Hi folks

Basically a tinting shop near me is doing a deal and i can get all my windows (excluding the windscreen ) tinted for £100 using black 3m (i think thats right) tint film

The dilema i have is deciding what to get done, my mk2 octy vrs is in black and i was considering either...

Rear 5 windows 35% front 2 50% (i know the front two would be illegal technically)

Or

Rear 5 windows 50% front 2 70% (nice and legal)

I dont really wanna go darker than 35% as i wanna be able to see out of my back window at night... and for reverse parking....

Your advice/oppiniouns is welcome but i was hoping those of you who have had it done could post a pic or two detailing what wint and where, i appreiciate there page after page of octavias in "your doing it right" but none of them have any details and its often pretty hard to tell.... for me atleast.

Regards

Craig

IIRC mine are 15% VLT at the back - I was really worried it would be too dark, but I'm really glad I went for that now (on the advice of the tint guy who has been doing it a good 20-25 years).

You can, apparently layer the film - so you could get 35% done now then get another layer on to darken it once you see how light it still is

I keep meaning to do some inside and out pics although in honesty how dark it looks varies depending on how bright and sunny it is (not a lot of that lately).

Your local tint place should be able to show you lots of pictures of their work

DON'T DO YOUR FRONT WINDOWS.

They are already tinted as are most modern cars, ask your dealer what oem tint the windows come with if you don't believe me but even if you put the lightest tint you can find you will get yourself fines once caught and tested.

£100 is very cheap. Do you know how good they are? There are a lot of cowboys in the tinting business.

Mine are Limo tint- went for the darkest simply because of the little one in the back. The side photo isn't the best. As for reversing at night, I'm sorry but you don't need your rear window to reverse. I always use the side mirrors as well, but it really doesn't effect reversing at night in my opinion.

£100 is very cheap. I paid £180 for the two rear and rear windscreen.

Edited 9 April, 201313 yr by Sippo

On my 2012 VRS the front windows are 70% as standard.

£100 is very cheap. Do you know how good they are? There are a lot of cowboys in the tinting business.

Hi basically its mates rates as im a good friend of the owners son

Hes legit his buisiness doesnt do cars per say, they tint shop/office windows etc been doing it for 12 years.

He has tinted the windows on his, wifes, sons, friends of the familys cars for as long as ive known them and they all look great so im confident of a good job... oh and its £100 and a pint if i remember right lol.

Sippo i appreciate the pics and what your saying.... im just alittle anal about being able to see out the back window :p

Thanks abath i wasnt sure on the fronts tbh, for just the rear 5 im looking at £70 i might just get them done on there own and decide if i want the other later.

Mine B pillar back is 1 up from limo black so just about see through (from outside to in). Never had a problem seeing out. It may depend on the film used. Mine is moonraker which I was advised was one of the best. 5 years on its still great. Same film in other car for 8 years and has survived intact despite many full loads in the boot and 2 kids.

As said do not tint the front unless you want a fine and MOT fail.

Mine B pillar back is 1 up from limo black so just about see through (from outside to in). Never had a problem seeing out. It may depend on the film used. Mine is moonraker which I was advised was one of the best. 5 years on its still great. Same film in other car for 8 years and has survived intact despite many full loads in the boot and 2 kids.

As said do not tint the front unless you want a fine and MOT fail.

Window tints aren't an MOT failure.

If you're bothered about kids in the back etc, I'd personally (and I am doing) go for a tint with UV protection. Non-UV tint is like crap sunglasses - they open up your eye to let more light in and end up letting harmful UV rays in as well.

Craig uve seen pics of my car. Thats 35's on all rears and 50 on front. The front blends In nicely then. Any lighter n looks wierd in my opinion

I used to tint at my shop for years & all I can say is 20/35 would be your best bet we used to get people coming back and saying there too dark for night driving so 20's are pretty dark as they are I would recommend them anyday over the limo

Edited 10 April, 201313 yr by Killa_uk

If your getting the rear windows tinted for the safety of your kids it seems odd to then get your fronts tinted so that you cannot see out properly at junctions etc therefore putting them at increased danger of being involved in an accident.

Putting any tint on the fronts is likely to make them illegal.

Some people will undoubtedly say this is far fetched but get your fronts too dark then pull out on someone because you didnt see them, they are killed in the collision, you could find yourself in prison for causing death by dangerous driving.

The amonut of people i see who have to wind their front windows down in order to see properly at junctions is staggering.

I can never understand why people put looks over legality - it's about time the powers that be clamped down on it a bit more

IMO

A legit company would refuse to tint the fronts anyway. A decent company would know te legality.

A legit company would refuse to tint the fronts anyway. A decent company would know te legality.

It could be like number plates - all they can do is warn, but if the buyer is pig-headed enough to want it doing why not take the money off them?

But a decent company wouldn't take the money. They would refuse, as it would probably give them a bad name.

Ed209 theres a reason why at no point did i say im doing anything about safety for kids, i Dont Have Any

And For Those Of You Waving The Rule Book, In The Original Post I Wrote I Was Considering tinting The Fronts To Allow 70% Through... Which Is Perfectly Legal.

Some Folks Kindly Informed Me This Is Done As Standard... So In My Next Post I Wrote I Would Do Just The Rear 5 Windows .

And No... I Dont Know Why My Galaxy S3 Is Starting Every Word In Uppercase Lol

Craig

Edited 10 April, 201313 yr by Craigt191

Window tints aren't an MOT failure.

I stand corrected, not the MOT but against highwaycode and illegal.

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-maintenance-safety-security

Window tints. You MUST NOT use a vehicle with excessively dark tinting applied to the windscreen, or to the glass in any front window to either side of the driver. Window tinting applied during manufacture complies with the Visual Light Transmittance (VLT) standards. There are no VLT limits for rear windscreens or rear passenger windows.

Laws RTA 1988 sect 42 & CUR reg 32

https://www.gov.uk/tinted-vehicle-window-rules

70% On Front Windows Is legal.

Edited 10 April, 201313 yr by Craigt191

Yes, they have to let 70% of light through.

End of the day, it's upto you if you take the risk. You may not get stopped, but if you did have it done and, heaven forbid, you had an accident then I'm sure there would be consequences.

Thanks but as i stated it 2 previous threads as the front windows are at 70% as standard.... from the factory, ill only be tinting the rears

I Take It Due To The Safety Implications U All Take Your Sun Glasses Off Everytime Your At A Junction

Edited 10 April, 201313 yr by Craigt191

Thanks but as i stated it 2 previous threads as the front windows are at 70% as standard.... from the factory, ill only be tinting the rears

I Take It Due To The Safety Implications U All Take Your Sun Glasses Off Everytime Your At A Junction

I think people are referring to Jedsy, who appears to relish being illegal

Np, just out of curiosity what % are the back windows on your estate? And how are they for looking out the back... unless u use your wing mirrors rather than ur rear view?

Thanks

Mine are one step down from limos, so probably about 35% - I've never hit anything yet, except a post which was lower than the waistline of the car