Window tint

[Dave]

I'm thinking about having windows in the Legacy and WRX tinted, and wanted to get thoughts from others on the board. Here's what I'm aiming for:
1) Not some shitty plastic film with bubbles in it.
2) Not some shitty film that looks great today and purple in a couple years.
3) I'd probably pay a shop, but will do it myself if it isn't too much challenge and saves me significant $.
4) Not planning to go beyond legal limits.

I loved the tint in my old 5-series, but I'm not 100% sure it wasn't factory (though there were a couple scratches in it).
If you've done it yourself, what product did you use / how is it aging / tell me your story.
If you know of reputable shops, who?

[WRXtranceformed]

Depends on where you are. With tint it's definitely worth it to pay someone to do it for you imo. LA Tint generally did a good job on my cars up in NoVA. Find out what shop does tinting for local dealerships and take it there.

I tried to cheap out here in Charlotte with some ghetto shop and it was a big mistake...they had to redo it and it still doesn't look 100% up to my standards

[SlimKlim]

I've been thinking about having this done on my car, it could use a little something to keep the worst of the sun out of it and make it not such a fishbowl. What are the laws anyway? Can you have any front window tint in VA?

[kcook]

50 front 35 rear.

I got 35% all around a month ago done by TNT Tint in alexandria. He did a fantastic job. I wish I had gotten tint years ago.

[Goodspeed]

Just FYI, I have 30% on the Miata (not exactly legal) and its perfect. Its not dark enough to attract any police attention (so far...knock on wood) but its dark enough to actually do something. IIRC in VA front windows can be no darker than 50%, 35% limit for anything rearward.

[JustinG]

Not sure if it passed but I thought it passed, may not go into effect til July 1. VA was changing to 35% all the way around. May want to check first though.


EDIT: Apparently it was tabled....IE never ever going to change.

With your car, your gonna get hassled by the popo if they even think its close to being too dark. With the black interior and the color of your car, and the fact that its a WRX.

I say have a pro do it, or it will look like shit. There is a place here in Richmond that I see at some car shows they hand out whole car tint job coupons for like $100, apparently they do a legit job to.

[JPolen01]

Plus one on having a pro do it. There are different types of tint for different levels of baller. Usually your options will be carbon based or ceramic based. Carbon based is good, I have had it on my car for 3 years with no fading at all. Ceramic based is better and if you have a gps antenna in the rear windshield you have to get ceramic or the carbon will mess with the gps. Ceramic will be more expensive because it blocks more uv rays and reduces glare.

I had my accord sedan done 3 years ago for $180 all around. For where I live, that is a good price for carbon tint. I got a quote for the ceramic tint for my dad's new accord sedan and it was for $220. Not sure what the market is like in Virginia, but with the picky laws/cops I wouldn't pay more than $180 for the chance you have to remove it and all that jazz.

Edit:
Tinted in Howard County, md

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[kcook]

Avg tint price for a sedan/coupe is 220 in northern va. That's what I and many of my friends have paid.

Dave, I recommend getting 35 all around. 50 is a waste of time and money and 20 is way too dark.

[JPolen01]

Avg tint price for a sedan/coupe is 220 in northern va. That's what I and many of my friends have paid.

Dave, I recommend getting 35 all around. 50 is a waste of time and money and 20 is way too dark.

Same price for a coupe or sedan? Something is wrong here. Less windows means less monies :dunno:

[Apoc]

I've rocked full 20, full 35 and two cars with 50/35. I got a ticket in both cars that weren't legal, which is why I eventually ended up putting legal on my last two cars. 50 took a bit getting used to when I made the switch, but now I don't have a problem with it and actually prefer it.

I used LA Tint in Nova for my last three cars. I just go with the higher end stuff with a lifetime warranty so I don't have to worry about it.

[JPolen01]

You also have to factor in the factory tint in with the tint you are getting. Most glass has some tint already in it. When my girlfriend got her new civic tinted she got 35, but that combined with the factory glass brought it down to about 27. So if she gets pulled over and they measure the tint she will be below the legal limit in md, but it does not look very dark to the eye.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[DierwulfBL]

If youre still in the cville area i suggest you contact xrayz, they did my celica back in the day and after 6 years it was just like the day it got put on. My sti was done down here in nc with a heat blocking tint (carbon iirc) and cost 300ish but that was 3m film. All of mine had a lifetime warranty against bubbles and whatnot and to me thats worth the extra cost of going to a pro

[Sully]

Btw, subaru classifies their cars as sport utility vehicles rather than "wagons" which mean you can go possibly as dark as you want in the rear, don't remember but definatley darker than a wagon or car can go...you may get shit from cops but can get out of it with a little fighting and it will probably only be a one time thing or you could talk the cop out of the ticket

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

[Ryan T]

Btw, subaru classifies their cars as sport utility vehicles rather than "wagons" which mean you can go possibly as dark as you want in the rear, don't remember but definatley darker than a wagon or car can go...you may get shit from cops but can get out of it with a little fighting and it will probably only be a one time thing or you could talk the cop out of the ticket

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

According to 46.2-1052 of the Va. Code:

1. No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the rear side windows or rear window or windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of this Commonwealth that reduce the total light transmittance of such window to less than 35 percent;

2. No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the front side windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of this Commonwealth that reduce total light transmittance of such window to less than 50 percent;

3. No sun-shading or tinting films shall be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle that (i) have a reflectance of light exceeding 20 percent or (ii) produce a holographic or prism effect.



SUVs dont' get to go any darker than anyone else. No tint on the windshield except for the top section, no more than 50 up front and 35 everywhere else unless you have a prescription for it.

[Apoc]

SUVs and minivans can have darker if it's factory. At least they could when I last read the full code like 10 years ago.

[Apoc]

Yeah, it's in there although not exactly as I stated.


G. Nothing in this section shall prohibit applying to the rear side windows or rear window of any multipurpose passenger vehicle or pickup truck sun-shading or tinting films that reduce the total light transmittance of such window or windows below 35 percent.

H. As used in this article:

"Front side windows" means those windows located adjacent to and forward of the driver's seat;

"Holographic effect" means a picture or image that may remain constant or change as the viewing angle is changed;

"Multipurpose passenger vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is (i) designed to carry no more than 10 persons and (ii) constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road use;

[DierwulfBL]

Just for the record I got pulled twice with my 50% front and 35% rear in Virginia in the Celica. I just kept my tint documentation in the glove box in case the meter was off enough to make me illegal. Also, as far as I know Subaru DOES NOT consider any of it's Impreza line a sport utility vehicle and it's 100% not built on a truck frame. If you want darker tint move out of the communistwealth.

[Evan]

lol.

there is nothing more ricer than whining about tint laws

[JPolen01]

lol.

there is nothing more ricer than whining about tint laws

Why do you bring hate into every thread? They are just trying to educated someone on tint laws and share experiences.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[JustinG]

Its Evan.....the OG hate

Sent from my Kindle Fire