pamiboy

Just want to know the options for tinting the windows in my car. I asked a guy about this and he looks at my windows and says that it already has factory tint of 73%. Assuming this is correct, if I use any further tint wouldn't this proportionately reduce the available light passing through (I mean make the tint darker than the tinting film would suggest)?
Also want to know if ceramic tinting causes any problems with wireless/ radio / keyless go features? Thanks.

thefisch

I went with ceramic - Llumar CTX 30 all around ($250) plus Llumar Air 80 on the windshield ($80). No issues with interference - no regrets at all. Some other experiences posted in this thread.

Any inherent tint in the glass won't make much of a difference in the end results - the biggest difference will be if you go with 30, 20 or 5 and what's legal in your area. Some have said they are happy with ~50% tint - no real privacy benefit, just more heat rejection.

belarus27

dud 15% except my windshield... couldn't be more happier California life needs it lol

MJ50

i went with huper optik...
3M has clear tint if u don't want to change the shade...
darkness will also vary by interior color also...

thenew3

I've had Huper Optic ok 4 cars. They tend to start clouding after 4 or 5 years under the sun. It's a fight to try to get huper to honor their warranty.

For the last two cars I went with formula one Pinnacle ceramic all around, and air blue on the windshield.
They don't block as much heat as the huper optic on paper (maybe 5% less) but you can't feel the difference. Plus they are cheaper and so far much clearer than the huper. It's only been a little over 2 years so we'll see how it holds up. but the installers all say it's much easier to get formula one to honor their warranty.

instantfob

Huper Optic is a tricky film.

Not all installers know how to deal with them. They are thick to begin with and inexperienced installers have tendency to overheat them with the heat gun and distorted it by mistake. I use STM at Los Angeles for my house and car.

DJ Hellfire

All modern cars have approximately a 70% tint from the factory.

I personally would love to have the S Class tint.

pamiboy

Thanks. Sorry but I didn't understand. What do you mean by S class tint? Is that a certain brand / percentage or just any tint on an S class?

Mrmendoza

I did 5% tint on the rear windows and 35% in the front, perfect for California, although not legal, but couple CHP and police officers pulled up next to me or passed me and haven't pulled me over, I know they can pull me over IF they need to find a reason to pull me over but my buddies a cop and said they're already too busy and they're not gonna waste time writing tickets for tint lol

DJ Hellfire

No, the S Class has some type of factory reflective tint to the windows. It's pretty subtle, but noticeable and looks really nice. The last two generations have had this factory tint. Try to pay attention next time you see one on the road and see if you notice. Might be hard to see in online photos.

pamiboy

I'm planning to go with the Llumar ATC 50% (as I don't care about darker tints, my car already has black interior). Its not ceramic but I don't need that much heat protection anyway. Any opinions?

topspin2000

I just did Llumar CTX 15 rear and 30 sides. Wish I had gone darker LOL. Total cost $299. It's great, except for nighttime driving where I see reflections off of the defroster lines in the rear window. I assume that this cannot be helped with rear window tinting.

pamiboy

Thanks. The difficulty in night vision you mentioned is due to the brand of tint or type / darkness of tint or any tint will do it?

rediesel

50% is too light IMO. I live in Morgantown and had PlumCarzyMotorsports do my E - they computer cut and do a quality install which is more important than specific film. My E has "legal 35%" that is 38-43% so it works out to 35% with the factory tint. I wish it were a little darker, but I wanted legal. They offered a 20% and a guy had it on his CLA .

I had Tony's Street dreams do my old E and I think it was slightly darker (also lacked pano), but they were expensive and left some small defects. I had Autopro do my C63 it is much darker took him less than an hour and you can tell close up.

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...hotoshoot.html

pamiboy

I see what you mean. Thanks for the photos. I want to stay legal too. Now with the factory tint wouldn't a 50% film would come down to 35-40% in the end?
I'm wondering that if I use a 35% tint it'll end up somewhere around 25% in reality.
In WV the legal requirement being that >50% light transmission in front side windows and >35% on rears / rear windshield.

rediesel

I thought the WV limit was 35% on the front and no limit on the rears as long as you have sideview mirrors. I go for 35% all around to stay compliant plus it's my preferred look. The factory tint is super light -perhaps a 10% reduction in VLT (40%-4%=36% 50%-5%=45%). Police don't seem to care based on all the cars/trucks I see with 20% or lower tint. Jim at UMotors told me they check with a meter during inspection, but the guy with the super-dark CLA said he got it inspected there no problem (my tire shop would pass it regardless - state inspection is a joke).

PS I know a prominent ophthalmologist if you need a valid medical exemption for your tint.

jesser916

you're better off leaving it alone...I would get ceramic 70% or 50% at the most.

thefisch

With 30 on my car, I only notice issues with night vision when it is very dark out and raining which adds glare. I wouldn't go lower than legal, but most wish they got darker after it's done as it's not as much of a difference as you think.

topspin2000

I think it just goes with the territory. The defroster lines are gonna cause some reflections off of the tint, no matter what kind you have. I read from many other people on other cars and types of film as well. So it's not unique to CTX or E-class MB.

pamiboy

I just want to update you guys. I went ahead and did the tint. Like you mentioned the factory tint isn't much at all. Before doing the work I asked them to apply a small patch of 50% tint on the windows for testing and measure it with the meter. Guess what, it showed 49%. So I decided to go 35% for the rear and rear door windows and 50% for the front windows since I do not want any visibility issues at night. Looking back I think the 35% is a bit too dark for my taste (from the outside) but from inside the car both look fine to me. I know I'm going against the general trend here but I do not like very dark windows.
About the defroster lines, yes it looks different with film and I understand it's gonna be there regardless of what tinting is being done. In the end, I'm happy with the overall result now and looking forward to some sunny rides. . Once again thank you guys for all the helpful advice.

thefisch

post some pics!

ivantewus

OK, since I am an OCD , I actually went out and purchased a tint meter.
OE glass, no tint:
'06 IS350 @ 92% VLT (Late model Lexus has lower VLT)
'09 C350 @ 86% VLT (High end S-class has lower VLT)

That's why 35% tint on one car may not look the same vs another make/model/interior.
For Example: F1 35% 39%VLT varies from final VLT: 35.9% ~ 33.5%.

Most OE tint at the back is 15~20%, which is a good compromise for back passengers' comfort and driver's rear view mirror visual.

So, for S.CA, pick *final* VLT of:

70% - I have 3M CR70 on windshield for all cars, love it!

50% - As they say, almost "no" tint look.

40% - For that little darker-color to the tint.

35% - If you are not a "risk-taker" and want something dark enough to cut down the heat and UV. Legal in AZ.

Shops told me, starting from here, the risk of tint tickets starts getting higher:

30% - If 35% is still a little light, but dare not venture into <=20%. Dubai's Legal limit. My comfort zone here ^_^.

20~15% - Good privacy, don't want to be moving sun-visor to the side and willing to take risk with CHP .

5% - Driving at night could be difficult.

If only all tint shops carry a tint meter with them, then we wouldn't have to guess....

pamiboy

Here are the pictures. As you can see the tint is very mild and not noticeable from inside. It was very sunny when I took these photos.

thefisch

Yeah, I can hardly notice the 50 on the fronts. Rears look normal to me as far as tint goes. Personally I like the even look with the same on fronts and rears - then the rears wouldn't seem that dark by comparison.