[Drogos]

According to SOA front and rear window comes from factory with respectively 72% and 22% light transmittance . If my math is right 35% tint in front should more less bring it to the value in the back.

Those that did 35% in front can you please confirm and better yet post pictures ?
thanks

 

[SergioK]

Interested. I'm getting the fronts tinted this Friday.

 

[froggert]

35% on the front, no tint on the rears:

 

[BrianM]

20% or there abouts is going to be the close match. If the tint is just slightly darker in the front it will even out with the backs since you have the light coming in through the windshield. I had mine done with Llumar 20% and it matches great.

Best pics I can find right now are here.
http://www.subaruoutback.org/forums/272527-post1.html

 

[adymax]

According to SOA front and rear window comes from factory with respectively 72% and 22% light transmittance . If my math is right 35% tint in front should more less bring it to the value in the back.

Those that did 35% in front can you please confirm and better yet post pictures ?
thanks

Aren’t front tinted windows illegal in Chicago or Illinois? I know for sure you get a ticket in Chicago for this. I use to live in Chicago but now I’m in the burbs.

Update:On 10/30/09 bill HB3325 was passed allowing passenger vehicles to
have window tint on both front windows. Here’s the breakdown:

• up to 35% for front and rear windows
• 30-35% in the rear and up to 50% front
• If rear windows are tinted below 30%, front windows cannot have tint.
  Vehicles equipped with factory rear tint are allowed to have
  up to 50% tint for front windows.

 

[Drogos]

35% on the front, no tint on the rears:

thx for posting picture, so it looks like 35 is still noticeably lighter ?

 

[The111]

According to SOA front and rear window comes from factory with respectively 72% and 22% light transmittance . If my math is right 35% tint in front should more less bring it to the value in the back.

Those that did 35% in front can you please confirm and better yet post pictures ?
thanks

Where do you get these factory numbers from? I can't find them on SOA site. I think it is for Limited only?

I have a 2.5i regular, which appeared to have no tint on any window, but now I'm wondering if they were all at 72% or something? Because I added 35% all around today, which makes me illegal where I am, and I'm wondering if I added that to 72% or to 100%. I think it had to be 100% before-hand, because even after the 35% film add-on, it still looks more see through than I expected. Which is good, if it looked too dark I'd be worried that I'd attract more attention and risk getting ticketed even more...

 

[tool46n2]

Aren’t front tinted windows illegal in Chicago or Illinois? I know for sure you get a ticket in Chicago for this. I use to live in Chicago but now I’m in the burbs.

Update:On 10/30/09 bill HB3325 was passed allowing passenger vehicles to
have window tint on both front windows. Here’s the breakdown:

• up to 35% for front and rear windows
• 30-35% in the rear and up to 50% front
• If rear windows are tinted below 30%, front windows cannot have tint.
  Vehicles equipped with factory rear tint are allowed to have
  up to 50% tint for front windows.

I was interested in having it done...I live in Chicago city limits. I went to a shop that I have had good experience with and they said that even though this bill was passed if you get the allowable tint and live/drive in Chicago they will give you a ticket for $250..outside of Chicago it is ok. I decided I don't want the hassle of getting a ticket then fighting it.

 

[shortbed rv]

Can you still use the rear window defroster if you tint?

 

[OBnube]

Can you still use the rear window defroster if you tint?

Great question as the elements are on the surface of the glass. I am thinking about getting "clear"/100% UV protection done. I have big dogs and am worried about their coller tags/chokers damaging the elements.

 

[The111]

Can you still use the rear window defroster if you tint?

Just got my tint done yesterday, and looking at it very closely today I noticed that it actually looks like the rear window film is tons of separate pieces which fit perfectly between all the defroster lines. So it actually doesn't go over them. I haven't had to use the lines yet but I'm sure it will be fine. I also don't know that all shops do it this way, a quick google search showed that some shops put it OVER your lines but those shops also said it makes your defroster work "better" since it insulates the lines more. Sounds like BS, not sure how much insulation a piece of film provides, but in the end I am 99% sure you can use your defroster no problem. I'll post back here if I ever find out otherwise...

 

[reddoak]

Just got my tint done yesterday, and looking at it very closely today I noticed that it actually looks like the rear window film is tons of separate pieces which fit perfectly between all the defroster lines. So it actually doesn't go over them. I haven't had to use the lines yet but I'm sure it will be fine. I also don't know that all shops do it this way, a quick google search showed that some shops put it OVER your lines but those shops also said it makes your defroster work "better" since it insulates the lines more. Sounds like BS, not sure how much insulation a piece of film provides, but in the end I am 99% sure you can use your defroster no problem. I'll post back here if I ever find out otherwise...

It's one big piece, unless your installer charged you $400 for the back window...

You can use defrosters with tint. The tint will not last as long, however. I use mine occasionally with no problems.

 

[creso]

15% on the front two, 8% on top of factory rear :

 

[The111]

It's one big piece, unless your installer charged you $400 for the back window...

You can use defrosters with tint. The tint will not last as long, however. I use mine occasionally with no problems.

Yeah, I guess you may be right. I went to take some photos to show you my perspective, but I think I proved myself wrong in the process. The first photo from outside does make it look like they are separate pieces:

But the next taken from inside shows that the film's edge is actually way past the dot matrix crap (look at where the lines change color halfway between the dots and the interior plastic).

I guess where it looks clear from the outside is just one massive air bubble? It did seem pretty unbelievable that they would have a piece of film cut perfectly to go around all the dots, etc.

 

[30917]

Had my Ltd tinted a few weeks back and the back window is one piece. The guy we used did my bro's new GTI as well and is very good at it. The tint gets preheated on the outside of the window to make it conform to the curvature and goes on in one piece! Florida is window tint central as the UV is a killer down here. The tint is legal and looks like Creso's OB.

 

[reddoak]

Here's 5% front and rear. It looks terrific, and works great on blazing bright Florida days, but it's just too dark at night. I'm going to get it replaced with something lighter sooner or later:

 

[creso]

Here's 5% front and rear. It looks terrific, and works great on blazing bright Florida days, but it's just too dark at night.[/IMG]

Go for 15%+ on the front, and keep the rear. It helps -alot- having the front a little lighter. But I agree, I love the super-dark rear tint. Mine is called 8% but I think it meters at 3.5% when including the factory rear tint.

 

[Natetheskate]

5% all around. nice n dark. dont care about backing at night; have rear view camera...

 

[bruce_van]

I just did 35% on the front 2 windows to try to match the rear factory tints and pleased with the results.

The only thing that I don't like is the front window glass has a green tint to them. Once tinted, they will not be an exact match no matter what color you pick. Not perfect, but it only cost me about $75 to get just 2 windows done.

 

[TotallyJaded]

5% all around. nice n dark. dont care about backing at night; have rear view camera...

You don't have side view cameras, though.

15% does a really good job of hiding pedestrians at night.