wired

hi all..

am getting our glk to have both windows in the front to match the tint at the back.. am told by MB that it's against the law..

does anyone has any problems with the police while having all their windows the same shade..

also.. what's the pros and cons on having a solid black vs metallic black glk..

thanks again everyone.. cheers..

Duke_on

you should check with you local DMV since the law is different for each state or province. I don't think you can go as dark as rear windows.

glkbeige

It all depends on your state or province laws.

Try this link if you live in the US.

http://public.findlaw.com/traffic-ti...tate-info.html

In GA its 20% in front windows and 35% on rear and back.

EnigmaAW

are you sure it's not the other way around. 20% is darker than 35%. here in houston, we're allowed 35% on the driver and passenger windows and any shade on the rears. i have 20% on my driver and passenger windows and it matches the rear windows perfectly.

glkbeige

Yeah! The tint shop said 35% and now I'm reading 32% in the laws online.

Baby G

Did you get my link with Pics??? I have had no issues what so ever... Even today was at a light, side car was Peel Police, he looked over, and went about his business...

wired

yes baby g.. i received your pics.. looks totally awesome.. glad to note that the cops will close an eye regarding the tinting.. just wanted to be absolutely certain.. that's all..

thanks for all your help as always..

hceptj

i went with the 20% on the front windows also...matches perfect...

pipicyx

i got it done aftermarket...the color is a bit different. but still 35%
should be legal....had a cop stopped right beside be in front of a traffic light...he was looking at me...and he drove away...

Tate

Typically I found cops usually do not bother you with dark tints ONLY.

But say if the cop has suspicion to pull you over, then dark tints will give him a good excuse to do so. That would let him check whatever he had in mind on you (be it traffic violation, substance, DUI, vehicle search, etc...)

wired

great point tate.. i must say that i've a few vehicles with front tinting matching the rears except on the glk.. perhaps not that common around the gta..
anyhow.. once glk arrives.. i'll be sure to match the tinting all around..
thank you everyone for settling this issue..

cheers

NYCGLK

Just because cop didn't pull you over for something doesn't make it legal. However, when it comes to trivial things, cops might not even know what the law is. Cops are cops not laweyrs.

Have a story...a guy got pulled over for something else with windows freshly tinted so he had to open the door (couldn't roll windows down). Cop asked him if you can have tinted front windows in NJ, the guys said yea as long as they are not too dark. Cop said ok. I guess he didn't know in NJ front tint is illegal.

mr.mbenz

After testing 35% & 50%, I will go the
latter due to just right look and not
to be too noticeable. : )
I will post this next week.

cyberglk350

I have a Black GLK with black interior. I had the tint shop do 15 or 20 on the front "to match the back" and it was waaaay to dark for me. I found it hard to see out of the car at night. So I had it changed to 35% and it is much better at night. But it still is difficult to see properly at night and I may have it removed. I think the black interior has something to do with it.

In regards to the police. Well, I listen to the police scanner here in Denver as a backround noise when I am working. the police pull people over ALOT in regards to tint around Denver. I think the police use it as a probable cause thing. Because many times it leads to other violations.

I was worried about being stopped with the dark tint. Maybe thats just because it seemed very dark inside the car to me. But I thought I could not see inside the car very well even during a sunny day with the matched tint.

The way I see it, if you have a very good reason to fear the law then don't tint. But if you can afford the fine and won't be arrested for something when your stopped, go for it!

mr.mbenz

good point cyberglk350.

that's why the 50% is acceptable vs. 35%.
The 35% looks nice, but that's it! I do not
want to have viewing problems nor do I want
to be a cop's magnet!

jdm2010

I had limo tint in my truck for years. I got pulled over 1 time and given a warning and they told me to get it changed. I didnt do anything and was never pulled over again. I think most police have something better to do and if you are a good driver you should be ok. The tint on my glk is illegal also and I was stopped for speeding and he never even noticed the tint.

chillertwist

can those that currently have tint on their GLKs post pics?

i'm interested in doing the front, but 1) don't know if i will 2) not sure which % yet

Blazeitup123

Post 4 has a sig pic.

hceptj

Let's see if the attachment shows up...it's 20% tint...

chillertwist

sweet! that looks badass... thanks for posting.

are the back windows 20% as well, then? looks like they match.

hceptj

Thx...yep, it's all 20%...

EnigmaAW

i had 35% and didn't like how it looked, so i went to 20%

mr.mbenz

thanks veerodder...

living in Texas...you need the most 'coolest' tint available...

glkbeige

I got 20 and 35 and a windshield strip.

GLKBlack

I live in GTA and have been driving with 20% tints for a 5 years with no problems at all. The Highway Traffic Act doesn't specify a bright line number for tints so it is up to officer's discretion:

HTA section 74: No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon a highway, (a) unless the windshield and the windows on either side of the compartment containing the steering wheel are in such a condition as to afford the driver a clear view to the front and side of the motor vehicle;

In terms of actual tints, 35% will be a slightly better match to the back windows than 20% on the GLK. 35% will not provide nearly as much privacy as 20%, even at night because the GLK has that bright screen that lights up the interior.

If you do opt for the MB 20% (which is technically 18% light transmission) on the front, from the interior you will see a noticeable difference between the front and the back (with the back stock tints being lighter) but from the exterior the difference is hardly perceptible. So if you look at grass in the front side window it will be a duller shade of green then if you look in the back side window. If you are driving at night, you will see halos around lights if you look out the back window directly (not looking into the auto dimming mirror) which you will not see looking at lights through the front side 20% windows. It is only slightly different but its awkward having the fronts darker than the backs.

If you do want to match the front 20% to the back, it will require adding to the back windows either 50% (for a perfect match) or 35% for a slightly darker look.

I personally went for 20% fronts and 35% additional tint on rears but haven't snapped any photos yet.