Greetings.
Thinking about tinting the MINI's windows and sunroof. My first question is a legal one... anyone know exactly what the Virginia laws on window tinting are? It is my understanding that the windshield can't be tinted, front side windows no less than 50%, rear side windows and rear window no less than 35%.

I am thinking of doing a fairly mild tint, maybe 50 - 60% all around (except the windshield) so that the windows all look the same. Doing to keep some sun from beaming into the car, but also for safety reasons... in the event of a crash, the tint film tends to hold the glass together, keeping it from shattering and getting into the passenger compartment.

Anyone have a tint shop near Alexandria that they really like? Not a fly by night, but someone who uses quality products and does a perfect job, I am more interested in getting the tint right than the exact price.

Thanks!
Mike

 

Not sure about VA laws since i'm running MD tags but, I had good work done by L.A. Tint
http://www.latint.com/

 

Yes, I also took my mazda3 to L.A. Tint in Sterling about 4 yrs ago - very good work. Not the cheapest in terms of price but obviously you get what you pay for. I still highly recommend them if mgmt has not changed or anything like that.

Legal for VA is 50% on front and 35% rear. With a medical waiver you can do 35% all around which is still too light in my opinion. The DMV Rules are here: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/ci...sunshading.asp

I had my MINI done with 20% all around (incl sunroof) and even with a medical waiver I'm still illegal in VA (and MD). Haven't been hassled yet (knock on wood) though!

 

Keep in mind that your windows are *already* tinted from the factory. I had the VA State Police check mine before I tinted. On my '05, factory tint was 70%.

So if you put 50% tint over 70% tint, guess what? You're illegal.

I chose 30% tint all around, plus 5% tint on the sunroof. Made me very nervous for the first couple of months, especially at night. It seemed so dark in appearance.

But after being around plenty of police in various situations, I feel comfortable saying it's not dark enough to get pulled over for. I haven't tested the idea of what happens when I get pulled over for something else, if it'll give him/her another item to write up a ticket for.

PS - on the rear sunroof, the metallic content of the film was enough to make it so my Smart Tag transponder wouldn't work and I had to move it back to my windshield.

 

60% would be a waste of money as it would have little to no impact. my suggestion would be 35% all around, that's what I got at LA tint in Sterling and have been happy. Its looks good, blocks light and is consistent front and back.

 

VA shops will only do VA legal jobs. That means 50% front and 35% sides. There are steep fines in VA now for other than that ($5k to the shop). The other thing to keep in mind...those percentages are as measured on the glass by a meter. The MINI has 95% in the glass.

I had mine done 35% all around by Carlos at Solar Solutions in Laurel and got a ticket by VA State Trooper who measured my window at 26%.

I've been a longtime customer of LA Tint and have used Llumar FormulaOne on all my cars for more than a decade. Thing is...it's EXPENSIVE. The SunTek Carbon Carlos used on my MINI looks and performs just as well and I got it done for a third the cost of LA Tint.

 

Did the trooper pull you over specifically for the tint or something else and then mentioned it? I have always wondered just how many police or troopers will pull someone over just for that. Do most illegal tint tickets only involve a fine and not the removal of tint?

 

How long has that been the case? I just had mine tinted in the Reston area back in '06 and it wasn't even mentioned. Is this something new?

Where did you get 95% from? When I took my '05 to the VA State Police headquarters on Braddock Rd, he came out and measured it for me with a meter on the driver's window and it registered 70%.

Doing the math, if you started at 95%, added 35% tint, your effective light allowed through would be ~ 33.25%

If you started at 70%, added 35% tint, your effective light allowed through would be ~24.5%... a lot closer to the 26% that he measured on your window.

I'm curious - did he pull you over for the windows only, or was it something else and he just dinged you for the windows too?

Cheers

 

I got pulled over for the exhaust and was ticketed for the tint (thankfully...the exhaust ticket is more than a pay and go type).

As for what I was metered at...it was 6am and dark. No idea how the meters work but 26% is what the guy said.

 

... I wonder why...

 

oh come on now!! it's still quieter than a Harley (and sounds better too )

 

The guys at Martin Motorsports, INC at 456 S. Pickett St, Alexandria, VA 703-823-9735 did and outstanding tint job on my 03 MCS. Check these guys out, if you had not already tinted your windows.

 

how much did they charge, I live in alexandria and I will be looking to get some tint done soon

 

I spent several hours in Fairfax traffic court recently and was surprised at how many window tint violators had been ticketed. Whoever does your tint, insist on a guarantee that the end result is 'legal.'

 

They charge me $215, and that included window felt, since Mini's have a rubber squeegy, on the inside of the window. if sand or debris get in there, it can scrap against your film and scratch it. So, they installed moleskin felt, to protect the film, ask for it. They do a first rate job, I recommend them highly, but the choose is yours.