To tint or not to tint... that is the question.

[Ofishbein]

I vote no.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by tirwin

I can't believe I sold you on anything!

Ha!

He's old school. Older school than me but taught by the same teacher, just when the teacher was a little older. I have seen pics of wwest. I got him by at least two years.

I would want to pull the glass because it "seems" like the conservative thing to do. However, procedures advance while I play arm-chair quarterback. That includes the windshield issue.

I also said, go darker. Now that I see Canada Kev's entire car with lighter tint, it looks quite nice.

[MongooseGA]

Tim,

I have 35% all around on my Lexus, with a 35% 'banner' running across the top of the windshield.

When it was first applied, visibility was only an issue at night. Having gotten used to it now, I can make out objects through the windows very well. I'll see if I can find a picture of the tint on mine, for reference.




Note, it looks slightly darker here because it was cloudy when the picture was taken. However, even in the sunlight it gives good privacy inside the car.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Ha!

He's old school. Older school than me but taught by the same teacher, just when the teacher was a little older. I have seen pics of wwest.

I got him by at least two years.

I would want to pull the glass because it "seems" like the conservative thing to do. However, procedures advance while I play arm-chair quarterback. That includes the windshield issue.

I also said, go darker. Now that I see Canada Kev's entire car with lighter tint, it looks quite nice.

Older and wiser or younger and......

That may be an old picture....

[Erich Stahler]

Tint is the way to go. Get your eye doctor to write you a prescription that your eyes are sensitive to light. Then go 3M 5% on the sides and back whilst placing 3M 40% Crystalline up front. Most states have laws that allow you to do this. You must find the exception in every law. Every great race team reads around and flexes the rules.

[Craig_D]

I have a good compromise solution. Only my rear window is tinted. The sides and front are factory, so that's minor tint.

On the coupe, the rear window is the biggest piece of glass, with lots of sun angle, so tinting that makes a good deal of difference for interior shading.

Best part is that at night, it acts like auto dimming rear view mirror and I never have issues seeing through it.

Here are some shots. Notice how shaded it seems inside the car:



Yet the side glass is all factory clear:

[Koizumi]

35% 3M all around for all my cars and Crystalline Windshield on my Bimmer. The Crystalline makes a huge difference. It's virtually non-tint (non-darkening) and it really reduces the dashboard heat. You can feel the difference dramatically. Yes, the stuff is clear. Yes it's optically fine for the windshield. I'm going to do it on my 911 at some point. Highly recommended!

[wwest]

Both 70% light transmissivity, no windshield tint.

[carl74344]

I like the tint it keeps the inside cool.

[ScottT80]

Having had an Infiniti out of Atlanta that had a nice tint job done when new that turned bubbly and purple, I too am hesitant of tint. That said I have friends with new cars that they have had tinted and they look great with a light tint. Being in the hot south, I too have considered it for the 911. Given I'm saving up for a good paint job in a couple of years I think iot may be best for me to wait though.

I think as others have mentioned, having a good product and a good installer is the key.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by ScottT80

Having had an Infiniti out of Atlanta that had a nice tint job done when new that turned bubbly and purple, I too am hesitant of tint. That said I have friends with new cars that they have had tinted and they look great with a light tint. Being in the hot south, I too have considered it for the 911. Given I'm saving up for a good paint job in a couple of years I think iot may be best for me to wait though.

I think as others have mentioned, having a good product and a good installer is the key.

Why suffer..??

Plus preservation of your interior, no cracked dash.

[ScottT80]

wwest the look of your car is about what I had in mind for mine. What kind of film did you have put on yours? I'm not sold yet, but am leaning towards going for the tint!

[Mr. MaGooo]

[wwest]

Originally Posted by ScottT80

wwest the look of your car is about what I had in mind for mine. What kind of film did you have put on yours? I'm not sold yet, but am leaning towards going for the tint!

3M is all I know/remember.

[m110]

I have a black car and live in LA. Tinting the windows certainly changes the look of the car but for a black car it seems to fit for me.

I like it for reduction of heat since the original AC is poor. I have since redone my whole system with a Griffiths hoses kit, new compressor and R12 but seem to use it much less than other cars I have had.

Front windshield is 3M Crystalline 90, this made a huge difference in heat transmission. There is a tiny amount of distortion but I am very picky about vision (get my glasses in Canada to get higher index glass) and it is minimal. Technically not legal but the amount of tint is nearly imperceptible. The glass is aftermarket 993 with a tint across the top. The film does make the interior of the glass less resistant to abuse. When re-attaching my mirror I nicked a small portion above the mirror and have a little rip.

Door windows have no coating, less heat transmission through these since they are near vertical, I want to see out and not be baiting cops. I would put the crystalline on here if I thought it would make a difference.

Quarter windows and rear are 18% Suntek nano carbon. Pretty dark. The car came with this. The look works with the car, protects from heat--I saw no reason to change it. I put 993 rear glass in and had it redone. I went to a very experienced place and he said the bubbling seen on some cars is bad film mostly. He gave me a lifetime warranty.