What % tint to get on my coupe?

[Igor1080]

Anyone who has the coupe knows the visibility is not that great. The A pillars are really large on this car and the angle of the windshield makes the view somewhat obscured. I have an iridium colored coupe with black interior and I'm trying to decide whether I should go with 35% tint or the darker 20%. I was used to 20% on my old car which was a sedan but this car is significantly smaller and lets in less light. Let me know your opinion.

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[jkyriakou]

If you've got panoramic glass definitely the 20. I've put 15 on mine with privacy rear and it looks awesome. Visibility is fine when you get used to it. (except when I'm reversing out of my driveway at night. Thank got for the rev camera!)

I'll try to get some pics up. Btw it's obsidian black with black interior.

[jchochla]

I personally would do 15% all around, because stock in all other cars is 18%.

[GuOD]

I voted 35% since that's what I went for

[AV1]

Originally Posted by Igor1080

Anyone who has the coupe knows the visibility is not that great. The A pillars are really large on this car and the angle of the windshield makes the view somewhat obscured.

I have an iridium colored coupe with black interior and I'm trying to decide whether I should go with 35% tint or the darker 20%.

I was used to 20% on my old car which was a sedan but this car is significantly smaller and lets in less light.

Let me know your opinion.

IMO with this car it would depend on whether or not you have the privacy glass

If you don't IMHO 35% would be the best choice as it won't look too dark especially considering the black interior, (cars with black interiors always make the tint look darker than what it is) and you would still have some 'depth' through the glass which looks classy, but looks is subjective and some people prefer the really dark/totally black look, legality issues aside.

Another thing to consider is that a lighter tint will reflect more heat rather than absorb heat, given UV rating and film type is the same so the interior will be cooler when exposed on a very hot day.

I was advised about this with one tinting place I used many years ago and fair enough I have several vehicles all of which are tinted and the one which is noticeably coolest is the one with 50% tint, it also makes the interior on that car (which is magma red red) look awesome from the outside viewing through the windows

If you have the privacy tint on your car, then you probably end up with no choice but to use a 20% at least if you want to match it up - that'll be my dilemma when my car arrives, ie. I'll want to match it up, but IMO a 20 or 15% tint looks too dark and gives no depth to the interior, absorbs more heat and is illegal here

Best of luck with it

[jctevere]

It really depends on the interior. I had 35% on a black interior sedan and it was perfect. Could make out a silhouette during the day, and can't see anything in the back seat at night ;-)

This time around I have tan interior and a panoramic roof. I still went 35% all around because it was hard backing up with 35% and didn't want to imagine trying with 20's. Plus, its a coupe, the backseat is useless for such tasks. But it is "light". You can see me during the day, but not very easily, and at night time you can still see silhouette and people in the car. Closing the shade on the panoramic roof helps, but not a ton.

If I had to do it all over again I would do this:
35% on the side windows, 20% on the rear glass. DONE. This way the interior will be darker, but you can still see out the side windows at night when reversing (some-what) and it doesn't look tacky like having front side windows and rear side windows different shades. I don't anyone will even notice the rear glass is a different percentage than the side glass.

[AV1]

Originally Posted by jctevere

It really depends on the interior. I had 35% on a black interior sedan and it was perfect. Could make out a silhouette during the day, and can't see anything in the back seat at night ;-)

This time around I have tan interior and a panoramic roof. I still went 35% all around because it was hard backing up with 35% and didn't want to imagine trying with 20's. Plus, its a coupe, the backseat is useless for such tasks. But it is "light". You can see me during the day, but not very easily, and at night time you can still see silhouette and people in the car. Closing the shade on the panoramic roof helps, but not a ton.

If I had to do it all over again I would do this:
35% on the side windows, 20% on the rear glass. DONE. This way the interior will be darker, but you can still see out the side windows at night when reversing (some-what) and it doesn't look tacky like having front side windows and rear side windows different shades. I don't anyone will even notice the rear glass is a different percentage than the side glass.

What you've suggested above is exactly what I would want to do, but unfortunately here in Aust. when you order one of these cars with the panoramic roof (Vision Package) it comes standard with the privacy glass and hence the dilemma of what to do with the front door glass

I agree with you about it looking not good with different shades on the side glass areas, but having the back window as dark as the panoramic roof and then the sides all done in a lighter matching shade is definitely the way to go.

[jctevere]

Originally Posted by AV1

What you've suggested above is exactly what I would want to do, but unfortunately here in Aust. when you order one of these cars with the panoramic roof (Vision Package) it comes standard with the privacy glass and hence the dilemma of what to do with the front door glass

I agree with you about it looking not good with different shades on the side glass areas, but having the back window as dark as the panoramic roof and then the sides all done in a lighter matching shade is definitely the way to go.

Oh really? I didn't know that? So much like SUV here in the U.S. that have privacy glass on all the windows besides the front windows, the coupe has the same (where the two rear side windows and rear glass are privacy tinted?). If that is the case, I would just match the privacy glass, (20%). You can do 35% but it will be too light. The 20% will also be lighter because the windshield is going to let light in, giving it the look of 35's.

[bshrode]

I just got 30% done all around today and it looks great. The one thing I'm not sure I like is that the installer (without asking me) cut "partially" around the 3rd brake light. The top 3rd of the 3rd brake light is tinted, but not the bottom 2/3rds. If the 3rd brake light on the coupe was a little less wide, it probably wouldn't be a big deal. I'm not sure how I feel about it though. I'm going to mull it over for a few days...

Did anyone else get their tint cut around the brakelight, voluntarily or otherwise?

[AV1]

Originally Posted by jctevere

Oh really? I didn't know that? So much like SUV here in the U.S. that have privacy glass on all the windows besides the front windows, the coupe has the same (where the two rear side windows and rear glass are privacy tinted?). If that is the case, I would just match the privacy glass, (20%). You can do 35% but it will be too light. The 20% will also be lighter because the windshield is going to let light in, giving it the look of 35's.

Yes, unfortunately that's the way it is here with these models, you've given me renued confidence about the 20%, I'll just have to wait and see some fellow Aust coupes tinted to review their results.

[Igor1080]

Originally Posted by bshrode

I just got 30% done all around today and it looks great. The one thing I'm not sure I like is that the installer (without asking me) cut "partially" around the 3rd brake light. The top 3rd of the 3rd brake light is tinted, but not the bottom 2/3rds. If the 3rd brake light on the coupe was a little less wide, it probably wouldn't be a big deal. I'm not sure how I feel about it though. I'm going to mull it over for a few days...

Did anyone else get their tint cut around the brakelight, voluntarily or otherwise?

Post some pics. Since we do have the same color and all. I'd really appreciate it.

[Freshly]

I would do 15 on the side windows and 5 on all the rest with 20% on the windshield. Thats what I have and love it. I had to peel a layer off of the sides when I moved to cali a few years back. My fav tint is by far the windshield!

[jctevere]

When I get back to my car later I will post pictures of 35% tint all around (without privacy glass) since its a MBUSA model. The color is white exterior with tan interior. If I had to do it again I would have done 20% on the rear window with 35% all the way around, but I still like it.

As far as my third brake light is concerned, my installer did not cut around it, he tinted the entire rear glass. It is fairly easy since the third brake light is pretty far away from the rear glass. It sounds like either your installer was being a bit lazy, or over-precautious, as we didn't want to tint your third brake light.

I have also lightly tinted my rear brake lights, but cut out around the turn signal/reverse lights because I prefer the look better. Pictures to follow.

EDIT: BTW, isn't 20% on the windshield FAR too dark? I was thinking about doing it to even everything out a bit, as quite bright and hot light comes from the windshield while driving and it is fairly unpleasant. I was debating between 50 and 70%... NOT 20%?!?! But regardless of the tint percentage, how does it hold up? What did you do in regards to the registration and inspection stickers? Also, what about the Mercedes-Benz logo in the passenger side of the windscreen?

[lbccpt]

Just got 18% Carbon tint

[AV1]

Originally Posted by Freshly

I would do 15 on the side windows and 5 on all the rest with 20% on the windshield. Thats what I have and love it. I had to peel a layer off of the sides when I moved to cali a few years back. My fav tint is by far the windshield!

Wow, that's dark any problems with visibilty ?? pics if you cam please

Originally Posted by lbccpt

Just got 18% Carbon tint

Request for pics also if you could please, TIA.

[dbtk]

Just got 35% on all side and rear windows this afternoon. Will post photos in 3 days after it is completely cured.

[Igor1080]

Well whats good with the pictures?!?!??! I want to see!

[bshrode]

Originally Posted by Igor1080

Well whats good with the pictures?!?!??! I want to see!

I'm living like a vampire at the moment, leave work before it's light out and come home after it's dark lol. I'll try to get some pictures mid-day tomorrow. 30% seems like the perfect tint to me

[dbtk]

Here are some quickie iPhone photos from the gym this morning. I'll try to get better ones later. As I mentioned 35% all around except for the windshield of course. It was $200 at home service in SF. I guy drove down from Marin (about 15 miles away).

[Freshly]

EDIT: BTW, isn't 20% on the windshield FAR too dark? I was thinking about doing it to even everything out a bit, as quite bright and hot light comes from the windshield while driving and it is fairly unpleasant. I was debating between 50 and 70%... NOT 20%?!?! But regardless of the tint percentage, how does it hold up? What did you do in regards to the registration and inspection stickers? Also, what about the Mercedes-Benz logo in the passenger side of the windscreen?
It depends on the color of your car. I got my windshield tinted in 07 and havent had any problems but my car is all black. If your car is a light color go with less tint like 50%. Im not sure what you mean by registration and inspection stickers, but they took the Mercedes dealer card out when it was tinted. I wanted them to cut around it at first but it would have looked weird. I am running stock xenon HIDs and havent had any problems at night, except backing up. I have had my car registered where windshield tint is "illegal" in both California and Washington and have never had any issues. The windshield is a must tint window if you have other tints. It finishes the car perfectly, its my favorite tint without a doubt.

Before Black Grille


After black grille:

[jctevere]

Not too bad looking. Here in NY, just like the MErcedes sticker on the windshield we have two additional stickers on the driver side, one for registration and one for inspection. So I guess if I had to tint the windshield, I would have to cut out around them...

[Igor1080]

So I found a good tint shop in Long Island that I'm gonna try out. They're well known and they have REALLY good pricing. The place is called The Tint Shop of Great Neck.

So now I'm trying to decide if I want 35% all around OR 35% on the side windows and 20% on the rear windscreen. I'm used to having 20% but I got pulled over for it a bunch of times.

I'd appreciate some input on these two choices only.

[bshrode]

Here's mine with 30%, I'll take some better shots tomorrow