Window Tint Option

[2K11T4R]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the board. Had a question and was curious about people's input. I went to the dealer and they showed a $199 window tint option. But aren't the 2011 4Runners already tinted? It seems that way b/c all of the 2010/2011 4Runners I've seen on the road have had some kind of tint (mostly the rear and back windows being tinted darker than the driver and passenger side here in Houston). Just curious to see if this is just extra cost the dealer is padding into the price.

I did a quick search but could only find topics about how to window tint.

Thanks!

 

[Glenn_Law]

My new LE came with tinted windows on everything except the driver/passenger doors. I didn't have to pay extra for it.

 

[ct221933]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the board. Had a question and was curious about people's input. I went to the dealer and they showed a $199 window tint option. But aren't the 2011 4Runners already tinted? It seems that way b/c all of the 2010/2011 4Runners I've seen on the road have had some kind of tint (mostly the rear and back windows being tinted darker than the driver and passenger side here in Houston). Just curious to see if this is just extra cost the dealer is padding into the price.

I did a quick search but could only find topics about how to window tint.

Thanks!

I am in Houston too....the back and rear windows comes with darker glass off the factory. The front windows are tinted at the port or dealer, so the extra $199. I have bought cars in TX and other states in the past , and I think it is typical to get the front windows tinted by the dealer here in Texas if you buy off the lot.

 

[nashman69g]

you can get the windows tinted your self for less. Just stop by one of those tint shops.

 

[Mason]

As others have said, you could probably get the windows done cheaper if you don't have the dealer do it. It might even be cheaper since you are down south.

But for a reference point, I had my two front sides done for ~$70-75 and my front for $140. They used LLumar 35% for the front (should have gone darker since Llumars 35 looks like the VW Touregs greenish tint). As for the front windshield, I had that done with Llumars Air Blue 80. Doesn't effect visibility at night, in fact I think it improves it since it cuts down on glare from passing cars. It does have a slight blue hue to it if you look from the outside.

 

[2K11T4R]

Thanks Everyone for the input! So just to recap, the 4Runner comes with rear and back windows darker tinted as standard--the driver and passenger side fronts just are not tinted. The dealer's window tint option is probably just to tint the front driver and passenger side ones darker---but it is probably better to get it tinted elsewhere for cheaper.

Also, this is going to be a reeeeallly stupid question: but do people tint the front of the car---like in front of the steering wheel.....even just a little?

And yes, i am aware tinting laws vary by state.

 

[Mason]

Thanks Everyone for the input! So just to recap, the 4Runner comes with rear and back windows darker tinted as standard--the driver and passenger side fronts just are not tinted.

Yes to that, but I don't think it is actually "tinted" for the back, just the glass is considered privacy glass with not as much heat rejecting ability as one that is fully tinted. (please correct me if I am wrong)

The dealer's window tint option is probably just to tint the front driver and passenger side ones darker---but it is probably better to get it tinted elsewhere for cheaper.

Yup

Also, this is going to be a reeeeallly stupid question: but do people tint the front of the car---like in front of the steering wheel.....even just a little?

Are you talking about the front windshield? If so some people just have a strip of tint by the visor area. Some of the previous vehicles produced had a strip of blue up on the glass, thats where they have the tint running. Others have tint on the whole windshield, except for a cutout of the area that needs inspection/emissions stickers.

Like I said before, I went with Air Blue 80 which is suppose to reject heat and offer almost full visibility. I have heard and seen some vehicles where they tint the front windshield as dark as 5%, but that starts to interfere with visibility at night or when its raining.

And yes, i am aware tinting laws vary by state.

Some states are more lenient than others with tint laws. My sides and front windshield are both illegal in my state, but no pestering by the cops yet. I might run into some trouble during my inspection/emissions testing though. The southern states like yours are more lax on this.
Refernece to tinting laws

Also, I forgot to say this before, welcome to T4R! You will find this place really useful, just as I have.

 

[TTown]

If you are looking at a 4Runner with tint for $199, I would us this as a negotiation tool. Let the dealer know you don't want tint. If they are willing to throw it in, then you will take the vehicle.

If the car you like doesn't have tint, take it to a tint place yourself for less. I would ask the dealer who does their tint, and go to them. Better yet get the dealer to throw it in on the deal.

Either way, the dealer doesn't pay $199 for tint. In fact the tint shops cut the a deal for giving them business. As bad as a dealer wants to sell cars, they will almost always throw tint in to get the deal done.

 

[kingpin748]

I paid $100 for tinting my two front windows. And that's up here in Canada where everything cost more for some reason.

 

[Ryan_S]

Yes to that, but I don't think it is actually "tinted" for the back, just the glass is considered privacy glass with not as much heat rejecting ability as one that is fully tinted. (please correct me if I am wrong)

Correct. It is just privacy glass. If you want UV reflection get it tinted over with a real tint film.

 

[more.cow.bell]

Correct. It is just privacy glass. If you want UV reflection get it tinted over with a real tint film.

So some of you are installing tint over the privacy glass on the back/rear windows? How dark of tint are some of you using over the privacy glass?

 

[WhiskeyCop]

Factory Window Tint

FYI, if a particular truck that you are looking to buy has window tint as a 199 option and that car is on the dealer lot, the film is already on the window... Meaning that they may or may not negotiate the 199 out of the price. The tint is typically done in port when the truck comes off the boat.

Now, if the car is still on the boat when the dealer locates the truck, you may have more success negotiating the price off and have the option changed PRIOR to the truck arriving in port.

The film is of good quality from what I have seen and the install is quality work, though the film is usually a little light for my tastes. The problem is that they put on a film % that will be legal for all states in the particular region that that truck is bound for.

For example:
If the truck is bound for a Mississippi dealer where the legal % is 35% but the Arkansas legal limit is only 40% then the Mississippi bound truck will have 40% because in theory the MS truck could be transferred within the region to AR. Basically all trucks within that region will be 40% for that region whether it is allocated to AR, LA, MS, OK, or TX. Basically, the % put on in port will be the % that will be legal in all of those states.

 

[Ryan_S]

Also 50% is worthless. It is the legal amount here and I was forced to get that, or drive to WI. IMHO 35% is the way to go.

 

[apenso]

I did 20% 3M tint on all the windows, including the rear. Its dark enough where you can hardly see in for privacy but I can see out just fine, even at night.