What Tint for windows? (Audi)

DaveS3Turbo

DaveS3Turbo

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Hi all,

To cut along story short audi put the wrong tint in my new A3, they put light smoke all round.

The options are light smoke, Dark smoke and Midnight.

To stay legal you have to have light smoke in the frontm however I want this leaving in, but I dont know what to have in the back as in back windows and rear screen?

I would say Dark Smoke and not Midnight as the jump from Light smoke to Midnight would be too much as in the people carriers which look cr@p, and i don't want it looking pimpy.

What are your views on this?

Light Smoke and Dark Smoke or go stupid and have Midnight and be on the illegal side?

Dave (Any photos are welcome)

 
Whatever you do, stay legal. Police are really cracking down on illegal tints. You may stand a chance of getting away with dark smoke all round but just dont go midnight on all windows
 
I agree, my dad knows somone who's just had his RS6 with Dark Smoke in the rear ad he's been told to remove it with a vehicle defect notice (lol to an RS6 being a defect... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burningmad.gif, thats an insult to an audi_

I am going to go for Light smoke in front and Dark smoke in the rear, and leave Midnight as its askign for trouble with the law now.

Dave
 
I am looking at getting light smoke tint all round on mine. I am just after that suttle look!
 
well from what i understand from the department for transport website, you can go as dark as you like behind the driver - a quick copy and paste:-

Light Transmission of Glazing - Summary of requirements
Motor vehicles first used between 1/6/1978 and 31/3/1985 must have windows which allow at least 70% of light to pass through. Motor vehicles first used on or after 1/4/1985 must have windscreens which allow at least 75% of light to pass through - all other windows must admit at least 70% of light.

These requirements do not apply to:

any part of the windscreen outside the vision reference zone (as defined in C&U# Regulation 32(13));

windows through which the driver is unable, at any time, to see the road;

windows in ambulances which are behind the drivers seat;

windows in buses, goods vehicles, locomotives or motor tractors which are behind the drivers seat (except those which face the rear - as defined by C&U# Regulation 32(12) - or which form all or part of an exterior door); and

windows in cars which are fitted behind the drivers seat and which bear an e mark indicating type approval to the European glazing Directive 92/22/EC.

Tinted film
C&U# Regulation 32 does not specifically prohibit any window from having a tinted film applied, but a window with a tinted film which takes light transmittance levels below those specified above could be interpreted as contravening the Regulation.

If a vehicle's windows were excessively tinted by the use of stick-on film or a spray, there may be a contravention of C&U# Regulation 30. This requires that all glass or other materials fitted must be maintained in such a condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver. Again, it does not specifically prohibit those windows from having a tinted film applied, but doing so could be interpreted as contravening the Regulation.

You should also be aware that C&U# Regulation 100(1) requires:

a motor vehicle, and all its parts and accessories;

the number of passengers carried, and the manner in which any passengers are carried in or on a vehicle; and

the weight, distribution, packing and adjustment of the load of a vehicle,

to be at all times such that no danger is caused, or is likely to be caused, to any person in or on a vehicle or on a road.

 
The Tints i use to have on the Golf are Light Tints on the side and Mid on the Rear screen. People never noticed. It also darkend down the sides, if you understand what im saying
 
Pretty much any tint on your windows will be illegal.

Light smoke allows 50% of light in
Dark smoke allows 35% of light in
Midnight allows between 5 and 15% of light in

To be legal - your front windows must allow 70% of light in.

My last car had dark smoke tints all round and I was never stopped once. But now, I've heard a lot of people being pulled over for this.

Insurance is another thing - your premium will go up because of it!

I was wanting to get light smoke at the front and dark smoke at the back or light smoke all round but once the insurance found out that light smoke tint only lets in 50% of light and they demand 70%, it would have to go to the underwriters for evaluation - I said forget it!

Dave - I doubt your dad's friend with the RS6 got filed a vehicle defect notice for having tints in the rear - there is no law on tinting on the rear windows because it is outwith the drivers view!!
 
Seriously...He got a vehicle defect notice, its no joke.

I am going to have to stay legal here, however i somewhat doubt that lightsmoke which i have had done lets 50% light in, as you can hardly tell its been tinted at all. I would say its letting 70% of light in anyway. The best thing to do is to put something white bhind and see the difference between the windscreen and drivers door glass.

Lightsmoke won't be 50% --> It's legal according to Audi, becasue if audi know its illegal and you still want the tint such as Midnight then they ask you to sign a disclaimer. As for the light smoke no disclaimer had to be signed.

Darksmoke -- > Yes maybe this is illegal however I am having this in the back, but according to new legislation police should be able to see a passengers face at night throught the rear windows.

Midnight --> Definetely illegal

So I will be legal, and another point is that at audi i see cars in the showroom with dark shadwo in the front and Midnight in the rear and yes thats illegal, but i am only going gor light smoke in the front.

Dave (sorry for bad english)
 
Yep, im afraid he is very wrong. Light smoke is legal and is the only tint variant that you can get away with on the front windows. Dark smoke will be fine for the rear windows and rear screen. Im tempted to do this myself. As for the insurance, ive had 3 cars with tinted windows, none of which increased the premium as it actually makes the glass harder to break (or so many of the companies claim)
 
The one thing that bothers me as Dave has said is the fact that light smoke seems hardly worth it as it barely makes a difference, but there is then a big jump in the difference between that and dark smoke. Im sure Xtreme Motorsport in Harlow offer 4 shades : Light smoke, Smoked, Dark smoke and Limo black. I think ill go there and get smoked/dark smoke as i cant see the point on light smoke, might as well leave it standard.
 
Stuart I couldn't agree more, i had my last car tinted very DARK and i never told them but then again I never had ti make a claim.

As for the Audi and light smoke , I agree its legal and that yes it does make the glass harder to break.

I will post some pictures on Monday as its been re-booked to have Dark smoke in the rear.

Dave
 
Cool, look forward to seeing it mate Just out of interest, how much was it to have it done as an option at audi?
 
ahh i see, think its about 250 quid at Xtreme Motorsport (cheaper for me though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif )
 
I think anyone who uses light smoke tint will be ok in terms of the law, as you do not draw as much attention as a boy racer in a nova with limo black windows.
 
[ QUOTE ]
S3 Mike said:
I think anyone who uses light smoke tint will be ok in terms of the law, as you do not draw as much attention as a boy racer in a nova with limo black windows.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agree with the nova bit but you will be legal with light smoke, cause it is legal, simple as that.
 
I got my percentage figures from a local tinting company in Aberdeen (Tint Haus).

The guy I spoke to said that nobody makes a film that allows 70% or more light in.

He also said that they had a traffic cop up with his Volvo traffic car. They put a light sensor to his window and the readout showed 79%. Therefore, any film on top of that, will in fact be illegal.

Bear in mind that most windows in cars are tinted as standard when they leave the factory - which is why the readout was 79% and not 100%.
 
Sorry, he is wrong. I was in a car with my mate and he had light smoke. We were in southend and got pulled by the police when they were doing spot checks on cars and they tested his tints and said that it was fine, then complemented him on a very nice car and told him to drive safe. The tints do vary from company to company ill admit that but light smoke in general is the only one that is legal.
 
i had a word with a tint firm near me, and i've also spoken to this copper i know, and apparently most tints are actually illegal.

however, if you drive around with limo black windows the cops think you're taking this **** a little bit, coz imagine trying to see out of the windows at night. in the winter. when it's raining! not good.

a light to medium smoke tint should be fine. obviously it will depend on the individual case, as some cops might get all excited about the thought of catching a real criminal, and hence you'll be left with a rectification notice!

i'm gonna go for a subtle light/medium tint. contrast plays a big part in the overall appearance. a light coloured car with medium tints will have a great enough contrast to make the tints look quite dark. but a dark coloured car with light tints won't have that same contrast.

your interior trim colour will be another factor. light colour trim will be easier to see through the tint as it reflects more light. this will make the tint look slightly less effective.

not sure if that helps, but i thought i'd say it anyway!


 
Yer man, your right about Dark cars as they don't show the tint as well.

Off Topic--> Black Cars are Murder to keep clean when there is salt on the roads. power wash and spings sometimes struggles. I hate to towel a car down with salt on still, it worries me.

However in Summer Black cars polished look the best (Me thinks)

Dave
 
Just spoke to my insurance company (Admiral) and they seemed fine about tints.

A tint which blocks more than 50% of the light and they have a standard increase in premium - an extra £45.60 for me until the end of September (so about £60 per year).
 
I got mine back with light shadow and dark shadow and I must sya so myself it loks the dogs danglies on a black car.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dancing.gif

Dave

Pics tomoz....
 
[ QUOTE ]
DaveA3Turbo said:
However in Summer Black cars polished look the best (Me thinks)
Dave

[/ QUOTE ]

Couldnt have said it better myself everyone knows it 2 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh_roll.gif
 
Yeah would have to agree, it does during summer afternoons all two months of it. Silver looks better at all other times though! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Hey damn right, however at least when you scratch your car it won't show mate...lol

Dave... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Dave - do you have any pics of your tints yet? I would like to see your results before I put mine in on Monday.
 
He's become our test subject /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif
 
Sure...I will post before Monday and when its clean....Denfinately on Thursday mate. Check back soon, take it from me get light smoke in the front and smoke/dark smoke in the rear.

Dave
 
I had Pentagon light smoke on my silver S3 also approved by Thatcham.
 
[ QUOTE ]
S3 Mike said:
He's become our test subject /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Dave the guinea pig! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh_roll.gif

Only kidding mate! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif


Thinking of getting light smoke all round with exception to the rear windscreen - thinking about having that one shade darker - but would like to see the light smoke front and dark smoke back combo!
 
Thats where mine went..Pentagon light/Dark Smoke.

Its done and its the dogs danglies.

Dave
 
Come on dave, Get the pics up !
 
OK, Tomorrow I will try....I have somethign preventing me and thats an ice hockey macth.....Looks sweet.

Dave
 
Dave ?

You sure youve had your windows tinted ??


 
Hi guys, Sorry for the long awaited wait.....My Fault, had problems with time etcc........Xmas is hectic!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Here goes, all the pics that I have ever taken.--->

Image 1 -- Audi A3
Image 2 -- Audi A3
Image 3 -- Audi A3
Image 4 -- Audi A3
Image 5 -- Audi A3
Image 6 -- Audi A3
Image 7 -- Audi A3
Image 8 -- Audi A3 New Tinted Windows
Image 9 -- Audi A3 New--Tinted widows
Image 10 -- Audi A3 New Tinted Windows
Image 11 -- Yaris T-Sport 1.5 VVTI New, Old car
Image 12 -- Yaris T-Sport 1.5 VVTI

56K users beware, try and conserve bandwidth on the servers, i have to take these off shortly.

Dave
 
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