Does this look like 50% Tint?
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Joined: Feb 2012
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From: Bridgewater, NJ
2011 E340 4 Matic Sport
Does this look like 50% Tint?
I just got my car back from the tint shop and I am not happy at all. I said I wanted something VERY subtle, so he said to go with 50%. He even went so far as to say that most people can't even tell a car is tinted with 50%, but he do it if I wanted. Well, here's the end result. WAY to dark for me. Am I crazy, or is this 35%? I compared to a few of my friends cars that I know are 35% and this is just as dark, if not darker.
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From: Bridgewater, NJ
2011 E340 4 Matic Sport
Actually the interior is TAN! That should make it even lighter, right? And this is in direct sunlight. At night it's even darker. I'm gonna head to a different shop tomorrow morning and have them put a meter on it.
Does anybody know what the factory tint is for this car (roughly)? They guy at the shop tried to say that the factory tint made it look a lot darker.
Does anybody know what the factory tint is for this car (roughly)? They guy at the shop tried to say that the factory tint made it look a lot darker.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Montgomery, Alabama
2011 E-350
I wasn't aware they had a 50% either. However, looking at your picture, I can guarantee you that yours is lighter than mine and I do have 35%. I have had 24 vehicles since 1985 tinted with 35%. As a matter of fact, the last four of those are in the garage and driveway at this moment. They are definitely darker than yours. It I were a betting man, I would bet yours is 50%. Have it tested and let us know for sure. I am curious now.
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From: NY
2014 E550 4matic,, sold 2012 E 350 4matic,,sold 2010 e350 4w,sold 2002 e320 se
For sure that tint is in the 35-40 range,if you wanted an almost no tint look,did he have examples for you to peruse?
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1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
The OP didn't tell us where he is so he'll have to go to tintdude.com himself to check legality.
Of course 50% is available - just as 60 or 70 is available. You don't need dark tint for heat rejection and a nice 70% ceramic tint will give you better UV and heat rejection than most 35% tint.
The actual stock tint varies by year and, in some cases, options, but you can figure that most cars have something like 88% light transmission. Accordingly, a 50% tint on top of that would give you about 44%.
Of course 50% is available - just as 60 or 70 is available. You don't need dark tint for heat rejection and a nice 70% ceramic tint will give you better UV and heat rejection than most 35% tint.
The actual stock tint varies by year and, in some cases, options, but you can figure that most cars have something like 88% light transmission. Accordingly, a 50% tint on top of that would give you about 44%.
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lexus gx470
it looks good though. get your refund, but keep the tints. any lighter and it won't be helping anything. i have 35% and any lighter there would be no point. i am actually going to get another layer over the back window and 50% on windshield.
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From: Bridgewater, NJ
2011 E340 4 Matic Sport
I'm in NJ (need to update my profile). Keep me honest, but I don't think you're allowed ANY tint on the front windows in NJ.
He basically admitted they screwed up today, but wouldn't give me my money back. They are going to do the entire car over with a real 50% for free.
I've noticed some guys leave a line at the top of the window and others are able to get the tint all the way to the top. Do you need to take the door panels to do that? If so, I'd rather not take all the panels off - I can live with the line when the window is down.
He basically admitted they screwed up today, but wouldn't give me my money back. They are going to do the entire car over with a real 50% for free.
I've noticed some guys leave a line at the top of the window and others are able to get the tint all the way to the top. Do you need to take the door panels to do that? If so, I'd rather not take all the panels off - I can live with the line when the window is down.
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From: Bridgewater, NJ
2011 E340 4 Matic Sport
The same reason you wanted 35% 
Seriously though, it's just personal preference. I like the way a really light tint looks. Also, I live in NJ and the cops will look for ANY excuse to give you a ticket. I don't need another reason to be pulled over.
Plus, my girlfriend is hot and I like to show her off!
Seriously though, it's just personal preference. I like the way a really light tint looks. Also, I live in NJ and the cops will look for ANY excuse to give you a ticket. I don't need another reason to be pulled over.
Plus, my girlfriend is hot and I like to show her off!
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From: Waikele, Oahu, Hawaii
2011 GLK350 P1, Multi-media & AMG Pkg; 2010 E350 w/ prem 2; 2018 4Runner SR5 Prem. 4x4
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From: Paradise
w212 E550
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2014 E550 4matic,, sold 2012 E 350 4matic,,sold 2010 e350 4w,sold 2002 e320 se
But as for NJ and warding off john laws and their ticket books...I travel thru every week,,TPK,local,and watnot...never even got a second look,maybe the coffee was still warm
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1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
The same reason you wanted 35%
Seriously though, it's just personal preference. I like the way a really light tint looks. Also, I live in NJ and the cops will look for ANY excuse to give you a ticket. I don't need another reason to be pulled over.
Plus, my girlfriend is hot and I like to show her off!
Seriously though, it's just personal preference. I like the way a really light tint looks. Also, I live in NJ and the cops will look for ANY excuse to give you a ticket. I don't need another reason to be pulled over.
Plus, my girlfriend is hot and I like to show her off!
What percentage tint did it turn out to be?
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From: Bridgewater, NJ
2011 E340 4 Matic Sport
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From: Oklahoma
W211 E320 & W212 E550
You should of snapped a pic looking through side window out the windshield. It looks pretty light to me. I would say it's 50%, though that pic does look dark but my guess it's because the sun is setting or low in the sky. BTW mine is 20%.
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1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
They guy at the shop didn't have a meter, but he admitted that it was a little dark. He claimed that 3M must have incorrectly marked the box. Either way, he pulled it of and did the entire car over with a real 50% tint. Pictures to follow...still not sunny out. It definitely looks lighter. I'll be sure to post pictures of BOTH
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From: NY/NJ
2012 W212 E350 Bluetec
The same reason you wanted 35%
Seriously though, it's just personal preference. I like the way a really light tint looks. Also, I live in NJ and the cops will look for ANY excuse to give you a ticket. I don't need another reason to be pulled over.
Plus, my girlfriend is hot and I like to show her off!
Seriously though, it's just personal preference. I like the way a really light tint looks. Also, I live in NJ and the cops will look for ANY excuse to give you a ticket. I don't need another reason to be pulled over.
Plus, my girlfriend is hot and I like to show her off!
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From: Maryland
2022 E450 Prior:2021 S580 2012 E350BT, 2013 GL350BT, 2009 ML320BT, 2006 E320CDI, 1987 260E
My car is white also and been debating almost a year between 35 and 50. Everyone seems to think 50 is too light but I think it will look good on white, and I really just want the UV and heat benefits. Last car was 35 but it was black so I think darker does look better...
