trying to decide between Huper Optik 30 or 40, last two cars I had done in Huper were:
MCS Huper40


A3 Huper30


Both had double sunroofs so a lot more light was let in deciding what to do on the MCS CM4. Also car is LW so its going to be a bit different.

Would love to here comments, and see picks of tint along with %

 

40 seems better 40 means 40% light get in?

 

I'd probably go 40 on the front windows, 30 on the rest, and 5 on the sunroof.

 

Having tinted a big black Audi and then the Chili Red Mini, I have come to appreciate that certain tints (including high end like Huper, 3M, etc.) have differing baseline colors--usually tending slightly green or slightly grey, blue, green or brown depending on the brand. Some tints can also show stronger silvery and somewhat reflective looks (I expect likely metallic based), which personally I don't care for. On the Mini (3 years since the Audi), the very experienced tint guy even showed me how the color formulation had changed in the same brand and was no longer the same choice as before. Thus, even when I went in w/ a brand preference (like Huper) the tint guy showed me via both the films and actual cars how the look varies--not just w/ percentage of light transmitted, but also specific manufacturer and film choice. In my two cases and car colors, the tint choice netted to the neutral grey family, but had it been a green or cream or tan/brown based car as examples, wouldn't be so clear at all. And, those would most likely have been tints from entirely different manufacturers. Of course we all know the bad purple tint looking jobs, but I found letting brand preference vary a bit (still w/in the better quality group) got me a better overall match too. Probably not relevant to Mini's, but installer also pointed out some tints are harder to shape well for complex curved glass (ran into that w/ the Audi rear window and Huper consideration IIRC).

I didn't see obvious reference to your own car colors, but notice in that Mini pic you included (looks like a green car?), the tint appears toward maybe a hint of blue (at least on my screen). W/out seeing car in person, hard to know though if that is true color, or just the (clear) sky color influence or what. Would look better to me if instead it went more toward grey, or depending on personal tastes for contrasts, outside chance of maybe a brown (which toward brown definitely wouldn't be Huper as I recall). Then on the Audi (an easy one), presumably it's a dark grey tint on a black or near black car, which makes sense.

 

Went right in the middle of that - see my sig - looks OEM - not too dark at night.

 

Color is Light White/Black, which is a bit different for me (all other cars have been dark colors) no sunroof.

Huper always has a gray tint to it, looks great in all shades, no discoloration ever. Will go very nice with the white/black motif of my countryman.

It's funny though on most pictures I compare the tint on the A3 looks lighter than the MCS, but I know that wasn't the case when I owned them. I loved both, but I think I preferred the slightly darker tint on the A3 (although the lighter tint fit the MCS very good). The kicker though is I'm not sure how the lack of sunroof, and light color on the countryman is going to effect how the tint looks (bot MCS and A3 had double pane sunroofs, that were not tinted).

 

Yea basically Huper Ceramic 40 is 42%, Huper 30 is 30% for VLT, visible light transmission.

 

Pic?

Yea the 30-40 range is perfect, I find anything darker than that a nuisance at night, anything much lighter and it does very little for thermal and VLT protection. I went 35% Solar Guard on my allroad (car I got in between the MCS and the A3, and still have), like the % but quality and thermal protection is no where near Huper.

 

5% all the way around and 50% on the front all black car. You virtually can't see inside

 

20% all around. DO IT!

 

No both way too dark, don't like the look at all, plus it's real annoying at night. I had 20% on a WRX, it looked good (although not what I like now) but the visibility at night was awful.

 

ya i understand your complaint there. I have 20% on my mini and my mustang. I feel like with the sunroof on the mini its much brighter than the stang. even at night.

haha 5% is way to dark for any night driving.

 

To each their own...

2% all the way around with a 50% windshield and 5% strip.. I have no problems driving at night. I used to have a 15% windshield but that got a little hairy

I did a 35% 3M Crystalline tint on all windows including sunroof and a 70% on the windshield on the CM. This stuff is awesome. 99.9% UV resistant and 97% IR resistant means it stays cool inside the car.



Ill get some more pics later.. but I would seriously consider this stuff. Cost is a bit more than regular tint, but in the long run 2, 3 years, you are doing yourself a service getting something that is heat resistant.

 

It's not actually better than Huper Optik, read many discussions on Tint Dude (tinters forum), only thing thats close is Formula One Pinnacle (just a cheaper nano ceramic). Nano Ceramic is the way to go, unfortunately it cost way more than traditional tint (usually 3x), and is much harder to work with, so you have to use a certified dealer, but its well worth it, if you've ever seen it in person, amazing depth and color. Positive's are also it has a lifetime warranty, never fades, changes color, or bubbles (its too thick). If I didn't go Huper or Pinnacle, next would probably be Colorfast, which is vinyl tint which is superior to metallic .

As for the %, living in AZ is a big difference than NY, you guys have that strong sun practically 24/7, I think I'd want 20% at least if I had to deal with that.

 

Finally talked to my tinter last night, he says he has Huper in 35% which is perfect, thanks for the input will throw up picks when I get it done next week.

 

To each their own again... HO is great stuff, but it wasnt for me. We wanted the windshield and the sunroof tinted.. for the more horizontal windows, 3M crystalline is the way to go IMO.

How much is HO going to cost? 3M was about $525 for all windows, rear and sunroof at 35% and the windshield at 70%

 

$400, all windows except windshield, no sunroof. Tint runs cheap in NY. 3m, solar guard, or llumar traditional would be @ $175. I've used the guy doing my Huper a bunch so he knocked it down from $450, but at a stealership they charge $700. I know what your saying about Huper on the windshield (it actually great for sun roofs) it's so thick. They do make a speacial film for windshields, but I've never seen it in person.

Didn't know they even made crystalline in 35%, thought the lightest was 40, also read that the real appeal to it was it's offers great protection for a very light tint, specifically their 50 and 70%, if your going darker your better off with the better looking ceramic tint.

 

I'm about to get my hands on my new Light White (roof and body) Countryman and tint is first on the list.

The one thing that bugged me on my last mini is how the tint looks around the edges where the factory glass has those dots on it. Is there any way to eliminate or minimize that effect?

Thanks

 

Don't know what it like where you live, but in my part of Virginia the troopers carry light meters and are not shy about handing out tickets. Please check your local/state regs...

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...1&d=1304887247

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...1&d=1304887247

 

What percentage tint did you get? Details?

 

I did a ceramic tint of 30%. It's not too dark, but dark enough to remove the glare and block UV Rays.

Sorry I don't have any pictures at work to post, but I think it looks good with the Black paint. Should look good with your Blue as well.

 

I wound up going with Huper Optik ceramic 35%, which my installer now stocks, very happy, pics in gallery.