View Full Version : Tint on front Windshield


jtparts
01-08-2005, 10:32 PM
How do you get the front windshield tinted across the top? Is there a kit you can buy in the store and apply yourself?

chadfo
01-08-2005, 10:57 PM
I suggest getting it done by a professional tinter. All that I've ever gone to will do it for less than $20. Buying a decent roll of tint will cost you at least half that and then you have to go through the aggravation of trying to get it on. It's worth the small amount of cash to pay someone else to do.

Cobraguy23
01-08-2005, 11:17 PM
well I would go to someone unless you know someone that hows what there doing becasuse you have to heat shrink the think to fit your window cause your window is not flat an it will not lay down flat-- I tint windows for my side job-- I learned from guys that been doing it for 10-15 years-- it is not that hard but takes time to do the back windows of some cars are a _____ to do-- I would jsut have some one do it there not that much about 20-25$ an it will look good-- I just tinited the Whole front window on my TC 50% an it looks good can see through it an at night the cars are not blinding you--


sean

Big_Jim
01-08-2005, 11:20 PM
Any pics of the front window tinted?? would love to see this.

TJandBOXCARWILLIE
01-08-2005, 11:23 PM
I got mine done by a pro. He did the WHOLE windshield; a UV tint that goes all the way down the window, and a 'strip' that is darker on the top. I think you can see it in one of my pics on my thread. Anyway, the UV part you can see through; it cuts out so much sunlight, that I never wear sun glasses anymore.

Oh, and the cost (here in SOUTH FLORIDA), was about $80. It cost more the the front doors (which he also did), because of the UV tint. Still, well worth it.

windowtint
01-09-2005, 02:19 AM
xB windshields are too curved for a DIY newbie to be working on. DIY's should stick to Jeep Wranglers. Take it to pro, spend a whopping $20 or so. Let him deal with the headache.

If you want it to follow the curve of the glass, expect it to cost more. (as opposed to the uglier version that's 10" wide on the side edge and 6" in the middle)

LilBlkBox
01-09-2005, 05:58 AM
Go to a tint shop and get it done. I have one and love it.

TheScionicMan
01-09-2005, 08:15 AM
It cost me $35 for mine and after watching, I could do it pretty easy myself. I prefer the tapered at the edges look. We tried it even across and it doesn't look right to me.

To DIY, place the tint on the outside of the window and position it as low as you want it on the window. Once it looks right, just take a sharpie and trace the inside edge of the windshield trim. Use that line to trim your tint and then apply it to the inside of your window.

TOAST3R
01-09-2005, 08:18 AM
i had a vinyl place do mine for 25$. since its black vinyl it blocks the sunlight better than window tint and makes a great background for lettering

http://www.ieatbrains.com/bracket.jpg

LavaScionSouthernArizona
01-09-2005, 04:18 PM
Any pics of the front window tinted?? would love to see this.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/12/web/624000-624999/624889_123_full.jpg

pileofmonkeycrap
01-09-2005, 06:30 PM
I had my windshield tinted by a shop when they tinted the side windows. Cost like $25.

http://www.scionlife.com/gallery/data/500/9130Xb_new_grills_cleared_heads_front.jpg

Minsk99
01-10-2005, 07:36 AM
I have a 6" tint strip on the front windshield. Had to get it computer cut so that it didn't follow the curve of the windshield.

windowtint
01-10-2005, 11:30 PM
computer cutters are for tinters who can't tint very well -- and they take 2x as long as hand cutting.

A 6" strip that follows the contour of the windsheilf could be cut in about 5 seconds (it's actaully easier than the wide-on-the-side style.)

All the tinter had to do was run a "black and white" (which is exactly 6") along the window trim as a guide- and tada! a contoured 6" visor ready for hanging.

hotbox05
01-10-2005, 11:47 PM
hmm i gotta go do my tint soon . wonder how much they'll do the strip if i get the rear 7 windows tinted? maybe they'll shoot me a deal , is it 4" or 6" thats legal in cali?

sarcasmkillsme
01-11-2005, 12:11 AM
I just got my tint done last friday. I got 15% over the stock rear tint, 5% on front doors and 50% over the entire front windshield. I love it! Only thing is i can see all to well on dark streets/driveways. I can always roll the windows down lol.

sorry no pics =/

Max2k
01-11-2005, 02:26 AM
I would advise against doing the entire windshield for safety reasons. The tint laws are there for a reason.

windowtint
01-11-2005, 04:12 AM
I would advise against doing the entire windshield for safety reasons. The tint laws are there for a reason.

yes, they are. now if everyone else would realize the law applies to everyone.

A tinted windshield, no matter how light, is a seriously bad idea from a sfaety standpoint. Windshields are designed with certain breakage charactoristics, when you apply film over the interior surface, you 'ruin' the engineering that went into that glass.

In an accident, if your head hits a windshield at a sufficient speed the glass breaks and flexs outward absorbing the impact. Hit it hard enough and you'll go through it. Take that same windshield, coat it with a layer of tint, now in the same accident you hit the glass with your head - this time the glass DOESN'T flex, it doesn't do ANYTHING.

There have already been studies done on this. When a human head hits a tinted safety glass windshield at speed - that head turns to mush. Head to glass impact in that situation has a near ZERO survivabilty rate, those who do typically wished they hadn't.

Tinted safety glass has an avg. per square inch tensile strength GREATER than reinforced concrete. Next time you're looking at a tinted windshield, imagine smashing head first into a sidewalk at 45mph (although you have a better chance of living through that than hitting the glass)

blackcherrytc
01-11-2005, 04:29 AM
Does anyone know if there's a solar tint that changes shades with the amount of sunlight? I think it's polarized tint? I was thinking of this for the entire front windshield- it would be great for days when the sun is so bright that you can't see a thing.

windowtint
01-11-2005, 04:37 AM
no. no such thing available for aftermarket application.

someone may disagree with that, ignore them. They're idiots.

ronrika
01-11-2005, 08:32 AM
The windshield of the xB is 100% UV reflective, the glass in the front doors are >90% UV-cut, and the privacy glass in the back and rear windows are 91 - 95 % UV-cut, and also reduces infrared (heat) rays to keep interior cooler.

Refer to http://pressroom.toyota.com/presstxt/2005scionkit/2005xAxB_tech.pdf

So any tinting done will be do simply reduce light penetration into the vehicle. Agree with others in that front tint beyond the top strip (state laws vary) is illegal and possibly dangerous.

hotbox05
01-11-2005, 08:35 AM
whats the cali state law bout the size of the windsheild tint strip?

ronrika
01-11-2005, 09:38 AM
http://www.autowindowtintings.com///stateLaws.ihtml?stateLawPage=tintLaws_California

hotbox05
01-11-2005, 09:52 AM
whats a celica camry? and where u gettin all these other jdm jems?

ronrika
01-11-2005, 10:15 AM
The Celica Camry was I believe the first Camry and in Japan was tied to its Sportier sister the Celica perhaps for marketing purposes. I had all the JDM cars listed from the Celica Camry to the Levin GT while I was in the Air Force and stationed in Japan. I was there for eight years so I had a nice variety of cars. The Aero-Deck was a cool fusion of an Accord front with a CRX stlye rear hatch and came from the factory with Dual side draft carbs, nice to drive!

LowProMofo
01-11-2005, 11:47 AM
I'm from GA and right now we have no tint law at all. You could spray paint it black and they couldn't say anything to you. I run 5% all around, even the strip across the windshield:
http://img53.exs.cx/img53/735/img04804lg.jpg

ronrika
01-11-2005, 12:06 PM
http://www.autowindowtintings.com///stateLaws.ihtml?stateLawPage=tintLaws_Georgia

LowProMofo
01-11-2005, 05:05 PM
http://www.autowindowtintings.com///stateLaws.ihtml?stateLawPage=tintLaws_Georgia
That's old or something because they have just started it and I have talked to 2 county Sheriff's, a few state patrols, and speaker of the house Terry Coleman of the GA congress about it. They all said that there is no law on windoe tint in GA as of right now. It used to be 32% on the sides but they have been debating about it and trying to set new laws about it and have never came to an agreement about it. Mr. Coleman said it would be around a year or so until they set anything.

ronrika
01-11-2005, 05:17 PM
I stand corrected.... BTW I really like the wheels on your xB!

LowProMofo
01-11-2005, 05:19 PM
I stand corrected.... BTW I really like the wheels on your xB!
Thanks, the tint law will more than likely go back into effect sometime or another, but I'd still get 5% even if there was a law on it. The law around here isn't that bad on tint anyway.

spongebBox
06-18-2006, 12:45 AM
i am tryin to get the front window strip done but i have those dot matrix things on the top of my windshield. The tinter mentioned it would look white when they apply the film over the dot matrixes and i dont want that. so how else could i get it done? how are all of you? isnt putting it on the outside of the window, risking it peelin off due to weather and other elements? and what is the dot matrix for??

RaginCajun
06-18-2006, 01:25 AM
You have to tint over the dots. Just make sure your tinter presses the edges down and you should be fine. You can always get a vinyl overlay on the outside in the same color as your box.

spongebBox
06-18-2006, 02:01 AM
wouldnt the vinyl overlay start peelin off after a while?? how did all you guys do it??

ShadowBoXMenG06
06-18-2006, 04:04 AM
I just tinted mine, took me about 2 hours to complete. I put 5% on the back on top of factory and put 35% on the front ill post pix as soon as i get a chance. I just bought the car a week ago.