Another window tint thread.

[jaybo34]

Hi guys I just bought an fg xr6 50th anniversary edition (XR50?) Nitro in colour.

I'm looking for a nice dark tint. I've read alot about midnight express on these forums , has anyone tried any of tint-a-cars other dark tints like octane ?

Is there another very reputable tinter in brisbane ?

[Jim Goose]

Dark tint? of course your talking the darkest legal tint available to be installed by a reputable tinter?

[jaybo34]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Dark tint? of course your talking the darkest legal tint available to be installed by a reputable tinter?

Yeah sorry I geuss I wasn't specific on that . Yes 35%.

[GreenR]

My personal advice. Especially living in QLD. Go 20-25%. 35% is not dark at all.

[Ben73]

Go for illegal tint. It looks fully sick.

[010 f6 ute]

I went darkest legal no where near dark enough will be getting taken off and done darker and yes illegal.

[apfgxr6]

yeah octane's not bad, got it on my fg.

[jaybo34]

Originally Posted by apfgxr6

yeah octane's not bad, got it on my fg.

Mate any chance you could show some pics please. ?

[Ben73]

I know of a car that has illegal tint. 20%. And you can easily see into the car from the outside during the day.
35% doesn't seam very dark at all

[Silver Ghia]

Originally Posted by jaybo34

Hi guys I just bought an fg xr6 50th anniversary edition (XR50?) Nitro in colour.

I'm looking for a nice dark tint. I've read alot about midnight express on these forums , has anyone tried any of tint-a-cars other dark tints like octane ?

Is there another very reputable tinter in brisbane ?

I've got Midnight Express on mine, not as reflective as the Octane, I'm happy with the result.

[Simple6]

But remember, illegal tint = void insurance

It would be easy for an insurance company to prove as well (if you're at fault of course) - "Your tint was darker than legally allowed, therefor impairing your vision of the road and its users."

Though after saying that, I had 10% on a car (it was already on when I bought it) and it was **** at night when driving.

[davenl5l]

makes you wonder why ambulances can have illeagle tint and we cant

[-jay-]

Originally Posted by davenl5l

makes you wonder why ambulances can have illeagle tint and we cant

Thats a stupid statement! take a long hard look at yourself

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by -jay-

Thats a stupid statement! take a long hard look at yourself

Lol, the funny part is that the driver's and passenger's door windows don't even have tint on them. It's just the rear section (for obvious reasons).

It was a very silly statement.

[V3RSAC3]

I've got 20% on my Fairmont and it's perfect! Can still see in and out, keeps the car cool inside and looks classy. I've also got 10% on my Territory and that's a joke. Can't see in at all, and driving at night makes everything very dark and hard to see if on a side street and a car has no lights on.

My recommendation would be go for the 20%. It's perfect, good visibility, police don't look twice and looks classy.

I'll post a picture if both or you

[chrisfpv]

The darkest "legal" tint 35% isn't even worth paying for if you ask me. Ask around at some different places for 20 - 25% tint and how much it costs.

[krzysiek]

I have darkest legal on my BA, and it's only ever dark if there is no light inside of the car and in a completely dark street with no lights on, haha.

I will be going for a little darker next time, not too much darker but at the moment the darkest legal just 'seems' tinted but doesn't serve much of the intended purpose.

Interested to see a comparison of 20% vs 25% vs 35% (darkest legal)

[krzysiek]

20% and 35% comparison:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ025rzS1UI

[ZA-289]

Agreed, 35% is useless but the only illegal option.

I've had 10% and reversing at night means sticking your head out the side window and listening for "CRUNCH" noises to let you know when youve hit something.....

[lockieoc]

I've got 10% on my ute.
Its terrible at night i just have to pray there isn't some muppet driving with no headlights.
Wouldn't go any lower then 20%.
People saying it will void insurance, your insurance company must really have it in for you to knock you back on a claim because of tint. I made a claim no questions asked.

[sexyxe]

Colour of the car and colour of the interior make much difference? In appearance of darkness?

[Bobman]

Originally Posted by sexyxe

Colour of the car and colour of the interior make much difference? In appearance of darkness?

Yes, very much so. Certain colour cars would look better with a slight orange or blue tinge in the tint. Midnight Express tint from Tint-A-Car is pure black.

You can get 20% (or lower), but the warranty will only apply at that one store where it was fitted.

I've had 35% and 20% but driven cars from 5% - 35%, and 20% is the way to go if you value your privacy.

[darthmaul2966]

Originally Posted by sexyxe

Colour of the car and colour of the interior make much difference? In appearance of darkness?

Yes car colour makes a difference. I have black BA XR6, wife has white 2000 camry, her interior is medium grey, mine is black. We have exactly same 3M darkest legal tint and it looks a lot darker on hers due to contrasting with the white paint.

[jaybo34]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Some food for though. I have a couple weeks while waiting for tax check so keep the replies coming. Also what other brisbane companys are worth using ?
.

[dave351cid]

Originally Posted by jaybo34

Thanks everyone for the replies. Some food for though. I have a couple weeks while waiting for tax check so keep the replies coming. Also what other brisbane companys are worth using ?
.

yes... the colour of the interior, the colour of the outside paint work, the size and the shape of your windows will all make a difference to the finished look as will the weather (a dull cloudy day or a bright sunny day).

one trick to make the windows look darker is to fit a sun strip across the top of the windscreen. this can legally be as dark as you want (i have a 5% strip) and will cut a lot of the light coming in the front of the car. legally you are alowed to tint down to the windscreen wiper sweep area but i finished mine level with the bottom of the miror mount. depending on how tall the driver is to how far down the screen you want it. ( no..... dont even consider asking about tinting the whole front windscreen unless you are an idiot).

some 35% films can be very light to look at while other 35% films look quite dark.

i have 3M scotchtint CS35 (CS = colour stable) on the doors of my ute and CS20 on the back window with a strip of 5% on the windscreen and even on the small ute cab it looks quite black from the outside while retaining the safe visability from the inside. tint is 8 years old now and still looks like it did when i fitted it and the utes spent most of its life out in the weather.
beware of some tints that will loose their colour quickly (turn clear in less than a year) or turn purple.

i have been out of the tint industry for about 5 years now so i will not say who might do good or bad work. but if you contact these guys http://www.cooltone.com.au/ they should be able to put you intouch with some one. cooltone mainly work on flat glass (houses, shops, etc) but they are also the Sth QLD distributors of 3M and Solar gard products, (two of the most reputable names in the tint industry) supplying the film to the auto tint guys.

[V3RSAC3]

Just got home from work, here's 35%, 20% and 10%

35%:


20%:


Another side pic, you can just see through to the other car next to it:


And 10% (not a chance of seeing in):

[krzysiek]

10% looks great, too bad it is largely illegal :( I think for my next tint I'll go with 20%

[jaybo34]

Yeah I'd like to go darker but I just can't risk the insurance thing . (I'm in love with this dam car lol). So I'm still looking for 35% some tints seem darker then others. Heres 2 I'm considering. Tint Mart black pearl 35 and express tinting 3m black or elite black.

[XF Falcon]

Here is my XF with 35% tint on it. Sure its legal but IMO its way too light. I have put 25% on my other daily car and its much better (without looking overly dark and too illegal).

Daylight photo - http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...IMG_3551-2.jpg (drivers front window down)
Garage photo - http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...xfP2050010.jpg (drivers front window down)

On the other hand, my BF has 4% tint on it and its perfect for during the day, but at night time you need the window down to see behind you with the side mirrors. Not recommended for impatient drivers or those who do not have a good understanding of how big their car is (especially when reversing).

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../redwall01.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...n/P1240012.jpg

If you are worried about insurance, maybe put 35% on the side windows but maybe go 20% on the rear windscreen. Since it is a larger window it won't look overly dark and it will make your side ones look a touch darker as well.

[jaybo34]

Originally Posted by XF Falcon

Here is my XF with 35% tint on it. Sure its legal but IMO its way too light. I have put 25% on my other daily car and its much better (without looking overly dark and too illegal).

Daylight photo - http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...IMG_3551-2.jpg (drivers front window down)
Garage photo - http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...xfP2050010.jpg (drivers front window down)

On the other hand, my BF has 4% tint on it and its perfect for during the day, but at night time you need the window down to see behind you with the side mirrors. Not recommended for impatient drivers or those who do not have a good understanding of how big their car is (especially when reversing).

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../redwall01.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...n/P1240012.jpg

If you are worried about insurance, maybe put 35% on the side windows but maybe go 20% on the rear windscreen. Since it is a larger window it won't look overly dark and it will make your side ones look a touch darker as well.

Yeah thanks for the advice. Your right the xf really dosn't look dark at all. beastly bf btw m8.