KPRX

Guys,
Should I have the dealer do a window tint when I buy it? I think that would make it warrantied. I don't know anything about tinting. Thankyou so much. This website is a huge help in prepping to buy.
Karen

SMigneco

There are different percentages of tint depending on how dark you want it. Your decision on how dark your tint is going to be should also be based on what color car you are get and what color interior you get.

5% = Limo tint
17% = legal in FL

I have a silver 8 with all black leather interior. I put 13% tint on it and it looks great. I was debating on whether I should go lighter but in the end I am VERY happy I went with the darker tint. 13% seems to be about perfect for me. It is dark enough where you cannot see inside the car and it is light enough so that I can see outside of the car at night.

SL01

The only reason I can think of to have the dealer do it is to get the cost included in your loan or lease.

Most high quality tint comes with a lifetime warantee of its own, so any promises of such from the dealer aren't getting you anything.

Your best best is to ask around to find a good tint place and take it there on your own. (Note, if you have a nav system look for a tint place that uses ceramic (non metallic) tint.)

--SL01

SMigneco

Oh, I forgot to mention in my first post. My tint was not done by the dealer and it does have a lifetime warranty.

jonnyb

actually its 28% on front side windows, 15% on rear side windows, and 6% on rear windshield.

kwolfman

The % tint allowed depends on which state you live in. Be careful. Some states (like Maryland) specify NET % tint. That means you have to take into account the stock tinting. I think our 8 windows are somewhere between 70-80%. So adding 50% tint brings the NET down to 35-40%.

I had Huper Optik Ceramic 40 installed and it measured NET 33%.

crumpmd

My tint has a light transmittance of 35% after installation. It is measured before installation and the appropriate tint selected to comply with the law, so the final light transmittance will not be less than that required by law. Make sure they get a really good professional car window tinting specialist to do the work. You get what you pay for.

Inconsequential

Dunno if you checked, but if you do a search, there are tons of threads on this subject, just in case you didnt get the information you are looking for already

picosrx8

One thing to consider...
The back window contains your radio's antenna. Many quality tinters use a titanium film which will not fade. However it will reduce the range of your radio reception because of its metal composition. There is a higher quality tint on the market now that is made with ceramic and will not impair your reception. A bit more expensive...but I love my tunes. My 2 cents. Good luck.

Baller

limo back

starbucks

What's it like backing up at night?

I've never had a car with tinted windows, but am considering it for my new 8.

Xyntax

Cali law is anything for the back 3 windows and 75% for front sides but no tint for windshield. Yeah, 75% is close to nothing at all.

Baller

The new stuff is called "Ceramic tint" designed to be dark but you can see out very easy, the front windows are a shade lighter.
In Vegas when it's 120 it really helps. It also looks cool.

Pavehawk

After having the dealer farm out the work on my car and the issues I've had afterward I would go the direct route. I would find a reputable tint installer in your area and have them do the work.

The initial tint job was excellent. Unfortunately the tint that was installed was a titanium metallic film and it killed the reception on my navigation system's GPS receiver. The same installer has replaced the rear window film with a non-metallic film and my navigation system performance is back to normal. Unfortunately I now have a mix of metal and non-metal film on the car. Also, the window wasn't absolutely clean when the new film was applied so there's small traces of lint and air surrounding them.

In my case, looking back, I should have had the tint work done myself without the dealer as the middle man.

mysql101

I've tried doing tint myself. I suppose one could do a decent job, but it's the type of thing that practice makes perfect, and I'd recommend against doing it yourself.

I just had my car done with 18% all around, they had a computer cut the tint so it was exactly the right size. I'll reserve judgement if they did a good job or not until a few days have past and I can clean the windows to see if they have any bubbles or dirt on them.

mysql101

mmm

Pavehawk

How's your night visibility at 18%? That's some seriously dark stuff. It does look great on that sunlight silver though.

RodsterinFL

I live in FL and shopped around locally. Down here there are tinters everywhere. I went with the maximum dark allowed quoted as 30% that the shops would do. (I could've gone for 35% just on the rear but went for the match)

Immediately the car was cooler. Visibility is so-so at night. Backing up visibility is poor (IMO)

The ceramic sounds like your best bet. I got Diamond brand.

KPRX

I'm having my 95 Integra tinted tomorrow to see how it goes. They will go the legal limit in OR. They can do a visor on the front which I may have done.

Astor

I don't have the Nav, and don't listen to the FM much. I ended up getting 35% all the way around excluding the windshield. I could have gone darker in the back but the law on the sides is 35% and I wanted it all even. I went with Sungaurd with a metallic film, no radio problems, $145.00 installed (including tax) with a lifetime warranty. The guy that did it is from Tampa, so he really knew how to do a good job. I was able to roll down my windows immediately after the job. No bubbles, and my radio still picks up as well as ever. I find it dark enough for me, and it blocks the UV rays away from the leather. He mentioned he could do 60% on the front and I could throw my sunglasses away.
The tint's strength is 100 lbs. per square inch so in the odd case of something hitting a window, it won't shatter in the car.

flatso

Here is a link to a good board about tinting

mysql101

The 18% looks almost all black depending on your viewing angle... sometimes you can make out a person or a chair inside, but it's not that easy.

From inside it is definately darker, but at night I found that visability was not impared, I was able to see just fine.

The tint used was Solar Guard's True Grey at 18%, it did not effect my navi.

mysql101

btw, the shop I used came highly recommended by several other forum members here.

The shop said that 18% was the lowest they could legally put on the car.

I looked it up online and from what I recall, the websites I found said 25% on front, 17% in rear.

Yesterday I drove around 200 miles on the car, and went by at least 8 cop cars, none even looked my way. I also live less than a mile from a police station, so I pass cops ALL the time.

No problems yet, though that doesn't mean I will not come across a super **** cop on a bad day..

jonnyb

the numbers i listed are straight from florida's motor vehicle statutes.