I'm ordering the F56 in Pepper White with a black top and stripes. While I've never had a car's windows tinted, I'm thinking with that color combination having at least the rear windows tinted would look nice. Even the configurator on miniusa.com shows that windows tinted (I know they don't come that way, but it looks nice in the picture).

I'm looking for suggestions. When tinting a car like this, do people normally tint all of the windows or just the back? What about the rear window? Do they go for the same shade or do some darker and some lighter?

Any thoughts? This will be my first Mini and I don't want to fugly it up

Thanks!

Todd

 

The windows on our Clubman are tinted 20%. Legal in my state is 50%. Our Beetle is tinted 20%. We had 35% tint on our 328 and it was not dark enough. Tint will be fine. go at least 20% on the rears and do 35% on the fronts if you like. I think to have two windows re-tinted was less than $100. See what you think, it can be changed. I tinted the rears of our clubman myself. Walmart tint and you tube videos.

 

I'm in Texas, so window tinting for me is a comfort thing more than a cosmetic thing. I get the darkest legal tint on the side windows all the way around, metal film, but not reflective, as I don't like the look and don't like blinding people.

Different states have different laws on what can and can't be tinted. In TX you're also supposed to have a certifying sticker between the film and the glass but I've been OK without that for some reason.

In Texas I could go full black on the rear window if I wanted, but I prefer a consistent even look (and I like being able to see out the back). I could also go with a visor tint, but I don't like the way that looks.

That being said, I'd go for the same tint all the way around or a bit lighter on the doors, given the pepper white.

 

Thanks for the info. Very helpful :-)

 

The windows on my R56 are 35% all around. I don't like them too dark because it gets hard to see out at night time, especially in bad weather.

 

Do you think the 35% gives good visibility?

 

Perfect IMO. I personally, would not go any darker.

 

My personal opinion is 5% on the back 3, I always end up regretting it when I don't get 5%, then 20% or darker on the front 2. Of course this can lead to some visibility/ legal issues. My Mini currently has 5% on the back and 20 up front, but I think I will be changing the fronts to 5 also. My truck currently has 2.5% in the back, 5% on the front 2, and 20% on the windshield. I absolutely love it but I have been pulled over twice in 4 years...

 

Ditto EVERYTHING Dwdyer said. I went as dark as MD would allow (which is not at all "that" dark). Uniform all the way around. No visor stripe. It is completely livable day in and day out. Use quality film and installer if you are not DYI'r. I love the look. I love the practicality of it. I hate glare and the sun bothers me at times. It takes the edge off all of that and looks great against pepper white. I would stay away from any film that adds a color hue to it. I would want the contrast of gray colors against the white.

 

JDPaddle - I'm in MD as well. Where did you get your window tinting done?

 

I'm in Hagerstown area. I had Extreme Tint do it. They seem to get a fair amount of cars through and do commercial as well so I felt like they were legit. I have seen some tiny, tiny operations and I am not comfortable with that. Also if you google Central MD Minis- they are a MINI club- they are having a "Tint party" or gathering coming up and you could reserve space in that. Then you have someone who does MINIs all of the time.

 

By the way, your lowered stance looks great. I might have to look into a set of those H&R springs myself when my '14 BRG MINI S shows up.

 

Thanks!

They've been great. I'm more than likely going to go with Megan Coilovers next time. I want the ability to change ride height and adjust dampening next go 'round.

 

I did my fronts in 35% and rears in 20% that way I'm still legal, but it was all done in Ceramic so it will keep the car cooler, and we did a clear ceramic on the front windshield too.

 

+1

This should look pretty good. Tint on the windshield makes a huge difference.

If you use a good quality tint (i.e. Huper Optik - http://huperoptikusa.com/ ) you don't have to go super dark for it to make a significant difference in the interior temp of the car. I used to do the limo tint and dark band across the windshield to look "cool" but have grown out of that. I got tired of getting harassed by the police and the crappy visibility at night.

I live in Arizona so window tint is a way of life here

 

What is ceramic tint, how does it differ from "standard" tint material? What are the cost differences including installation, and how much more/less difficult are installation and removal? And how much longer/shorter is its expected lifetime?