Window/Windshield tint before and after pics

[s4boost]

so I decided to tint the windshield on my s4. I had it done on my previous car and loved it. When I got the s4 I missed the advantages.

What I have found is that windshield tint has some pretty significant advantages.
1. Aesthetic appearance - Google Lamborghini huracan, or m4. Notice at least half of the press release photos appear to have a tinted windshield, sure it doesn't in reality from the factory, but the point is that the marketing teams jobs are to make the photo appeal to the masses.
2. Blocking of UVA/B Rays - not only does this helps your leather, and your cars interior.
3. Privacy - it's important to me, and helps to keep your belonging safe
4. Safety - tint strengthens your windows. If you've ever had a significant impact to your windshield, you know or causes glass "dust" which you breathe in and gets in your eyes. The tints prevent the back side of the glass from turning into this dust.
5. Anti glare - I live in the south. People raise trucks and then put 10k hids in their non projector housing, tints reduce the glare from headlights and the sum
6. Gas mileage improvements - tint reduces heat. If you use less AC, your mileage will increase

A few disadvantages are,
1. Legality - check your state
2. Night vision - some people have complaints about tinted windshields at night and when raining. The difference is truly minimal. I can notice, but I have to focus on it to notice the difference
3. At fault - I have never heard of this but I assume, if a strong enough case is made, the tint could potentially put accident blame on you

I had my grey on black 2011 maxima tinted with 20 on the sides and rear and 50 on the windshield. I never got pulled for it. I suppose it's a risk. I see this as more of a "if you're attracting attention you'll get ticketed for your tint" than an immediate ticket the first time you encounter an officer. I'm sure this varies regionally. I had the maxima for 2.5 years. Tinted the whole time.


The tint on my car is 18% SUNTEK CXP on the sides and rear, and 55% flex ilm Pana lex hybrid carbon on the windshield.

It cost $450 to strip the old tint and put on the new SUNTEK, and $150 to tint the windshield.

These photos were taken on concurrent days at the same time. In the same place. The after pictures have slight overcast

Before:


After:




Before - top
After - bottom

[1illA6]

18% in the front, damn!
I usually see crystalline or at least ask for 75CXP :)

You'll be happy with the Suntek, car looks good.

[singleframe]

wow. it really acts like a mirror. wonder if cops look for that right away.
looks great!!! 🏼

[s4boost]

Correction, 55% panaflex hybrid carbon on the windshield. All other windows are 18%

[Laxinthe303]

$150? You mean $1500, right?

[ENV²]

After 3 years I had to remove my windshield tint. Pulled over 3x ($150) each damn time.

[s4boost]

wow. it really acts like a mirror. wonder if cops look for that right away.
looks great!!! ��

I had my grey on black maxima tinted with 20 on the sides and rear and 50 on the windshield. I never got pulled for it. I suppose it's a risk. I see this as more of a "if you're attracting attention you'll get ticketed for your tint" than am immediate ticket the first time you encounter an officer. I'm sure this varies regionally. I had the maxima for 2.5 years. Tinted the whole time.

$150? You mean $1500, right?

Sorry. 450 to strip and retint the sides and back, 150 to do the windshield.

Updated original post to reflect both of these comments.

[Audacious]

safety is an advantage? you mean its safer for a firefighter to have to cut through your window tint when he's trying to get you out of your car after an accident? how about making eye contact with pedestrians or other cars? sorry, this is dumb.

[s4boost]

safety is an advantage? you mean its safer for a firefighter to have to cut through your window tint when he's trying to get you out of your car after an accident? how about making eye contact with pedestrians or other cars? sorry, this is dumb.

If a firefighter has to go through my windshield I'm quite certain I'll have larger problems then tint obstructing his access. The tint adds basically no structural rigidity to the windshield, it just holds the glass together. He'd probably thank me that he avoided getting glass shards in his hand. And I'm certAim a large firehydrant wrench would do the trick. As I had a window busted out of my old prelude using a Phillips head. This was useless.

As for pedestrians, I don't live in a city where I'm needing thorough communication with pedestrians. Furthermore, you can still see inside the car. You just see less. A hand above the steering wheel is plenty to signal. Also, last I checked, my indicators, brights, horn and window are all functioning properly. If I lived in say, Chicago, it MIGHT be more of a factor. Also, you should watch this video of Google legal autonomous cars. Pedestrians can't communicate with them either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsaES--OTzM

FurthermOre, I wasn't advocating for a dark windshield. Mine is 55%. You could do 70, 80, 90. All of those will still protect your skin, your cars leather, your eyes and your face from Glass.

[MrFunk]

I've got 70% on my windshield... I'd prob go as low as 60%. My buddy has 50% and I think it's too dark at night... the different is not minimal at all... It's substantial. I'd say at 70% it's noticeable (not minimal).

[Okan509]

I really enjoy having my windshield lightly tinted.

[singleframe]

I really enjoy having my windshield lightly tinted.

How dark did you go?? I want a tint that helps reflect sun/light/heat etc.. but doesn't really affect clarity. Does that exist? is 80% even worth doing?? thanks for any input!

[Okan509]

I did 80%

it helps keep the car a bit cooler and a bit darker, also reduces the contrast between the side windows when viewing at 3/4 angle. Which I like.

[s4boost]

How dark did you go?? I want a tint that helps reflect sun/light/heat etc.. but doesn't really affect clarity. Does that exist? is 80% even worth doing?? thanks for any input!

55 on my windshield. 70-80 even 90 is worth doing. All 3 will block 99.9% uva/B Rays.

[singleframe]

I did 80%

it helps keep the car a bit cooler and a bit darker, also reduces the contrast between the side windows when viewing at 3/4 angle. Which I like.

do you have a photo of how it looks handy??

[s4boost]

Last one

[mgaman]

Looks awesome - sadly the cops would be ripping your window out here for that.

[dean.mohr]

Love the look of a tinted car in really any color.

My old black Fusion looked sharp with 15% all the way around (no windshield, just the eyebrows). Black interior/exterior/windows with tasteful chrome trim made it look very clean.

[s4boost]

Happy to say I literally just pulled up next to a police officer. With all my windows up. I cracked the windows and slid back the sunroof shade.... Nothing.

[jlaudio]

Only tint i would consider for the windshield is 3m crystalline, which seems to be the clearest film and has the best heat rejection properties of all the available tints. be ready to pay through the nose, my car was about $750 for the all side windows and rear, another $150 for the windshield. i opted to not do the windshield.

[s4boost]

Only tint i would consider for the windshield is 3m crystalline, which seems to be the clearest film and has the best heat rejection properties of all the available tints. be ready to pay through the nose, my car was about $750 for the all side windows and rear, another $150 for the windshield. i opted to not do the windshield.

The installer suggested panaflex over crystalline. I questioned him. He has his reasons. And being that he tints veyrons and has accounts with 21 dealerships in the greater Nashville area including porche, Audi, merc, BMW, Aston/maserati/rolls/Bentley, I'll take his word for it. You can see in the picture there is a slight optic degradation. But this tint is also less than 24 hours old so there's still moisture in there. I did research. Crystalline is fantastic, I believe panaflex is just as good or better for less money. 3m gets to charge a premium... Because it's 3m.

[jlaudio]

off topic question OP - are those wheels A8 20x9 wheels?

[s4boost]

off topic question OP - are those wheels A8 20x9 wheels?

Yessir

[DGVR6]

Same here, 50% windshield, 20 all around.

You'll get used to it. As for cops... Yea they'll be on you.

[mnboarder1]

I'll be doing 50% on my windshield.

Here is my old Golf R with 35% on the windshield and 25% the rest of the way around.



Inside the car



And my Built 2006 Duramax with 50% on the windshield and 5% all around (when it was 100% stock)

[s4boost]

I'll be doing 50% on my windshield.

Here is my old Golf R with 35% on the windshield and 25% the rest of the way around.



Inside the car



And my Built 2006 Duramax with 50% on the windshield and 5% all around (when it was 100% stock)

Mother of God that 35 is dark haha. Also. What's your favorite color? Blue? Lol

[mnboarder1]

Mother of God that 35 is dark haha. Also. What's your favorite color? Blue? Lol

It was so nice to have though. I didn't get stopped once either

I've owned 5 white cars so far. If it were my choice they all would have been white. Hopefully I'll have another white e36 M3 soon.