To tint or not to tint

[vdubgirl 3]

Tinted windows what do you lot recon cool or really really pants?

I have been contemplating getting mine done (professionally of course) But i'm not sure whether its gonna make the car look to boy racery &| I kinda like the dark stealthy look i've got going on with it but I'm not sure whether a tints are going to make it look cheap and tacky

I would only go for the dark smoked look so you can only just make out whats in the car.

Over to you guys

[nickbee 1]

I've got tints in mine (put on by the previous owner) but they do look cool. They're not black though, just kind smokey.

[patrick green 0]

I want tints - not for the looks just for security & as long as it's not too dark I think they look fine

[nickbee 1]

Actually, you can see the effect mine have if you compare my avatar with Patrick's...

[acf8181 0]

we're in england not california...get the point?

[nickbee 1]

Not really, no.

[Macca 1]

Tints are cool imo

[vrPat 0]

Nick's tints look good, just smokey not gangsta bus style. I would have them just for the security element if nothing else

[VRmonster 1]

on your black car, a light smoke tint would complement the colour. would make the car look evil. he he. go for it. not too dark tho. similar to nickbee's

[binliner 0]

we're in england not california...get the point?

no

Claire, I've been contemplating the same thing but wasn't sure either... there was a black highline at junction29 on Sunday (VR6 steves better half!) with tinted windows and it looked v cool. On a subtly modded car like yours (and the one at J29) it doesnt look boy racery at all

[patrick green 0]

I'd love to be in cali! But even though I'm not, we still get 'some' sunshine here so tints can help those of us without A/C keep the car cool & jonny-scumbag won't try to nick what he can't see! I hope! &|

[acf8181 0]

yeah, but we get a lot more crap weather!

and they're annoying in the dark.

each to there own i suppose.

[dubloke 4]

only annoying in the dark if you go pimp daddy stylee all round! besides, the law is clamping right down on dangerous dark tints, so it would be a waste of money to get pulled and told to remove them! most reputable places will warn you accordingly of the pitfalls and recommend the right film to stay within the law anyway!

[jamieVR6 0]

I'm thinking of getting mine done with a blue tint like the new mercs. I think it'll look good against the black paintwork of my car.

Besides everyones got black tints of some kind or another.

[VR6Steve 0]

Yep, as Justin said Haddi's Highline (and my Polo GTi) have mid smoked tints. Personally I think they are dark enough.

Also worth being careful as apparently the Police are clamping down on the amount of tint on the front side windows. There have been a couple of threads over on PVW about this.

[VRmonster 1]

i had to break into my car cos the c/l pump died, and broke the rear/side. the guy i had out to replace the window used to do tints up until about 1 week before i called him. he said he had stopped because the police are stopping aftermarket tinting altogether. and only factory and those already fitted would get away with it. cant see how they could do this. maybe he was just exagerating. but still, the police piss me off sometimes.

[VR6Pete 1,455]

Mine says "VW Tinted Glass" on them

[VRmonster 1]

lol. standard greens. theyre pretty cool i think.

[vdubgirl 3]

Me thinks I will be sorting out some nice light smokey tint for my car then cheers for all the opinions iots all food for thought :-)

[BenW16 0]

Claire, my mate does window tinting, i know itsa bit of a way for you to come for it but im sure he can sort you out a good deal. Just a thought?

[six appeal 53]

Nice one Caire, think a light tint will really suit your car, have been debating it myself.

[VR6Steve 0]

Claire - def light/mid smoke is the way to go, does the trick and should avoid any hassle from the "fuzz" too. :-) Really not a fan of "limo" tints.

[vdubgirl 3]

Can anyone explain the legalities of tints on cars now cause I dont wanna spend a couple of hundred on having the windows done only to get pulled and them make me take them off!

[patrick green 0]

Claire here's a thing I found on Pentagon's website as i was asking myself the same question. It seems as though all window tints on the drivers/passenger door windows will be illegal although I would expect the police to only go after those who have v.dark tints as many new cars already have tints as standard tho I guess it depends on what your local boys in blue are like about modified cars?

Window Tinting - Amendments to Legislation

During the early part of 2004, Section 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations will be amended to include ?Window Tint Films?, where such materials attached to the glass are capable of reducing the Visible Light Transmission of forward windows to below prescribed levels. These changes will be back-dated to become applicable from 1st January 2004.

This will effectively ban virtually all tinted films fitted to windows forward of the B-Post on any vehicle that is to be driven on UK roads.

The reason for these changes is the recent proliferation of vehicles that are excessively tinted. Some vehicles may be so heavily tinted that they present a real danger when used on public roads. The action being taken by the Government follows a fatality that occurred recently where a heavily tinted car was involved in a collision with a motorcycle and the window tints were held to blame due to the vision of the driver being impaired.

There is however, a recognised difference between ?light window tints? which may be considered safe for road use (such as those supplied to you by Pentagon) and ?excessively dark window tints? which are not.

There has also been a great deal of debate in recent years about the legitimacy of window tints that do not obscure the vision of the driver. A clear case has been argued that road-safe window tints do not actually conflict with existing regulations. The Department for Transport have argued however that Section 32 was always intended to cover materials attached to the glass, despite the fact that no mention of this is made in the Regulation itself.

The only solution remaining would be to amend the Legislation.

Consequently and in order to clarify the situation, the Government have finally decided to up-date the Regulations to specifically include Tinted Films since, in the view of the Police and the Department for Transport, this is the only way in which the problems of excessive tints can be remedied.

Unfortunately however, even tint films that may be considered to be safe for road use will now be viewed as in conflict with the Regulations, enabling the Police and Vehicle Inspectorate to take action against vehicle owners.

This has significant implications for the owners of vehicles that have window tints already fitted and also those that are responsible for installing or selling window tints.

Implications for the vehicle owner

After much discussion, a sympathetic Enforcement Policy has been agreed between the Department for Transport and The Glass and Glazing Federation to ensure that all vehicle owners that have had tints applied in the past may be dealt with fairly. This applies in particular where the infringement is with respect to tints that do not pose a significant threat to Road Safety, despite being in contravention with the amended Regulations.

In any event, after the date of the amendment to Section 32, the owner of a vehicle that has window tints applied forward of the B-Post could be challenged by either a Police Officer or by an Inspector from the Department for Transport?s Vehicle Inspectorate, where their vehicle is noticed being driven on Public Roads.

Where such a vehicle is stopped and the window tints applied are such that the Visible Light Transmission level, when measured using an approved device falls to below prescribed levels, the following enforcement guidelines have been agreed with, and recommended, by the Government.

Above 30% Visible Light Transmission (Less Severe Window Tints)

The owner or driver of such a vehicle would be required to have the tinted film removed from the windows under the direction of either a Rectification Notice or a Delayed Prohibition Notice. A period of grace will apply for a limited number of days (normally ten) during which time the vehicle may be driven whilst the rectification work is to be completed.

In either case, the vehicle will need to be inspected by either a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Officer to confirm that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. Prosecution is unlikely in such circumstances provided the vehicle owner complies fully.

Action that needs to be taken

All Businesses that have supplied window tints forward of the B-Post are being encouraged by the Government and the Glass and Glazing Federation to contact all of their previous customers to inform them of the changes to Legislation and to offer them a chance to have their vehicle rectified by having the front tints removed.

As one of our existing customers, this is a service that we are happy to offer to you free of charge. It is also something that we can do for you while you wait to minimise any inconvenience.

Should you wish, we can instead apply Clear SupaGlass once the tints have been removed, for a small charge, and full details are available on request. Please note that in order to apply SupaGlass to the two forward windows we will need to retain your vehicle for a longer period, depending on the model.

New compliant SupaGlass and Tints Package

Pentagon Glass Tech?s new SupaGlass and Tints Package will be compliant with the new Regulations.

This will include Clear (untinted) SupaGlass forward of the B-Post and either Tints or Tinted SupaGlass to the rear of the vehicle which will be acceptable under the amended legislation.

********************************************

Please Note:

Pentagon as a group have always sought to ensure that the tints we supply are both safe for road use and acceptable within the law. Throughout our history we have regularly consulted the Police, Road Safety Groups and other Authorities for guidance on this matter.

Our policy has been not to supply tints on the driver and forward passenger windows that may obscure the vision of the driver in any driving conditions. This follows similar practices that have existed for decades in other parts of the world (such as in the USA and Australia) where window tinting above prescribed levels of Visible Light Transmission is widely employed and accepted as being safe for road use by the Authorities concerned.

To illustrate the confusion that exists about the current law in the UK, Pentagon have been requested in the past to supply tints to the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and for many Police Officers including Chief Constables.

We will continue in our efforts to campaign for a change in legislation that may eventually allow window tints which are known to be road safe on these windows, as is permitted in other parts of the world. Window tinting provides many benefits as you will have experienced and we feel that the motorist should have an opportunity for greater safety, security and comfort in their vehicles provided that this does not compromise road safety.

[vdubgirl 3]

wow that was a lot to take in %-6

Humm I'm really unsure about doing this to my car now because I live and drive around weston where many illegal cruises happen (bloomin fiberglass generation !ill ) and the police come out in force when these kick off setting up road blocks and have the vehicle inspections teams on hand to confiscate certain vehicles x) I know on one cruise they inpounded nearly 20