TheSamba.com :: View topic - what % of tinting looks good on a westy? help me decide.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:44 pm

i have an orly blue 90 westy that i want to get the windows tinted. i need help deciding how much tint to get installed. i am pretty sure i do not want limo tint. anyone who has had this done can you please share your knowledge. thanx

Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:57 pm

I had mine tinted this summer and went with a ~35%. I knew I didn't like the limo look and 20% still seemed too dark. I am very happy with the look and sun blocking ability.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:14 pm

I am also looking for tint. I like the idea of sleeping in with no light. Is this all professionally done, or is this a DIY project?

Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:28 pm

i will pay a professional to do this. i already called a place here in calgary they give lifetime warranty against cracking, bubbles, and the tint turning purple. $350 to do all the back windows excluding the 3 up front.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:33 pm

I am not sure what the percentages are, but do your drivers and passenger side too, but at about half the tint of the back windows... also you might want to go with a lighter tint at the very back, mine is really dark and difficult to see through at night, although for highway driving itis fine.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:54 pm

hey quick question on this topic. do i have to remove the back cabinet in order for them to get to that side window? or will they just remove the whole window to tint it?

Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:20 pm

I just pulled my limo off and replaced with a 35%. IMO limo looks the best from the outside, but passengers don't get a very nice view of the world. Medium/light tint plus a set of curtains is the way to go.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:59 pm

I agree with Steelhead, limo looks good from outside, but I don't like it from the inside. I went pretty close with 35% on the rear windows, and 65% on the fronts (or something like that). Basically, I went as dark as you can legally go in California for the fronts, and a step or two down from limo on the rears. Very pleased with the results.

spydee wrote: hey quick question on this topic. do i have to remove the back cabinet in order for them to get to that side window? or will they just remove the whole window to tint it?

Depends who you go with. Taking the cabinet out is labor intensive and you'd probably want to do that yourself. No one's going to do that for you. The easier option is the pull the window, but most places won't want to do that either. I had a guy simply place a piece of flat black vinyl to the outside of the window when I had this done three years ago. Lot's of weather since then, and never been in a garage, and not a hint of peeling nor a bubble. Looks good too, no graying or fading. Here's a shot of what it looks like.
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Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:08 am

I went with 5% on the back and side windows, 35% on the drivers, passenger and yes the front windshield, it's one of the best mods I ever did I have no regrets

here is a shot showing the front windshield, and the rest of tint

Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:03 am

Black out the backs baby!

Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:11 am

I did 35% on my driver and passenger windows as well. You can kindof see it here. Don't forget to do the triangles.... Would look crazy without it. The wind / rain deflectors are great too.

Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:12 am

Hey kayak! Have you put those wheels on yet?! They are sweet! If so, send a pic around!

Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:20 am

Here is some shots,also with the higher GoWesty springs and bilsteins...inside are 4 people and raft...

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Thu Aug 21, 2008 6:29 am

kayak, nice shots man!

You're van looks amazing. Nice "buff job" ;-)

Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:35 am

I have 2 tinted vans, and a tinted car.

first I did the car with 20% tint, rear only.. not dark enough to hide stuff in the back seat from view..

so next I did 5% tint, back only on my 85 westy.. I love that!

makes for a very private living room area, no need to pull curtains.. I do put a sunshade on the front, so people cant see thru the back when parked (I put the black side out, for the sunshade to look like dark tint)

I wanted even more privacy, so on my 86 I did 5% on all windows including driver and passenger..

it is VERY private, but, I miss being able to see out the driver and passenger windows easily..

my advice therefore is to go 5% on back, and either leave the fronts untouched, or just 35% on driver and passenger..

Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:07 am

Might what to check local law before you tint anything. I know that in IL you are not allowed any non-factory tint on the front side windows or the windshield (except for about a 4" strip at the top). My brother-in-law had some tint on the front windows of his mustang and decided to take it off after he got pulled over 3 times in three days.

Thu Aug 21, 2008 9:15 am

Another thing to consider is that many states have set percentages on what is legal. In NC the limit is 35%. You used to be able to tint the windows behind the driver as dark as you wanted but not anymore. here's a list of the states and laws.

http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html

Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:36 am

I'm mixed on the tinting. I LOVE the dark factory tint on my '90 multivan if I'm trying to sleep in the van past sunrise. But I don't like it as much when I'm missing some of the scenery. The worst though, is that it's sometimes difficult to see when backing up in the daytime. All in all, I'm happy I have it, but I can see how others would not want it.

Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:50 am

Home Team Bus wrote: Another thing to consider is that many states have set percentages on what is legal. In NC the limit is 35%. You used to be able to tint the windows behind the driver as dark as you wanted but not anymore. here's a list of the states and laws.

http://www.tintdude.com/laws.html

Now can someone make sense of those regulations. Someone other than a greasy politician that is, as we all know that more regulations, more restrictions equal job security. Anyway can anyone explain why it is perfectly legal to load up our Vanagons with let's say boxes (full/empty does not matter) blocking all windows back of driver/front passenger seats, totally , 100% obstructing vision in and out of said windows, but it seems illegal, in some states to install limo tint on same windows, only **limiting** visibility ?

We need one more regulation: outlaw all cargo vans/trucks. lorries. buggies etc...

One more thing. If you do own a cargo van, make sure you do NOT apply limo tint on the sides/metal panels."windows" your cargo van will immediately fall under the strong arm of the Law, comrades

Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:13 pm

Mark---Your van looks great since the last time I saw it. Is that a spanishfly on the rack?