California Tint Options

[Svashtar]

Anybody in CA get their MM windows tinted? I made an appt. to get mine done next month. My only concern is at night the rear window is already pretty dark. I'm a big fan of visibility. I know it's all the rage right now to get everything as dark as possible, but I'd rather not wreck the car because I couldn't see anything.

I asked my son (who is almost a cop; graduating from the academy next month), and he said in CA there can be no tint on the windshield or front side windows. Back windows and rear windows are OK.

I want to cut down the heat that gets into the car on hot days and heard tinting also helps with this. (?) Any suggestions as to a good compromise of tint that I can also see out of, and that also will allow the self-adjusting rear view mirror to still work at night?

In this town everyone is so into tinting that they would paint their windows jet black if they could. They would rather look cool than drive.

Thanks for any info on what you might have done and what you recommend.

Norm

[valleyman]

Svashtar -- I got my windows tinted two weeks after I took delivery of the car and could not be happier with my choice. This is the third car I've had tinted in California.

The window film on mine is a brand called "SunTek" and it is holding up superbly; it still looks OEM quality and you know what the sun is like where I live. My rear window is 50% and all four side windows are 35%. There is no effect whatsoever on the mirror dimmer. Night vision is not compromised to any appreciable degree (since it's what's in front of me that needs to be seen). It definitely keeps the car cooler.

Your son is right about CA law but don't worry about it. I've never been stopped for the tint in any of my cars and I'll wager that you won't either. I've taught at police acadamies for 12 years and was a DA for 20: trust me on this. In a car like the Marauder LEOs aren't interested in using the tint as a reason to pull you over.

[Sactown]

I tinted mine with FormulaOne 20% in the back and rear doors, and clear UV on the front doors. Visiblity has been just fine for me, but that is subjective. If you wear polarizing sun glasses, the clear UV can do some interesting shade shifts...took a few days to get used to.