Window Tint

[WilcoJunoHotel]

Thinking about removing the window tint from the driver and front passenger windows. I like the way it looks but it makes the outside mirrors very hard to scan quickly due to the dim/darker image.

The tint was done by the dealer and I am guessing that it is the 3M 35% that is common here in ATL.

Wondering how it will look with the back windows tinted but not the fronts.

Anyone done this or have any images of what it will look like? I played with photoshop but it didn't really give me a good idea of end result and once I remove it I can't go back without taking it to have it redone ($).

 

[EdP]

Thinking about removing the window tint from the driver and front passenger windows. I like the way it looks but it makes the outside mirrors very hard to scan quickly due to the dim/darker image.

The tint was done by the dealer and I am guessing that it is the 3M 35% that is common here in ATL.

Wondering how it will look with the back windows tinted but not the fronts.

Anyone done this or have any images of what it will look like? I played with photoshop but it didn't really give me a good idea of end result and once I remove it I can't go back without taking it to have it redone ($).

Opinions vary of course. 35% is very common but I think it is too dark for me. I went with 50% and it works well, Keeps some sun out but not so dart, even at night to cause strain to see.

I'd stop at the local tint shop and have them show you the look once the old film is off.

 

[WilcoJunoHotel]

Yeah, at night it is a real issue for me. I had it on an SUV years ago and took it off because I couldn't see where I was turning at night.

Had a LEO follow me for about a mile the other day - never pulled me over but I suspect it was due to the tint or the temp tag on the car. Can't really see into the car at all even in the daylight. 32% is the max legal here in GA but there is a 3% tolerance so 35% 3M ceramic is mostly what the dealers are installing.

 

[JCtx]

You might not have 35%, if you can't see inside the car; that sounds like at least 20. I always use 35 in front, and can perfectly see inside the vehicle in daylight. Since I live in the desert, I typically use 20% around the rear, and 35% in front, as mentioned. Doesn't look bad; just different. I'm still debating if I should just do 35% all around with ceramic tint on the G70, but since it doesn't come with manual rear sunshades (or even a power rear one), my wife wants me to do 20, like always. At any rate, anything in front darker than 35 (which would be a lower number) is illegal in most states for a reason. I cannot see very well at night even with 35, but 20 is ridiculous. I hardly drive at night, and the sun is so strong here in the desert, that 35 is barely acceptable, so that's the minimum I use.

 

[WilcoJunoHotel]

I went ahead and removed the tint from the driver and front passenger windows and I like it much better. I can see the mirrors now so I know what is going on around and behind me when I change lanes. Lost the "gangsta/hooligan" look a little bit too.

Will keep the tint on the rear doors and rear window which helps with cooling and privacy.

Hard to tell from pics due to reflections but it doesn't look drastically different from the outside.

Probably about $200-250 down the drain for the tint but it was too dark for me.

BTW, it was a fairly simple process to remove the old tint film: Watched a couple of Youtube videos briefly and just used a hair dryer and my fingers to pull it off. There was a small amount of glue residue left once the film was off but that came off with a razor blade and some soapy water. Took about 30-45 minutes total for both windows going slow and taking my time.



Before


After

 

[Volfy]

Personally, even more than for visibility/safety, I dislike the super-dark limo gangster look. You can get tint films that are very high in TSER and IRER (blocks solar energy and heat-producing infrared) but still let in most of the visible light spectrum. My big van came with factory tinted rear windows that still let in a lot of solar heat, so I added 70% ceramic film that has 49% TSER. I didn't want make the windows much darker but do appreciate the heat reduction inside the cabin.

 

[WilcoJunoHotel]

Funny how we start noticing things when we are thinking about it .......... For the past week or so I have been looking at other vehicles on the road and it is amazing how many people have really dark tint on their windows. I have noticed an increase in tinting since the "hands free" law took effect a few years ago but the number is definitely increasing dramatically lately. I even see some cars with their windshields tinted which is illegal in GA. LEOs are too busy to stop every car they see but I bet folks are getting fined for that if they do get pulled over.

Some car dealers are now putting it on every new car they sell - I am sure this pads their pockets but I bet it is because of demand too.

I like it on the rear doors and window for privacy though - not because I am texting but it can get crazy on the roads out there.

 

[JCtx]

View attachment 45559

Hey, is that Alta or Uyuni white? I wanted Uyuni, but the only car coming to my dealer in months is mine, and at MSRP, so couldn't get too picky. Just hope it doesn't look crappy on the otherwise elegant car, since it's the only paint color with no extra charge. Wish it had the Uyuni, instead of freaking illuminated door sills. Geez.

And going back to the tint, since your garage is dark, and the front windows still look tinted after you removed it, I think you had 35% tint in the front indeed. Still debating if I should go with 35/20, or just 35 all around. Will talk to my tint guy, and hope he's still willing to come to my house. But I need 35% in the hot desert. Most people here have at least 20, but I can't see crap at night with that, so completely out of the question.

 

[WilcoJunoHotel]

It's Uyuni white - metallic/pearl/eggshell look up close. I wanted silver, white was my 2nd choice.

Pictures I posted are not that good so hard to see the difference but it is noticeable. Since the dealer installed the tint it is most likely not darker than 35% - anything higher would be illegal here in GA. There is some tint built into the windows already and I am happy with the stock tint. Will leave it the way it is. Car is garaged and I am retired so heat/UV isn't that big a deal for me like it would be for someone that left it outside all day.

Peace.

 

[JCtx]

Thank you. Hope I don't regret the stupid color. Nobody has that cheapo color, damn it. If it looks like crap (like a plain white fridge), I'd refuse delivery, and maybe wait months for another, since there's no other car I want to buy at this point. I also wanted silver/sandstorm, and white/sandstorm, but not the crappy white I got. And don't want to spend more on a nicer car either; I'm done buying expensive cars. This is as high as I want to go, and don't want a used car. By the way, car was delayed, so probably not this week, but until next. I'm on foot as I sold my 2 vehicles to GMTV at the same time yesterday, but at least both checks cleared today, so one less headache. But need to return my brother's Porsche Sunday. Hope the G arrives Monday. The Santa Fe Calligraphy should arrive next week too, in case I need to refuse the G.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!