Just bought a '03 Satin Silver CL-S last week. I'm thinking about tinting my windows a little darker, since I think it looks better and I don't want my black leather baking in the sun.

Does anyone know what the factory tint is on the side windows? Here in Massachusetts we can have a 35% net tint all the way around (except the front windshield), and I'm trying to decide how dark I can go. I'm thinking somewhere between 35% and 50% would probably be nice, both aesthetically and functionally. But don't the tint sheets only come in either 50%, 35%, 20%, etc.? With the factory tint, and a 50% tint sheet, does anyone know what that would end up being in terms of Net tint %?

BTW, I'm thinking about going to Tint-A-Glass in Maynard, MA. If anyone here has anything to say about them (good or bad) I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

If you are gonna have them tinted, you might as well go with 35% tint all around, it looks great. I think the shop that tints them mite remove the old tints, which might be a smarter thing since the tint is made for the window, not the tint thats already on. Can anyone back this up?

P.S: My friend tinted his GTI with bluish-silver/mirror tint, looks really good since his car is silver.

 

Umm...The CL-S doesn't have factory tinted windows. But since you can have 35%, I'd do 35% on all windows.

 

A cop that ticketed me for the window tint said the factory tint was 27%. I really wouldn't concern myself with the factory tint. I would suggest looking at other vehicles with similar exterior & interior colors and ask the owners what the percentage of light is being transmitted through the tint (the %). Look at it from the inside of the car looking out also. I don't know what the cops in MA are doing, but from my experience in PA, the darker the tint, the more likely you will be ticketed. I have 5% on the back & 20% on the sides, and in about 12 months I have only had one ticket for the tinted windows. You should have no problem with 35% & 50%.

 

The “factory” tint on the side windows is embedded into the glass and can’t be removed.
It’s kind of a bluish color, but I have no idea of the percentage.

Shawn S

 

YUP...That is why I only went with 35% on the sides.
Still illegal, but my chances of talking with the law are reduced somewhat.

Shawn S

 

Get 5% less than what you want . if you want 35% tint then get 40% tint..you fell me.. the window has a 5% tinit in it ..
I wanted 15% so they laid 20% on the side and back and whole front windshield in 35%...
sorry I have no pics...

 

Go to Tint King in Billerica. I went there and they did a SUPERB job. It was 240 for 35% Llumar Polarized on sides and rear and he gives lifetime guarantee.

 

So the CL-S's windows ARE tinted from the factory? I thought it was a special solor control glass that was just a different color(greenish) to reduce glare.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I think what I'll end up doing is have the tint people use their light meter to make sure I'm nice and legal. I don't want to attract too much attention from the cops. I'll probably go somewhere between 35 and 50%... I'm still undecided.

 

It's special heat-resistant glass, and it has a color to it. It doesn't matter if it's truly "tinted" -- whether it has an additional film on it or not. Most state laws just look at the WINDOW + TINT and see how much light gets through. Anything except crystal-clear (no color, no reflection) glass will be less than 100%. I'd guess the factory is 85% or so.

- Mark

 

I hear that window tint may void your warranty if it's beyond 35%. Be careful

 

It may also be causing Tranny problems

 

I got 15% on all the way around and probably getting 35% on the windshield soon. You definitely cannot see in at night and barely during the day time.

 

Assuming our windows are the same, the factory glass is tinted. Since we both leave in MA, here is my experience.

The installer put 35% tint on the glass and it measured out be about 27%. He then put on 50%, it came out to be about 42%. He said that the 35% made it too dark, if it came out to be about 30-32%, he would have done it although he did the back window with 35% tint. He said the back was harder to take a reading

I agreed with him, since in my town, the local authorities stop cars for burned out light bulbs. I didn't care/want any hassles from them or even failing any auto inspections.