Tint Decision Help - 35 & 20, 20 all around, or 35 all around

[m_skena]

I don't have pics, but I did 35 on the fronts and 20 behind the shoulders. I like the contrast. 35 just wasn't dark enough for me in the back and 35 in the front keeps me legal. it's just dark enough that you can hide if that's what you want.

I seriously recommend finding a dealer that uses 3M tint. If you're keeping the car for a long time it's worth the extra $50 now.

 

[emerscape]

thanks for the feedback all it really has been helpfull. I'm still torn on what I'm going to go with. I'm leaning towards 20 in the back and 35 up fronts primarily because I want to keep the sun off my newfie in the cargo area and my infant son in the back seat, but also to not have to worry as much if I leave my laptop in the back seat when I run into a store (I travel a lot for work and have it in the car almost 100% of the time). But I do like the uniform look. I think 20% all around is out of the question. I used to have it but I think with having clients in the car from time to time, it isn't really professional, even though I like the look. Going to call up Tint King for an estimate. For those that used him, how long was the wait to get your car done? does he have a waiting area with wifi so I can work while I wait?

 

[btcost]

Most times you can get in that day.

Nice waiting area up stairs, couches, TV etc. . .i'm not 100% sure on wifi, but I think so

My JSW was $330 for the top line tint. going darker on the rear might be a little more.

Brian

 

[elverde]

i HATE mixed and matched tints (on the side windows)...my last 2 cars have been 20% on both the front and rear side windows, and 5% (limo) on the rear window. I have no issues driving at night and have had no issues with the 5-0 (I'm in SoCal...any tint on front windows, period, is illegal, with no restrictions on the rear sides or rear window).

I just love the look of dark tint...I had my golf tinted 3 days after I bought it because I couldn't stand feeling like I was driving a fish tank around.

 

[veedubfreak]

Most times you can get in that day.

Nice waiting area up stairs, couches, TV etc. . .i'm not 100% sure on wifi, but I think so

My JSW was $330 for the top line tint. going darker on the rear might be a little more.

Brian

I dropped mine off around 9am on a Friday, had the tint done and clear bra on the hood/bumper/fenders and got the car back around 4:30. The tint was done when I went back at lunch to check on it and had them add in the clear bra on the headlights.

 

[TouringMan]

Running 5% on the hatch and rear windows, 20% on the doors. Black Golf 2dr with black interior....most of the time you can't even tell the difference just by glancing at it. Nothing on the front. Front tint is seriously illegal in TX.

The 5/20 combo allows the AC to cool the car quickly even in the wicked summer heat down here. Very nice limit on the heat gain....

 

[zagato27]

Tint 35%

Just got my '12 JSW TDi tinted. 35% SunTek Carbon XP. Originally wanted to get 20% but 32% is legal here in GA. So, went with the 35% thinking it might be a bit too light but am very pleased. Visibility looking out is fine but it still looks dark from the outside. Pro Tint here in Savannah did a great job. Guaranteed for life. The Carbon tint is relatively new and is similar to ceramic tint. No problem with mobile reception and the heat rejection is slightly better than then comparable ceramic. Wanted to get the pano tinted too but the installer balked at that saying that it might result in the pano shattering because of heat build up. Well, I haven't really had a problem with heat and the pano even though the past couple of weeks have been pretty hot and sunny. Guess the shade is doing it's job.

 

[mischievousMk6]

Just got my '12 JSW TDi tinted. 35% SunTek Carbon XP. Originally wanted to get 20% but 32% is legal here in GA. So, went with the 35% thinking it might be a bit too light but am very pleased. Visibility looking out is fine but it still looks dark from the outside. Pro Tint here in Savannah did a great job. Guaranteed for life. The Carbon tint is relatively new and is similar to ceramic tint. No problem with mobile reception and the heat rejection is slightly better than then comparable ceramic. Wanted to get the pano tinted too but the installer balked at that saying that it might result in the pano shattering because of heat build up. Well, I haven't really had a problem with heat and the pano even though the past couple of weeks have been pretty hot and sunny. Guess the shade is doing it's job.

Exactly the same tint I have...seems great so far...

 

[efficientair]

For those who are trying to stay away from the ultra violet such as my self and have laws that you would rather not deal with then this may be an answer. I had nano ceramic all around in my mega cab dodge, including the windshield. I'm in Ca where we dumb down to the lowest common denominator (phone) and was pulled over twice and know questions about the tint. I don't know the ratios but I had lighter in the front and black out in the rear. All that said, I was in getting a quote for the new wagon and was told that you can install a "0" degree (non)tint and still cut out 100% ultra violet in the nano ceramic tint.

 

[SJD_BOSTON]

Option 2 may not save your butt at inspection time. I did 35 front and 20 rears (English Mastiff here), but the front still metered to dark due to the VW factory glass. My shop in Boston warned me in advance of doing the work. They did a top notch job! Shoot me a message if you want the name. They don't want to get hassled for doing tint over the legal limit.

 

[emerscape]

reviving this thread as I actually have an appointment on Tuesday to get my JSW tinted. (a lot of things went on this past year - another baby, another house, etc.)

Did anyone get a tint strip at the top of their windshield? I always used to have it on my trucks but am wondering how it would look on the JSW.

 

[bfalke1]

Did anyone get a tint strip at the top of their windshield? I always used to have it on my trucks but am wondering how it would look on the JSW.

My tint shop actually offered to do it for free, because they took a long ass time to get my tint put on, and this is like the 4th car I have had done at this same shop, so I think he wanted to keep me happy.

I think on trucks it looks okay, because they are typically higher, but in cars I personally don't like it, because of the looks... You tend to look down on it a little bit, and it just stands out to much. When you are looking at a truck with it, you tend to be looking up at it a little bit, and the look doesn't bother me in the same way as it does on a car.

I understand that it is nice, since our cars don't have the blue shading (I have no idea what that shading is called). I didn't take it and it was free. So, pretty obviously, I wouldn't pay for it.

EDIT: As an additional note, my car has 18% Suntek Carbon all around, so the line would be very very pronounced, if you had it done it like 35% or 50%, maybe it wouldn't have such bad aesthetics.

 

[Tekd85]

20/20.... Im not a fan of the front and rear having different tint levels.
My golf is black with black interior and now the carbon fiber trim which makes it even darker. Love it.

Up in Canada we don't have many issues with police for this sort of stuff ( atleast Ive been lucky )

 

[bfalke1]

20/20.... Im not a fan of the front and rear having different tint levels.
My golf is black with black interior and now the carbon fiber trim which makes it even darker. Love it.

Up in Canada we don't have many issues with police for this sort of stuff ( atleast Ive been lucky )

Same here, you have to keep front an back the same, and I love the dark tint. I installed black leather, which is darker than the factory "titan black" esp because the seat centers are just solid black, and I live in Houston, so dark tint was a must to keep the sun/heat out and off my seats.

My fronts are not legal in TX, but unless your driving like an a-hole, or acting like one if you get pulled over the police here don't care.

Legal in Texas is now only 30% combined (which means 35% tint, cause auto glass blocks 5%), it is just too light for me to go all around, and I really don't like it not matching front to back.

 

[veedubfreak]

I went 30 all the way around because I like being able to see at night.

 

[canux]

20/20.... Im not a fan of the front and rear having different tint levels.
My golf is black with black interior and now the carbon fiber trim which makes it even darker. Love it.

Up in Canada we don't have many issues with police for this sort of stuff ( atleast Ive been lucky )

Exactly the same story here. I went with 20 all around and I would do it again the same way. I actually prefer it at night because the glare from giant lifted pickups with HIDs pointed right at the rear hatch is muted quite a lot. Same for the side mirrors. I actually find it a lot safer.

The other thing I like about 20 is if you park and make sure your sunroof shade is closed people cannot see in your car. So IMHO, much less chance of them engaging in a smash and grab. Front sunshade helps this situation even more.

In 30 years of driving this was the first time I ever tinted a car, and it is by far my favourite mod.

 

[jni3]

reviving this thread as I actually have an appointment on Tuesday to get my JSW tinted. (a lot of things went on this past year - another baby, another house, etc.)

Did anyone get a tint strip at the top of their windshield? I always used to have it on my trucks but am wondering how it would look on the JSW.

to answer your question and not going into other jazz..... i have it in my jsw (as well as three other cars) and i like it a lot. it's 35% and it's better than the stock dot matrix.