Tented windows... maybe not?

[In-House Bob]

Hi gang,
My sedan was sold to me with tinted side and back windows. Not sure why it wasn't removed by the dealer, but maybe they agreed with me that it looks great. They give the car a terrific look but after a few night drives, I think it may have to come off, at least on the sides. I may just be getting night-blind, but I am having trouble seeing much except lights out the sides at night. So I end up swinging wide on turns to avoid curbs I can't see and worry that I might miss something else of importance.
Anyone have experience removing this stuff? I've looked at You Tube and there are lots of differing opinions on technique.
It's a shame to see it go as the car really does look great with the tint. And it is very well installed.
Bob

 

[Mr. Incredible]

I have 5% all around (including the pano roof) had have no issues seeing at night, if I have a problem on a really dark street I roll down the window until my maneuver is complete.

I won't drive a car without tint, I don't like driving a fish bowl that everyone can see into, parked or moving. and I like the heat reduction that tint helps with especially having the pano done, my car does not get nearly as hot as others sitting in the sun all day at work.


if you choose to remove it you have to heat it with a heat gun.. personally I would take it to a professional Tint shop to do it. Especially the rear glass, if you don't do it correctly you risk damaging both the AM/FM antenna which is embedded in the glass, and the rear window defroster also embedded in the glass.

 

[In-House Bob]

All good points and I have been weighing the pluses and minuses. I had to run my daughter to the airport very early this morning when I was pretty tired and I found myself very uncomfortable while next to big trucks and against jersey walls because I just couldn't see them out of the corner of my eye. I agree about the back window. I would likely leave that alone if I do it myself. Decisions, decisions.

 

[dareckibmw]

Iirc, tinted front doors are illegal in NJ. At least it was ~22 years ago when I lived there.

 

[In-House Bob]

Interesting. I drove through NJ the other day and got away with it, so that's good. I will have to Google the rules in VA.

Edit: Va allows 50% on front windows and 65% on back and rear. Non reflective is allowed above the AS-1 line, whatever that is, on the windshield.
New Jersey doesn't allow any on front or windshield but any darkness in the back and rear. Your state my vary, I guess!

 

[EdP]

Iirc, tinted front doors are illegal in NJ. At least it was ~22 years ago when I lived there.

Still the same. You can check out your state here

Window Tinting Laws in All 50 States | instamotor

The degree to which a driver can legally tint their car's windows vary from state to state. To make it just a little easier for drivers, we’ve got all the laws here in one place.

instamotor.com

 

[Mr. Incredible]

Iirc, tinted front doors are illegal in NJ. At least it was ~22 years ago when I lived there.

illegal in most places, but most LEOs won't hassle you about it unless they are pulling you over for something else, i.e. speeding, running a light, etc.

even then it really depends on the officer and the situation. I was taught to respect LEOs and not argue with them, if you disagree with the ticket fight it in court, so I don't make waves or give attitude when pulled over, therefore while it has been mentioned that the tint is illegal, I have never been cited for it.

even the most recent, first speeding ticket I have had in 30+ years, the LEO pointed out the tint and lack of a front plate, and gave me a warning, but didn't cite it, plus wrote the speeding ticket for 10 under what I know I was doing when I saw him.

 

[Andyj]

Nice LEO

 

[Mr. Incredible]

Nice LEO

well I pulled over the moment I caught him out of the corner of my eye (motorcycle cop hiding behind a truck with his radar gun), I knew I was busted, didn't bother to wait for him to light me up.

when he asked how fast I was going, I didn't lie told him straight up I know I was going 55+ in a 45 and why, damn semi-truck was straddling 2 lanes for over a mile driving @ 15mph and I was tired of following him. LEOs partner pulled the truck over as well.

I was honest, didn't argue with him, and showed him respect, he reciprocated and went easy on me, then started asking me a bunch of questions about my G80 and how I liked it, and if it was comfortable and that he loved the carbon fiber dash trim, etc.

 

[EdP]

I was honest, didn't argue with him, and showed him respect, he reciprocated and went easy on me, then started asking me a bunch of questions about my G80 and how I liked it, and if it was comfortable and that he loved the carbon fiber dash trim, etc.

I'm a fan of Live PD. Amazing how some people get stopped for a minor offence and gas smart assed and make it worse. It pays to be respectful to the people we pay to protect us.

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[Chad86tsi]

My Gen came with mild tint on everything but the windshield, my guess is 50%, enough to be more private and looks great on a black on black car. I love it the way it is and you do get used to it if you give it time.

My first tinted car has rear and back glass at about 25%, perhaps more, and about 50% on front glass. Looked nice on that car (hatchback) It was hard to see out the back window mirror, but the sides being less dark made it tolerable. I just rolled the window down if I wasn't sure. The tint every day was worth the extra effort 3 or 4 times a year parking in new locations.

 

[Gebop]

I went 20% all around living in a sunbelt state. I went 80% on windshield and skipped the pano as I like the natural light and can close the shade if it’s too bright. I might change my mind summer time in the pano, but the shade on the Genesis is way better than the mesh on my previous Audi, so seems resonable for now.

To be honest, the 20% on the front windows may be too dark at night. Dark streets and making a left I slow to a crawl as the combination of dark window and giant side mirror is a little too uncomfortable in turns.

I did find something of a workaround: I turn of the the infotainment display at night around town. Makes a big difference for me. The Ultimate display is incredibly bright and I find it kills a lot of my night vision. Fortunately, the Genesis has a one push button to make the task simple.

 

[Gen127]

I was soooo close to having my windows tinted last summer but put it off. I am reconsidering it again before this summer. Black cars on hot summer days can get very toasty inside. Currently, the retractable privacy screens on both the rear door windows and rear window already diminish a good deal of the visibility out those windows. My concern is tinting those windows will further reduce visibility, especially at night. Tinting the pano is the most appealing.

 

[EdP]

I was soooo close to having my windows tinted last summer but put it off. I am reconsidering it again before this summer. Black cars on hot summer days can get very toasty inside. Currently, the retractable privacy screens on both the rear door windows and rear window already diminish a good deal of the visibility out those windows. My concern is tinting those windows will further reduce visibility, especially at night. Tinting the pano is the most appealing.

I'm thinking of beg, borrow, or buy a piece of 50% and tape it on the driver's side window just to get an idea of what it will be like driving with it. If I can see out OK I'd get them done properly. Did not bother me to have plain glass in CT, but now I live in FL with a dark blue car. Sitting next to yours in the sun, mine will be 2 degrees cooler!

 

[dareckibmw]

I had 35% on my Genesis '15 5.0 and now 20% on G80 take a look at those picture, so you can see the difference.

If the G80 didn't have them done by the dealer, I'b be getting 35% again. Don't get me wrong, I like it, but at night it's little challenging when backing up, in dark places, etc.

20% Genesis G80 Sport AWD on VELGEN's VMB7 Matte Gunmetal

35% Genesis 5.0 Lowered on ARK Springs + VELGEN VMB5 Matte Gunmetal

 

[surprisinguy]

35% (legal) has worked well for me. I do have a 5% tint strip on the windshield that is one inch above the bottom of the black section below the rv mirror. That's prob illegal but no probs so far.

 

[In-House Bob]

Looking at all these photos, I am beginning to think that my tint is pretty dark. I can barely see into the car from the outside on a sunny day. Maybe that's the problem. I'll talk to my local tint shop and see what they think this percentage is and perhaps get something less drastic later. I do hate to remove something only to pay to add more. I'm a cheap so-in-so.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

Looking at all these photos, I am beginning to think that my tint is pretty dark. I can barely see into the car from the outside on a sunny day. Maybe that's the problem. I'll talk to my local tint shop and see what they think this percentage is and perhaps get something less drastic later. I do hate to remove something only to pay to add more. I'm a cheap so-in-so.

Keep in mind that if you have a dark interior it will make the tint look even darker, no light reflection from the interior.

 

[Gebop]

Keep in mind that if you have a dark interior it will make the tint look even darker, no light reflection from the interior.

Very good point on interior color. I have ivory and with the pano unshaded my car looks like 35%, even though it’s 20% all around.

No way I’d go with zero tinting on the car. I drove across Texas in November and had the sun beating on me through too many miles. Tinting makes a HUGE difference.

Even going 80% is far better than nothing. I have Llumar AirBlue 80% on the windshield and you cannot tell it’s there (short of wearing polarized sunglasses). I’ve seen cars with 80% all around it it looks like no tinting - but no doubt it makes a big, big difference in driving comfort over clear glass.

If you haven’t driven with a tinted windshield you are truly missing out. Cuts down on road glare tremendously and blocks heat gain considerably through the biggest glass on the car (other than the pano roof). Quick trip to store and no need to break out the visor for the windshield. Some folks go as dark as 50% on the windshield but even my 80% does a fantastic job. The lighter tints are definitely still worth doing.

 

[In-House Bob]

I do have a black interior. I'm going to the local tint shop tomorrow and we will have to have a conversation. They have a great reputation and have been there for many years, so I think I may find a solution. Thanks all for the perspectives.