Window tinting - Page 2

wicksy · 04-09-2008, 12:33 AM

the midnight express is through tint-a-car they got a special this month with it i am pretty sure for $295 for sedans, its 35%

balthazarr · 04-09-2008, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

... It's not all the hard to see out of at night either ...

I suspect the law is there not to ensure visibility out but to ensure the police can see in.

Feathers · 04-09-2008, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balthazarr

I suspect the law is there not to ensure visibility out but to ensure the police can see in.

Thats pretty much it exactly. A workmate was told that when he had to get his tint removed because it was too dark.

It makes it a lot safer for officers to approach a car when they can see the number of occupants and what they're doing.

GT0132 · 04-09-2008, 01:53 PM

I've been told this is darkest legal, but to look at it you wouldn't think
so...looks way too light

kenz · 04-09-2008, 02:42 PM

Was told my xr8 is darkest legal when I bought it. Looks abit darker than my old au ute which I know was darkest legal. But my AU looked way darker than the photo suggests. The xr8 tint is alot more reflective than what the AU was aswell

FGX-351 · 04-09-2008, 07:21 PM

Heres mine, I'm not going to say how dark it is for obvious reasons lol.

dave351cid · 04-09-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balthazarr

I suspect the law is there not to ensure visibility out but to ensure the police can see in.

ummmm..... no :togo:

the 35%VLT limit is actualy the standard used in most developed countries as the level that will stop glare for the driver without impeding drivers vision day or night. we should remember that laws need to be made to accomodate all drivers and not everyone has 20/20 vision.

i am sure the police feel more comfortable approching a car if they can see who is inside but i believe that is not the reason the tint limits are in place.

1LOUDXFUTE · 04-09-2008, 10:39 PM

thats insane, can you see in at all?

Quote:

Originally Posted by The-ShowStoPPa

Heres mine, I'm not going to say how dark it is for obvious reasons lol.

FGX-351 · 05-09-2008, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1LOUDXFUTE

thats insane, can you see in at all?

During the day you can if you get close enough in certain light but not at all at night time.
It's great for keeping the interior cool especially on hot sunny days when you get in and its like a sauna.
Can only be a good thing too for long term durability of interior panels.
It only cost me $240 cash from a reputable tint business here in brisbane.

1LOUDXFUTE · 05-09-2008, 01:12 AM

your tint makes mine look legal

im guessing 4%
ever been pulled over with it on?

FGX-351 · 05-09-2008, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1LOUDXFUTE

your tint makes mine look legal

im guessing 4%
ever been pulled over with it on?

lol I have a few times(currently licence impaired for a few months

as well as the usual weekend rbt setups but i've never been asked about it although ive probably just jynxed myself, they were more interested in the blue parker lights I used to have in there.

Joey_Falcon · 05-09-2008, 12:17 PM

I had a 92 sedan once and when I went to get it retinted, this was back in 2001, The installers said that since your car is pre '93 you can go up to 15%.
It was only after the 1993 cutoff date that you had to comply with 35%.

Has ayone else herd of this? This is NSW btw.

Sam_Boss260 · 05-09-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The-ShowStoPPa

lol I have a few times(currently licence impaired for a few months

as well as the usual weekend rbt setups but i've never been asked about it although ive probably just jynxed myself, they were more interested in the blue parker lights I used to have in there.

i wouldn't want to get in an accident in that car. Insurance companies will have a field day....

FGX-351 · 05-09-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam_Boss260

i wouldn't want to get in an accident in that car. Insurance companies will have a field day....

Yeah thats very true.
I try to be as cautious as possible when driving or parking it.
I'm very paranoid about the car lol.

FordFalconBF · 05-09-2008, 06:08 PM

Hey,
This is my AU Fairlane:

It has Midnight Express Tint from Tintacar.

Cya,
Alan

**Mechan1k** · 05-09-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunyip_Chaser

I had a 92 sedan once and when I went to get it retinted, this was back in 2001, The installers said that since your car is pre '93 you can go up to 15%.
It was only after the 1993 cutoff date that you had to comply with 35%.

Has ayone else herd of this? This is NSW btw.

I was under the impression that the cut-off was 1983

cooltint · 06-09-2008, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave351cid

ummmm..... no :togo:

the 35%VLT limit is actually the standard used in most developed countries as the level that will stop glare for the driver without impeding drivers vision day or night. we should remember that laws need to be made to accommodate all drivers and not everyone has 20/20 vision.

i am sure the police feel more comfortable approaching a car if they can see who is inside but i believe that is not the reason the tint limits are in place.

For those who really want to know about tint the following post is aimed at clearing up a few misconceptions following on from Dave's' reply. I apologise in advance as it's a very detailed subject and I've tried to be comprehensive without being overly technical. Happy reading.

Firstly thanx Dave for posting up the most informative reply yet regarding this issue, you've covered almost all the things I normally explain to people regarding why the limits are there. It's something that everyone seems to have an opinion on, right or wrong.

With regards to the level of darkness allowed or VLT (Visible Light Transmission), a very scientific method was used to decide how dark is considered safe. It was developed by putting a number of people through a driving simulator in a similar manner to a hearing test booth. The drivers were asked to concentrate on the road ahead and signal when they saw the light in their peripheral vision. The light was meant to simulate a train approaching from the side at a distance of 1000m. Different levels of film darkness were used to test how soon the light could be seen. Most people were able to safely see the light in time to get out of the way through 35% VLT and hence this was selected as the darkest film that could be safely applied to side windows.

There are many reasons why some films look darker than others, it has a lot to do with the type of car it is used on (sedan wagon or ute), the colour of the interior (lighter interiors reflect more light, sunroofs let in more light), the brand of film used and the level of factory tint if any (eg an XY Falcon has clear glass where a BA has quite a dark green factory tint). Fit a 20% film to each and the XY will look legal and the BA almost black. In much the same way as a 243cc motorcycle is referred to as a 250cc. As long as a film is not darker than 35% VLT when fitted to a particular piece of glass it is considered legal.

Just to set the record straight, the darkest legal film in the 35% VLT range that I'm aware of when fitted to a late model Ford is called AT EMINM35 (Automotive Tint ElectroMagnetic Interference Non Metalised). It contains no metals that can interfere with rear screen antenna reception stops >98% UV and has 50% TSER (Total Solar Energy Rejected, commonly referred to as heat reduction) when fitted to factory tinted glass such as the BA mentioned earlier.

This film is produced in the USA by a company called CPFilms (one of the largest in the world) and distributed in Australia by MEP Films.

I have this film on my car and everyone thinks I've got at least 28% or even 20% as there "legal films" don't look anywhere near as dark.

Ask for this film by name and expect to pay around $250 to $350 for it. If you are shown a sample it has a very greenish hue to it which compliments the factory green tint very nicely.

BTW if you use it on a late model Ford and put a light meter on it you'll get a figure closer to 33% than 35%, that's why it appears darker than all the other films, but my argument is that it's sold as a 35% film so therefore it must be legal.

Any other questions just shoot me a pm and I'll post a reply here.

Cheers

Big AL

cooltint · 06-09-2008, 12:54 AM

Here's a couple of recent pics of my car. Not the best photos but all my others are too big apparently.

Big AL

dave351cid · 06-09-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunyip_Chaser

I had a 92 sedan once and when I went to get it retinted, this was back in 2001, The installers said that since your car is pre '93 you can go up to 15%.
It was only after the 1993 cutoff date that you had to comply with 35%.

Has ayone else herd of this? This is NSW btw.

never heard of this before, lived in nsw until `96 and i never heard of it.
always been 35%, i got my first window tint in `83 on a `76 falcon and the regs were 35% back then.

IH8HSV · 17-09-2008, 12:09 AM

Thanks for the pics fellas.

I went for the legal tint in the end and got it installed yesterday.

Some of the pics you guys uploaded of the - darker than legal tint - looks great!!! However if i had an accident and didnt get paid out because the tint was too dark then would be a real diaster.

The car looks good... but that illegal tint sure looks better!

fordOwner · 17-09-2008, 10:47 AM

I have seen a policeman here in Perth pull out a little white plastic frame, say 1"x1" with a tinted window in it (presumably the darkest tint allowed) he then placed it next to the window and from the differences between them both he could make a decision wheather its too dark and requires a defect notice.
Wonder if its issued or his own personal invention?

WindsorXR · 17-09-2008, 01:17 PM

Done at Tint master in Geelong.

dave351cid · 17-09-2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordOwner

I have seen a policeman here in Perth pull out a little white plastic frame, say 1"x1" with a tinted window in it (presumably the darkest tint allowed) he then placed it next to the window and from the differences between them both he could make a decision wheather its too dark and requires a defect notice.
Wonder if its issued or his own personal invention?

that sounds like a bit of a questionable way to test tint because of the wide variations in appearance of 35%tint.

i have heard that the qld cops have a piece of card with something printed on it that they hold behind the tint, if they cant read it they send you off to get your tint tested for vlt. i was in the business for 9 years and often heard about it but never seen one.

you would think that they would just use a tested light meter and get an acurate reading. :togo:

cooper78 · 18-09-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSSXR8

Done at Tint master in Geelong.

Is that the darkest legal? I love the look of that tint.

Fev · 18-09-2008, 01:16 PM

question answered - delete please.

WindsorXR · 18-09-2008, 02:15 PM

Thats a good photo of it and yeah, it is Darkest legal. It's the 3M Scotch tint. It cost about $340. But it has lifetime warranty. If it bubbles or fades they will redo it for free. Makes a huge difference in summer when you put the window back up.
Heres another pic of my last car with the same tint on it.
Not the best pic for showing the tint coz of the light, but you get the idea.

cooper78 · 18-09-2008, 02:36 PM

Very nice. That is the tint I will be getting!

1LOUDXFUTE · 18-09-2008, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSSXR8

Done at Tint master in Geelong.

wow that looks darker than mine, and mine is 14%!

cooltint · 19-09-2008, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave351cid

that sounds like a bit of a questionable way to test tint because of the wide variations in appearance of 35%tint.

i have heard that the qld cops have a piece of card with something printed on it that they hold behind the tint, if they cant read it they send you off to get your tint tested for vlt. i was in the business for 9 years and often heard about it but never seen one.

you would think that they would just use a tested light meter and get an acurate reading. :togo:

It's just a business card with 35% written in dots, if you can still read 35% it's legal, if not it's off to the machinery inspector for further investigation. They are free from the window film association. Funny thing is with some 20% films you are still able to see 35%.

Big AL

Bobman · 19-09-2008, 01:18 AM

I'm curious what tint Greed Camera cars have in Melbourne. They're very dark.

Definitely not 35%.

What's the general opinion about the Tint Professor?