Windshield tint and si
02-24-14, 12:13 PM
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
Windshield tint and si
Got my full windshield tinted a couple years ago and have not had a problem w/ safety checks (never been to Servco for them). Now I got another Lexus and wanted the windshield tinted. Same shop I had the first one done says they don't do them anymore, because Lexus dealer and some inspection places measures the tint and flunks a windshield w/ less than 70% light passing through. Heard some have passed because there is a variance in the factory tint (possibly location specific). Talking about only a couple percentage points that can do you in.
Under the new inspection laws, will every station have a meter to measure the tint?
Ca anyone recommend a tint shop that has a meter which can be used to actually see if the tint that will be used is legal after application? Wanna get ceramic tint if possible.
TIA.....Aloha
Under the new inspection laws, will every station have a meter to measure the tint?
Ca anyone recommend a tint shop that has a meter which can be used to actually see if the tint that will be used is legal after application? Wanna get ceramic tint if possible.
TIA.....Aloha
02-24-14, 05:53 PM
#4
Driver
Thread Starter
When buying the car, Lexus did offer tinting that did not include the front windshield so I opted out. Don't think they recommend any tint on their windshields. Inquired at a tint shop exactly what you recommended but they they said that to be sure.....the glass should be measured w/ the tint held up against it. The trouble was that they didn't have a meter to do that, said that the meter costs mucho dineros.
02-25-14, 10:08 AM
#5
Every safety check station should have a tint meter, even before this new sticker came out. The safety inspection and tint laws did not change, just the process of how they do the inspection and the sticker. The new process with pictures of the car now forces the stations to do things more by the book.
With a tinted windshield, meter has to read 70% or higher in order to pass safety check, and recon (if recon tests it, as they're not consistent). There is no 6% variance given on the windshield like on the rest ot the windows.
Metering the factory glass by itself would be a good indicator. Even better like the OP mentioned is to have a sample of the tint metered up against the windshield to check the % in various places. Every car is different, even sometimes in the same exact model car since there are manufacturing variances in any factory coating and purity of the glass.
For me, I had 3M ceramic tint (70%) installed on the windshield of my 08' ls460 that metered out to around 64%. Before I went for my recon, I bit the bullet and went to TnT to remove the 3M and to see if my car would pass with their customized Llumar Air Blue 80 film. I was lucky and my car metered out to 74%. TnT told me that they've noticed certain cars will not pass even with their custom film. They said that it's rare and frustrating, but sometimes one car will pass and another same model car will not. The reason why the majority of cars will pass with TnT's film is that it is a really an ~ 82% film that is custom manufactured just for them by Llumar. Guess when you're as big as them you have the financial means to buy film in large quantities and convince the manufacturer to do custom runs. They certainly charge enough for their tints
Ok, that was long enough... good luck with your tint
With a tinted windshield, meter has to read 70% or higher in order to pass safety check, and recon (if recon tests it, as they're not consistent). There is no 6% variance given on the windshield like on the rest ot the windows.
Metering the factory glass by itself would be a good indicator. Even better like the OP mentioned is to have a sample of the tint metered up against the windshield to check the % in various places. Every car is different, even sometimes in the same exact model car since there are manufacturing variances in any factory coating and purity of the glass.
For me, I had 3M ceramic tint (70%) installed on the windshield of my 08' ls460 that metered out to around 64%. Before I went for my recon, I bit the bullet and went to TnT to remove the 3M and to see if my car would pass with their customized Llumar Air Blue 80 film. I was lucky and my car metered out to 74%. TnT told me that they've noticed certain cars will not pass even with their custom film. They said that it's rare and frustrating, but sometimes one car will pass and another same model car will not. The reason why the majority of cars will pass with TnT's film is that it is a really an ~ 82% film that is custom manufactured just for them by Llumar. Guess when you're as big as them you have the financial means to buy film in large quantities and convince the manufacturer to do custom runs. They certainly charge enough for their tints
Ok, that was long enough... good luck with your tint
02-25-14, 10:16 AM
#6
On a side note, you can check with other tint shops to see if they have a film that will actually meter out higher than 70%. The tint should probably be around a 80% film. I think 3M ceramic has a 80% and Solar Gard may have something also. I would imagine other places would be cheaper than TnT
02-25-14, 10:36 AM
#7
How is being neighbor island lucky? We have the same safety check laws as Oahu. Whats really messed up is recon is a state law. But only Oahu has recon stations. I'm just lucky personally because Hilo is small and I know a few people 
. BTW I strip the tint off of my car before safety and then retint after. One of the benefits of knowing people 
. BTW I strip the tint off of my car before safety and then retint after. One of the benefits of knowing people
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02-25-14, 11:19 AM
#9
Driver
Thread Starter
Every safety check station should have a tint meter, even before this new sticker came out. The safety inspection and tint laws did not change, just the process of how they do the inspection and the sticker. The new process with pictures of the car now forces the stations to do things more by the book.
With a tinted windshield, meter has to read 70% or higher in order to pass safety check, and recon (if recon tests it, as they're not consistent). There is no 6% variance given on the windshield like on the rest ot the windows.
Metering the factory glass by itself would be a good indicator. Even better like the OP mentioned is to have a sample of the tint metered up against the windshield to check the % in various places. Every car is different, even sometimes in the same exact model car since there are manufacturing variances in any factory coating and purity of the glass.
For me, I had 3M ceramic tint (70%) installed on the windshield of my 08' ls460 that metered out to around 64%. Before I went for my recon, I bit the bullet and went to TnT to remove the 3M and to see if my car would pass with their customized Llumar Air Blue 80 film. I was lucky and my car metered out to 74%. TnT told me that they've noticed certain cars will not pass even with their custom film. They said that it's rare and frustrating, but sometimes one car will pass and another same model car will not. The reason why the majority of cars will pass with TnT's film is that it is a really an ~ 82% film that is custom manufactured just for them by Llumar. Guess when you're as big as them you have the financial means to buy film in large quantities and convince the manufacturer to do custom runs. They certainly charge enough for their tints
Ok, that was long enough... good luck with your tint
With a tinted windshield, meter has to read 70% or higher in order to pass safety check, and recon (if recon tests it, as they're not consistent). There is no 6% variance given on the windshield like on the rest ot the windows.
Metering the factory glass by itself would be a good indicator. Even better like the OP mentioned is to have a sample of the tint metered up against the windshield to check the % in various places. Every car is different, even sometimes in the same exact model car since there are manufacturing variances in any factory coating and purity of the glass.
For me, I had 3M ceramic tint (70%) installed on the windshield of my 08' ls460 that metered out to around 64%. Before I went for my recon, I bit the bullet and went to TnT to remove the 3M and to see if my car would pass with their customized Llumar Air Blue 80 film. I was lucky and my car metered out to 74%. TnT told me that they've noticed certain cars will not pass even with their custom film. They said that it's rare and frustrating, but sometimes one car will pass and another same model car will not. The reason why the majority of cars will pass with TnT's film is that it is a really an ~ 82% film that is custom manufactured just for them by Llumar. Guess when you're as big as them you have the financial means to buy film in large quantities and convince the manufacturer to do custom runs. They certainly charge enough for their tints
Ok, that was long enough... good luck with your tint
On a side note, you can check with other tint shops to see if they have a film that will actually meter out higher than 70%. The tint should probably be around a 80% film. I think 3M ceramic has a 80% and Solar Gard may have something also. I would imagine other places would be cheaper than TnT
Do you know what percentage the Air 80 is? Always thought it was 80%.
Years ago I had a car done at TNT and the work was not professional enough for me to go back again and yep it was costly too. Al's is always way overpriced so I'll Yelp it and see what I can find. Surprises me that most tint shops don't have a meter on hand to test with.
Mahalo for your help!!!
How is being neighbor island lucky? We have the same safety check laws as Oahu. Whats really messed up is recon is a state law. But only Oahu has recon stations. I'm just lucky personally because Hilo is small and I know a few people . BTW I strip the tint off of my car before safety and then retint after. One of the benefits of knowing people
. BTW I strip the tint off of my car before safety and then retint after. One of the benefits of knowing people 
02-25-14, 01:05 PM
#10
The normal, "stock" Air 80 is supposed to be 80%, or maybe 78%-80%. As I mentioned earlier, TnT's custom Air 80 is about 82%
TnT mentioned Tacomas weren't passing the 70% even with their custom Air 80
TnT mentioned Tacomas weren't passing the 70% even with their custom Air 80
