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Tinted Windows W203 Thread - All You want to know about window tinting a C Class
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From: Connecticut
excites your girlfriend
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From: Bay Area, Ca
2005 C230 Kompressor sedan
Window tinting question (help)
Hi new to the forum and am looking for some advice.
Just picked up my 05' C230 Kompressor sedan in midnight blue and can use some advice as to what % I should tint the windows? I want to tint all of them including the driver and passenger sides. I also want the tint to be the same % all the way around- don't really want limo tint in the back and a lighter shade in the front. Can anyone give me an idea of a good %, perhaps a pic if u have one? The guy at the store said somewhere in the 30 range. Any comments on that? I can hold up the tint to the window when I take it in but would just like to know beforehand.
Thanks for the help and look forward to learning a thing or two from you guys!
Just picked up my 05' C230 Kompressor sedan in midnight blue and can use some advice as to what % I should tint the windows? I want to tint all of them including the driver and passenger sides. I also want the tint to be the same % all the way around- don't really want limo tint in the back and a lighter shade in the front. Can anyone give me an idea of a good %, perhaps a pic if u have one? The guy at the store said somewhere in the 30 range. Any comments on that? I can hold up the tint to the window when I take it in but would just like to know beforehand.
Thanks for the help and look forward to learning a thing or two from you guys!
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From: Fresno, CA
'09 A4 S Line
35% is a nice classy look all the way around and you shouldn't get hassled by the cops. Personally, I'd rather have the back winshield darker, around 15%, just to keep the car cooler.
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From: Newport Beach
04 C230K-ss
I was in the same situtation and with cops out here in cali...I had to be a little more careful. I dont like the stepped look either and think that a solid % looks much classier. I dont have a pic up yet or any of my car actually but I got 20% metallic all around and I always keep my sunshade up in the back which brings it to like 15% for a little more privacy. Now during the day you can clearly see through both windows (which is what a cop told me he looks for...if he can see through both of them then its 'passable' supposidly). But at night time you can only make out a slight figure and thats it. I think its great but at times I did want a little darker but I had to remember not to be too obvious with it.
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From: Bay Area, Ca
2005 C230 Kompressor sedan
OK, please have patience because I'm just picking up this tinting thing. So the lower the % the darker?
Also, been searching the past half hour and found out that I should have moleskin wrapped around a part of the window? I know its supposed to prevent scratching. Will most tinters do this? 33% sounds nice. Anyone have a pic on a dark car?
Will check up some more tomorrow....getting the windows done the day after.
Thanks for helping a newbie!
Also, been searching the past half hour and found out that I should have moleskin wrapped around a part of the window? I know its supposed to prevent scratching. Will most tinters do this? 33% sounds nice. Anyone have a pic on a dark car?
Will check up some more tomorrow....getting the windows done the day after.
Thanks for helping a newbie!
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From: Newport Beach
04 C230K-ss
yes the lower number % the darker it is. 5% is pretty much close to limo to give you an idea. And yes they do recommend the moleskin but I didnt get that with my tint job and is absolutely fine. And if anything does happen I have a lifetime warranty. Ill try and get a quick pic up at least of my car in the garage to give you some idea
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From: Newport Beach
04 C230K-ss
Alright heres 2 quickes for ya...now these are super crappy for my photo skills but its almost midnight and I have a full day at work tomorrow so I couldnt spend much time on it. But here are 2 for reference- in person you can see through the windows still but in the pics it shows ya how dark it can look. *Again this is 20% metallic all around*
I was able to still see the front passenger seat but in the pic its a bit harder, and its inside the garage with many flourscent lights directly overhead so it will appear darker.
And heres from the back with *no* sunshade up...it was actually down and if you look you can see my drivers side a-pillar. So again its dark but still visible.But for the side windows, you can see where the metalic tint comes into play acting as a mirror
I was able to still see the front passenger seat but in the pic its a bit harder, and its inside the garage with many flourscent lights directly overhead so it will appear darker.
And heres from the back with *no* sunshade up...it was actually down and if you look you can see my drivers side a-pillar. So again its dark but still visible.But for the side windows, you can see where the metalic tint comes into play acting as a mirror
Last edited by TheBossman; May 18, 2005 at 02:54 AM.
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From: bay area, CA
'06 E350 Iridium Silver with pano
I too live in the bay area (east bay). Cops here in the suburbs don't get too much action. Therefore, pulling over someone for having tint on the front side windows is not a surprise. The windows already come with the factory blue tint but I wanted to make it a little darker. I have 50% on all 4 side window and 35% for the rear back window. A couple people recommended that having a darker percentage for the large back will actually make the sides look darker from certain angles and create an overall balance appearance. I've had 35% in my other vehicles on the front side windows and have been pulled over in the past a couple of times.
All 4 side window have moleskins/synthentic strip. I think the lifetime warranty only covers discoloration, peeling, and bubbling. Another thing when selecting window tint is whether to get metallic or ceramic. Many people told me that if you have NAV or listen to AM often, ceramic will not interfere with the signal.
All 4 side window have moleskins/synthentic strip. I think the lifetime warranty only covers discoloration, peeling, and bubbling. Another thing when selecting window tint is whether to get metallic or ceramic. Many people told me that if you have NAV or listen to AM often, ceramic will not interfere with the signal.
Last edited by NO_WUR_E; May 18, 2005 at 10:49 AM.
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From: bay area, CA
'06 E350 Iridium Silver with pano
Originally Posted by ctC230K
what is legal in cali? in CT 35% on all 4 sides is legal, the rear window can be as dark as you want, even limo tint.
Last edited by NO_WUR_E; May 18, 2005 at 11:00 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Australia, Wollongong!
Originally Posted by NO_WUR_E
in california, you can apply tint only to the rear windows and large back window, none on the front drivers seat or the passenger front seat. no tinting of the front windshield. if you tint the top portion of the front window, it can only come down to a certain point. I can't remember how many inches is allowed. I have been busted with fix it tickets and fix it tickets with a citation!!! I think southern california might be more lenient since there are so many fixed up cars out there.
its pretty annoying...
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From: Bay Area, Ca
2005 C230 Kompressor sedan
I do like the 35% on sides and 20% on the rear (ctC230K's example) I just want a clean look. So by getting the same tint (say 33 or 35% all the way around) it would make the sides look less even? Can someone explain this theory or truth to me?
Would it be a good idea to call my tint guy and make sure he does the moleskin trick? If he doesn't but says theirs a lifetime warranty, is that good enough? How long until you guys noticed some scratching?
Would it be a good idea to call my tint guy and make sure he does the moleskin trick? If he doesn't but says theirs a lifetime warranty, is that good enough? How long until you guys noticed some scratching?
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From: Fresno, CA
'09 A4 S Line
Originally Posted by NO_WUR_E
I too live in the bay area (east bay). Cops here in the suburbs don't get too much action. Therefore, pulling over someone for having tint on the front side windows is not a surprise. The windows already come with the factory blue tint but I wanted to make it a little darker. I have 50% on all 4 side window and 35% for the rear back window. A couple people recommended that having a darker percentage for the large back will actually make the sides look darker from certain angles and create an overall balance appearance. I've had 35% in my other vehicles on the front side windows and have been pulled over in the past a couple of times.
All 4 side window have moleskins/synthentic strip. I think the lifetime warranty only covers discoloration, peeling, and bubbling. Another thing when selecting window tint is whether to get metallic or ceramic. Many people told me that if you have NAV or listen to AM often, ceramic will not interfere with the signal.
All 4 side window have moleskins/synthentic strip. I think the lifetime warranty only covers discoloration, peeling, and bubbling. Another thing when selecting window tint is whether to get metallic or ceramic. Many people told me that if you have NAV or listen to AM often, ceramic will not interfere with the signal.
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From: Connecticut
excites your girlfriend
what color interior do you have? if you have a black interior 35% looks great, if you have a beige or light color interior you might want 20%. i did 20% on the rear cause i think it looks better to have the back darker but you can't even tell there's a difference if you walk around the car, except when i have the rear sunshade up which i do most of the time, then it looks like the rear window is 5% even in bright sunlight, you can't see through the rear window.
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From: Connecticut
excites your girlfriend
Originally Posted by Blake P
Where did you get it done in the Bay? I've had some trouble finding a good tint shop that will do moleskin. The place I originally went said their tint is "scratch resistant", but I've got vertical scratches all over!
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From: Fresno, CA
'09 A4 S Line
Originally Posted by ctC230K
i noticed two small scratches on my front driver's window. my tint man has a lifetime warranty and i told him about the scratches, he said it is because if you look at the rubber gasket on the bottom of the window it does not have the same felt or velvet or brushes that other car manufacturers have so the window tint will scratch if hard particles like sand get in the window gasket seam. he offered to redo that window but they are so small and hard to notice it doesn't bother me.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: West Los Angeles
Midnight Blue 2004.5 C230 Kompressor Sport Sedan. 2002 w210 E320, 2009 w211 E350 Sport
I personally like the stock light blue tint that is already on the windows...
but because I had tinted windows on my former car, I say that 35% front 20% rear would be good. I think the percentages vary from shop to shop, but I'm sure you can get a similar setup. That looks really nice, especially on dark cars. Since you're in the Bay Area, you are probably aware how strict they are on having the front windows tinted, so I'd suggest going with a lighter tint on the front windows.
but because I had tinted windows on my former car, I say that 35% front 20% rear would be good. I think the percentages vary from shop to shop, but I'm sure you can get a similar setup. That looks really nice, especially on dark cars. Since you're in the Bay Area, you are probably aware how strict they are on having the front windows tinted, so I'd suggest going with a lighter tint on the front windows.
