Window tinting

[Rick Lee]

Where did you get your tint and what kit?

[Winter]

I have 35% tint (legal in Colorado) on my Audi. I like it, as it keeps the car a bit cooler in the summer, and if I leave stuff in the car overnight, it's very difficult to see inside. The place where I did it was super pro (I asked around a lot before I had the work done) and it cost $200 (the car is a wagon, so more glass). They asked me if I wanted the really dark stuff (illegal) and I said no. The illegal tint definitely hampers vision. Most of the pics I've seen in this post seem be be about 35%, enough to block some sun, but you can still see inside and out of the car easily in sunshine.

My '75 Targa does not have tint, and I have no plans on tinting it. After all, if you are driving with the top off, the UV blocking abilities of the tint become rather meaningless.

However, I think that black cars with black tint do look sharp. If you want the "Gangster" look (as so many here have dissed! LOL!), then go for the Lincoln Navigator or the Caddy Escalade with the illegal tint. After all, it's tough to roll fat with all your homies in a Porsche!

---

Tom

[Komenda Fan]

Tinting is a personal preference, some really hate it, others love it. For the most part, I'm in the former category, especially when it comes to classic cars. On my to do list is removing the tint on my car, I do find it affects rear visibility and I just don't like the way it looks. Having said that, I am sure it reduces interior temperatures, but I try to never park her in direct sunlight. I also find tint has a tendency to get scratched up.

[flatsixnut]

Originally Posted by 911st

If you wear your hat backward, you're a gangster.

If you wear your pants down around your crack so I can see your boxers, you're a gangster.

If you take the muffler off your Harley or Honda-Civic, you're a gangster.

If you tint the windows of you car, you're a gangster.

If you are not a real gangster, and you do one or more of the above, then you are just a punk want to be gangster.

Or, at least others will assume that you are.

Thats retarded...everyone knows that there is no such thing as gangsters anyway.

[89911]

I never thought there was any thing "gangster" or "juvenile" about window tinting. For 911's I guess it could impact how the car looks compared to original, but if I lived somewhere where the sunshine is a major factor (I don't, Pittsburgh) I would do it anyway. I just had my black 540i tinted 35% since the car is black on black and truly an oven in the summer. That and because I think all black cars look better with windows to match.

[ChkbookMechanic]

Living in Texas, I think tint is a necessary thing. However, you can't go overboard and get the darkest tint just because... Most tint shops will have example glass of the tint that you can place up next to your car and let you see what the tint will look like once it is on your vehicle. Using that you can normally pick the right tint for your car.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by 911st

If you wear your hat backward, you're a gangster.

If you wear your pants down around your crack so I can see your boxers, you're a gangster.

If you take the muffler off your Harley or Honda-Civic, you're a gangster.

If you tint the windows of you car, you're a gangster.

If you are not a real gangster, and you do one or more of the above, then you are just a punk want to be gangster.

Or, at least others will assume that you are.

I don't understand some of you people and your bold statements. You must really be a blast to hang out with.



I bought this car in February and someone had done a really nice job on it. I really like how it looks and keeps the black interior cool. I'm not sure it's legal and I don't really care. I'm about to take my Bimmer in for similar. I have little kids and they bake in the back and this will make the a/c more effective. I'd never put tint on my targa...it would look silly. Only works for certain color/year 911s.

I guess I'm a gangster?

[911nut]

I've been wrestling with whether to remove the tint from my car or not. I'm vacillating between changing the side windows to 35% (now 20%) or removing it altogether.

[Rick Lee]

I wouldn't touch a thing on that car. It's perfect.

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I wouldn't touch a thing on that car. It's perfect.

x2. That's really sharp. Leave it alone.

[Tsunamiboy]

I hate the tinted windows on my SC and will be removing it soon.

[jonbot]

My car came with the windows tinted:






I don't like it. In pictures it looks OKAY, perhaps a little too dark for my taste, but it's the quality of the tint I don't like. It's that blueish tint from the 80's, and it's peeling and bubbling, it looks cheap. To me, it's a real eyesore, and removing it is on my list of things to do, but it's pretty low priority, got bigger fish to fry. I'm not sure if I'll get it retinted, but I will definitely have it removed. At that point, I'll see what direction I want to go.

[Nine17]

It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp!

The P.O. of my car lived in California's Central Valley and had the windows tinted. I don't really like the look much but the A/C is pretty hopeless and the tint keeps the car from turning into an oven. I'm resigned to leaving the tint on until I can sink big bucks into an A/C upgrade. The tint isn't as much of an issue for me on night drives because the Carrera's H5's are even more hopeless than its A/C. I prefer my '04 BMW's Xenon lights if I've gotta go out at night.

[heirplane]

Window tint has its place. You can have a UV barrier that does not block too much visible light. I am not affiliated with either of the following but found much useful info while researching tint for our sedan. Previous car had tinted (and double pane) windows and its replacement has neither. In SoCal it's scorching and miserable without tint. Lately I've felt like an ant under a kid's magnifying glass.

Check out the links. Both have info on state tint laws, first has the state regs in pdf and excel (sorry, don't know how to attach a pdf):

1. http://www.llumar.com/na-eng/Automotive/auto.html

2. http://www.formulaone.com/

Steve

[rusnak]

you guys in So Cal must not know what hit ya. I heard it got to around 105F or so. It got up to around 105F in San Luis Obispo (!). Around here we sort of squint at each other and go "oh well, it's a dry heat".

[heirplane]

A friend went to Palm Springs to visit his folks last weekend-- 118 degrees. We holed up at the in-laws in Ventura-- high 80s/low 90s (hot for east Ventura).

[alalrivera]

Hi, as a Porsche owner and PCA Member I love the look of the tinted windows on cars.

As a police officer working evening shift in a high crime area in the State of CT. I count my lucky stars every time I have to light up and pull over a car with tints. The spot light on my cruiser does shine into the car, but the only thing I can see is minimal movement or heads turning my direction wondering if i'm going to the driver or passenger side to approach the car. I have to say if someone inside a car were to reach for a firearm I would not be able to see the person quick enough to retreat and protect myself. I approach all tinted window cars with my hand on my firearm at all times and with a plan as to what I will do in case i'm in a oh s**t situation or I will call you out by using the PA system in my cruiser. I thank all of those who roll down all the windows when I approach a car.

Be safe!
Alex

[Rick Lee]

CNN or Fox had a little window in the bottom of the tv screen today showing 109 deg. in Phoenix around 11:30 this morning. I didn't think it felt bad at all and I went out around 4:00, which is peak heat here. It's a lot cooler now at 10:00pm than it usually is. I like the heat. Worst part about it for me is that it's hard to ride the bike when it's so hot.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by alalrivera

Hi, as a Porsche owner and PCA Member I love the look of the tinted windows on cars.

As a police officer working evening shift in a high crime area in the State of CT. I count my lucky stars every time I have to light up and pull over a car with tints. The spot light on my cruiser does shine into the car, but the only thing I can see is minimal movement or heads turning my direction wondering if i'm going to the driver or passenger side to approach the car. I have to say if someone inside a car were to reach for a firearm I would not be able to see the person quick enough to retreat and protect myself. I approach all tinted window cars with my hand on my firearm at all times and with a plan as to what I will do in case i'm in a oh s**t situation or I will call you out by using the PA system in my cruiser. I thank all of those who roll down all the windows when I approach a car.

Be safe!
Alex

No worries. I always turn my dome light on and roll the windows down when pulled over at night. And I hand my CCW over and license together with the sidearm clearly resting in the center console cupholder. Never even been asked to show the gun or let the officer secure it.

[diverdan]

Paul B. ---Dang! That shade of tint really works an that car!

Alex ---- You have a tough job. If only more of us were aware of the problems facing you traffic guys.... I've got to admit that due to my apparent understanding attitude, I have been more than fairly treated on traffic stops. ( Spirited driving of load hot rods and sports cars since I got my license at 15 ... That was 46 years ago and not much has changed.) Keep up the good work.

Diverdan