Fuzzo

I have tinted my car and i haven't done anything to the window seals. It's been a few months and still no scratches.

I wasn't a big fan of getting the tint in 2 tone either but 35% all around seemed too light for me. I liked 20% all around but that attracted the attention of the law so I went with 20 in the rear and back windows and 35% on the front windows. A picture of my car is on the picture thread (page 3)

alot of it depends on what your interior, my friend got the same combo on his passat but he has a tan interior and that doesn't look too dark at all. He could have gotten 20% and it would have still looked pretty light.

it all depends on how strict the laws in your state are....

MB-BOB

I have 3M Panther Black (midgrade 90% metallic) in 35% all around (save windshield... I agree with you that graduated tinting can look odd). 35% is the max allowed for my state. I had nothing done to the window seals. After 9 months, I have no seal-related scratches. Nor do I have any radio reception problems, the other persistent question concerning tinting.

I'm no expert on tinting, but I wonder if the quality of the tinting material has anything to do with the tendency to scratch. If you are concerned you can always have the seals replaced to be sure (at nominal expense), or you can take your chances. Tinting is not a permanent thing and is replaceable if it does scratch beyond normal wear and tear.

Mach430

While I'm sure the quality of the material has some minor degree on the tendency of the window moldings to scratch the tint, I can tell you that I had high quality tint on my car, and it was ruined in 6 months. The amount of opening/closing your windows would have the biggest impact on the lifetime of your tint. Why risk it though? Just have your tint shop install moleskin/felt window moldings in place of your stock ones.

Steven N

I just had my tints done at the dealership by the guy that does 100% of their work. When I asked about the scratching problem, he said that was a problem with older MB's but was not an issue with the new ones. He did warn me that what will scratch the tint is lowering your windows when they have a lot of dust or dirt on the outside which will be transfered onto the seals inside the door. Anyway, since they came with a lifetime warranty, I didn't worry to much about it. I went with 35% on the sides and 25% on the rear. The tint has a slight reflective quality that I'm not wild about, but it should be more effective with the radiant heat from the brutal SoFla sun.

Good luck.

Boo2

Is it possible to get blue tints just like the factory tinted cars?

Mach430

It's actually the older MBs that do not have this problem.

Vince

I'm sure it's possible. But the color won't be the same. The blue tint from the manufacturer is actually the color of the glass.

sal

So is it possible to get the blue "glass" on the 230k? I think it's a sport package on both the 240 and 320. I'd pay the extra money for the glass.

Vince

sorry, i think you're out of luck on that. I don't think you can get the sport glass on the coupe. You need to find a place that has tint similar to the glass.

Rick

<shrug> All my glass on my coupe has a slight blue tint to it. I only noticed it the other day when I looked at the shadow of the car...

TimmyC230boy

I just found out my state (North Carolina) just passed a law that allows window tinting to block out 46% instead of the past 35%. I'm glad I waited to get them windows tinted on the new coupe.

Maverick666

I know I posted tinting question earlier... but no one did tell me where I can find a good tinter in the SF Bay Area...

I checked out a couple guys' work... not good... specs in the tint... Please help... I need to do this soon...

MB-BOB

Timmy, check into this carefully. "35% tint" means that the tint permits 35% of the light to be transmitted. Darker, "5% Limo" means only 5% of the light is transmitted.

Following the same logic, 46% appears to mean that the tint will be LIGHTER to permit 46% of light to be transmitted. If you were expecting that the new law permits darker tinting, you may be disappointed. Just look into it further, and let us know what you find.

TimmyC230boy

oops! i reversed the numbers. Its going from 46% to 35%. That will be even nicer and hopefully better looking. I will get the new window moldings before tinting. Will post pics when i get it done

SFVideoGuy

I'd be interested to hear a response to this too. My coupe arrives next week, and I'm sure I'll want some tint. Benzo, I'm getting the same colors as you--and you're in the area. Who did you use? How much? Did you have to replace the seal (or frame, or liner, or whatever you call it) because of scratching? Thanks in advance.

benzomonterey

Actually I used a pretty crappy looking shop. It's 3m tint. Not sure how long it will last but they did the front sides no questions ask for 150 bucks. I figure down the road I can replace it when I get back to Vegas.

yvette

Where should I go to have it done??
What color tint looks hot?? Yvette

revstriker

As far as color, I have always liked black. I also like the blueish tint like on the C32.

I don't think Mercedes does tinting themselves, but your dealer may have an outside contract with someone.

I have a sedan which I also need to get tinted. A place near where I live had a price of around $250 to do a 35% black tint.

Some people have mentioned that the window seal on MBs are abbrasive, and can scratch the tint. They have suggested having them replace the stock seals with felt or moleskin.

dasMafia

for a "three-door" out here I was quoted $150 from an excellent shop.

figure about $200-$250 for a 4-door. double if for being in california... $500.

onie

paid $145 for my coupe. 50% all around.

Vince

Yvette, have you got your car yet? If not, have the dealer throw in the tint job to push the sale. Worked for me, plus i got the cd changer thrown in too.
my car has 35% all around. 50% would have looked to light, why bother (imo). Since you're in california too, where tint is illegal on the front i'd recommend the 35%. most should have better things to do than give out fix it tickets.

Flashman

My dealer actually does not do tinting. They told me MB discourages them from doing it due to so many antenna related complaints.

Fuzzo

If your dealer won't add the tint in on the sale.. then i would wait for about a month or 2 after you take delivery of your car to tint it. Because like flashman said, there have been some issues with tint and radio reception..

i had the problem of my radio reception would get worse when i turned the rear defroster on... luckily i had not gotten my car tinted yet.. because when i called the dealer.. the first thing they asked was.. did you tint your window. Found out that it was a faulty part and had to replace the rear window etc... but they would have blamedit on the tint if it was there.. so i would wait for a bit to see if everything is working as it's supposed to before tinting...


I paid $200 for my tint.. got 35% on frint and 20's in the rear...

BlackC230Coupe

i had mine done at a tint shop that charged me $150.00 and it was the best quality luminar tint they had its 18% with metalic in it. well after i got my keyless entry and radio did not work due to the metalic on the back window where the antena is. so i had to have mercedes replace the back window and i had them recomend a guy who tints the cars for that mercedes dealer and he used a non metalic tint. so now everyting is fixed. except my weather band does not work. i dont wanna bring it back to MB so i am just goin to leave it alone. well here is a pic of my tint.

onie

Had 30% tint but had to change it to 50. Cop pulled me over because of the tint and not having the front license plate. Since changing the tint to 50% i haven't had a problem. Car looks really nice tinted all around.