I'm going in for tint on Thursday, and I've decided on 50% all around (except windshield), which will keep me legal in Massachusetts, where the limit is 35% net VLT. My primary motivations are to help out the weak A/C in the summer, and to improve the appearance of the car year round.

I've spent a bunch of time perusing the various tint threads here, but I haven't found much info on tint in the 50% range since most people go darker.

The place I'm going to (Tint King in Billerica, MA) doesn't do Huper Optik, but pretty much all the other major brands - Llumar, 3M, SolarGard... I'm just trying to have some idea of what I'm looking for before I get there.

Anyone have photos of 50% tint on their MINI? I'm confused by charcoal vs. graphite vs. smoke vs. titanium, etc. Which do you have, and how do you like it? I'm not looking to skimp on the cost, but I don't want to pay $300+ either.

One more thing - I do a lot of camping, so occasionally I really load up the back of my car with stuff. I definitely need something relatively durable and scratch-resistant.

Thanks!
Chris

 

I have 50% 3M carbon fiber tint wich is similar to 40% metallic film.





And on my old MC too...

 

Here is the MC before tint for comparison...

 

Awesome, thanks! That's exactly what I'm looking for. Dark enough to look good and block some heat, but not pimpmobile dark. It looks like there's a bit of brown in there too, as opposed to pure grey/black, but maybe that's just the light in the photo.

 

I went to 20% on the rear windows and then lighter on the doors.

The twenty percent in a charcoal color blends well with the wrap around glass and minimizes the "white hole" appearance where the rear window actually occurs between the "B" and "C" pillars.

Check photos in my gallery !

 

I do think that cars with 20% tint look pretty good; I just personally wouldn't want to drive one. It's illegal here and I would risk having to remove it, for starters. It's also just not my aesthetic style. The 50% tint (combined with the ~72% tint inherent in the glass) looks perfect to me.

 

I was supposed to get my tint today, but I walked into a s#%!storm at work this morning, and there was no way I was going to be able to leave to drop off my car. So, now I have to wait until tomorrow. :impatient Then I'll have to take a new sig photo to replace the current clear-windowed one.