What is everyones thoughts on window tinting? My state(alabama)'s legal limit is 32% but that just lets in to much light, im thinking of doing 20% all the way around I drive a dark green Type S with tan interior. would 20% be dark enough to get a darker look like the exterior? and has anyone had any problems going below the legal limit? like getting pulled over for just the windows versus speeding and then them seeing your windows?

 

I have 20% on a 06 Black TL with Black interior in PA (20% is illegal, 35% is ok). I had it on for about 6 months and been ok since. I passed multiple cops and hadnt had a problem. It makes the car look so much better.

I did get pulled over in my eclipse that was silver with 20% tint on but that was at 1AM on a saturday night. He pulled me over because of the windows but really i think he was just looking to get a DUI driver. He just let me off, and no fix it ticket or anything.

Its a risk but ill keep taking it.

20% on both:

 

damn, that tl looks good like that. and the Eclipse is just more noticeable to cops haha or at least it is down in the south. Yea I leaning more towards that 20% now, cause itll be a little lighter with tan interior id imagine. thanks for the reply!

 

I have 20% on the back window, 20% on both rear passenger windows, 35% on front driver & passenger windows, and 70% on the windshield (the whole windshield, not just a strip at the top). It's great. Having the windshield tinted lets less total light into the car, and thus makes the tinted side windows appear darker.

 

Hmm thats interesting ive never heard of tinting the windshield. How much did that cost? And it didnt effect the visibility at night right?

 

It does ^ I have almost the same setup but my Front and Passenger windows are also 20%.

In broad daylight its excellent you wont have a problem!! and your A/C will work like a freezer if you dare to put it at 60° even when outside is +100°F but at Night it almost feels like your headlights aren't HIDs, I found myself using the High Beams to compensate more than often specially at dark highways..


My whole setup was done for 300 bucks but it got a 10yr warranty if the tint ever discolorate/wash out I get a free replacement and installation.

 

ck your local laws on tint, and the many threads here on the subject
Most places don't want any tint on driver side windows = so cops can see the number and race of all occupants, and what they are doing with their hands!
Like pointing a gun the cop cant see thru the tint

I think its far more likely to get pulled over with dark tints for the simple reason that criminals are doing it, so you automatically get put in that category,,, regardless of your Fine Upstanding Citizen rating~

For those really going beyond legal and tint the windshield, get some LED driving lights and mount under bumper
They make HID look like plain headlights! wouldn't use them in our low beams, but on their own, wow!

 

^ Indeed... My hefty fines can agree with that statement...
But the 120°F Summer here far out weights the cost of the fine, There are even some understanding cops that have let me go with just a warning.

 

I had to remove front door tints- changed to the black mesh window shades with a suction cup holding them on. Found in Target or similar as `baby shades`

It allows visibility thru (not really) and is not permanently attached to the glass, so you could pop it off = mostly legal

Tip: put reflectex/foil fold-up type windshield shade between the sunroof glass and the cardboard slider above your head
That glass is incredibly hot!! Want to cut down heat transfer there- same as you would with the front glass
Tape corners in place, or it will depart the vehicle first time you pop up the back of the sunroof on the freeway, don't ask~

Cut pieces for side glass and use Velcro to attach when parked !

Trick: to vent hot air from cabin= rear windows down 1/3-1/2, front windows UP
Cabin fan on High and recirc OFF, AC ON
Drive above 25mph and a low pressure area will be created outside the rear windows, sucking higher pressure hot air from the cabin
This will remove the heated air while sucking more fresh air thru the AC and thru the cabin
Once cooled off, go back to usual settings, This works really well- let science do its thing!

you can not chill hot air, you can only remove it!

 

^^^ Dat trick for the sun roof cover sounds awesome! I will try it with some windshield reflective cover and cut it so it can stay in place when the cover is closed.

 

This is HIGHLY dependent on where you live and what the cops are like, knowing your location might help members that live in your state help answer your question better. Here the limit is 50 sides 35 rear but ive always run 35/20/20. Local and county have never had a problem with it, its always been the state patrol that has, and even that has been very limited in the past 15 years with it on the TL.

 

It was $100 for the windshield. Have to locate a tint place that is willing to do it for cash, as it isn't legal.

I always use my high beams when there aren't cars that I would be bothering. But that's something I've always done, not just since tinting the windshield. I think with my next vehicle I will look at what is available in an 80% tint for the windshield to slightly lessen the amount of darkening for the little bit of night driving that I do.

 

^ Yeah an 80% would be perfect for the Windshield.

 

It all depends on whether you find a cop trying to meet a quota or one that doesnt care. In NC the legal limit is 32% but I got 20% in the front and 5% in the back windows and rear window on my 99 TL plus it black with black wheels so it kinda makes it seem darker. I got pulled over a few times but I was let off with a warning both time.

 

In Utah we have this stupid 37% front windows requirement, 20% rear and infinity% back limits.

It can look a little silly with different tint on the front but with a black interior like I have it doesn't look so bad.

 

I recently got my RL (30%) and RDX (20%) tinted. I did the RDX at 20% so it would match the rear factory tint. Looks great and the heat rejection is a big improvement. I don't know why I didn't do it years ago when I bought the cars new. I got a ceramic Llumar tint, which is pretty costly, but it doesn't affect electronics reception and will never fade. So if you know you're keeping the car a long time, that's the way to go.

My TL is not tinted only because it's already at 260k miles now, and I don't want to spend the money when the car will probably be junked within a couple years.

BTW, the law in CA is no tint on front windows at all, but a lot of people do it anyway. As long as you don't look like a gangster, you'll probably be okay. I wouldn't go any lower than 20% tint though, as then they can't see you at all, and I can understand why they would get nervous about that.

 

Has anyone ever installed the precut 3m brand that can be found on ebay? That's probably what I will be getting since its cheaper than paying the pros

 

I personally would never try installing tint myself as I have no skills. I want the tint to look perfect or I'd rather have nothing at all.

 

Doing the tint yourself has so much potential for disastrous results that I'd just save up the money and have a pro do it. Most places I've called will do it for $200.

Additionally, I also found that tinting the windshield is illegal where I live, as well.

 

There does exist pretty "clear" front windshield tint that blocks UV and heat, but has nearly no effect on vision. The tint shop I used did that on a car while I was there.

 

All windshields block UV light straight from the factory.

 

In fact, all windows (factory) block some amount of UV light. Tint basically block more. I saw one car at the shop get a clear tint for the windshield for the purposes of blocking heat and UV. I personally decided to go for the ceramic Llumar brand tint.

 

Yes, side windows block some UV light (they block either UVA or UVB, can't remember which), but windshields already block 100% of all UV light straight from the factory.