Where is the best place to get window tinting?

[AnorexicSTI]

Thanks to Tora for recommending Jason at Dales for the alignment and for all those who also gave him the thumbs up.

Now, since summer is fast approaching and I've removed my AC, I want to get my windows tinted to help combat the heat... (I also have a couple other tricks up my sleeve to reduce in cabin temps... - more to come on that later)... but for now, just wondering what my options are and what is legal... how dark can I go? How dark until safety/visibility become an issue? Can I/should I do the rear too?

And since I don't run sunvisors (again to save 2 lbs up high) should I tint the top portion of my windshield? Or should I run one of those huge decals across the top?

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[itachi1314]

Originally Posted by 02wrx88

just wondering what my options are and what is legal... how dark can I go? How dark until safety/visibility become an issue? Can I/should I do the rear too?

As a matter of fact, you can only tint the rear 3 windows, and it's ILLEGAL to tint the front ones. It's one of those " you will get away with it but if you get pulled over, it will be an extra fine to pay + whatever you got pulled over for".

I run 35% in the three back windows (hehe yes, i am a wuss). I don't feel like it's that different looking out from the inside at night. You can probably run 15% and still be fine. I heard that with 5%, you are practically blind at night.

-KC

[AnorexicSTI]

Originally Posted by itachi1314

As a matter of fact, you can only tint the rear 3 windows, and it's ILLEGAL to tint the front ones. It's one of those " you will get away with it but if you get pulled over, it will be an extra fine to pay + whatever you got pulled over for".

I run 35% in the three back windows (hehe yes, i am a wuss). I don't feel like it's that different looking out from the inside at night. You can probably run 15% and still be fine. I heard that with 5%, you are practically blind at night.

-KC

Ok so they come in 35, 15, and 5? Or can u get like 25, 20, etc? I heard 15 is a good number from IWSTI.com.

The stock windows actually have a light tint... I'm thinking tint the back 3 15% and maybe tint the front 2 35%... that way u can just tell the cop that is the stock tinting... what do u think?

Can u recommend a shop within 45 min of White Rock?

[itachi1314]

The place i got it done (N-motion, on boundary) had 65, 35,15, and 5. Maybe you can find 25's or 20's else where.

Some people do the " tint the back darker than the front" idea but if the cop wants to get you, he will see it. You can't trick him.

My friend actually saw some guy tearing off his front tint on the side of the road. Hahaha, when he asked him what he was doing, he said he just got a ticket from the cops for having the front tinted.

The bottomline is, you always run the risk if you tint the front. So just decide if you want to take that risk.

-KC

[AnorexicSTI]

Originally Posted by itachi1314

The place i got it done (N-motion, on boundary) had 65, 35,15, and 5. Maybe you can find 25's or 20's else where.

Some people do the " tint the back darker than the front" idea but if the cop wants to get you, he will see it. You can't trick him.

My friend actually saw some guy tearing off his front tint on the side of the road. Hahaha, when he asked him what he was doing, he said he just got a ticket from the cops for having the front tinted.

The bottomline is, you always run the risk if you tint the front. So just decide if you want to take that risk.

-KC

How much did it cost you to do the 35? I read in WA 35 is legal even in the front windows...

Is it possible to do the top 4" of the front windshield or does that look ghetto? I'm new to tinting... never EVER had it... it goes on the inside of the glass right?

[semaj]

Yes tint goes inside the glass...but don't do it, and add weight back onto your car after you took out even the sunvisors! Just go with a Spec C roof vent to stay cool

[Jackattack]

I had mine done in Whiterock but it was at the guy's residense. It was a hook up through my dent tech buddy so I only paid $150 for all 5 windows (35%). He did a good job but he hated working around my spoiler. I asked what he woulda charged without the connection, and he said about $300. Took a good 4 hours.

Cops haven't bugged me.

I can dig up the number if you're interested.

[snow111]

Originally Posted by 02wrx88

Is it possible to do the top 4" of the front windshield or does that look ghetto? I'm new to tinting... never EVER had it... it goes on the inside of the glass right?

I think you can go up to a 3" strip on the front windshield with no problem according to the motor vehicle act. It goes on the inside of the glass, BTW.
I think people get in trouble when they have the banner up front when it's too wide, you know the racing ones which say Subaru STI, etc.
As to the rear 3 windows, you can go as dark as you want without any problems.

+1 for N-Motion on boundary and Richmond. Give them a call, ask for John, he's da man when it comes to tinting. I've had 3 cars done through him, no problems.

[fukamoto]

Asian + good prices + mobile = http://go.to/tinting

[steve]

Originally Posted by 02wrx88

Can u recommend a shop within 45 min of White Rock?

check out Detail Concepts in Langley, 604-533-8810
They're at Unit # 11 5965 205A st. A block away from the Langley Aircare station.

I've had them do my tint for years, and there have been only a few minor issues which have been dealt with without issue. Fwiw, I'm running 35% all around, but should have gone with 50% for the back 3. No issues with police either, btw.

[dasnowman]

Advance window tinting sounds good in Coquitlam I'm going to get mine done this weekend... black leather interior heats up quickly and it hasn't even been very hot yet...

There is different types of tint, standard, metallic, and the best ceramic, which is what I'm going to use.... depending how dark you go it cuts the radiant heat down by up to 70 % and the UV light 99.5%... It's $300 for the good stuff installed but was quoted over $400 at other places.. I think the carried 50,35,15% in the ceramic pinnacle. I hope this helps..

[dasnowman]

Originally Posted by hypa

check out Detail Concepts in Langley, 604-533-8810
They're at Unit # 11 5965 205A st. A block away from the Langley Aircare station.

I've had them do my tint for years, and there have been only a few minor issues which have been dealt with without issue. Fwiw, I'm running 35% all around, but should have gone with 50% for the back 3. No issues with police either, btw.

Isn't 50% lighter then 35% and 15% would be the darkest

[steve]

Ach, I'm ass backwards.
I went with 50% all around, but should have gone 35% for the rear like I had in the WRB STi and the wagon. That was much better.

[2wheelsx2]

I went with Larry at http://go.to/tinting last month also. He did 35% for the rear 3 windows and also did the sunroof for us. Good work and fast. Guarantees all this work too and he's mobile, so no need to go anywhere.

[Picard]

I like the subtle, lighter look, so I went with 30% ceramic tint in the rear 3 windows (I used to go for 20%). With the 30%, sometimes I think it doesn't look tinted at all, but other times it looks dark.

I've been trying to muster the courage to do the front windows, but I've been ticketed before with 50% tint on them....

[AnorexicSTI]

Originally Posted by hypa

check out Detail Concepts in Langley, 604-533-8810
They're at Unit # 11 5965 205A st. A block away from the Langley Aircare station.

I've had them do my tint for years, and there have been only a few minor issues which have been dealt with without issue. Fwiw, I'm running 35% all around, but should have gone with 50% for the back 3. No issues with police either, btw.

Why 50% for back 3? That's lighter... for more visibility? I would have thought people usually go darker on the back 3.

OOPS just read the next 3 emails LOL. Forget it... carry on.

[steve]

^
yeah, I was a bit confused.
Offset, tint, and pretty much anything else that appears to be reversed messes with my brain.

[banman]

You can get practically clear ceramic tint that will cut down on IR transmission and should (in theory) be perfectly legal. I'm thinking of doing this for all the front windows.

[AnorexicSTI]

Originally Posted by Picard

I like the subtle, lighter look, so I went with 30% ceramic tint in the rear 3 windows (I used to go for 20%). With the 30%, sometimes I think it doesn't look tinted at all, but other times it looks dark.

I've been trying to muster the courage to do the front windows, but I've been ticketed before with 50% tint on them....

Where did u get the 30%? I called N-motion and they only had 50 and 75 in the ceramic.... which is what most of the high end cars use.

The guy that does it at your house only stocks dyed tint... I've been told that the ceramic and metallic ones have better heat rejection for a given percentage light block... and the metallic affects AM reception... so if I want to hear my canucks games clearly, I need to go with Ceramic... BUT... Craig from detail concepts said the ceramic still has metal content in it. This is getting confusing...

[AnorexicSTI]

I called Advance... they quoted $300 for all 5 windows in the top of the line Pinnacle Ceramic 35%... but they won't do the windshield...

I was thinking of doing the windshield in 75% (essentially clear) just for heat reduction in the car... maybe I could do that at N-motion.

Final Thoughts? Is Pinnacle a good brand to get?

[alvinli217]

you guys should go to YAU BONG auto glass in richmond, they do great job with fair price(way cheaper than N-motion or Advance.etc) full tint should be around $220 includes front driver and passenger window. their tint have metallic material in them. they have 30% tint but it's only in light blue color like the M-benz window color. i had mine done with that and it looks great! they are located #120-8231 Cambie Road, Richmond. contact #604-270-8992

[AnorexicSTI]

Originally Posted by alvinli217

you guys should go to YAU BONG auto glass in richmond, they do great job with fair price(way cheaper than N-motion or Advance.etc) full tint should be around $220 includes front driver and passenger window. their tint have metallic material in them. they have 30% tint but it's only in light blue color like the M-benz window color. i had mine done with that and it looks great! they are located #120-8231 Cambie Road, Richmond. contact #604-270-8992

Just called them.... only have metallic... which interferes with AM reception... so no go.

[Spy]

.......

[Spy]

Originally Posted by 02wrx88

I'm thinking tint the back 3 15% and maybe tint the front 2 35%... that way u can just tell the cop that is the stock tinting... what do u think?

that is a 100% guaranteed to fail plan!
have u seen 35% tint, there is no way u can seriously tell a cop that is the stock front tint

it is EXTREMELY easy to tell what is stock tint and what isnt first just by looking at it but also, Stock tint, the glass itself has a verrrrry small tint to it if any, aftermarket has film and thats what the cops look for. i had 50% which is very light and i still had lots of problems with it and then removed it after i got a ticket.

[alvinli217]

well, if u want good tint material....most of the brand have metallic in them...for bad tint material, the color will turn purple and there will be lots of air bubble popping out! so if u want to have good tint i think u have to sacrifice AM.