I have searched but cannot find this addressed anywhere. I have a new '02 SE loaded with all but the nav system. All of the posts I have seen usually deal with window tint because of how ccol it looks, the factory tint is cool enough for me. I am interested in protecting my leather seats from the sun. Is there any advantage to aftermarket tint to help protect the seats?

Thanks,
jrgwv

 

I believe it actually depends on what factory % tint you have. The aftermarket films have a higher heat & UV rejection rating. I forget the actual term for it. I guess you could say that there is an advantage other than cosmetics. I don't know where you live but in Hawaii, the sun is very stong and my 5% tint keeps my car a lot cooler than the previous 35% tint.

 

Yes, there is... UV blocking has little to do with the visible light that passes through: even very low-level tinting can block very high levels of UV. Good tinters have a broad selection to choose from... look at the spec's (they should indicate visible, UV and IR transmisivity) and select the one that fits.

Also be sure to put a window shade in the front window when parked outdoors. Living in El Paso, I've learned how very important that is for protecting the dash and upholstery from UV damage and dry-rot.

BuddyWh

 

I would definately do aftermarket premium tint ( a kind that is guaranteed not to fade or bubble). Even if you get a lither tint, it will keep the car cooler, especially if you combine it with a sunshade ( a must here in southern cali). If not those leather seat will get ya.

Do you have the frost or black leather?

 

Premium window tint and a good sunshade are a must. With the cant of the windshield, you gotta have a shade to block the sun and heat from the dash and front seats.

And window tinting is for much more than good looks. It does protect and keep cooler when sitting outside, but it also minimized the work the ac has to do when you are driving the car, which is a good thing.

It more than pays for itself, and hey, it does look great!

srm

 

That is the kind of info I was looking for. I live in WV and have the merlot with black leather. I guess I will look into which tint to get, I assume the metalized tint would be the better tint, any reccomendations for the best UV protection? Someone made the comment that it depends on what type of factory tint I have. Are there different factory tints? If so how do I tell which one I have?

Thanks for all of the information,
jrgwv

 

I'm definitely going to tint mine up. But I really like the mirror tint...but I heard it's illegal here in WA. Anybody have a Max with some type of mirror tint, and pics?

 

Factory glass is not tinted, at least mine was not here in IL.
l8tr -- SS

 

I just got a 2k2 and am trying to decide whether to tint or not, too.
I mainly am interested in keeping the interior a little cooler. Its kinda hot down here in South Georgia (97 degrees yesterday).

My car is black and I am wondering how tint will look. Too much black? I had a black truck a long time ago with tinted windows and I really didn't like the way it looked.

Anybody got a black Max with 35% tint? Pics Please!

 

yeah i also wanted some mirror tint as well...anyone know a good place in the bay area, ca

 

Is mirror tint legal in Cali? If so, what %?

 

That’s what you think, the metalized tint would have better heat rejection or UV rejection? No, most of the tint types have the same amount of heat and UV rejection. It doesn't matter if you get graphite or metalized tint. It also doesn't matter if you have 5% vs. 35%. The difference in protection is minimal, but 5% does look a hell of a lot better.

 

legal? illegal? does it matter...i don't have a front liscense plate...if anything...i get a stupid fix it ticket for 10 bucks and some people i know are cops...who will be glad to fix that for me

 

I have 14% tint on my rear and all side windows, as well as 40% tint on the front windshield. I must say that the car is alot cooler than it used to be, and the air conditioner freezes me out. I live in Florida, so you know that it's hot here 362 days a year. The other 3 days here, it's like 50-60, so it's not much of a break. I had the sides/rear done the day after I bought the car (December), mainly because I am sensitive to bright light. Then I waited until summer hit before I did the front, because I wasn't sure if I'd need it or not. I had the entire windshield done, including the strip at the top that was already there from the factory. That way when a cop passes by, he can't see me very well (so he thinks it's tinited), but then sees that the top is even darker, so he figures it's from the factory. I used a metallized film because of the heat reduction gains over the graphite. Also, metallized film doesn't seem to lose its color over time as fast as the graphite. But the choice is yours. It's true, film UV protection is close enough to be the same for all types (excluding Wal-Mart el-cheapo brands), so get what you prefer. As far as how dark, that's up to you, your local police, and the owner of the local donut shop. If your local police are like mine, do whatever you want. But if they are like the cops in VA, either invest in the donut shop, or don't go as dark.

 

8% limo tint on Majestic Blue. Top 10" on the windshield as well.

 

go to my homepage.

i recommend getting the tint. its been 90some degrees here all week and the car has never had that "its so hot i can barely breathe" feel. it does its job.

 

I had this put on my 2K2 Max (Sterling Mist) about a week after I bought it. I've also had it on a '95 SE Max as well. It looks great and it's a metal based tint (vs. dye based) meaning that the film that is put on the window is actually an extremely thin piece of metal... gives the outside appearance of being a "mirror". It doesn't fade over the years, and provides better UV/Sunlight rejection into the cabin area.

The Maxima is tinted from Nissan with a 3-5% factory tint... very light green in appearance, almost not noticeable. This does make the LUMAR greener in appearance when applied to the windows... which in my opinion looks really good, almost like the factory tint on the Infinity QX4/Lexus RX300.

Wal-Mart is a good place to pick up a windshield sun-visor. I have the round ones that fold up because they're very small and easy to stash under the passenger seat. It becomes very quick to use once you get the hang of twisting it to fold it up.

 

you mean 97-95% factory tint? 3% is very very dark.

 

Any Little bit helps. Tint does provide uv protection

 

Oops. Yeah, thanks for the correction... I hate Monday mornings.