Makaveli

okay, I think I'm finally getting my window tint, but I don't want to plan anything. Last two times that I had planned it, once I got into an accident the day before, and the other time I had to pay an extra 350 for school, so bad luck with those. But after A LOT of reading up and looking around at other people's rides this is what I think about tint....

People generally agree that 5% or 3% limo tint on the back windows makes it hard to look behind you at night when backing up and forces you to use your side mirrors which would be really annoying for me, so that idea is out the window
35% tint looks very classy and looks as dark as 20% during night, but isn't as dark during the day obviously.
20% is very dark while you can still see through it when backing up. This is what I need and that's why I'll probably settle for 20% all the way around except for the front two windows where I will get 50%. If it's illegal in your state to have your front windows tinted, then this is the way to go as the cops will hardly notice it.
It's always good to ask around for prices and look at the other cars that they've done as I've seen some really poor jobs that have a thick line of not-tinted glass around the tint. Doesn't look too great. It's worth to pay the extra 20-40$ for a good job.
Lastly, make sure that the film is metallized. If it is not, after a while (a few years) it will turn purple like you see on some cars.

For best info, ask mazdaspeedwest as he used to tint cars at his work. He knows his tinting

ProtegePower94

I got mine tinted about 2 years ago. I got it done at a local top shop in my home town in West Virginia. I got the legal limit there since I still had WV tags. that was 35%. It cost me $110. It looks great, but for me, it is too dark. If it is night, and I am trying to turn, I can't see out my side windows hardly at all. And I don't have good night vision at all anyway. If I had it to do over, I would have gotten it lighter. It does keep the heat out well though. But I would check on some other people's cars and ask what % theirs is and whatnot so you don't get it too dark like I did.

mazdaspeedwest

Like Makaveli said, the dealer probably used an outside tint shop, unless they do it "in-house". You'll have to ask the accessory department at the dealer for either, A) the brand and type of tint they used or B) the tint shop they use and then go ask them. The dealer i now work at has "in-house" tinting and we use Llumar (ummm, nah i didn't have any influence there....) so the quality is top notch.

Dealer mark-up to $300 is pretty good, our mark-up goes $395. The dealer probably paid between $80-100 if just the rear (legal) section or $100-120 for the full car. (so the $300 is negotiable )

BTW, Makaveli, i don't tint cars...well, very well anyway, anymore my experience comes from owning a tint and alarm shop for 5 years and just basically being around tinters and tint for as long as i can remember.

Makaveli

Is your Jetta sportin' a tint yet?