What % Tint for Silver A4? Or no tint at all...?

[gsxr150]

I'm probably going to pull the trigger on a tint job, but curious if I should do it at all? Will it make my silver car look better? If so, any certain % I should do?

I would like to avoid the squid look; that's why I'm seeking advice!

[sttk2k]

i'm assuming since you have a silver car you prob have a black interior, on mine the tint is 27%( i believe) it looks nice and dark but i can still see fine at night.

on silver cars imo dark tint looks awesome and the dark interior makes it look darker

stick w/ around 30 and you should be fine as far as the law and beeing able to see at night

[gsxr150]

I have the tan interior...

[AudiGuy666]

go with a light tint on a silver car . some thing around 35% should be nice .imo

[sttk2k]

really? i don't think i've seen a silver w/ tan interior b4

[A4NCAR]

FormulaOne Pinnacle [Ceramic] Tint, 50% all around. The best IMO. Has many advantages over Metallic Tint. Been tinting my cars since '85 and this stuff is VERY good. I've had all types and %'s, but darker tint (35% to 20% and less) for the most part, and finally tired of it. I think it looks much better now, more neutral (looks OE). Depending on POV it can look darker though (this is 50% but is kind of similar to the previous 35% Metallic Tint I had).

[AudiGuy666]

Originally posted by A4NCAR
FormulaOne Pinnacle [Ceramic] Tint, 50% all around. The best IMO. Has many advantages over Metallic Tint. Been tinting my cars since '85 and this stuff is VERY good. I've had all types and %'s, but darker tint (35% to 20% and less) for the most part, and finally tired of it. I think it looks much better now, more neutral (looks OE). Depending on POV it can look darker though (this is 50% but is kind of similar to the previous 35% Metallic Tint I had).

Your car is super hot , but that tint serves no privacy purposes . If that is what you are after , then its great .

[gsxr150]

Yeah, I'm looking for a little privacy as well. I just don't want to get too dark to where it looks crappy.

[Tinman]

on a silver, you can get away with 35% as the lightest you can go. I'm a HUGE fan of my 20%, though.

L8

[Rapter]

Scroll down to the middle and you'll see my car

35% on the sides and 20% on the rear

[Matav23]

First make sure where ever you go to ask if they use 3M products, they are the best IMO. Second, different companies look different, so someone who tells you to get 35% may not be telling you much at all. IM sure they will be close but ther're differences. I have 27% now, I think its to light, 3 of my roommates have 20% on there cars. I know it sounds dark and it does look dark from the out side. But it is not as dark as you would think when your inside. It is no problem at night either. To me it seems to be the perfict number to get the look you might want and not have it be to dark to see out of. Good luck

[FINA4]

43% sides and 32% rear window.

[gsxr150]

Raptor, your tint looks darker than 30%. Humm...keep in mind I have the lighter interior.

Fina, 43 sides look nice. Why does everyone go darker on the rear?

[jokas]

Originally posted by gsxr150
Raptor, your tint looks darker than 30%. Humm...keep in mind I have the lighter interior.

Fina, 43 sides look nice. Why does everyone go darker on the rear?

I think they go darker because they can. I believe most states do not prohibit tinting the rear and back windows.

However many states do prohibit the tinting of driver and passenger side windows. To compensate, many people usually go light in the front and darker in the back... Generally by doing that you can get away with not getting a ticket, while still maintaining tint all-around versus just tinting the back portion of the car which IMO looks kinda cheesy...

[Matav23]

One more thing from me, Don't do different %, what ever you do, do it all the same. When your car is direct sun you will be able to see the difference and it will just look bad.

[A4NCAR]

Originally posted by AudiGuy666
Your car is super hot , but that tint serves no privacy purposes . If that is what you are after , then its great .

It's private enough w/o looking like a limo. One has to see it in person and also experience the different types of tint to appreciate it [Ceramic] and the 50% shade. But also, unlike many, I've just out-grown the "limo" tinting phase. The ceramic tint does everything and more or better then the best metallic tints do (heat, glare, UV,... rejection/protection, clearer visibility,..etc.).

[Rapter]

Originally posted by gsxr150
Raptor, your tint looks darker than 30%. Why does everyone go darker on the rear?

Nope 3M 35% on the sides and I couldn't be happier. The day it was done I was a little unhappy and was thinking about redoing it to 20% all around. My guy told me test it out for a few days and if you really feel it's too light then we can go darker.

The reason people go darker on the back is to try and get a happy medium. Example let's say you really like 35% all around, but it's too light. You kinda like 20% all around, but it's too dark. So you really want something in the middle right? Ok now the back window is a huge area for light to come in compared to the sides. You liked the 35% all around, but wanted it a little darker. So instead of putting 35% on the back you go one darker to let less light in which will overall give a darker look to the whole car. Now you look darker then 35%, but not as dark as 20%. After having tints for a while now I know I would have been pist if I got 35% all around.

[A4NCAR]

I've done pretty much every combination of tint % and using something like 35% on the sides and 20% on the rear isn't that noticeable of a difference. The rear window on the Sedan tends to look darker anyhow with the rear seat and trunk top.

The other thing you want to be careful about is the "color" of the tint (charcoal, silvery, greenish,..etc) and how reflective it is. Audi glass has a "green" cast to it and with some more reflective tints can look bad IMO.

[gsxr150]

Man you guys...thanks for all the help so far. One of the tints I was looking at was "stealth"? I belive it has a very minor silver reflection to it. I was going to do 35% all the way around, but maybe I'll go 35 sides and 20% rear. I too am past the dark limo tinting phase, but I love the privacy factor. Howerver my car looking cool is #1...haha. What's the deal with ceramic tint? Is this stuff more exspensive?

[AudiGuy666]

20% is what I have allaround on my black on black B6 , I would not go back and change a thing. It flows perfect. And , in no way is it a 'limo' tint. Limo tint would be more like 5-15%. When you can't see in the car even if the sun is blaring on the car.
A4NCAR , I understand when you are coming from though. Btw , how much did that tint cost ya ?

[Nevaeh Speed]

BMW 745LI Blue.... Thats what I rool. Almost looks black, but it's not...

[gsxr150]

Humm....lots and lots of choices

[A4NCAR]

Originally posted by gsxr150
Man you guys...thanks for all the help so far. One of the tints I was looking at was "stealth"? I belive it has a very minor silver reflection to it. I was going to do 35% all the way around, but maybe I'll go 35 sides and 20% rear. I too am past the dark limo tinting phase, but I love the privacy factor. Howerver my car looking cool is #1...haha. What's the deal with ceramic tint? Is this stuff more exspensive?

Honestly, I would avoid any "colored" or "reflective" tint, especially with a silver car. A neutral (charcoal) colored tint is more aesthetically pleasing IMO. Just look at my car.

Ceramic tint is the most expensive. I paid $300 IIRC (got a little deal though w/ removal of old tint,.. and being a "long-time" customer). Quotes for Ceramic Tint were around $350-$400, even higher when I had mine done.

Just be sure to use a reputable tint shop (not out of some van) and one that uses a high quality brand of tint; FormulaOne, Llumar, 3M,..etc. Don't jip yourself or car with some cheap-ass brand that'll peel, fade,..etc. It's not worth it. An investment of $250-$400 for quality tint/installation that'll last for a decade (maybe more) is worth it. Plus, any reputable tint shop should replace it should you be disatisifed in any way.


Ceramic Tint:

FormulaOne

Huper Optik

[HighPSI]

formula 1 ceramic has come down quite a bit i think, im pretty sure im gonna go with it come spring, and there is a place around nova/dc/md that does it for like $285 iirc

[Arjun]

I've got a 13% rear 32% front combination. I love it.

[gsxr150]

4words, is your tint standard...it does not look reflective.

[Arjun]

Honestly, I'm not sure. If by reflective you mean that "mirror" kind of reflective, then no it is not.

I took it to the shop, picked out the shade, and said tint it. That was it.

[German Driver]

Someone make up No Tint club cards. I want to be VP.

I am always asked why I don't have tints. I love to dissapoint what can I say.

[FINA4]

Originally posted by gsxr150
Raptor, your tint looks darker than 30%. Humm...keep in mind I have the lighter interior.

Fina, 43 sides look nice. Why does everyone go darker on the rear?

When you look through your car from side, you have 2 tinted windows. When you look from back to front, you have only one tinted window (unless you tinted windowshield as well, duh!).

By having darker tint in the rear window, you get balanced look no matter which direction you look at the car.

[HighPSI]

Originally posted by German Driver
Someone make up No Tint club cards. I want to be VP.

I am always asked why I don't have tints. I love to dissapoint what can I say.

haha, i've had the same view about it, i had 20% on my old integra and eventually just got tired of it, i like the no tint look- looks sportier imo, but i've been going back and forth lately and am considering in the spring...i get hassled about why i dont too, i never have a good answer except i just haven't felt compelled to do it, lol

[gsxr150]

After reading all this I think I'm going to do 35% standard tint all the way around (minus windshield of course).

[bigshrimpin]

go 20% or you're missing out mang

[gsxr150]

Yeah, but I don't think I like the really dark look. I was not going to tint at all, so I think 35% might be a happy medium.

[Matav23]

You need to go sit in some cars that have 20% its not dark on the inside, but it looks great on the outside! I think 35% is going to be to lite, with tan seats you will want darker.

[Rapter]

Originally posted by Matav23
I think 35% is going to be to lite, with tan seats you will want darker.

Just brought up a very good point. I totally forgot that you had tan interior. Your definitely going to appear lighter compared to other cause just cause of your interior.

[A4NCAR]

Originally posted by HighPSI
formula 1 ceramic has come down quite a bit i think, im pretty sure im gonna go with it come spring, and there is a place around nova/dc/md that does it for like $285 iirc

Yeah, now that [ceramic tint] has calmed down a bit since being introduced, prices have settled somewhat. That price is good from a reputable shop. (Personally, I love the really cheap DIY bubble, peeling, tint jobs you see driving by sometimes ).

The FormulaOne Pinnacle Ceramic tint was always less expensive compared to the Huper Optik when I checked around. But check it out in person with a customers car if you can. I think you'll like it. Very neutral looking. I think no-tint looks good too (I almost kept it that way when I had the previous tint removed). But the 50% FormulaOne Pinnacle was just what I was looking for w/o being too dark and still having some privacy, heat, glare, UV protection and very good visibilty.

[A4NCAR]

Originally posted by gsxr150
After reading all this I think I'm going to do 35% standard tint all the way around (minus windshield of course).

Sounds like you'll be happy with that, since you don't seem to want a really dark look. But check out some customers cars first. Look at all the tint samples,..etc. Research/investigate thoroughly before making a decision.

[gsxr150]

Gracias! The guy doing my tint tomorrow is the shop manager and has been doing this for years. He told me we would go through a all the options tomorrow. Plus, I'm sure he knows what looks best on silver with light interior. Guess I'll post some pics tomorrow after it's done!

[A4NCAR]

What brands does he use? Do they have CAD SW to cut patterns? Also, the tint won't look perfect for days, maybe weeks, depending on outdoor temps, garaged, or not,.... with drying time. And if your OCD like me, have them cover the door panels and rear seat (upper area also beneath rear window) from the over-spray soaking in.

[gsxr150]

This guy works for a shop called Ziebart. I've seen their work on frineds cars, and it's very good. He's been doing it a long time. I'm not sure what brands they use though. Oh yeah...it's going to take a long time to dry. It's about 20 degrees here in MN