keeb79

Two questions:
I'm looking into tinting the windows on my black p5... anyone have any pics/suggestions of just how dark?
Also, anyone in the Vancouver/Victoria area, where did you get your tint done, how much...??
Help would be appreciated

mazdaspeedwest

i know you said you don't know much about tint, so i'll go easy on ya

but all tint has adhesive and "glues" to the glass....

the type of tint you want to stay away from is the "standard" film or "charcoal" as these are the ones that will turn purple and bubble. You want a metallized film with a lifetime warranty.

You may be thinking of those horrible looking static cling peices.

Net Seven

hehe the reason that you see so many messed up windows is because the people think tinting is very simple and you just peel of the back and stick it on the window. I've tinted windows w/my dad and its not that easy. You use water and stuff, then with a ruber thing you smooth it out over the window (it takes all the bubles to the sides and out from under the film). You leave it to dry and dont touch it. The results are great, and if you come to my house and look at my dad's car you wont tell the difference from factory tinted windows

I always laugh when I see those cars with a squar cut out and put on window with bubles under it. hehe funny stuff, when people try to do stuff they dont know how to do.

mazdaspeedwest

yes, window tinting is a whole other artform unto itself.... it's not an easy task to get good results...i have owned a shop for 4.5years now, so i can say without a doubt, it's hard to do....flat glass (homes and businesses) is much easier than cars, but still hard as hell.

Here's a few custom jobs we've done..(i guess you can say we like flames.....but it's not our choice, just happens to be what we get asked for....and we're pretty good at it too )


more here:http://www.tintandalarms.com/chevyS10.htm


more here:http://www.tintandalarms.com/GTP.htm


more here:
http://www.tintandalarms.com/86Blazer.htm


more here:http://www.tintandalarms.com/88Blazer.htm



for more info on window tinting www.tintandalarms.com

sunbyrne

Tint laws in the U.S. and Canada vary a lot from state-to-state (or province-to-province), so you should check out what's legal in your area. Here's a link on tint laws:

http://www.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/

Here in Texas, mostly people get the darkest legal on the sides, and something around 20% in back. I have something like that as well, which looks GREAT with the silver car...

Protege5girl

I have 35% front 20% back. And it is charcoal. guaranteed for life. In Quebec, the tints in the front 2 windows cannot be darker than 35%. I will post some pictures of the tint after lunch. I think it looks good, and it is legal!

gujustud

I live in Richmond. There is a wicked place at the Richmond Automall that does ALL tinting for all the car dealerships at the automall. I forgot the name, but its the only place in there. I know a lot of people who have gone there, and EVERYONE is happy with his work. Speak with a guy call Chung I believe, and tell him you're part of a Protege group, he should give you a good deal.

hihoslva

...and you should only be able to get a ticket if the cop has the light permeation tester with him - uhnless you're tinted like plywood.

I think I'm going to be going only slightly illegal in front, and matching all the windows. I hate the dark/darker look when you do the front/rear different grades. Get the same % all around, even if it is just a bit illegal dark in front - matching tint looks MUCH nicer, and you'll never get a ticket if it's only a little too dark.

hihoslva

Wow - I'm in NY, and front tint is allowed up to a certain shade.

Didn't know the laws in Canada!

So I guess my advice and opinion can't really apply there, sorry.

sunbyrne

Tint laws vary pretty widely from state-to-state in the U.S., too. There are a bunch of states where *any* tint in the front side windows beyond the factory glass is illegal, and they'll strip your car on the spot if they feel like it.

Also, I disagree that the only way to go is with the same tint all the way around. With the P5, anyway, there are a total of four windows on each side of the car, and if the tint only gets a little bit darker with each window, it looks good. I agree that it does look goofy when the front sides are way lighter than the back sides, but if it's gradual change it looks good.

gujustud

because its illegal to tint the front windows here in BC, thats whats held me back from tinting my car altogether, because I don't like having the back windows tinted, and the front's not tinted at all, looks funny to me.

Thats why I've been thinking about doing, just a LIGHT tint all around (inlcuding fronts). I've seen some cars flying around here, with some SERIOUS tints on the front windows. I was thinking of only doing around 90-80%. I dont' want a solid black tint, just something nice and light. What do you think??

islandpro

haha bc sucks...

gujustud

yeah it sucks. but from what I have seen and heard, the cops are more **** about it only if:

- you live in a smaller city outside of the mainland
- you get pulled over for something else (like speeding, etc etc)

They don't seem to pull U-e just to ticket you.

Although I do know one guy who had a BMW, and a cop pulled him over, and have him 2 choices. Get your car towed, or take of the tint. The cop helped him peel of the tint.

keeb79

anyone from BC have pics of windows only tinted in the back? that sort of sucks... although i've seen lots of cars driving around that are definitely tinted in the front!
I'm from a smallish city in the lower mainland.. and dammit, i want ALL my windows tinted!

anonymous_kev

Hey Keeb 79~
i live at Richmond, and my friend got his car tint for $150 (i'm not sure about the front window, but i know the rear windows are 35%)
if u want i can ask him where did he get if from for u~