so im definitely tinting my windows (golf bags and other stuff in the rear as well as dogs) as dark as they go in the rear and 20% up front. do you guys with tints find that it is not necessary to go with the autodimming exterior mirrors since the tints will block it anyways?
I have side view auto dimming mirrors and I just tinted my Drivers and passenger side windows with 35% it barely affected the view of the mirrors at night.
Sorry, I know this is a Gen 5 thread, but I had a comment/question on tint and rather than start a new thread, I thought I would see if you all would let a lowly Gen 3 owner post here.
I've got a 2005 LL Bean. No tint anywhere from factory but the first 4" on the top of the windshield. I am in California so no tint allowed on the front door windows. Any Californians here that have tinted the fronts and if so, have you been hassled by the po po? What is the average tint people do/stock tint on the passenger/cargo area windows and rear window?
We had my wife's '08 Forester tinted since 2007 (8 years ago) which included the front two side windows. Never been hassled even when pulled over for other moving violations. I also rarely installed a front plate on any of my vehicles over the past 30 years and never been hassled except for once about two years ago in my Challenger. I consider that a bit of a unique case since it seemed the officer had an issue with me for some reason. I was nothing but polite and she pulled me over for not having my transponder affixed to my windscreen properly (was on my dash). About a $350 ticket even though the transponder triggered at the checkpoint (had a rear plate so it’s not like I was trying to sneak through).
Anyhow, I’m sure you’ve noticed but many folks here in CA have their windows tinted. It’s my belief that as long as you don’t go crazy with the shade you choose, don’t have a car that attracts law enforcement attention and don’t do anything stupid, it’s unlikely you’ll be hassled for it. I believe on my wife’s car we went with 40% on the front side windows and 35% on everything else. Window film doesn’t need to be really dark to be effective. I also wanted to make sure the tint wasn’t too dark so my wife could still see at night. I think it’s just the right shade.
A CAUTION on the tinting--I am adament about making my vehicles "right", including my wife's Outback sedan, so as to avoid unwanted meetings with LE. I insisted on a legal tint from a professional tint shop.
My wife let her speed get a bit high coming down a mountain fully loaded and we suffered a visit with a county sheriff in north Georgia. I was floored when the deputy said he pulled us over because of an illegal window tint, which he measured, and then gave us a written warning. The speed never was mentioned.
It turned out that the legal tint applied to a factory-tinted window exceeded the legal limit.
Well, in Joebaru's and my case (we live in CA), no additional darkening on the front side windows is allowed, period. You can spray paint the rest black if you like as long as you have both side mirrors but the front windows are off limits. ....plenty of folks don't abide by that law though (which is silly IMO). They should just make a legal limit on the % allowed like many other states do.
It may block UV but it sure feels like I'm getting skin cancer. I plan on tinting the wife's outback to match the factory rears ('15 Limited H-4). I've driven for 6 years with 6% tint all around, with 52% tint on the windshield of my '09 Tacoma (Vegas, now S Seattle area). I do have to roll down the windows every once in a while, otherwise I love it. I'm more of a recluse, though. No hassles by LE, yet.
Thanks for the link. Does anyone know what the tint on each window for OB15 is, since it looks like we have to add that to the after market tint for the total tint allowed?
I thought there was a set tint SOA put on all rear windows of limited 2015 OBs. , for example. And a set tint for back side windows, etc. If I need a meter to know, than every car may be different?