Hi all,

I got my 8 about a year and a half ago now. Its an '05 MT WWP with 15k miles on it. Its bone stock except for a few things I had the dealer do in our "negotiations". I have the OEM IPOD Adapter and the bigger one is completely new seats. The car I wanted at their dealership had cloth seats and I wanted leather, but I didn't like the leather seats in the GT. So I had them strip them down and reupholster them with two tone Black/Charcoal (Black where the black normally is and the charcoal where the red normally is in the Black/Red and the charcoal is perforated too). Alright, so thats my car, here's my questions. I'm looking to make a couple appearance changes and have been searching the board alot lately. I would like to :
1) Tint the windows
2) Clear Corners
3) LED interior lights
4) Remove the Wind Deflector on the sunroof

For the windows I was wondering if getting 50% was even worthwhile? Its the legal amount in CA for the driver's side window. I've read conflicting statements saying that you can't have any though. I got pulled over and had to remove the tint on my first car and don't want to go through the same experience again. Are there any places around Irvine you guys can reccomend? And if there is a huge difference visibly between 50 and say 30%?

Clear corners and LED lights I'm good with, saw the DIY and where to get them etc etc.

The Wind Deflector I saw how to remove, but before I do I'm curious as to what that would leave. They say I take two screws out and two brackets, but wouldn't that leave me with.. um... holes in my roof? I ask because I don't want to risk scratching my roof taking it off and then back on again. I hear it scratches things rather easily..

Any advice you all have would be greatly appreciated and thank you everyone for providing the DIY's and the plentiful information.

 

in regards to tint - there isn't too much of a difference (at a glance) between 50% and 30% - maybe only that you could see colors thru the windows instead of just shapes (like if you had 30%, like myself) - i have 30% on the fronts and limo in the back - it actually helps cool down the car just a bit if you're in the sun and while you're driving but it's almost like playing blind mans bluff when you look in your interior, rear view mirror.

 

Blind Man's Bluff huh. I got a buddy who did 5% in his 8, all windows but the windshield. When I'm in it with him I'm not really sure how he drives around with it. I guess its just something you get used to. Although, at night I do seem him roll down his windows to get out of parking spots What do you think about your 30%? No regrets? Happy with it?

 

Get in an accident and your insurance can refuse your coverage because you made the car unsafe.

 

i had 5% on my daily driven infiniti and it was soo dangerous driving at night sometimes, glad i got rid of it.

 

I have 55% on the 2 front windows and 20% on the back 3. Most of the time, depending on the sun, the front isn't that noticeable where I would get hassled for it (hopefully), but does give it a bit of tint so I'm happy with it (the stock glass is way too clear).
California law is pretty strict and only allows 70% on the front 2 - not really worth it.

Check out Campbell Tinting in Huntington Beach, they do great work and are highly professional. If you get a fix-it ticket, they offer to remove the tint for free, then after you get the ticket taken care of, they will re-tint the windows for 1/2 price. www.campbelltint.com

 

30% in my front doesn't really bother me too much - however with the back windows i think anything more than 50% at night is gonna take some getting used to...

 

I think I'm going to go with 50% in the front and then something around the 20-30 in the back. I heard the darker the back windows are the lighter it makes the front windows, less ticket hassle. Has the maximum tint gone up to 70% here? Not saying its changed, just that.. yeah, still surprised by how strict it is. Thanks for the campbell tint website. I'll definitley check it out. On a side note though, does anybody have an idea about the wind deflector?

 

stay away from limo or 5% on any of your windows. Your making it difficult to use your windows/mirrors, even during the day time, and you'll also be screaming at the cops that you are a kid and that your windows are tinted. I went with 50% all the way round. Works to cool the car off, get the sun from beating you down, and doesn't scream "window tint". I personally like the look of having all the windows look the same. If you tint the back windows, it will make the front windows look dark regardless of how much lighter you go up front.

Here are pics of my car. I don't have any issues driving at night, and have never had a cop even look at me a second time, even at night.