So tint is going on my new LS tomorrow afternoon. Doing Formula One Pinnacle like on the 2015, torn between 30% which is what was on my 2015, and going to 40%. Legal in MD is 35%, with the stock tint 40% would be legal (around 35% total) and 30% is illegal.

I was happy with the 30% on my 2015, but it had a grey interior. I'm concerned with the black interior the 30% might seem much darker. I'm also going to be trying to avoid running a front plate, and if I were to get stopped for that I don't want to have to tear the tint off.

Here is a picture of my 2017:




Here's a picture of my 2015 with the 30% tint:

 

IMO, it would be tough to tell the difference between 30 and 40%, maybe easier to differentiate with a light interior but not with the black interior. Having said that, it seems like you are talking yourself into a 40% tint due to the front plate. If you want to play it safe, go with 40%.

 

I am concerned about 40% being too light. I do like the privacy I had in the 2015...

 

I know it doesn't give you the whole look but my tint place will always put up a large piece on one window to give you an idea of what it will look like on the car before it gets done. its usually a 12x12 square. Maybe your place could do that to help you get a better idea with your black interior. If it were me I would do 40% if you're going with no front plate. The cop could be pissed and throw the book at you and go after your tint. If you run with a front plate I don't see them bothering you with 30% but if its illegal you run the risk.

 

Yeah they told me they would do that when I got there.

Yeah no cops ever even gave the 2015 a second look with the 30%, it had a front plate though.

 

Not sure how it works in other states, but here in FL the back windows can be slightly darker than the front (and I think we can tint darker legally than other states due to sun intensity; though not sure). Here are 2 ways to look at it:
1) If you get 30% and think it's a bit too dark, just leave your moonroof cover open while you're driving to allow sunlight through the top of the car which makes it appear lighter to police.
2) If you get 40%, it will definitely look somewhat darker than your prior car because of the interior color and will also provide some more contrast due to how much lighter the exterior color as well. Also, I assume your L has the rear sunshades - so with 40% and all of those up (windows and rear glass), the back windows will all be pretty dark. If you have those up with the 30% tint it'll look really dark and if a cop really wanted to pull you for tint they may think the windows are darker than they are due to that.
3) I wouldn't sweat the no front plate thing. I grew up in VA and in my several years driving there i never had a front plate. My thought process was there are other states that don't require it (think snowbirds coming back to MD in a FL car), so a cop passing me head-on has no idea if I'm from out of state or not. To pass me head-on, look in their rear view and see my VA plate, he/she would have to REALLY want to pull me over, at which point the missing front plate is the least of my worries..!!

If it were my car, I'd do 30%. I think getting a ticket for tint is likely going to be tied to something else (excessive speeding and the officer wants to hit you for more) as opposed to you being pulled over for tint alone.

 

Yeah and having a big silver Lexus I’m not a huge target for cops. If it was a much racier flashier car that would be one thing.

 

Went with the 30, and wound up upgrading to the Stratos over the Pinnacle which is their new tint. They're working on it now.

The more I think about it I think I'm just going to put the front plate on...

 

I applaud you, wonderful law-abiding citizen

 

Thats me, lol

 

Try to get one of those mounts that doesn't involve drilling the front grill bar.

 

I’ll see what I can find. Issue is IMHO a lot of those no drill mounts look silly...

 

I would place the front plate. Why give anyone any easy and free reason to cause you trouble? This is from me who are more than capable to mess thing up for myself and exceedingly risk adverse.

 

All done! Looks great. Car was all clean but Mother Nature had a different plan last night.

 

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