Window Tints - Is It Worth Doing At Legal Limit?

[Rheid]

Hi Guys,

Thinking about having windows tinted but have always hated the front half light, back half dark look. IIRC the legal limit for front side glass is 70% light transmission but I've no idea how dark that actually is (if anybody can post a pic showing legal limit that would be great). So bearing in mind all windows would be done at that level is it even worth doing? Car is white 08 STi hatch btw.

TIA, Neil.

[C_WRX]

I got my wifes car tinted all round with a legal tint. You can subtily notice it BUT getting a pic of it is not as easy as it sounds. It really depends on the angle and way the light is hitting the window as to how dark it does/doesn't look at that time.

Always think window tinting is a personal thing, I wanted it next shade darker on the rear windows but her car so her choice - not often I say this but in this case think she was right !

Some cars/colours suit it but perhaps not so much others.

If you get it done fire up a pic or two.

[StrikE]

The legal position is that the front side windows on all cars must allow 70% of light to pass through them. That figure also applies to the windscreens of cars first used before April 1985; any car first used from then onwards has to let 75% of light through the windscreen.

source

Mine are limo black at the back and although it's ok i would have preferred all of them to be tinted.

[scouk]

Just remember that the standard windscreen and side windows on modern cars are already tinted by the manufacturer and often allow only 70%-80% light through from the factory.. So by the time any film is added, your goign to be illegal..

When i bought my scoob it had tints all round (Except windscreen).. The film on the front didn't seem that dark and I didn't consider it to be unsafe.. yet I got pulled (ooh err!) and they tested it and it was showing light level off less than 30% Needless to say, £60, 3 points and prohabition notice put on the car! They did explain to me that many places tint the windows calimign the tint film is legal, by the time it put onto already tinted glass it's illegal! Notice Del's hatch clearly has a good amount of tint on the front as standard!

If your goign down that route, best to get it checked before and after.. otherwise face the penalty

Penalty wise I think 30%-70% was just £60 fine but below 30% light and it's a sore one..

Did have pice of mine before and after but cant find them off hand..

[rig-pig]

im going to go for the lightest tint all round and that is too much in the eyes of the law

[notsosmall]

I've been thinking about getting mine tinted the same all round as well, only reason i haven't is i want to stay legal

Not keen on the back being dark and front not (although strike's looks good)

[Rheid]

  ScoUK said:

Just remember that the standard windscreen and side windows on modern cars are already tinted by the manufacturer and often allow only 70%-80% light through from the factory.. So by the time any film is added, your goign to be illegal..

Yeah, that was something I'd considered but I've no idea how to check the factory tint level. The hatch does have a fair amount of tint already so if I can only add say another 10% to remain legal it probably isn't going to be worth doing.

What's the going rate for tinting anyway and any advice on where to go/who to speak to?

Thanks, Neil

[scouk]

I know some tinting companies have their own equipment for testing, but TBH your best bet is to go along to your local Police Station and ask if someone can test it for you.. That will be the definative answer rather than someone wanting to sell you tints..

[Rheid]

  notsosmall said:

Not keen on the back being dark and front not (although strike's looks good)

Exactly what I'm trying to avoid - agree that strike's looks OK though. I think it depends on the colour of the car as to whether or not black at the back looks ok or not. Mine being white there's just too much contrast between front and rear for my liking.

In fact, back in '99 when I bought a new STi5 Type R in white, the first thing I did was order up replacement glass for the rear sides and screen in the same tint as the front sides. Never actually got around to fitting it before I sold the car but hey, that's not the point really . . . .

[Rheid]

  ScoUK said:

I know some tinting companies have their own equipment for testing, but TBH your best bet is to go along to your local Police Station and ask if someone can test it for you.. That will be the definative answer rather than someone wanting to sell you tints..

Thanks, good idea.

[tomwrx08]

front and rear windows all done in light smoke which it the lightest tint u can get,still makes the front illegal.

i think only doin the back especially in dark smoke or limo black and leaving the front standard is silly imo,but at the least they wont pick up a silly fine like me

ive been stopped a few times by traffic cops and nothing has been said about the windows!!!!!!

[jae]

Mine are illeagle all round but I didn't want the van look so went for Limo on rear screen, slightly lighter on rear doors then slightly lighter again on front, been on a couple of years and so far so good. It really depends on the weather and direction of light but with the limo black on rear it does make it look darker inside.

Before

After

[scouk]

My er.. van..

With Full Tints:

With just rears Yep thats standard manufacturer tint on the front, no film! (Drivers window is down):

[Wee Jock]

Neil,

what about UV reactive glass? Ive not been done for driving with my specs on ........yet!

IMHO I think black rears on your car would look good, ask someone to do a photoshop picture for you, could mess about with the glass colours then you could choose what u like best!

WJ

[jae]

:thumbup: looks good from that angle ScoUk

[jae]

  Wee Jock said:

Neil,

what about UV reactive glass? Ive not been done for driving with my specs on ........yet!

IMHO I think black rears on your car would look good, ask someone to do a photoshop picture for you, could mess about with the glass colours then you could choose what u like best!

WJ

they tend not to work in cars as the uv is filtered out

[Midnight21]

  Rheid said:

What's the going rate for tinting anyway and any advice on where to go/who to speak to?

Thanks, Neil

Pro-tint at Loanhead ....tell them Cathy from Drum passed you to them

[Rheid]

  Midnight21 said:

Pro-tint at Loanhead ....tell them Cathy from Drum passed you to them

Thanks Cathy, I'm in Loanhead on Wednesday so I'll pop in and see them.

[Rheid]

  Wee Jock said:

Neil,

what about UV reactive glass? Ive not been done for driving with my specs on ........yet!

IMHO I think black rears on your car would look good, ask someone to do a photoshop picture for you, could mess about with the glass colours then you could choose what u like best!

WJ

That's the problem Paul, I've already photoshopped the car and really don't like it with the back half black. I don't really want to go too dark anyway, just a bit more than it is now, although from the feedback here that's going to put me over the legal limit - I'm too long in the tooth to put up with being pulled for it.

Cheers, Neil

[bmwhere?]

Have you thought about a mirrored tint just on the back. I think the mirrored tints work really well with white cars. Add some black wheels and mud flaps and you've got yourself a WRC gravel car

[Rheid]

  junior1910 said:

front and rear windows all done in light smoke which it the lightest tint u can get,still makes the front illegal.

i think only doin the back especially in dark smoke or limo black and leaving the front standard is silly imo,but at the least they wont pick up a silly fine like me

ive been stopped a few times by traffic cops and nothing has been said about the windows!!!!!!

Liking that junior! I'd be happy with that level of tint all round, wonder just how illegal it is though? Good to hear you've never been pulled for it!!!

[mystery machine]

Taking your chances with the polis is one thing...

... but it's certainly worth considering that front side window tints which pass less than 70% light could invalidate your insurance policy in the event of a claim.

Therefore, if your car is worth a decent swedge and is written off, you could find yourself seriously out-of-pocket

[Rheid]

  Mystery Machine said:

Taking your chances with the polis is one thing...

... but it's certainly worth considering that front side window tints which pass less than 70% light could invalidate your insurance policy in the event of a claim.

Therefore, if your car is worth a decent swedge and is written off, you could find yourself seriously out-of-pocket

Thanks, very good point which I hadn't even thought about!

[mystery machine]

  Rheid said:

Thanks, very good point which I hadn't even thought about!

No problem at all

I actually had my front side tints removed today for this very reason. I'd always assumed that, because the previous owner had used a lighter tint on the front, they must be legal and insurance-friendly... then I read this thread, did some further research, checked them out with a light meter (they were passing only 45%), realised the implications, checked with my insurance..... yep - they had to go!

I was worried the car might look a bit daft with only the back tinted, but the new age Impreza's window shape and lack of any quarter lights lends itself quite well to this setup.

[Bugeye29]

want to tint my back 3 windows got a silver bugeye but do a go for a light tint or a dark tint ? think limoblack will be to dark ,cant decided any ideas what looks best on a silver car ?