I went to get my windows tinted and was surprised at the choices. Living in California, only a strip of tint on the front windshield is allowed. You are not suppose to tint the front two passenger windows, although it is fairly common to have them done. The rear passenger portholes and the rear window are legal to tint.

The guy doing the tint has recommended 35% on the passenger front and back and then a slightly darker tint ( i think he said 50 % ) for the rear window. The rear window done in the same tint appears to have a lighter tint in bright sunlight he claims. He also thinks it looks sportier.

He also recommends the strip on the front windshield. The price is $170 and he comes highly recommend by my body shop owner friend. I dont think he is trying to talk up the price. But as a professional in my late 40's, I dont want to do the gansta/thug etc. look.

I have a sunlight silver 2004. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

I personally think that having all the windows tinted the same shade(%) looks a lot better and clean. However this either means you will sacrafice the the darker tint all around or risk the ticket. I lived in SoCal for five years with window tinting and never had any problems, just roll them down if you get pulled over. Just my two cents!

 

For window tint the percentage of tint is light filtration.

ie: 30% is darker than 50%...

I also like the look of the same percentage of tint all the way around the car, minus the front windshield. I am not a fan of tinting the front windshield.

 

mines 20% no front.. i am in NY i dont get bothered.. looks nice.. not too dark.

 

i got 20% all around-minus front windshield, as well. it looks good, but sometimes i wish i went with 5% lol.

 

I went with 5% on all the rear windows and 15% up front. (live in SoCal so I use my Jedi Powers to avoid tickets)

$170 sounds like a fair price for a tint job on an 8. Just make sure they give you some type of lifetime warranty with them and ask how much they'll charge you if you get a ticket for the front 2 windows. (you'll need to get the tint taken off, ticket signed off, then tint reapplied)

Here are pics of mine if you're interested:

 

i need tint bad..haha

 

^^ YES you do!!! Hurry up and get it done before Sevenstock. Don't make me call up Alan and make your appointment for you....

 

I got 20% all around with a strip up front for $97, lifetime garuntee.

Personally I wouldnt pay much more than $110 or so for a full tint, $180 seems steep from the prices I get down here, but I guess the market is different in SoCal?

 

COL is pretty high out there.

 

Nice tint Jedi.
Did they have to remove the port hole windows to get around the bolt latch on the window? And did they have to remove the door panels to tint your driver and passenger side windows?

And to anyone in NorCal., can you guys recommend a tint shop that does a good job?

 

most tint people normall don't remove anything to tint your windows/windshields. unless the 3rd brake light or radio antenna is in the way like in some cars. basically cutting the shape on the outside and then put adhesive and apply it on the inside.

 

Ngo is completely right. (damn, it pains me to say that...haha j/k)

The guy who did my tint didn't have to remove anything at all. Just a steady hand and some patience is required.

 

So Cali people - Here is the deal. You are allowed 5 inched top and 2 inches bottom on your front windshield. As for the side windows - -
Back and rear sides can be as dark as you want.
THE FRONT DOOR WINDOWS - can be as dark as you want as long as THE TINT DOES NOT GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR MIRRORS.
California law requires 2 mirrors. When you tint the rear window, they consider you interior mirror as useless. If you only have 1 outside mirror ( cars built in the 50's-60's) YOU MAY NOT EVEN TINT YOUR REAR WINDOW.
So by tinting your side front windows, they consider it like painting them black, they say you cant see your mirrors. Therefore they can write you a ticket.
Have you seen the custom tint that looks like flames coming forward, and it does not cover the very front of the window????? There is a reason for this, not just to look like a ricer, but to be able to see your mirrors.
Now - If a cop does not like you, they will pull you over for whatever reason they can find. Most people dont tint the front to avoid giving the cops another reason.


But screw all that - Tint it as dark as you can!!! It makes it look SO NICE

 

being as those you are a professional in your late 40's i would recommend the 35% all around. That is what i had done on my car, dealer installed for free before i picked up the car. It is dark enough to look nice but not so dark that i have trouble seeing at night or get messed with by the cops.

 

I live in so cal and in 1989 I had a ford probe and I had tints on the back windows and slight tint on the front side windows. One day I loaned the car to my mom and she got pulled over by a cop and got a ticket for the tints on the front side windows. I had to take it back to the tint shop and have them peel it off and show proof of the tint removal at the sheriffs station.

 

ORYAS - What was the ticket for? Was it for the "tint", or was it "obstructing the view of the driver"?

 

It was 17 years ago I don't remember exactly what it was for.

 

I used to drive a 93 ford escort that had 5% all over..I got pulled all over all the time! I spent about $500 in tickets until I just gave up and peeled it off.. If you go to dark the police will harass you!

 

ya... i live in socal too and got my windows tinted at 15% all around during the summer. i did it mainly because i wanted to blot out the sun as much as possible, but as a bonus it looks really nice on a black rx8. i have yet to get a ticket and my school's right next to a police station. then again, i don't drive very fast and i don't give them a reason to pull me over either.

 

I'm taking mine to Vallejo Tint Shop tomorrow. I'll let you know how they do. They are charging $180 for the whole thing w/lifetime guarantee. I know all about the 50% tint up front...however, I think I'll be going with 5% on the rear and the small 'porthole' windows, and 20% on the drivers/passengers's side. Hopefully the po-po won't come after me!

 

Does anybody know what the stock tint is on an Rx-8? My windows from the factory are definitely a little darker than on my other cars. This should add to the final tint, so a 20% tint will actually be a little darker. I'm not sure how much though. Any ideas?

 

skinless: the 8's dont' come from the factory with tint so that would be a question for your dealership since they would have contracted someone to put that tint on.

 

just reread your post: Are all your windows tinted already? If so, you'll have to get that removed and have new tint applied. You don't want to tint on top of tint...not pretty.

 

I don't have an aftermarket tint. I'm pretty sure it's the color of the glass that was used on the side and back windows of the RX-8. I think the glass on the side and back windows is a little darker than the windshield, and darker than the glass on my other cars. I don't have my car with me today so I can't run out and check. Can anybody confirm?