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On my w202, I had 3m Color Stable 20% all around (no windshield).
It was good. A little too dark for my taste even though I lived with it for 2 years. on unlit streets and backing out of the driveway it was a minor challenge to see.
On my last car, the w204, I went to 3m Color Stable 35% all around (minus windshield). This in my opinion was perfect.
So for the w205 c43, I kept with the 3m Color Stable 35% all around (minus windshield).
Being a black car with black interior, I wanted some protection on the front windshield to keep it cooler. I was between the crystalline 90 and color stable 50. The tint installer recommended to stay in same brand and that the 50 on the windshield would not look super dark with 35% around. He put a sample of each on my windshield for me to look at from inside and out. The crystalline also gives this rainbow effect when it warms up and starts blocking the suns heat. It was interesting but not my favorite look.
I ended up going with the Color Stable 50 on the windshield. I hope it is not too dark. If it is i will most likely look at the crystalline 70 or 90 by 3m and swallow the lost costs.
I will post pictures of the fresh tint job later today. And after the dry period if i notice any differences.
I will also give honest feedback on my thoughts about tinting the windshield. Driveablity, night time issues, if any, all conditions, etc.
my first impressions. From the inside there is no noticeable difference. Ive driven with some level of side window tint for years so to me everything seems normal.
I noticed the windshield tint slightly the first time I got in car but now I don't notice it at all. I think as the tint dries it appears clearer? if that makes sense.
any way, day driving there is no difference at all. Had the wife in the car and she said it looks the same as before and no issues seeing out the front. clouds or sun visibility not an issue.
night time. surprisingly I did not really notice any difference here at all. There has to be some level of difference obviously but perceptually in the car I had no trouble seeing even on our residential street which is not lit. the sides are darker at night but I already knew that from when I had 20% and 35% before on the sides. but the 50% on front was not an issue to see out of with low beam led lights.
externally, it seems much darker. the front windshield lets a lot of light in and usually lightens up the 35%. This 35% with front windshield 50% tinted brings them down to the appearance of 25% ish maybe 30% with windshield untinted. it darkens it up for sure. At first I thought I wouldn't like it this dark, but with the sun you can see in still and with the clouds or dark it blacks up a bit and can only see silhouettes. get the best of both worlds.
I am liking the privacy of it as well. only time will tell if I really like it in all driving conditions, but so far so good. I tried calling the tint shop to put the crystalline 90 on but they had already cut the color stable 50 for the windshield. I am glad they already cut it because I was able to experience this first hand.
On a side note, I personally would not go darker than 50% on a windshield. After reading countless threads of people also noting not to go darker than 50% on windshield, I can agree with that assessment. some people will argue to go more, but I feel any darker would start to look a little less classy. just IMO. some souther states with sun all day I could see 35% on the front but the look will still darken it up.
so far I like it and I am not sacrificing perceived visibility in any conditions. I will see how it does in the rain and rain at night.. will update if anything changes. car looks much meaner now as well which is a bonus.
its just light enough to see interior and red seatbelts. some of the pictures also make it look darker than it is. but I tried my best to get good angles.
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield next to new Lincoln continental with factory privacy glass and factory tinted windshield.
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
night, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
night, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
indirect sunlight morning , w205 35% around and 50% windshield
my first impressions. From the inside there is no noticeable difference. Ive driven with some level of side window tint for years so to me everything seems normal.
I noticed the windshield tint slightly the first time I got in car but now I don't notice it at all. I think as the tint dries it appears clearer? if that makes sense.
any way, day driving there is no difference at all. Had the wife in the car and she said it looks the same as before and no issues seeing out the front. clouds or sun visibility not an issue.
night time. surprisingly I did not really notice any difference here at all. There has to be some level of difference obviously but perceptually in the car I had no trouble seeing even on our residential street which is not lit. the sides are darker at night but I already knew that from when I had 20% and 35% before on the sides. but the 50% on front was not an issue to see out of with low beam led lights.
externally, it seems much darker. the front windshield lets a lot of light in and usually lightens up the 35%. This 35% with front windshield 50% tinted brings them down to the appearance of 25% ish maybe 30% with windshield untinted. it darkens it up for sure. At first I thought I wouldn't like it this dark, but with the sun you can see in still and with the clouds or dark it blacks up a bit and can only see silhouettes. get the best of both worlds.
I am liking the privacy of it as well. only time will tell if I really like it in all driving conditions, but so far so good. I tried calling the tint shop to put the crystalline 90 on but they had already cut the color stable 50 for the windshield. I am glad they already cut it because I was able to experience this first hand.
On a side note, I personally would not go darker than 50% on a windshield. After reading countless threads of people also noting not to go darker than 50% on windshield, I can agree with that assessment. some people will argue to go more, but I feel any darker would start to look a little less classy. just IMO. some souther states with sun all day I could see 35% on the front but the look will still darken it up.
so far I like it and I am not sacrificing perceived visibility in any conditions. I will see how it does in the rain and rain at night.. will update if anything changes. car looks much meaner now as well which is a bonus.
its just light enough to see interior and red seatbelts. some of the pictures also make it look darker than it is. but I tried my best to get good angles.
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield next to new Lincoln continental with factory privacy glass and factory tinted windshield.
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
cloudy, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
night, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
night, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
indirect sunlight morning , w205 35% around and 50% windshield
sunny, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
sunny, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
sunny, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
sunny, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
sunny, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
sunny, w205 35% around and 50% windshield
I think it looks great! Do you have any other plans for the car?
I think it looks great! Do you have any other plans for the car?
wheels and tires and a tune, maybe a kw suspension if i dont lose functionality of the dynamic select. other than that its good! current oem wheels will be winter wheels with winter tires and i have the michelin pilot sport 4s for the summer.
wheels and tires and a tune, maybe a kw suspension if i dont lose functionality of the dynamic select. other than that its good! current oem wheels will be winter wheels with winter tires and i have the michelin pilot sport 4s for the summer.
Nice, I was contemplating the same. I have the tune already, however, I haven't decided a wheel set up yet lol
yea i went with 265/35/19 rear and 235/40/19 front michelin ps4s and probably going to do an hre flow forged setup 8.5 front and 9.5 rear.
I have the AMR stage 1 and I love it! I don't even remember what stock feels like because this thing is a rocket now haha if you were looking for a tune, I would recommend them 110%.
I have the AMR stage 1 and I love it! I don't even remember what stock feels like because this thing is a rocket now haha if you were looking for a tune, I would recommend them 110%.
I have the AMR stage 1 and I love it! I don't even remember what stock feels like because this thing is a rocket now haha if you were looking for a tune, I would recommend them 110%.
Interesting.....a staggered setup on an awd car?
i was planning on going to amr in the spring. gunna enjoy the dense air boost this winter.
and yes the stock setups are staggered.
remember this car is AWD with a 70% rear bias. 69/31 to be exact
but traction is not this cars problem. I went with a 265/235 setup for extra braking stop surface for front, thicker sidewall on the 19s for a more comfortable ride, and for wider tire looks it solves all my problems. and traction on corners should be better as well.
I have the AMR stage 1 and I love it! I don't even remember what stock feels like because this thing is a rocket now haha if you were looking for a tune, I would recommend them 110%.
Interesting.....a staggered setup on an awd car?
You can't do this without significant damage to the AWD system.
i was planning on going to amr in the spring. gunna enjoy the dense air boost this winter.
and yes the stock setups are staggered.
remember this car is AWD with a 70% rear bias. 69/31 to be exact
but traction is not this cars problem. I went with a 265/235 setup for extra braking stop surface for front, thicker sidewall on the 19s for a more comfortable ride, and for wider tire looks it solves all my problems. and traction on corners should be better as well.
Ah yes you are correct! I completely forgot about that lol I had an STI years and years ago, so it was drilled in my head not to do that haha.
Yes boost weather is creeping up on us! You should get the tune now to enjoy with the cool weather lol you will be flying
I really like the versatility of this tint!! on sunny/light days its very easy to see in and protects and keeps interior much cooler and it cools down much faster as well.
on cloudy days and at night it darkens up and looks killer. I have had a few weeks to drive around with it and I am very impressed. at night on dark roads it seems about the same as when I had no windshield tint but did have all around tint (35% on sides and back). its not horrible but I could not imagine doing 5% or darker around. 20% may be tolerable for some
it appears lighter in person than in the pictures. also viewing angle matters a ton! in all conditions you can still see a silhouette and see in slightly. only at certain angles can you not see in the pictures. I would say for most this would be tolerable. 50% all around including windshield may be more up some alley as well as 20% around with 50% still on windshield.. depending if you like darker or lighter. I am in the younger department that still holds onto that darker look. the 35% gives me the best of both worlds.
IMO this is perfect. just some more shots in multiple conditions. enjoy!!
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. dark parking garage
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. dark parking garage
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. dark parking garage
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. dark parking garage
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. cloudy day looking out
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. cloudy day
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. cloudy day
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. sunny day
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. sunny day
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. sunny day
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. sunny day
w205 c43 amg with 35% tint sides and back, 50% front windshield. sunny day
09-06-2017, 01:58 PM
it solves all my problems. and traction on corners should be better as well.
