Interior/Exterior Interior and exterior modifications for Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Interior/Exterior Show me your windows!!

Old Feb 28, 2007 | 12:04 PM
  #1  
vestanpance's Avatar
vestanpance
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
Show me your windows!!

Hey all,

I'm going to get my windows tinted on my PS/B but I want to see pics of others (on any color mini) and know what % of tint they got. I don't want to go to dark or to light you know? Thanks for any help.
 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 12:14 PM
  #2  
MBR's Avatar
MBR
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: MI
I have 20% film on every window except the windscreen. The windows arn't too dark during a sunny day, and at night they're great. However, sometimes I have trouble making turns at night because it's hard to see through the tint. I had 20% film on my last auto, and 35% (smoke) on the one before that. I think I paid $140, but I wasn't impressed with the work.
 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 12:27 PM
  #3  
ca$per's Avatar
ca$per
6th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 2
From: Kuwait
this is either 35% or 45% I honestly forgot the exact percentage, but it is very fine for me and I like it...doesn't black it out and gives 60% in sun heat protection

 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 01:01 PM
  #4  
#20Works4me's Avatar
#20Works4me
5th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 975
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
20% rear and rear sides, with 50% front driver and passenger side ( with moonroof) Hope it helps!

 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 01:07 PM
  #5  
Peter W.'s Avatar
Peter W.
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
I have 20% all around and 5% strip on the windsheild.

 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 01:09 PM
  #6  
Peter W.'s Avatar
Peter W.
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 01:11 PM
  #7  
vestanpance's Avatar
vestanpance
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
nice! keep um coming. I'm thinking I'll do 30% all the way around and take my chances with the cops. But still would love to see more pics at different %
 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 02:47 PM
  #8  
irieman's Avatar
irieman
5th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 797
Likes: 1
From: West Coast, USA
Originally Posted by vestanpance
Hey all,

I'm going to get my windows tinted on my PS/B but I want to see pics of others (on any color mini) and know what % of tint they got. I don't want to go to dark or to light you know? Thanks for any help.
Sorry I don't remember percentages of mine, it was "dark" all the way around- as opposed to "medium dark".



plenty more photos (at just about every angle) available by clicking here.

HTH!
 

Last edited by irieman; Sep 8, 2007 at 02:03 PM.
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 04:06 PM
  #9  
SayGoodbye's Avatar
SayGoodbye
6th Gear
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,299
Likes: 0


 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 05:07 PM
  #10  
bdr127's Avatar
bdr127
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: PA
I have 20% all the way around....

 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 05:10 PM
  #11  
bdr127's Avatar
bdr127
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: PA
Check out this chart for what's legal in your state.... (Not that I am necessarily within my state's limit, but it's good to know. )

http://www.iwfa.com/iwfa/Law_Chart/S...aw%20Chart.htm
 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 05:33 PM
  #12  
hosmer's Avatar
hosmer
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
From: Barrington, RI
20% all around

 
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2007 | 05:59 PM
  #13  
minjae's Avatar
minjae
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
From: Severna Park, MD
im a tinter. =]
and from my experience. pictures dont help THAT much. well they do help but seeing it in person is much better.
cause it all depends on the day being sunny or cloudy.
but seeing that you live in ohio. they're REALLY lenient compared to where i live.
legal is 50% for front side. but remember if you put on 50 on the sides it's illegal cause it adds to the stock window you have. so it'll be like around the 40's.
most popular shade is 20. my car is 20 with a sunroof (gotta look in my gallery)
(sorry for the bad pictures..from camera phone)
and also try to find a price of no more than 140. cause tinting mini coopers are REAL easy. i charge 120. but then. depends wat tint store and wat film they use.
if you have any questions hit me up. =]
 
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2007 | 06:32 AM
  #14  
vestanpance's Avatar
vestanpance
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
I was quoted 140 from a place around me that other MINI owners have suggested. I'm still thinking 30% all the way around might be the way to go. At 20% it looks like it might be hard to see out of the car but I do like the look.
 
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2007 | 06:49 AM
  #15  
MOE4me's Avatar
MOE4me
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
From: Near a mediocre place on a Great Lake, WI
Originally Posted by vestanpance
I was quoted 140 from a place around me that other MINI owners have suggested. I'm still thinking 30% all the way around might be the way to go. At 20% it looks like it might be hard to see out of the car but I do like the look.

At 20%, it's much easier seeing out, than it it seeing in

Here's my 20% all around.

 
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2007 | 07:44 AM
  #16  
#20Works4me's Avatar
#20Works4me
5th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 975
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
minjae is correct different lighting gives different effects, also the moonroof will be a factor, I'd say you are on track with the 30% all round if your state laws are lienient as the continuous flow always looks best. In my province no tinting is allowed on the front driver and passenger side but I've never had even a second look from the cops with the 50% and at least the transition isn't so stark.

 
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2007 | 07:46 AM
  #17  
rhubbard's Avatar
rhubbard
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
It's not a MINI, but anything helps. This is my Mercedes with 5% on it.

Only time I had problems was at night. Sometimes it was good, some it was bad. Bright headlights were never a problem for me, since the car was so low. But backing out of the driveway at night, I could only use my side mirrors. Couldn't see anything looking backwards. I also couldn't see people in other cars looking through the back windows at night. I'd go lighter than 5% for sure.

Also, you could come up to the window and put your face against the glass and not see it unless there was a lot of light coming from the front of the car. Perfect if you're hidign something.

 
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2007 | 08:01 AM
  #18  
Crashton's Avatar
Crashton
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,480
Likes: 3
From: Over there on MA
Originally Posted by vestanpance
I was quoted 140 from a place around me that other MINI owners have suggested. I'm still thinking 30% all the way around might be the way to go. At 20% it looks like it might be hard to see out of the car but I do like the look.
I'd suggest driving a car with tints at night before you have yours done. I drove S curvz car at night & had a hard time seeing to make turns. Might be my old fart eyes giving me trouble, but too me it was like wearing sunglasses at night. In the daylight it was fine. You might want to ask him what % tint he has.
 
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2007 | 05:02 PM
  #19  
PuppetMaster2u's Avatar
PuppetMaster2u
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati Ohio area
Let us know where you go to get yours done - I've been thinking of getting my windows tinted as well. (unless someone has a recommendation south of Columbus in the Cincinnati area?)
 
Reply
Old Mar 1, 2007 | 06:01 PM
  #20  
Hangin'_with_Mr.Cooper's Avatar
Hangin'_with_Mr.Cooper
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: DFW, TX
I bought my car used, so I can only "guess" what my tint is. But I think it's 35% on the doors, 20% on all of the rears + the eyebrow. I really, really want to get it redone though because I can't stand when from the side of the car the front windows are lighter than the rear windows....I think it looks horrible. But the tint does it's job well, and I don't want to just throw money away on new tint at the moment just for being picky.



 
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2007 | 06:25 AM
  #21  
vestanpance's Avatar
vestanpance
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio
This is the place in ohio everyone has told me to go to

http://www.qwtint.com/
 
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2007 | 06:26 PM
  #22  
minjae's Avatar
minjae
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
From: Severna Park, MD
if people say that place is good go for it. =]
but also..anything it says about the tint..dont trust it 100%
of course trying to sell it..they stretch the truth a bit..only BEST film that i know off the top of my head would be 3m.
and make sure they do the back window in one piece..almost every tint shop SHOULD.
and ALSO..make sure they know about tucking the film in extra for the side roll down windows. i cut extra so they dont peel from the up and downs cause of the opening of closing of the door.

(once you get your car tinted...you always want them tinted..xD haha)
 
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2007 | 06:28 PM
  #23  
minjae's Avatar
minjae
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
From: Severna Park, MD
Originally Posted by Hangin'_with_Mr.Cooper
do you know how exactly they made your strip straight like that? usually it'll curve..the middle will be small and the sides all big. i have an idea that i was thinkin of to make it straight like that..but yours is about the first one i've seen on a mini cooper like that.
 
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2007 | 06:31 PM
  #24  
minjae's Avatar
minjae
6th Gear
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
From: Severna Park, MD
Originally Posted by vestanpance
I was quoted 140 from a place around me that other MINI owners have suggested. I'm still thinking 30% all the way around might be the way to go. At 20% it looks like it might be hard to see out of the car but I do like the look.
oh...and you DO know..that tint shops might not have 30%..but then again..it all depends on wat film they use. my tint shop uses 50%, 35%, 20%, 10%, 05%

goodluck with the place you go to..hopefully they dont do a bad job.
 
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2007 | 07:08 PM
  #25  
MiniSuperCooper's Avatar
MiniSuperCooper
4th Gear
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City
I would go with a metallized if I were you. My MINI doesn't have it, but it looks much better. I'll be having mine retinted with some real soon. Another thing I plan to do when I go in for the retint is make sure they do something to cover the dot-matrix. The dot-matrix is the area around the edges of the back and hatch windows. If you look real close, most pictures show that these windows are lighter in those areas. They can use a glue or sand the dots down in order to cover these areas. You can find all kinds of stuff here:

www.tintdude.com
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 09:42 PM.