So I've been wanting to match up the front 2 windows to the rears and get a banner to hide the blue tint on the top of the windshield... I was quoted $160 which sounds kinda steep, but I really don't have much of an idea on tint, it's from one of the more reputable shops in the area. So is $160 too high for a banner and the front 2 windows?
Tint...
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mikehinthehouse
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damn all that sounds expensive I paid $40 for both my front sides to be done.... and it is good tint the cheap stuff turns purple and I will not have that esp. on a black truck
no, to match the back windows even with a banner you need 15% on the front 2 windows. The back windows are dyed from the factory at 20%. But with the light coming in your front windshield it lightens whatever tint you have on the front 2 windows which is why youd need 15% instead of 20%.
If you ever notice tour busses, they have 20% on all their windows and you cant see in at all. Its because theres no light that reaches back that far in the bus and the front, clear windows are completly vertical so not much light gets in there either.
Personally i have 5% over 5% all the way around. And that makes the back windows 5% over 5% over the stock 20%. So according to a light meter its officially "blacked out" all the way around. I wanted to be able to open my sunroof at 12 pm and have the sun shining in and still not be able to see through the windows at all. I can still see out ok and its not that bad once your eyes adjust. Its all about the privacy and getting in a cool 4runner on a hot summer day.
Price wise, ive had my windows tinted so many time its now $20 per 2 windows. But when i started out, a reasonable price for 2 windows is anywhere from $50 to $100. When you go, ask the dealer what the tint actually reads at. Some tints will read lighter or darker than what their labeled. Normally at the beaches the tint will read darker and be darker. I have the 5% over the 5% because i got tint that was 5% but read at 7% so it was lighter than i expected. Next im considering 50% or 35% on the front windshield.
Let me know if you have anymore questions about tinting, i could answer anything about it that you can imagine.
If you ever notice tour busses, they have 20% on all their windows and you cant see in at all. Its because theres no light that reaches back that far in the bus and the front, clear windows are completly vertical so not much light gets in there either.
Personally i have 5% over 5% all the way around. And that makes the back windows 5% over 5% over the stock 20%. So according to a light meter its officially "blacked out" all the way around. I wanted to be able to open my sunroof at 12 pm and have the sun shining in and still not be able to see through the windows at all. I can still see out ok and its not that bad once your eyes adjust. Its all about the privacy and getting in a cool 4runner on a hot summer day.
Price wise, ive had my windows tinted so many time its now $20 per 2 windows. But when i started out, a reasonable price for 2 windows is anywhere from $50 to $100. When you go, ask the dealer what the tint actually reads at. Some tints will read lighter or darker than what their labeled. Normally at the beaches the tint will read darker and be darker. I have the 5% over the 5% because i got tint that was 5% but read at 7% so it was lighter than i expected. Next im considering 50% or 35% on the front windshield.
Let me know if you have anymore questions about tinting, i could answer anything about it that you can imagine.
broncosi said:
I love the tint on the windshield. to tell you the truth i kinda wish i got it a lil bit darker like 25 or 20. During a bright sunny day as friends drive by me the tell me all the can really see is my white hat. You can still see the headrest but you cant really make out the person driving the car with the windshield tinted. But i dont think it darkens the cabin a whole lot druing the day but at night....yes. I caint even see what i have in my center console goin down a lighted up street. As far as visibility goes from inside the cabin you caint even tell that the windshield is tinted with 35%. But trust me you will like the windshield tinted a lot. i dont think i will ever drive a car if the windshield isnt tinted. oh and i havent gotten in trouble with the po po yet. knock knock
ok nevermind, i talked to my tint shop today, the guy who always tints my windows, and he said it was against federal law to tint your front windshield. Plus he said he wasnt going to do it darker than 50%. And if its against federal law, your going to get F'ed when you do get pulled(at least here) cause the first thing the coppers check is your inspection sticker on the front windshield and if they can tell theres tint over it, then your screwed.
Ill probly stick with a little bit bigger banner . . .
Ill probly stick with a little bit bigger banner . . .
Rock Slide
Senior Member
broncosi said:
He's right...it is against the law to tint the entire front windshield, but hey, I'm sure you sometimes drive faster than the speed limit too...I know I do
I don't care what others think about tinting the entire front windshield, I did it and love it. This is the second 4Runner I've done this to. Would do it again if I ever got another 4Runner.
Personally, I have had the stip in the past and never really liked it. I felt like I had to lookout underneath it just to see out. I was not taking full advantage of using my entire windshield to see out of (if that makes any sense).
So instead, I had the entire front windshield tinted to 35%. Not only does it help keep temps down inside the vehicle, but it also makes the remaining tinted windows flow together very well. Nothing like having your side windows real dark if people can still see you sitting in your vehicle by looking through the front windshield. I just think it is an effective way to "finish off" the vehicle. (Why do you think cars in many of the car commercials today have every single piece of glass tinted...it just looks good
)I had the front driver & passenger side doors tinted to 35% as well. All the remaining glass from fronts back are 20% over the factory tinted glass.
Most people that ride in my 4Runner for the first time don't even realize the entire windshield's been tinted. They can't believe it when I tell them it is tinted.
And for those who have problems looking out of a vehicle with a tinted windshield, I've never had problems doing so with mine and I've never had someone else tell me they had a problem with it. (If it matters, I don't wear sunglassess either in my truck.)
Yeah it's illegal, but in the 5 years I've had this done (4yrs on my previous 4Runner and 1 yr on my current one), I have never gotten stopped for it. Even when I have gotten pulled over for other reasons (won't go in to detail), they have never questioned my tint.
PRE-TINT:
AFTER TINT:
Here's a more accurate "daylight" shot. (Some of the previous pictures were taken when it was overcast):
As always, for more of my pictures, click on my 4Runner Profile in my sig.
Rock Slide
Senior Member
teddy said:
Thanks. Yeah, it was more expensive, but def worth it.
Are you sure on the law part of it? My understanding is because it's not DOT cert, it's against the law. Before doing the windshield to my truck, I called a dozen tint shops to get quotes on it. Every single one of them said it was against the law to do it and only half of them agreed they would install it.
chek out http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html
Oh and I've heard in AZ if you have a medical condition "skin cancer" you can tint ur windsheild, and tint front windows as dark as you want. I'm sure that's still only a handful of the population though.
i dont know all of the places ive been to in orlando have been ok with tinting it as dark as 5% and have even shown me their trucks with it that dark.
i think its just like aftermarket hids not dot certified and against the law but your not gonna get more then a tint ticket at most for it. i can check with a few of my cop buddies if you would like
i think its just like aftermarket hids not dot certified and against the law but your not gonna get more then a tint ticket at most for it. i can check with a few of my cop buddies if you would like
Rock Slide
Senior Member
teddy said:
Yeah, find out if you can. I'm curious what actual cops say about it.
I agree...if I had to replace my windshield that often, I probably wouldn't do it either.
Tom
Just remember that in PA.
Tech having any tint on your front driver and passenger windows is illegal.
However I am saying screw it for the time Being and getting the fronts to match the back.
I know of a shop in Wilmington DE that will do it and offers to take it off for free if issues occur with the law enforcement.
As for the front Valence, I plan on getting a sun visor with clearance lights on down the road so that should eliminate that problem a little bit.
Now I have a question for you folks.
Do the 3rd Gen 4Runners have tint on the sunroof?
I can't tell, it seems like it does and doesn't.
Can someone clarify this for me?
Just remember that in PA.
Tech having any tint on your front driver and passenger windows is illegal.
However I am saying screw it for the time Being and getting the fronts to match the back.
I know of a shop in Wilmington DE that will do it and offers to take it off for free if issues occur with the law enforcement.
As for the front Valence, I plan on getting a sun visor with clearance lights on down the road so that should eliminate that problem a little bit.
Now I have a question for you folks.
Do the 3rd Gen 4Runners have tint on the sunroof?
I can't tell, it seems like it does and doesn't.
Can someone clarify this for me?