6MT.net Infiniti G35/G37/GTR Community - Window Tinting in Los Angeles! Anyone know of a place???

DarkHorse · 07-05-2005, 08:31 PM

I want to get my new 6MT tinted. I've never done it before, so I have no idea what the legal limit its, how dark I can safely go, or where a good place is that'll do it. Anyone have any ideas? I want to go dark enough so people can't see very well inside, but I don't wanna get pulled over by the cops either! Any ideas? Anyone know of a place around Los Angeles?

CHIZELD · 07-06-2005, 01:53 AM

I'm sure there are a lot of window tinting shops in Los Angeles just by looking in the yellow pages, but I took mine to Oxnard, CA if you don't mind driving over there. You could cruise your new ride over there or even go through PCH. The place is called Solar Experts and you can ask for Bert, tell him Vene (Vinnie) Ventura sent you if you decide to go. They do a real good job and it's a lifetime warranty. Hope this helps.

Zoomzoomers · 07-06-2005, 03:06 AM

Well, in terms of the laws in So Cali you can't tint the two front side windows. You can only legally tint the windows behind the driver and passenger. If I'm not mistaken the max you can go is up to 20 or 25% tint.

If you're looking for a good tint shop try any place that looks to have a professional setup. One suggestion though, make sure they have a air tight room, i.e. dust proof. These rooms do work. So you won't have dust particles between your window and tint paper. Only other thing I can suggest is that you pay for top notch tint film and make sure it has a lifetime guarantee. Hope that helps, good luck. Post up pics when you finish.

GReddySetGO · 07-06-2005, 04:36 AM

California Tint

DarkHorse · 07-06-2005, 01:27 PM

Are you guys sure about the laws in CA? I saw this http://tintcenter.com/laws/CA/ . Is this correct? And besides, dont a ton of people tint a bit darker than laws allow, and they're not gonna get ticked by the cops, right? I dunno, what do you think?

rbichara · 07-06-2005, 06:37 PM

If you want the good stuff, get the Huper ceramic tint.
More $$ but, it is the best heat resistance, and no interference with sat radio or radar detector like you get with Mettalic tint.
Also, Huper tint is the least refelective which was a plus for me..
only one place carries that in LA/Orange County.. Wintech in NewPort beach, close to SouthCoast plaza. I paid #300 for 5 windows.
I got the 40% cuz I was afraid of tickets, but it is a little too light..
30% might be a better option

rbichara · 07-06-2005, 06:41 PM

If you go metalic, go for 3M .. Best film out there..
and yeah it is illegal in CA to tint the front side windows darker than 70%
Get a doctor's note that you need it for medical reasons, like sensitive eyes or something.

94gxe · 07-08-2005, 06:36 PM

Unless the law has changed since I left in 2002 you can tint every window except the front window if it already has factory tine. 35% is the maximum allowed. If the front window is not factory tint you can tint the upper portion from the top of the window down to the index mark - about the top 6 inches I think. The wording in the statute is not easy to understand.

msb3079 · 07-08-2005, 07:01 PM

there's a really good place on 3rd street. i forget the name tho...

94gxe · 07-08-2005, 08:48 PM

Thre has been a lot of discussion in the forums at:

http://g35driver.com/forums/

recently about good tint shops in the San Fernando Valley.

Kell · 07-15-2005, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Posted: Wednesday, Jul, 06 2005 5:37pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want the good stuff, get the Huper ceramic tint.
More $$ but, it is the best heat resistance, and no interference with sat radio or radar detector like you get with Mettalic tint.
Also, Huper tint is the least refelective which was a plus for me..
only one place carries that in LA/Orange County.. Wintech in NewPort beach, close to SouthCoast plaza. I paid #300 for 5 windows.
I got the 40% cuz I was afraid of tickets, but it is a little too light..
30% might be a better option

rbichara,
Did you go into there store to get this price? I got mine done for $425 a year ago even though I had hupers done in my house as well. Now I'm planning on doing a 05 MDX just 2 front side windows w/30% and front windshield at 60% and Wintech wants $350 for 3 windows... but they are willing to come out even though I said I would go in. I'm wondering if they quote one price for a guy and one price for a gal.

rbichara · 07-19-2005, 07:36 PM

I am a guy..
I got lucky because when I left the car to get tinted, they gave me a loaner old Civic that died on me + the guy was late getting my car done.
I guess he felt bad and gave me a good deal
There is negotiating there though..
I honnetsly cant remember if it was 325 or 350for the 5 windows.

Eldy · 07-20-2005, 01:08 AM

California Vehicle Code's input on the topic.

Material Obstructing or Reducing Driver's View

26708. (a) (1) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows.

(2) No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied in or upon the vehicle which obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows.

(3) This subdivision applies to a person driving a motor vehicle with the driver's clear vision through the windshield, or side or rear windows, obstructed by snow or ice.

(b) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Rearview mirrors.

(2) Adjustable nontransparent sunvisors which are mounted forward of the side windows and are not attached to the glass.

(3) Signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest removed from the driver, signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 7-inch square in the lower corner of the rear window farthest removed from the driver, or signs, stickers, or other materials which are displayed in a 5-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield nearest the driver.

(4) Side windows which are to the rear of the driver.

(5) Direction, destination, or termini signs upon a passenger common carrier motor vehicle or a schoolbus, if those signs do not interfere with the driver's clear view of approaching traffic.

(6) Rear window wiper motor.

(7) Rear trunk lid handle or hinges.

(8) The rear window or windows, when the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both the left- and right-hand sides of the vehicle that are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle.

(9) A clear, transparent lens affixed to the side window opposite the driver on a vehicle greater than 80 inches in width and which occupies an area not exceeding 50 square inches of the lowest corner toward the rear of that window and which provides the driver with a wide-angle view through the lens.

(10) Sun screening devices meeting the requirements of Section 26708.2 installed on the side windows on either side of the vehicle's front seat, if the driver or a passenger in the front seat has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a medical condition, or has in his or her possession a letter or other document signed by a licensed optometrist certifying that the person must be shaded from the sun due to a visual condition. The devices authorized by this paragraph shall not be used during darkness.

(11) An electronic communication device affixed to the center uppermost portion of the interior of a windshield within an area that is not greater than 5 inches square, if the device provides either of the following:

(A) The capability for enforcement facilities of the Department of the California Highway Patrol to communicate with a vehicle equipped with the device.

(B) The capability for electronic toll and traffic management on public or private roads or facilities.

(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if the following conditions apply:

(1) The bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.

(2) The material is not red or amber in color.

(3) There is no opaque lettering on the material and any other lettering does not affect primary colors or distort vision through the windshield.

(4) The material does not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent than the windshield without the material.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

(3) The material is designed and manufactured to enhance the ability of the existing window glass to block the sun's harmful ultraviolet A rays.

(4) The driver has in his or her possession, or within the vehicle, a certificate signed by the installing company certifying that the windows with the material installed meet the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the installing company and the material's manufacturer by full name and street address, or, if the material was installed by the vehicle owner, a certificate signed by the material's manufacturer certifying that the windows with the material installed according to manufacturer's instructions meets the requirements of this subdivision and identifies the material's manufacturer by full name and street address.

(5) If the material described in this subdivision tears or bubbles, or is otherwise worn to prohibit clear vision, it shall be removed or replaced.

Amended Sec. 77, Ch. 1154, Stats. 1996. Effective September 30, 1996.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 476, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.

Eldy · 07-20-2005, 01:16 AM

now if you want to go on the "other" side...

there is no california legal tint that will make it even remotely difficult for people to see in your car through the front windows.

to achieve your privacy goals you will need a tint with an actual visible light transmission (VLT) less than or equal to 20%.

tints are offered by manufacturers using an approximate VLT rating. make sure you get the actual numbers from the manufacturer.

for example, "madico charcool 20" has an actual VLT of 17% whereas "suntek hp 20" has a VLT of 22%. the result is that suntek's hp 20 is almost 30% lighter than madico's charcool 20. that makes a big difference in the appearance of the car especially in direct sunlight.

the dinger is that if you are unhappy about the shade of your tint, it will cost _more_ to replace it because you will be charged for removing the old tint. so, do your research and when asking a fellow driver what percentage tint he has on his car also ask for the brand so you can accurately determine the VLT of the tint you want.

if you get a citation. be a man. don't complain about the police hassling you. your options:

1. pay the citation (mine was $116.)

2. get the citation signed off by someone you know and pay the ticket processing fee, which is approximately $10.

3. go back to the tint shop and ask them to remove and retint your car. get the tints taken off, get it inspected, pay the processing fee and retint your car.

4. same as #3 but don't get your fronts retinted.