Window Tint Opinions

[The Critic]

My friend wants to get the windows tinted on her 2010 Mazda 3i. The tentative plan is to go with a 50% tint in the front and a 35% tint in the rear.

Based on my research findings, I am advising her to opt for a ceramic tint film in order to maximize durability and to minimize the risk of interference with the interior electronics. From what I gather, the installer is just as if not more important than the film used, so I only got quotes from installers known for their top-notch work on high-end cars. From the BMW and Lexus forums, the FormulaOne Pinnacle Ceramic Tint and the Huper Optik Ceramic Tint are the two most commonly used films for high-end cars.

From my research, I have gathered the following info:

1) FormulaOne Pinnacle Ceramic

Price: $399 for all door windows + rear windshield, $269 for rear doors + rear windshield.

Pros: Cheaper than Huper Optik, more dealers, nationwide warranty coverage, good quality film, relatively easy to install, originally designed for autos
Cons: May not block out as much heat as the Huper Optik. Not 60% or 70% shades available.

2) Huper Optik Ceramic:

Price: $695 for all door windows + rear windshield, $495 for rear windows + rear windshield.

Pros: Unsurpassed heat blocking capability. Availability of 60% shade.
Cons: Very difficult to install due to thickness, high cost, near non-existent warranty, "ghost effect" if installed onto curved rear windows. Installer did not seem to have a high regard for the product, didn't feel it was worth the extra cost nor the trouble of installation. Originally designed for commercial use on buildings??

The price of the Huper Optik stuff is absolutely ridiculous. Plus, the installer did not seem to be a fan of the product, which isn't very comforting. The installer also suggested that if I really wanted the Huper Optik film, he suggested that I use Huper Optik on the door windows and a more conventional film on the rear windshield and that would reduce my price by $255 (from $695 to $440).

The price of the FormulaOne Pinnacle Ceramic tint is also rather high, at least at a first glance. I called five different high-end tint shops in Northern California and in Orange County, CA, and they all gave me quotes between 379-440. So, the $400 price I received from the local installer (who has a great reputation) is actually right in-line with the other quotes.

Nevertheless, these high-end tint jobs are costing more than twice that of a traditional tint job with a dye-based film.

Most installers use either a dye-based, metallic-based, carbon-based, hybrid-type (i.e. Suntek HP) or a ceramic-based tint film.

What do you BITOGers use, and what has worked well for you over the years? Do you feel that ceramic-based tints are worth the extra cost since they promise to deliver exceptional durability without causing electronic interference?

Thanks!

 

[stockrex]

wow, I did 3M film, limo %5 in 3 of the rear windows, $100, it was $150 for all 5 windows.
shop around the prices seem quite high,
I had mine done at the corner of I10 and I215 in Colton.

 

[Thunderfan]

There's no reason to pay over $200 to have the windows on that vehicle tinted.

 

[JHZR2]

Legality of dark tints must be considered, and night visibility with that is an issue too.

If cops pull her over and come up with guns drawn, I don't blame them - heavy tints make it tough to see who/how many are in a vehicle...

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Legality of dark tints must be considered, and night visibility with that is an issue too.

If cops pull her over and come up with guns drawn, I don't blame them - heavy tints make it tough to see who/how many are in a vehicle...


Always roll all the windows down if you get pulled over and have tinted windows, you don't want a nervous cop with a hand on his gun coming your way. They deserve to know what they are approaching.

I had LLumar tint installed, the high performance series I believe. I've had one of my cars done for nearly 4 years now and it still looks great. I prefer 15% on the rear windows although 35% on the rear windshield might be good if you want better night visibility for backing up. I have 5% on one car and it is very nice during the day but too dark at night. My kids love it because they stay nice and cool. You really can't see inside the car at all with 5%. On front side windows 35% or 50% is good. The 5% got installed by mistake because I asked to have the same thing done on my Grand Prix that was done on my wagon. The installer had accidentally written down 5% on my warranty card when the wagon was done even though it was actually 15%. 2 years later I didn't remember by memory and had the GP done based on the the wagon's warranty card.

 

[Chris142]

From the CA DMV site.

Another con:

"26708.5. (a) No person shall place, install, affix, or apply any transparent material upon the windshield, or side or rear windows, of any motor vehicle if the material alters the color or reduces the light transmittance of the windshield or side or rear windows, except as provided in subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 26708.



(b) Tinted safety glass may be installed in a vehicle if (1) the glass complies with motor vehicle safety standards of the United States Department of Transportation for safety glazing materials, and (2) the glass is installed in a location permitted by those standards for the particular type of glass used.

Amended Sec. 2, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.

Material Obstructing or Reducing Driver's View
26708. (a) (1) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.

(2) A person shall not drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle that obstructs or reduces the driver’s clear view through the windshield or side windows.

(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Rearview mirrors.

(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors that are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.

(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials that are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials that are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials that are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.

(4) Side windows that are to the rear of the driver.

(5) Direction, destination, or ( )1 terminus signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere with the driver’s clear view of approaching traffic.

(6) Rear window wiper motor.

(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.

(8) The rear window or windows, if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both the left- and righthand sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and that occupies an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the rear of that window and that provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the lens.

(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2 installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph shall not be used during darkness.

(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:

(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the device.

(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.

(12) A portable Global Positioning System (GPS), which may be mounted in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver or in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest to the driver and outside of an airbag deployment zone, if the system is used only for door-to-door navigation while the motor vehicle is being operated ( )2.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the following conditions apply:

(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.

(2) The material is not red or amber in color.

(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.

(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent than the windshield without the material.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and the certificate identifies the installing company and the material’s manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material’s manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer’s instructions ( )3 meet the requirements of this subdivision and the certificate identifies the material’s manufacturer by full name and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.

Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 413, Stats. 2008. Effective January 1, 2009.
Amended Sec. 181, Ch. 140, Stats. 2009. Effective January 1, 2010.
The 2009 amendment added the italicized material, and at the point(s) indicated, deleted the following:
1. “termini”
2. “and outside of an airbag deployment zone”
3. “meets”


Basically she cant legally tint the front side windows. If she has 2 side mirrors she can tint the rear windows behind the driver. Plan on being harassed by the fuzz for tinted windows. Thats a favorite thing for the local cops here.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Basically she cant legally tint the front side windows. If she has 2 side mirrors she can tint the rear windows behind the driver. Plan on being harassed by the fuzz for tinted windows. Thats a favorite thing for the local cops here.

50 front and 35 rear isn't that dark. There are people around here running 35 or 20% all around who are probably bigger targets, at least I would think.

I mean, is something like this really going to stand out to the cops? This is 50/35:

http://tl.acurazine.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10805281&postcount=23

Personally, I can't say I'm super thrilled about tinting the fronts, but I have to agree with my friend that not tinting the fronts simply looks odd.

 

[Thunderfan]

You can't tint the driver windows in CA? WTH? That doesn't surprise me though. I've got 10% all around, which is great, but I don't really drive much at night either.

 

[DeeAgeaux]

I have Suntek film. 5% rear and 35% front.

I was pulled over years ago for speeding by the CHP.

I got a ticket for speeding but they said nothing about the tints.

Worst case is a fix it ticket.

I got it done at a place the LA Times auto section said was the best in LA county. I paid around $350 7 years ago. Still looks new.

I see too many sub $200 jobs bubble up in a few years and turn purple then clear.

My sister got 3M on her Pilot 3 years ago at the same place. Still looks great. Only film endorsed by the Amercian Cancer Society. I know. It could be because the 3M stuff works and/or a big tax deductible contribution.

 

[JHZR2]

Frankly I think that acura looks stupid.

There is some degree of tint on windows from the factory, at least sometimes. If I did anything, I'd do a very slight additional tint, and do it on all side windows. Not sure about the rear. I hated the tint on my wife's integra on the rear glass.

 

[JustinH]

I have friends from Arizona who were driving their Arizona registered car in California last year. The CHP pulled them over for a speeding ticket, and wrote them a tint ticket also, even though their tint was fine for Arizona law.

Here in New York, we have similar tint laws. I think it is 70 percent visibility on any window that has a passenger seat in it.

Most factory windows come with a 72-75 percent visibility, so basically if you go by the law then you can not have any tint on the side windows of the car, only the rear window.

I like a good dark tint especially in the summer, but up here in NY we don't really need it.

 

[tenderloin]

Pick something from here and save money. No big dollars needed for high quality long lasting windows.....

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en...HbeT4DCJBL6BVgl

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Frankly I think that acura looks stupid.

How so?

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Frankly I think that acura looks stupid.

How so?


I think you mentioned it or at least alluded to it - it does not look right to have different levels of tint front to rear windows... To me it looks ridiculous. It is one thing to have a slight tint to augment what is in the glass from the factory. If it was my car and I needed it due to weather, I'd augment it slightly keeping the shade the same on a side, so it does not mismatch like the acura.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2

I think you mentioned it or at least alluded to it - it doesn't look right to have different levels of tint front to rear windows... To me it looks ridiculous. It is one thing to have a slight tint to augment what is in the glass from the factory. If it was my car and I needed it due to weather, I'd augment it slightly keeping the shade the same on a side, so it does not mismatch like the acura.


I agree. The car would looks better with the same level of tint front to rear windows.

I would tint the rear the same level as the front, the current tint level of the rear window is too dark.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: The Critic

I mean, is something like this really going to stand out to the cops?
The state is broke and they are using any reason to generate revinue. Tinted windows is one of their favorite tickets here.

Might as well go with the cheap tint since you WILL be removing it once ticketed.

 

[bdcardinal]

I have the factory tint on my Volvo, I have nothing to hide, but I don't need an excuse for probable cause either.

I know cops that if a car is heavily tinted they will immediately assume a felony stop for their safety, I don't need that either.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: HTSS_TR
I would tint the rear the same level as the front, the current tint level of the rear window is too dark.


The back windows on the TL are only 35%.

The fronts are 50%. So you guys think that I should tint all the windows 50%?

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: The Critic


The back windows on the TL are only 35%.

The fronts are 50%. So you guys think that I should tint all the windows 50%?


50% tint is like zero tint...I put 25% on the front 2 windows and 15% in the rear like the law wants you to at first...The 25% was way to light [IMHO] so took it out and put 15% all around.

I would put the darkest tint I can in the entire rear and whatever the law is in California in the front if the cops are a PITA about tint...Mostly everyone down here in the jungle where I am has illegal tint.

 

[The Critic]

Actually, a number of cars come factory with only rear tint. If it was truly awful looking, manufacturers wouldn't allow such a setup.