[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by 1gkek

Does the Crystalline 20% have a noticeable dark blueish tint to it in certain light? When last I checked a couple years ago the 20% had a reputation for being too blue. I stuck with 40% on my last two cars and I'm happy, but I'm tempted.

My car is carbon black metallic, but looks blue in the sunlight - just to put the window tint color in perspective. See what you think. I'm very happy with the results. It's very light from the inside. If you're just going for the dark look, you're probably better off with another 3M product and not Crystalline; however, I will tell you this blocks out the Texas heat like you couldn't imagine! I will get this again on my next vehicle.

[AlteBMW]

Originally Posted by clee1982

I only drive car on the weekend, so it's in garage Monday to Friday, don't expect a lot street parking either, though I suppose that's definitely the nyc special case...

Dont know California rules but please be aware that NY law says you cannot tint any windows other than rear darker than 70 (except top 8 inches of windshield). This is said to be for the safety of police officers approaching a blacked out car. It has been that way for a long time but they now enforce it at the time of your annual inspection. The inspection stations are required to have meters for the tint and they will not pass you. Plus the state has started to crack down on inspections stations that bend the rules for people (sometimes for an additional fee).

I had 50% on one car (windshield untinted) and had to remove the tint to pass. I had 3M crystalline, which blocks UV. Less UV is good for you so I was pissed. If you really want tint in NY you will need a doctor's note.

[RNemesisN63]

Posted this in another thread but here's mine recently tinted. 15% rear 30 on sides and 70 on front. Yes know front windshield isn't legal in CA but honestly looks like a reflection from the back being dark. This is my 5th car with front tint and not the darkest either.

[Skyrider01]

Here are a few shots of mine in different lighting.
SunTek ceramic CIR 70 on windshield.
SunTek carbon CXP 25 on remaining windows.
The reason I went carbon instead of ceramic on the windows is because the installer told me the ceramic has more of a green hue to it whereas the carbon is black.

[SteveinArizona]

I used Suntek CIR film. In greater Phoenix, one wants the best heat rejection.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by Skyrider01

Here are a few shots of mine in different lighting.
SunTek ceramic CIR 70 on windshield.
SunTek carbon CXP 25 on remaining windows.
The reason I went carbon instead of ceramic on the windows is because the installer told me the ceramic has more of a green hue to it whereas the carbon is black.

Car looks great. I love those wheels. Who did you use for tint? I heard tint team near Coral Springs is great.

*edit*. Don't use Tint Team in Coral Springs. Changed my mind after one of their staff proved to be argumentative during the sales cycle. I took my business to Auto SuperShield in Boca Raton. They did a great job.

[Skyrider01]

Originally Posted by claykin

Car looks great. I love those wheels. Who did you use for tint? I heard tint team near Coral Springs is great.

Thanks! I have been using an individual who has his own tint business. This is the 5th car he has done for me in the last 8 years. He comes to your house and does the work there. He does great work and the price is very reasonable.
If you are interested, PM me.

[ChevyGuyFL]

Originally Posted by Skyrider01

Here are a few shots of mine in different lighting.
SunTek ceramic CIR 70 on windshield.
SunTek carbon CXP 25 on remaining windows.
The reason I went carbon instead of ceramic on the windows is because the installer told me the ceramic has more of a green hue to it whereas the carbon is black.

Looks great... trying to decide on what to tint my new Mediterranean Blue M550i.

I see a few people doing 70% on the windshield; didn't think you could do that legally... Or is it light enough that it doesn't get noticed?

[Skyrider01]

Originally Posted by ChevyGuyFL

Looks great... trying to decide on what to tint my new Mediterranean Blue M550i.

I see a few people doing 70% on the windshield; didn't think you could do that legally... Or is it light enough that it doesn't get noticed?

Thanks!

I think the 70% is light enough that it is not noticeable. Maybe if placed side by side with a non tinted windshield, the average person would notice it then.

It also depends on how dark the other windows are. My installer also has 70% on his windshield, but he has a truck with an enclosed bed, so no light coming in from the back, and his side windows are darker too, so his windshield looked very dark.

I was debating between the 70 and the 90, which is completely clear. Installer recommended the 70, saying although 90 still helps with UV protection, it's not really worth doing.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by ChevyGuyFL

Looks great... trying to decide on what to tint my new Mediterranean Blue M550i.

I see a few people doing 70% on the windshield; didn't think you could do that legally... Or is it light enough that it doesn't get noticed?

it is not legal to tint an entire windshield in FL. https://www.tinting-laws.com/florida/

However, enforcement in FL is generally limited to those individuals that test the laws of attraction, if you know what I mean. I'm sure there's municipalities here and there in FL that may use light meters as a source of revenue generation. Ask around in your area.

That said, when looking at windshield tint the most important spec to look for is TSER (heat rejection and IR rejection). IR is basically a source of heat. I'd recommend staying as light as possible 80-90% VLT so you don't have trouble seeing at night and/or attract enforcement. Plus windshield tint can sometimes exaggerate to the point of annoyance, the distortions in glass curves. Generally the darker you go, the more this is noticeable. Discuss with your tinter.

3M Crystalline
Suntek CarbonXP or CIR
Llumar AIR

These are three popular options.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by Skyrider01

Installer recommended the 70, saying although 90 still helps with UV protection, it's not really worth doing.

All windshield glass is laminated and 99%+ rejecting of UVA/UVB. You don't need windshield tint to reject UV. You need it to reject heat. Select based on the TSER (heat and IR rejection) spec. Find the balance that works for you, but be careful going with 70%. It could be dark, reflective and difficult to see through at night in some conditions.

[Skyrider01]

Originally Posted by claykin

All windshield glass is laminated and 99%+ rejecting of UVA/UVB. You don't need windshield tint to reject UV. You need it to reject heat. Select based on the TSER (heat and IR rejection) spec. Find the balance that works for you, but be careful going with 70%. It could be dark, reflective and difficult to see through at night in some conditions.

That's right, I meant IR not UV.

[RNemesisN63]

Originally Posted by claykin

All windshield glass is laminated and 99%+ rejecting of UVA/UVB. You don't need windshield tint to reject UV. You need it to reject heat. Select based on the TSER (heat and IR rejection) spec. Find the balance that works for you, but be careful going with 70%. It could be dark, reflective and difficult to see through at night in some conditions.

70% is still pretty light, pretty much one step down from completely clear. Visibility wise blacking out or close to black out in the rear seems to cause more of a visibility issue for people, more so at night. If you couple that with 70% front tint you could possibly have issues but hard to say since everyone is different.

[jwong77]

I have 70% crystalline on my Alpine White, you can't tell it's tinted. Never have I been hassled.

[wheresmy5]

Gotta be careful basing your decision off pictures taken at varying times of day, under different conditions, weather, etc. Not to mention color of interior. Too many variables affecting how it may look at any point.

With that said, I got 35% on my carbon black and I regret it. It's too light. On a typical sunny day, against cognac interior the windows look brown. Not a good look for a carbon black. At night it looks spectacular, so to reproduce that look I should have gone darker. Would (and still may) get 20%.

I didn't realize so many folks also tint their windshield. I realize that's the largest windows and therefore where most of the vulnerability is, but I've never done it. Will consider.

[dctodvm]

I don't have that color but I did Madico Ceramic 20% all the way around with a 5% eyebrow.

[GeorgeI]

Apologies in advance for the necro newb post.

Can anyone tell me if tinting the windshield, with say 70 or 90% affects the HUD (or any other electronics) in a negative way?

Have an Alpine, and thinking of going 50% all around, and either 70 or 90 on the front.

Thanks!

[Skyrider01]

Originally Posted by GeorgeI

Apologies in advance for the necro newb post.

Can anyone tell me if tinting the windshield, with say 70 or 90% affects the HUD (or any other electronics) in a negative way?

Thanks!

I have 70% on mine. I have not had any negative effects so far.

[GeorgeI]

Originally Posted by Skyrider01

I have 70% on mine. I have not had any negative effects so far.

Great! Thanks for the super fast reply.

Is the 70% tint a hindrance under any circumstances? Say on an especially dark night, for instance?

[Skyrider01]

Originally Posted by GeorgeI

Great! Thanks for the super fast reply.

Is the 70% tint a hindrance under any circumstances? Say on an especially dark night, for instance?

For me, it is not an issue.

[georgere]

Originally Posted by VirtualGuitars

I just had mine done last weekend. I went with 3M Crystalline window tint. The sides and back windows have 20%, the windshield has 70%, and the sunroof has 40%. It wasn't cheap, but I'm very happy with the results.

How does it look when raining? Crystalline gives rusty reflection as I know...

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by georgere

How does it look when raining? Crystalline gives rusty reflection as I know...

I haven't noticed anything like that.