I know out here in Maryland...35% is the legal limit and it only cost $100.00 to do all 5 windows. They didn't use that cheap stuff that turns after a year or so...make sure you get the metalized tint. It won't fade on you. I also got a 5 year warranty on the tint. Check with tint shops on what's legal...they stay up on that.

In California, it's illegal to tint any of the front windows including the windshield and the 2 front door windows. People tint those windows anyway.

here in Massachusetts the legal tint % is 35% all around. Your allowed to tint 6" on the top of your windshield. Mirrored tint is not allowed here in MA.

Hey kb, check out www.huperoptik.com. I've looked into this film and it's quality stuff. I know that Audi dealers install it in their cars. I will be putting it in my 2000 TL soon. It's a little more expensive than most films, but I think it's more effective at heat reflection without the negative effect on your vision. I don't know where you're located, but there is a dealer in the Houston, TX area. You can find their phone number on the web site under contacts. Good luck. Let us know what you decide.

the shop, if it's legit, should know how dark is not too dark. i just told the guy who did it for me to get it as dark as possible. also, it's only legal in illinois to tint the rear windows, rear windsheild, and the top few inches of the front as a sun shade. i think i went just a shade lighter than "limo" black.

  Here you can tint everything up to 30percent at least thats what the laws say when I looked them up.  Talking to the shop they said it was 15percent.  They told me about eyebrows, not 100percent sure what that is but I think I have seen them if its what I am thinking so am getting that also.   I found some nice wheels on the discount tire website ( that sounds funny doesnt it ? ).  They are ATS Lites all black size 15s.  That with yokohama tires will run me under 740.00 plus tax and everything.    So basically tint this paycheck plus some other non car related things.  Then next payday getting the wheel/tires, then next payday getting exhaust, then grill kit, Carbon fiber hood and by then hopefully I can figure out what the hell I want to do engine wise :)   So whats the plan for this weekend guys anybody doing anything cool ?   Bradthe shop, if it's legit, should know how dark is not too dark.  i
just told the guy who did it for me to get it as dark as possible. 
also, it's only legal in illinois to tint the rear windows, rear
windsheild, and the top few inches of the front as a sun shade.

i think i went just a shade lighter than "limo" black.

your grill kit - i'm assuming you're going for a kit that fits to a stock front end? have you chosen a kit yet?

Geeze I wish I could make mines 15% and it be legal! In Hawaii the darkest legal is 35% but I know a lot of guys that do 5% from our tint shops but they don't give u a receipt so it can't be traced...Also if you do get pulled over for illegal tint it's $75 per window! ... but 15% is good 10% would be better I think....

Well the tint is better if you make an appointment for say 145pm, at a shop thats 45mins from your house.  You leave early, find the place finally, get there at 140pm and then have them tell you that they cant do it because they started another one because they didnt think you would be there....  Well the shop is in Plainfield and its called CWP and basically they suck.  I was so pissed but honestly aside from going rambo on theyre asses what can you do.  So instead I just went to IIP and bought a top grill.  Gonna buy the bottom grill tomorrow.  That top grill is a bitch to get off because I there are a couple screws in the bottow of it that for the life of me I cant get to.  I guess I just have to wait till tomorrow to get the bottom grill out first so I can unscrew the top one.  Problem is I cant figure out how to get the bottom one out, but I only briefly looked at.   Hey Hawaii would be badass, I used to live in Florida until I was 15.  I miss surfing even though now I probably would get killed lol.   Brad
Geeze I wish I could make mines 15% and it be legal! In Hawaii the darkest legal is 35% but I know a lot of guys that do 5% from our tint shops but they don't give u a receipt so it can't be traced...Also if you do get pulled over for illegal tint it's $75 per window! ... but 15% is good 10% would be better I think....

Your use of

I've always thought window tinting looks pretty sweet, but I've never wanted to do it for a few reasons. A. Like was stated earlier, IL doesnt let u do all the windows. B. after a few years, it starts to peel and bubble. Totally not worth it. -josh

Well to tell the truth after that bad experience I am now gonna concentrate on wheels, new grills, and exhaust.  Screw tinting for now, they pissed me off.   Thanks for the excellent reasons not to tint btw :)   Brad
I've always thought window tinting looks pretty sweet, but I've never
wanted to do it for a few reasons. A. Like was stated earlier, IL doesnt
let u do all the windows. B. after a few years, it starts to peel and
bubble. Totally not worth it. -josh



Your use of

My pleasure, haha, just think how bad it looks, first of all, to see only the back windows done. secondly, how ghetto it is to have the stupid plastic on the windows all bubbly. lame.

Josh - i'm in illinois too: did you have a bad "tinting" experience done professionally, or not? i had mine done at a place on Ogden Ave. in Naperville last summer and it still looks just as nice as on the day it went on.

so Brad, you chose a brand for your grill then? i remember about the top grill issue. forgot about those lower screws... ;) but i actually never messed with the top grill install, come to think of it. the bodyshop that painted the top piece for me also installed it for free (and took off the old one).

yeh I have mines tinted also it's a new type of tint from 3M you know that company that makes all types of tapes and post its and stuff? Well, anyway it's guaranteed never to fade or bubble or peel for the life of your car or else 3M will replace it for free!
     But that sucks if you can't do ALL of your windows hehe I wouldn't tint it either! btw surf here is pretty good but bad for your Civic (salt spray & air) =\

  so Brad, you chose a brand for your grill then?  i remember about the
top grill issue.  forgot about those lower screws... ;)  but i
actually never messed with the top grill install, come to think of
it.  the bodyshop that painted the top piece for me also installed it
for free (and took off the old one).
  Hey David   Well I chose APC Euro style type R or something.  I mean its probably not the best and I heard APC got in trouble recently for not meeting standards.  I am gonna get a new front bumper piece anyway so this should be ok.  I painted it flat black and it looks good.  Since I am going to get a black widow or some other carbon fiber hood I figure it will work ok.  Those bottom screws really have me stumped btw heh   Basically I know what I am going to do with my car now after listening to you and Dre and everybody.  The car is red so I am gonna to add black wheels probably 15s or 17s early next month.  Then I am going to add an intake, exhaust, and a new header.  I am getting the car tinted finally on Wed for only 100 bucks hes a friend of a friend and has a business.   Basically body wise I am gonna go for black and red and then engine wise just add the above to the existing motor for now.  Following your lead I am going to get my suspension done, maybe get air ride and a body kit.  I think I can get all this done by winter then stick a turbo on it and start getting the interior stuff changed out.  Its gonna take awhile but eventually I will do a swap but a turbo is fine for me right now I think.   Brad

ya know, I didn't have a bad tint experience, but I just see so many people with crappy tint jobs, that I look at it this way. When they put the tint on there, there's no way it looked like that. It had to look nice! So now, after who knows how many years, it looks like crap. I'd hate to have the job of going around taking it all off, and redoing it. I'm sure it has to be a nighmare. What laws does CA have for tint?