AnotherTL09

Does anyone know if tinting windows on the 2009 will have the same issues as the 05' - 08' models leaving streaks and/or marks? Do you need to take off the door frames and add felt?

hydr0

I got mine tinted 35%, and there are no streaks in the tint at all.

Wavehogger

Mine are looking perfect, and I had them tinted for delivery. Though I was only putting them down for the first week or so before Mr. Freeze arrived. But I had an 05 with tint and never had any problems. I think if you don't keep them clean then the dust/dirt will slowly scratch em, but i'm Mr. Clean so never an issue.

str8aero

Had mine tinted twice (dealer put a cheap substitute on first - took a couple weeks to convince them it wasn't what I had ordered) and it turned out fine both times!

amer

no they dont have the same issue i put my fingers and felt the material no rubber that will scratch the tint. My tint guy inspected it and said you dont need it. i did 35% all around.

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

yep, they put the felt on the inside for the new model....i dont know why they left that out for the 3 gen car....however, you can still get your tint scratched up even with the felt if you dont keep that felt strip clean....

PetesTL

I've been thinking about getting this done soon. What do you guys think look best?......35% all around or 50% rear and 30-35% for the sides?

CleanCL

iTrader: (4)

I got 20% and I wish New York still had 15% available. 35% was too light for me.

BackinBlackTL

35 all around and please paint your grill!

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

why would you go lighter in the rear then you would on the sides...

whats legal where you live....personally if 35% is legal, then do the sides with 35%, then do the rear with 20%....where they have restrictions, its normal for the back to be as dark as you want as long as the front sides are with in legal limits....i think 50% is just too light, hell for that matter, 35% is pretty light, but when you do 20% on the back, it makes the rear sides alittle darker....

AnotherTL09

Thanks - good to know. I've had 20% for so long, anything less would be too light. It annoys me to be able to see into the car. 20 is just dark enough, but typically illegal, although that hasn't been a big issue in recent years. Just roll down the windows if you get pulled over

I got Paladium Metallic so the grill didn't look so obnoxious..

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Pete, I've got 20% all around too and it looks great. Be sure to check as to what is allowed in Illinois before you decide though. Here, 35% is the law, but I went with 20% instead and it's been OK. The same goes for the Original Poster as well.

rehab_pain

in Illinois its ilegal to have your front drivers side and pasenger side windows tinted at all. That being said I just had mine done 20% rear and rear side windows and 35% front drivers and passengers and it looks nice.

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

its not a big deal to get illegal tint as long as you live in a state where you dont have a state vehicle inspection every year....

PetesTL

Well, I got my windows tinted today. Not sure about %, but I got "medium" in the rear and "light" on the sides......with the ebony interior, it already looks plenty dark.....I also don't want to risk getting pulled over. (The cops in my neighborhood are pretty fanatical).

ssmtl2nv

iTrader: (2)

put moleskings anyway, I hate seing cars with scratches and streaks...

hydr0

All tints are illegal in NY from what I understand. I got 35% all around, and it looks great, but I do wish now I got 20%, which is what my last car was. During the day, you can see in it, but only if you really look. At night it's fine.

Wavehogger

I don't know how strict NY is, but in Mass the State Police, small town, and city police are always on the lookout for tint over the 35% limit. I used to tint the back at 20% but now they are using meters that don't need to slide over the glass so they can get you for that easily now. I'm amazed at how many kids still do 20% or darker on all the windows and I am always seeing them get pulled over and written up. It's an expensive ticket, with points, and if you don't show the registry you've removed it they will pull your reg. In fact the first week I had my TL we were on Rt 128 south and a trooper was on the grass median and as I went by he pulled out and zoomed up on the side putting his door light on my windows to see if it was too dark. It wasn't, I did 35% all around but I guess he wanted to be sure. It was actually a bit intrusive and dangerous as he was blinding the crap out of me through my side and front windshield. He stayed with me for about 10 minutes, long enough to run my plates of course and then dropped off.. I almost wanted to signal him to pull over and tell him how he almost made me go off the road and that he should have just pulled me over to look at them..

Moral of the story, if you don't want a ticket and then have to have the tint removed, which makes a mess, follow your state laws. And as much as I love the privacy and cool look of the dark tint think about how dangerous it is for a trooper to walk up to a car where he can't see anything... yikes..

NYSH-AWD

Yup, you're right hydr0... In NY all tints are illegal. I also reside in NY and have plenty of Family and Friends in Law enforcement. That being said their philosophy has always been "If you're gonna get a pulled over for tinted windows anyways, just get what you like and give them a real reason" As strict as they are here in NYC, I haven't gotten pulled over for tints yet (knock on wood), and all my cars have 15%.

nkgnito

For those of you have had your windows tinted, please posts pics with the percentage of the tint you used.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Here's my 20% tints...sorry it's a 3G Type S though.

crxb

that looks great - for me too much tint and makes it harder to see in the dark when looking out the left or right front windows making a turn

PetesTL

Does anybody know what % tint is "light" or "medium?".....I just got my rear window tinted "medium" and the sides "light."

Wavehogger

We need to see a pic Pete, and it would best if it's outside in the sun. I'm going to guess you're windows are now, 20% rear, and 35% sides. But 20% is kinda dark so maybe you're at 35% rear and 50% sides. Didn't the receipt say the %? You can always call them and ask what they did.

hydr0

I would say
Dark = Limo Tints
Medium = 20%
Light = 35%
Nonexistent = Higher than 35%

=P

Yeah I have a problem making turns with the tints too dark. I can't see people crossing certain unlit streets. I wind up contorting myself to look through the windshield at the street I was about to turn down. Also, backing out of my driveway at night is tough with dark tints, as I can't see the dark fence that lines my driveway. Now with the backup camera that's not much of an issue, but still.

I feel like 35% is the best of both worlds, as it's pretty dark, especially at night. You can actually see through them from the inside, and cops hopefully will just leave you alone since they're not darker than alot of the cars around you.

hydr0

20% definitely looks sharper from the outside, but that's really the only benefit to it. 35% still looks good, but it offers all the other benefits too. By the way, I'm just trying to convince myself that I definitely should have gotten 35% and not 20% because now every time I look at my car I first say "wow I love this car." and second, I say "wow what ugly frigging rims", and now I've added "hrmph maybe I should have gotten darker tints." If I keep adding statements to this, I'll be talking to myself like the lovely homeless we have here in NY lol.

Steven Bell

iTrader: (2)

Guys...great input about the tinting percentages. I don't seem to experience the problem sitting in the car and looking out though. I've never had tints this dark, but they sure looks good in the daytime and at night. I've never had 20% tints, but I'm REALLY glad I got them this dark.