Window Tint

It's not as blue as Mercedes glass. It's very subtle. I've had it for a while so I'm used to it, and it looks normal to me. But it really works. Especially on the sunroof. I can keep my visor open and let the light in, with very little heat getting through.

 

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When you say 20% all around is that ontop of the factory tint on the rears?

 

$60 for just the front two windows at 25%, which is the darkest that is legal in WA.

 

Yep, 20% on top of the factory tint. Initially I debated doing 20 in the front and 40 in the back, but to simplify everything I had the shop just do 20. I'm glad I did, I think it looks good the way it is.

 

Anyone run a visor strip on windshield? Getting my 16 at the end of the month. Please share pics

 

I need to do my sunroof, heats up the interior a bit too much and glare at the right angles.

 

Actually in WA State if I can assume that is where you are it is 24% VLT and a 35% reflectance.

 

Here's 15% Johnson Silhouette. Its not as dark as it looks on the front, but the back is near impossible to see in. (Its a pretty cloudy day) Our laws say 20% is legal but I've run this tint on my vehicles for 15 years and never had any problems with the law. Makes a HUGE difference on the amount of heat coming into the truck in the summer!

I also did a strip on the front about 1/2'' below the AS1 line. Ill get a better pic when the clouds go away.
http://www.johnsonwindowfilms.com/automotive-products/silhouette/

 

I used to carry Solar Gard and SunTek at our shop and it is a okay film. Go with a film that give you high infrared rejection. 3M Crystalline and Huper Optik Ceramic are the highest heat rejection film. Installed 3M Crystalline 70 on your front windshield and you will thank me for that advice. It will have your car 15-20 degree cooler when you get in.

Heat come from 3 sources: 3% from UV, 44% Light, and 53% Infrared. All film block you from UV no matter how much it cost. So find a film that will reject the infrared heat. 3M Crystalline block out 97% infrared and Huper Optik block out 91% infrared. The Huper Optik look better on the side glass.

 

I have an OR that came with factory tints for the rear windows. I did 20% in the front and 35% in the back. The goal was to give it a look of 20% all around, but I can notice a slight difference (the back is a little darker). A guy on another thread reported that one of the better matches for 20% all around was to do the back windows with 50% (if you have factory tint). I have a 3M film in mine and no complaints. I've used that in my past 3 vehicles. I paid $100 to have my Tacoma done, that was with a military discount. I think they normally charge $150.

 

I dont remember the % of tint i got but i do remember the they did add a tint to the back because it was easier to match the front plus it added a heat reduction (for the kids) all the way around. Cost about $220 total.

 

To match the back glass....You only need to put 20% on the front glass. Putting 35% on the rear will change the privacy glass darker.
There only 2 film that will give a factory match from my experience. Huper Optik Autobahn Performa film and Llumar F1 film. Your installer should have told you that. Also putting a film under $200 for the whole truck usually is a bad deal unless you got a really really good deal from a friend. In about 1 - 2 year you will see the film start to break down but you will not noticed it until then.

3M only make 2 film that actually carry a lifetime warranty: Color Stable and Crystalline.....and both film are also the only film that have a 3M stamp on the film.... What film did the 3M dealer put on your truck? If he put on FX line, the lifetime warranty only cover pleeing and bubble, not fading.

 

To be honest, I don't remember the specifics. I have had this stuff in 4 cars (for over 3 years each in FL where it gets hot) and never experienced the deterioration you mentioned. I shared my experience on this thread to contribute to the conversation. If it deteriorates, then so be it. I'll replace it in a few years.

 

18% carbon to match the back windows and a strip on the front

 

Paid $100 for all 5 of mine here in Downey Ca. Not sure what brand, but they've held up. I'm also that guy driving around with limo all around..lol anyways, I've been pulled over once, got a fix it ticket, got it taken care of. But now that I went to get them done again, I'm wondering if I'm to get pulled over again, would it be simply another fix it ticket? Or would it be worse a second time around?

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Old thread I know, but for those that went 5% in the rear, what's your assessment in visibilty overall? My fronts are 50% and I want to go dark in the rear. Debating between 20% and 5%.

 

I had 5% all around at first, and to be honest is was mainly the front windows that were tough to see through especially when parallel parking. I had to put the windows down just to see well. I got pulled over for the tint and decided to just go no tint on the front, but left the rears all 5%, and they've never been an issue.

 

Thanks! Darkest I've ever had on a car is 20% all around and totally understand the rolling down front windows to park. I want pretty dark in the back, as long as I can make out shapes at night I'm good.