Tint?

[TinMan]

Anyone know what level of tint is on the factory windows (front to rear). Anyone found after-market tint film that looks like a good shade/color? I am trying to decide if the rear and sides need to be darker. I usually get cars professionally tinted down to 30-35% light transmission. The liquid platinum is crying out for a nice tint job, but some films have a greenish tinge that I don't want. Just non-reflective metalized tint that is charcoal gray. Any ideas?

[wakblak]

Tinted mine to limo grade in all around.
Naturally darker in the back due to the factory stuff.

[Malmskov]

Got mine front tinted with Medium. It match 99 percent and looks pretty good.
I have good referral if any around OC Cali. They guy has done tinting for celebs etc.

[mixmasterlove]

Anyone know what level of tint is on the factory windows (front to rear). Anyone found after-market tint film that looks like a good shade/color? I am trying to decide if the rear and sides need to be darker. I usually get cars professionally tinted down to 30-35% light transmission. The liquid platinum is crying out for a nice tint job, but some films have a greenish tinge that I don't want. Just non-reflective metalized tint that is charcoal gray. Any ideas?

I was wondering the same thing, does anyone know the % on the rears ??? I would like a perfect match.

[erickme]

The rear looks like 40% but not sure. So nobody knows for sure?

[cx9er]

I have a tint meter at work...If I remember I will meter the windows in the next few days and let you know!(cool)

[Force-1]

I had my 2 front windows tinted to 20% a few days ago. The tint guy told me the back windows were about 25, front 45.

[totalcarnage]

I have a tint meter at work...If I remember I will meter the windows in the next few days and let you know!(cool)


Ya Please do!

[cx9er]

I have a tint meter at work...If I remember I will meter the windows in the next few days and let you know!(cool)

The meter I have is not working....I am working on getting a different one. As soon as I do I will post the %

[ZoomFive]

The meter I have is not working....I am working on getting a different one. As soon as I do I will post the %

Any word? Thanks.

[cx9er]

Any word? Thanks.

I am still tyring to get a new meter...I did not forget

[CX9buyer]

I am still tyring to get a new meter...I did not forget


I just had my tint done and the installer told me it was at 20 percent.

and from what I see it matches quite well.

[mixmasterlove]

I just had my tint done and the installer told me it was at 20 percent.

and from what I see it matches quite well.

Did u have 20 put on, and if you know the shade and brand. Thanks

[tachicardia]

Looking for this info too. It would be nice to get the right % and 'color'.
-- Eric

[Force-1]

All I know is I had my front windows done @ 20%, and they are definitely darker than the rear windows--I'm fine with that.

[redline122]

Got mine front tinted with Medium. It match 99 percent and looks pretty good.
I have good referral if any around OC Cali. They guy has done tinting for celebs etc.

Malmkov,
I would be interested. Is it "Kenny"? :)

[powers]

Hi!

I'm new to the Mazda Forum, just got my CX9 and tinted 15% all the way around, I guess making the back 10-5% with the factory tint.

Here are some pics, got her back today (drive)

http://www.knoxconnect.com/cx9/front.jpg

http://www.knoxconnect.com/cx9/passfrnt.jpg

http://www.knoxconnect.com/cx9/passrear.jpg

http://www.knoxconnect.com/cx9/passside.jpg

http://www.knoxconnect.com/cx9/rear.jpg

Now for some new rims! Any suggestions?

[Malmskov]

Redline,

No Leo, TW Tint in Santa Ana, CA

[tran1981]

I am still tyring to get a new meter...I did not forget

What's the word? I would like to get front tint to match the back.

[ZoomFive]

What's the word? I would like to get front tint to match the back.

I had a meter taken to mine and it was 35% according to the tinter.

I hope this helps everyone. Just have your tinter verify.

[SC300ES]

Somebody flag down a cop and ask him to measure please :)

[thirdroute]

Hello All,

I read that some tint would interfere with the navigational system. Is this true?

thanks,
thirdroute

[Force-1]

Hello All,

I read that some tint would interfere with the navigational system. Is this true?

thanks,
thirdroute

IMO, no. I have metallic tint on my Cadillac STS, C6 Corvette, and CX-9. I've seen no interference with Nav in any of them.

[clandestine]

I just had mine done. my guy thought it was 32% from the factory, but he had plates that we brought out to compare and we both agreed it matched with 22%. I can't dispute a meter reader, but I've had 20% tint before and that seems in line with what comes stock, so I'm inclined to stick to our (albeit subjective) observations. it just doesn't seem as light as 35%, but it could easily be 20 or 25 - the plates he had came from the Solar Guard installer kit and match their films, and each manufacturer has slightly different numbers/%s. he said he thought the fronts are around 90%, which I believe. definitely a noticeable although very light tint.

that subject aside, I had the side rear 4 windows done at 13%, which he said he calculates is a combined 7 - 8%. they are very dark, but not quite limo (5%ish), and I am VERY happy. I had the fronts done @ 50% which is probably a hair darker combined, and I'm happy with that decision too. In California I understand 70% is legal and I don't want to put myself at too much risk, but I did want a little shade to it and the added heat rejection. passengers can be clearly seen by cops, so I hope to stay out of trouble with it.

I have not had the rear window done yet. I wanted to see what it was like with factory tint only on the back. I've driven limo tinted cars before, and hated how dark they are at night. you learn to deal, but it's not my preference. the tint guy was skeptical at first, but even he was surprised that it looked as good as it did w/o the back done. it appears to also darken with the sides, but then his sales instincts kicked in and that was all I heard of that. but I think I will do a medium tint on the rear for the sake of the added privacy. the difference in shade doesn't bother me, but when I walk around the back I can clearly see in. this is not the case on the sides, where you need to walk right up to it and cup your hands around your face to get a good look inside. with the power lift gate preventing me from getting the cargo cover, this is important to me. Also, when you're approaching the vehicle from behind it looks like it isn't tinted, and now that I see how pimp it looks from the sides, I want that effect from the rear as well. I'm not sure what shade, but I'm thinking 32% at this point.

on a side note, I think the black/smoke color matches with the black cherry paint better than the factory tint, which appears to have a slightly brown shade to it.

the guy that mentioned green metallic tint... that's probably the Solar Guard 'Quantum' film, which my wife has on her galaxy gray (which isn't gray at all) civic. looks great on her car, but not on some other colors, especially not white IMO.

I'll post pics if there's any interest.

[TI2TT]

I In California I understand 70% is legal and I don't want to put myself at too much risk, but I did want a little shade to it and the added heat rejection. passengers can be clearly seen by cops, so I hope to stay out of trouble with it.
.

In Cali the rear and rear passengers can be as dark as you want. The drivers and passengers front windows can't be tinted legally unless it's tinted from the factory.

[clandestine]

In Cali the rear and rear passengers can be as dark as you want. The drivers and passengers front windows can't be tinted legally unless it's tinted from the factory.

I was referring to the fronts. I've heard different answers from different people on it, but what I'm hearing now is, anything on the front is illegal.

I got pulled over for a rolling stop in Sonoma on Memorial Day weekend. he was pulling people over right and left, probably looking for drunks. he let me off on the stop, but gave me a fix-it ticket for the front tint. funny thing is, I can pay $25 for the ticket with proof of correction, or $164 without... isn't that bribery?!?

[ceric]

Front: 70% light in.
Rear: any
Source:
http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/CA/

[TI2TT]

Front: 70% light in.
Rear: any
Source:
http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/CA/

They're incorrect. I've checked the codes besides talking to multiple law enforcement friends of mine.
I've been ticketed for tint on the fronts...hence the research. lol

[ceric]

California vehicle code.

"26708.5. (a) No person shall place, install, affix, or apply any
transparent material upon the windshield, or side or rear windows, of
any motor vehicle if the material alters the color or reduces the
light transmittance of the windshield or side or rear windows, except
as provided in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 26708.
(b) Tinted safety glass may be installed in a vehicle if (1) the
glass complies with motor vehicle safety standards of the United
States Department of Transportation for safety glazing materials, and
(2) the glass is installed in a location permitted by those
standards for the particular type of glass used."

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708_5.htm

"Sun Screening Devices: Requirements
26708.2. Sun screening devices permitted by paragraph #10 of subdivision (b) of Section 26708 shall meet the following requirements:
(a) The devices shall be held in place by means allowing ready removal from the window area, such as a frame, a rigid material with temporary fasteners, or a flexible roller shade.
(b) Devices utilizing transparent material shall be green, gray, or a neutral smoke in color and shall have a luminous transmittance of not less than 35 percent.
(c) Devices utilizing nontransparent louvers or other alternating patterns of opaque and open sections shall have an essentially uniform pattern over the entire surface, except for framing and supports. At least 35 percent of the device area shall be open and no individual louver or opaque section shall have a projected vertical dimension exceeding 3/16 inch.
(d) The devices shall not have a reflective quality exceeding 35 percent on either the inner or outer surface. "

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708_2.htm

[danz75]

I had Madico Charcoal 20 installed on the front windows yesterday. Here's my immediate observations: In bright sunlight, it looks slightly darker than the rear passenger windows but in the garage, it looks considerably darker. My installer also noticed that the cargo side windows are a slightly different tint color to the passenger windows.

I'm thinking that maybe the rear passenger windows are possibly about 30% instead of the 20%.

[benben01]

yep.. Had the rears on mine metered. It was ~ 30%.