[awisher]

I have a 2012 HL, and want to get the driver and passenger windows tinted to match the rear passenger windows. Our scion is like this and I have found I really like it.
I see ads everywhere (Craigslist, telephone poles, phone book, etc) but they all seem sketchy to me. I don't really want a film type tinting. Can the dealer do the "OEM" style tinting, or is there more to it? I figure they just farm it out. What should I expect cost-wise?
I am looking for ideas.

TY

 

[cp44]

Tinting through the dealer will be expensive and I believe they won't do a great job. Find a local tint shop to do it. I had shop tint the front windows for $90 and they did an amazing job. You could hardly see the gap from the top of the window to the top of the tint. There are different types of tint too, film, film with ceramic etc... I would suggest a film that has ceramic in it.

 

[vsansal]

I have a 2012 HL, and want to get the driver and passenger windows tinted to match the rear passenger windows. Our scion is like this and I have found I really like it.
I see ads everywhere (Craigslist, telephone poles, phone book, etc) but they all seem sketchy to me. I don't really want a film type tinting. Can the dealer do the "OEM" style tinting, or is there more to it? I figure they just farm it out. What should I expect cost-wise?
I am looking for ideas.

TY

I got mine done at ziebart.

http://www.ziebart.com/window_tint/tinted_windows/

I used them before for my Solara and didn't have any problems. I paid something like $75 for my HL and it matches my factory tint.

 

[mckeand13]

SUV's, Minivans, etc. typically have 20% factory tint on the rear windows.

20% is likely against the law in most states on the driver and passenger windows. Here in WI 50% is the legal limit.

On my previous car I did 35% front, and 20% in the rears. When you go one "shade" different it's not that noticeable from outside the car.

You'll just have to check out each place. I looked at at four different places before deciding. It was an obvious choice when I set foot in the one shop. Someof them were either stereo shops that just happened to do tinting, one place was a nasty, dirty, junky place. One place actually showed me an example of an employees car that had tint peeling off. The one I decided on was super clean, tint only business, and they were professionals. It was very clear they knew what they were doing.

Here's a link so you can see what I did:

http://www.blackoutwindowservice.com/index.htm

They do all of the tinting for the Audi, Benz, Lexus, Mercedes dealers in the area. You would never know that when you're at the dealer though since they are the ones who send the car out. They seemed to have a very high end client list but still cared equally about me and their pricing was actually better than the other junk holes. Call a luxury car dealer and ask who they use.

I'm not suggesting anyone drive from many states away, just pointing out that there are very good and very bad choices.

 

[mckeand13]

I got mine done at ziebart.

http://www.ziebart.com/window_tint/tinted_windows/

I used them before for my Solara and didn't have any problems. I paid something like $75 for my HL and it matches my factory tint.

I wonder if Ziebart shops are independently owned and operated. One I visited was the dump I mention in my previous post.

 

[PhotonDreams]

Same here. About $80 for good ceramic tint that matched the rear windows. Here in Illinois, if the tint matches the rear windows, it's considered too dark and can result in a ticket because it prevents the police from easily seeing into the car, especially at night. Online there are sites that will give you the percentage of darkness each state allows. The shop will do it, but are required to tell you it's illegal. I had it done since I spend half the year out in Colorado and the sun is pretty strong out there. Had to get used to the darkness at night when looking into the mirrors. Oh, the guys at the shop had never heard of anyone actually being stopped just for the tinted windows being too dark. Most just put them down if pulled over and turn on the interior light so the police can easily see inside but,.................and here's the real trick,........... be sure not to ask the cop why he's isn't out catching terrorists instead of giving tickets to someone who was not speeding. "Cause if you do he'll look around for anything, like too dark tinted windows, to give you an additional ticket.

 

[mckeand13]

Since reasonable tint (20-30% in my opinion) is illegal in many states you just have to use some "tricks" and common sense.

If you come up to a stop sign/light, don't pull up right next to a squad car. Change lanes before getting to the light and pull up behind them.

If you're close to a squad at some lights or going the same direction, put your windows down. That can look a bit strange with it's 15deg F. and snowing though.

 

[05Moose]

Same here. About $80 for good ceramic tint that matched the rear windows. Here in Illinois, if the tint matches the rear windows, it's considered too dark and can result in a ticket because it prevents the police from easily seeing into the car, especially at night. Online there are sites that will give you the percentage of darkness each state allows. The shop will do it, but are required to tell you it's illegal. I had it done since I spend half the year out in Colorado and the sun is pretty strong out there. Had to get used to the darkness at night when looking into the mirrors. Oh, the guys at the shop had never heard of anyone actually being stopped just for the tinted windows being too dark. Most just put them down if pulled over and turn on the interior light so the police can easily see inside but,.................and here's the real trick,........... be sure not to ask the cop why he's isn't out catching terrorists instead of giving tickets to someone who was not speeding. "Cause if you do he'll look around for anything, like too dark tinted windows, to give you an additional ticket.

You'll get pulled over and cited in our country...uh, state. And beware the online sites as most are not accurate. Best thing to do is look up your State's vehicle code online and read it for yourself.

 

[cp44]

I usually drive with the sunroof shade open and let some light in lol.

 

[vsansal]

I wonder if Ziebart shops are independently owned and operated. One I visited was the dump I mention in my previous post.

It is most likely a franchise but still they need to meet the same standards. I didn't have any problems with mine. They seemed to know what they were doing.

 

[vsansal]

You'll get pulled over and cited in our country...uh, state. And beware the online sites as most are not accurate. Best thing to do is look up your State's vehicle code online and read it for yourself.

In my state the legal limit is 50% and i have 22% on mine. I didn't have any problems with it. I've been pulled over (not for the tint) and I've stopped next to cop cars several times and also didn't have any problems at the VA state inspection.

 

[vsansal]

22% Tint

Here is how it looks like with 22%

 

[awisher]

wow, thanks for all of the input. It looks like Washington's law is 24% front and back, so if I match the back I should be good.
Unfortunately most of the places you folks have listed are not in my area. lol, but I just need to look around for a good shop.

Just to confirm though, the non-film OEM style is not an option?

AW


--------------
WA - "The maximum level of sunscreening material to be applied to any window, except the windshield, shall have a total reflectance of 35% or less, and a light transmittance of 24% or more. RCW 46.37.430"

 

[rayscdn]

the facroty tint is 27% , how do i know its 27%?

i got caught and had to remove the tint and after pay a garage to certify i had the tint removed and tested my windows with a photometer.

 

[JMSinMD]

wow, thanks for all of the input. It looks like Washington's law is 24% front and back, so if I match the back I should be good.
Unfortunately most of the places you folks have listed are not in my area. lol, but I just need to look around for a good shop.

Just to confirm though, the non-film OEM style is not an option?

AW


--------------
WA - "The maximum level of sunscreening material to be applied to any window, except the windshield, shall have a total reflectance of 35% or less, and a light transmittance of 24% or more. RCW 46.37.430"

You are a bit confused. Factory 'tint' is not a film that is added on top of the glass but is baked into the glass upon manufacturing. I find it does more to create privacy than to protect against UV rays. I am actually intending on doing a 30% over the factory in the rear to keep it cooler in the back. Any aftermarket tint is a film that is added on the inside of the vehicle.

I have 30% up front that matches the factory rear perfectly. Tint comes in various percentages. You're not going to find a tint shop that carries 20%, 21%, etc. It's usually limo/5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 30%, 35%, etc. As I said 30% will be your best match and within the law, if you can't find 30% go with 20%, 35% is way too light.

I have been driving since 1992 with 'illegally' tinted windows and only got pulled over 1x for them. When you shop around for film, stick with 3M, Lumar, Johnson. Don't go for dyed tint, either metallic or ceramic. Contact the aforementioned companies to find installers in your area, a bad installer for the most part won't use the best product.

 

[mckeand13]

Check here:

http://www.llumar.com/en/DealerLocator.aspx

 

[05Moose]

You are a bit confused. Factory 'tint' is not a film that is added on top of the glass but is baked into the glass upon manufacturing. I find it does more to create privacy than to protect against UV rays.

Actually, there is a fair amount of UV protection in the tinted windows. You can contact them and ask how much the HL has. One person on the Tacoma forums did just that for their DC Taco. He pasted Toyota's response in his post.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...ivacy-glass-uv-protection-toyotas-answer.html

On a similar note, UV protection may become more common even in the non-tinted windows soon:

http://www.motorcarstoyota.com/blog/2011/january/3/toyota-glass-blocks-uv-rays.htm

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/12/uvglass-20101217.html

 

[dtown40]

In Texas, some of our Cop cars have Cop Motors, Cop Tires, Cop Suspensions, Cop Shocks, and Cop Window Tint. hehehehehe

 

[Shelbrain]

When shopping around for a tint shop look for one that has a ventilation system in their install bay to reduce dust particles floating around. The shop I use basically creates a plastic box around the vehicle to minimize dust. I wouldnt recommend any of the mobile tint installers that come to your house and do it in your driveway for this reason. I would also advise against many stereo shops. Find a business that does tint only and has been in business a number of years. I usually request to see the installers' vehicle and ask if they installed their tint. At one shop, I had an installer show me his vehicle and recommend another installer!

 

[mckeand13]

I emailed Toyota and inquired about the UV protection.

Here's the response I got.

****************************************

Recently you contacted Toyota. Below is a summary of your contact message and our response.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.


Subject
UV protection from window glass

Discussion Thread Response (Alexander)
06/08/2012 09:04 AM

Dear Mr.,

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. We appreciate the opportunity to address your inquiry.

The UV cut rate for this vehicle's windows is as follows:

Windshield: 99%
Sliding Roof: 95.4%
Front Door: 91.8%
Rear Door: 96.8%
Quarter: 90.2%
Back Door: 95.9%

We hope this information will be of use to you. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us at http://www.toyota.com/help/contactus.html.

Sincerely,

Alex Tiampo

Toyota Customer Experience

Customer By Web Form
06/07/2012 11:34 AM

Could you tell me what percent UV each of the windows blocks in a 2010 Highlander Limited?