great perk is as we mentioned in the beginning of the article this tint utilizes UV stable dye! So it will never change color or fade to a lighter shade over time!

UV stable Tint installation

"XPEL, Inc. (the “Company”) expressly warrants to the owner that, for the life of your vehicle (the “Warranty Period”) from the date of initial installation. The Company will cover defects on the PRIME Automotive Window Film (the “Product(s)”) such as: discoloration, fading, bubbling, peeling, cracking, and delamination" - Xpel Website

The lifetime warranty is upheld through any Xpel dealer throughout north America! that means that even if you move across the continent, you'll be able to claim your warranty should a manufacture defect occur via their "find and installer" dealer locator! Awesome!

One down side though is that the film does carry a slightly blurry appearance, which makes it unfit for windshields and if you're picky enough, the front roll down windows.

Heat Rejection Performance

This is where the dyed window films tend to fall behind... They don't stop a ton of heat when compared to their Ceramic counterparts like Prime XR and XR Plus.

Looking at the performance table from Xpel we see that at its darkest, 5% you're seeing a modest 42% Total Solar Energy Rejection (TSER) which isn't substantial by todays standards, but that being said its better then nothing!

Xpel Prime CS Performance chart

In conclusion, Dyed window tint is a great option for those looking for UV protection, good aesthetics, Glare reduction and a more budget friendly option.

I hope you've found this article informative in my quest to educate and inform you all in what the options are out there for everything automotive protection!

How Much Does Window Tinting Cost?

As the owner of a window tint business, the first question I get asked on Facebook, Instagram or in person is "How much does window tint cost?"

Shopping for a service as specialized as window tint, you will always see a wide range of prices and package deals. Some shops will charge per window, some will charge by the type and age of vehicle.

One thing that is certain is with window tint, you get what you pay for. Many veterans of the industry use the term "Good tint isn't cheap, and cheap tint ain't good" So depending on your budget and the vehicle you are looking to tint the price will vary.

Here are a few tips and questions to ask when looking for a good value when shopping for window tint!

Google / Facebook Reviews

Do some research on the tint shops around you, check their reviews and star rating, this is a quick indication on the customer experience you may have and the quality of their tint installation. but not all reviews may be accurate so take your time to sift through them and also note the response of the company to negative reviews, this will help you see the companies dedication to customer service and quality.

A company with good google reviews may charge more then a company with negative, few or no google reviews, but you will save time and possibly a negative experience by going with a solidly established company.

Window Tint Brand

Most shops will directly advertise the brand of tint film they install, if not you can call and ask. A few reputable brands are listed here:

-Xpel

-Autobahn

-Suntek

-Llummar

-Hüper Optik

-3M

All these Brands have a proven track record and most offer a film with a lifetime warranty. But just like when buying a new vehicle there are "Good, Better and Best" trim options within the brand, not all product lines within these brands offer the same warranty or performance, so its best to ask not just what brand of tint they use, but also the type or construction of the tint film as this will effect the price of the window tint installation.

Which window tint is the best value for me?

We wont go to far into the different types of window tint in this article, but there are generally 3 types of window tint offered today.

Dyed Tint : This is a entry-level tint, great for those who only have privacy or glare protection as a concern.

Average price for car tint in Alberta Canada - $350 +/-

Metallized Tint : This is a mid-level tint, Good performance for heat control and glare reduction, But may effect GPS, Bluetooth, Cell phones.

Average price for car tint in Alberta Canada - $450 +/-

Ceramic Tint : This is a high performance tint. the best heat absorbing performance out of any tint, optically clear.

Average price for car tint in Alberta Canada - $700 +/-

Warranty

Warranty is a big plus when looking for a good value window tint and may not effect the price as much as you think. Many shops offer a lifetime manufacture warranty tint but one more good question to ask is what the installation warranty is... the tint maybe warrantied against fade, bubbling, delaminating and so on, but if the installation of the tint doesn't look good, or it peels up a few months down the road, you'll wish you asked, a lifetime warranty film is only good if it stays on the window.

You also may be required to register your warranty online so its not a bad idea to ask that question as well.

The take away is that there are quite a few options for window tint and depending on which option you choose the price will then vary on your car, truck, SUV or van. so best to get out there and ask the questions, read the reviews, and find the tint shop that checks all the boxes!

Happy Hunting!

Okotoks Tinting Blog

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As a young man I was always looking for a way to customize my car with the best parts and aftermarket products I could afford, to set myself apart from my friends and others in the early 2000's car culture.

With Fast and the furious mentality in full swing we customized our cars to death with everything and anything we could, and in doing so I learned how quickly a vehicle can become untastefully modified. Spending money were I didn't have too, only to be unhappy with the results.

After years of working on my project cars and trucks I finally ended up working for a small window tinting company in Okotoks installing Flat glass tint where I spent 3 years honing my skills under the owners mentorship. It was there I learned all about different types of window tint, Paint protection film, Flat glass tint, Vinyl Graphics and Vinyl Wraps. I also took several film installation courses with trainers like Justin Pate (Avery Dennison wrap training) , the Blanchard brothers (3M Graphics installation training) and various Xpel Certified trainers both in Calgary and San Antonio Texas for both window tint and paint protection film, and Ceramic Coatings.

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The start of Okotoks Tinting

I starting Okotoks tinting in 2018 and I wanted so much to focus on products with excellent warranties that are backed up by a good customer service which I found with Xpel. Their focus on the customer experience and their attention to detail with their products really impressed me so I aligned my company to grow with their product line.

I wanted to make sure I was able to offer my customers a product that would last the test of time and look awesome doing it, with the newest and best technology available so they would never have to feel the way I did when I was younger, unhappy with the results or longevity.

Since opening, my team size and experience have increased to add a PPF installer Joel who has since moved to the UK is 2022 and continues to install window tint and paint protection film there. Another Tinter, Ed in 2020, and 2 Paint protection film installers Lukas and Kaitlin in 2022! Lukas came with Detailing and paint polishing Experience which many of our customers have taken advantage of!

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GOAL

My goal for this blog is to lend a professional opinion on the different services offered in the vehicle protection and customization industry, with a few Do's and Don'ts and product reviews to keep you up to date on a very fast changing industry! Thanks for reading! and if you want updates please subscribe and share!